Modron Modron Mooooodroooon!

[Scribble]

Sooooo did anyone else hear the monster design seminar podcast? (I haven't seen this mentioned.)

I only got about 1/2 way through, but in the seminar they gave the audience a list of classic monsters to choose from and the choice would then be designed in the 4e style (with audience participation.) On the list was Modron.

And they also mentioned that the idea of the seminar was at the end they were to release the newly created monster on the DDI...


So love em or hate em...


MODRONS ARE BACK!

 

[Shroomy]

Awesome!

 

[ourchair]

I want a Modron player race.

 

[Nymrohd]

Oh rogue modrons would be awesome Makes me remember Nordom from Torment.

 

[Dragonbait]

It's about dang time.

They had some interesting ideas for the Modron, since mechanus/nirvana is not in the 4E default setting.

 

[Shroomy]

I'm at work and unable to listen to it, can someone give me the highlights of the modron parts of the seminar?

 

[Scribble]

I'm at work and unable to listen to it, can someone give me the highlights of the modron parts of the seminar?

I didn't listen to the whole thing, so I;m not sure entirely where they took it, but the idea was that they were sort of anti-entropy. The backstory was kind of things like portals and teleporting (in their idea) weakened the fabric and stability of reality so they would show up to prevent you from doing that.

The powers they were talking about were kind of along those lines, like preventing you from teleporting, or telporting you when you tried to teleport it and stuff.

 

[Mr. Teapot]

I want a Modron player race.

Step 1: Take Warforged
Step 2: Replace Str bonus with Int bonus
Step 3: Scratch out "Warforged" on sheet and write in "Modron".

Done.

 

[Dire Bare]

Heh. I've never understood the 3E and 4E designer's avoidance of updating modrons. They are a classic, fun D&D monster that had an awesome presence in late 2E Planescape. The designers reluctantly updated them in a web enhancement for 3E, and now the designers are "surprised" that modrons won the pick to be updated for 4E.

Just accept it guys! Modrons are teh awesome!

(And yes, I know that the designers of 3E and 4E are not the same group of folks, although I think there is some overlap)

 

[Dragonbait]

I didn't listen to the whole thing, so I;m not sure entirely where they took it, but the idea was that they were sort of anti-entropy. The backstory was kind of things like portals and teleporting (in their idea) weakened the fabric and stability of reality so they would show up to prevent you from doing that.

The powers they were talking about were kind of along those lines, like preventing you from teleporting, or telporting you when you tried to teleport it and stuff.

They were at GenCon, I suppose and they gave a list of monsters. The one with the most votes would get a 4E upgrade. Modrons won, hands down (it sounded like froghemoth came in second).

They were just throwing around ideas.
Again, it was an exercise in creativity.

They had ideas like
* The assumption was to make them living constructs and the immortal type. They were using DiTerlizzi's modrons for reference, but they did have images of the original modrons (which got a repulsed reaction from the audience).
* they opposed entropy, and especially the slaad.
* They opposed planar travel and wanted to keep each plane pure. PCs would interact with them when they start using teleportation and planar travel powers. The modrons believed that it harmed the planes when this kind of travel was done. Maybe they are correct? This was brought up to give them some wiggle room and not just be enemies to kill.
* They made a comment that they would want to think of a story for the modron so there could be a potential campaign built around them, or even modron PCs (Rogue modrons and Nordom from PS: Torment was mentioned)
* They did not want to make just brutes for PCs to fight and kill.
* They were thinking of a gimmic for the creatures. A power of some modron might be that they could drain hp of lower caste modrons to stay alive.
* Scribble mentioned other possible powers.

Again, it was a creative session. I guess they WILL be used in 4E eventually because of this.

I never got to finish it, and I can't hear it at work so that's all the info I can provide.