Monster Manual II

[Sigma]

I wonder what the layout will be like. It seems like a lot of wizard's employees have commented that they would change the format of the original MM if they could. I'm guessing it will be column based, so that you get one monster per column of text, with more complicated monsters getting additional columns. The idea being, no more page flipping for stats. That'll be nice.

As for the recycling issue, I'm up for it. I think WotC should publish anthologies of the best stuff out there. That way, I don't have to buy a $20 book to get 4 really good monsters, 10 good monsters, and a bunch of stuff I'll never touch. I'm also psyched about the chainmail monsters. They've got a lot of low CR elementals and demons, which will be nice to have. The MM low CR devils/demons stink (drudge, manes, imps and quasits), and I'm not a big fan of the new 3e elemental creatures (arrowhawk and tojinda).

 

[Sigma]

Also, I hope they have some new summoning lists and that there are some more powerful good creatures on them. I played a 17th level neutral cleric, and the rest of the party (mostly good) kept getting PO'd at me for summoning bebeliths all the time. I would've been happy to summon something good, but the greater variety of evil creatures in the MM gives makes for a more robust (and generally more powerful) selection.

 

[reiella]

Had thought I had seen Hide in Tome and Blood but can't find out now since let player borrow it and MagF :x. Could be wrong.

Although I had thought that wizards was exempt from conforming the ogl restrictions due to the license actually being owned by them.

Although prolly wrong and have nothing to check chain spell against (could have swore I saw Hide Spell though... oh well must stop hallucinating ).

 

[psionotic]

Disguise Spell?

Had thought I had seen Hide in Tome and Blood but can't find out now since let player borrow it and MagF :x. Could be wrong.

There's "Disguise Spell" in Song & Silence. It essentially lets a bard 'hide' a spell within a musical performance. Is this the one you mean?

 

[reiella]

I meant Hide :x... Would have been Tome and Blood if I did actually see it, but in fact I did not, and I have been hallucinating. That or I had a mind blur between some T&B feat and the psionic feat Hide Display, who knows.

Sorry for confusion.

 

[Berandor]

Why is thze reprint of CC monsters use of OGC?

I would have thought if you use stuff from other books, WITHOUT reprinting it, that would be the case.
Like publishing new traps under FFG's T&T system.

Not publishing that system, again.

Berandor

 

[BOZ]

Well if you want OLD monsters, I suggest the CC here on Enworld. They work for me.

i work for no one! i do it for fun.

 

[MerricB]

Although I had thought that wizards was exempt from conforming the ogl restrictions due to the license actually being owned by them.

They're exempt from making the derivative d20 rules they create OGL, because they own the d20 rules.

However, they can't use other people's work without using the OGL, in my definitely non-legal opinion.

If I create a monster, and make it OGL, the only way you can reprint the monster is if you include the OGL with my copyright information there, because I still hold the copyright to the monster's description & stats. They may be OGL, but that only allows you to use the monster in conjunction with the OGL - remember, it's viral!

That's not 100% true though; the other way to bypass the OGL is to enter into a separate agreement with the owner of the copyright. I could create a non-OGL d20 system adventure if Wizards gave me the rights to do so. I doubt they will unless I wave a lot of money at them... and I don't have that sort of money!

I think that's right, anyway. I'll be very surprised if there are CC monsters in MM2, but if so, there will be a variant of the OGL in the product, or a separate agreement will have been worked out.

Disclaimer! I don't know what I'm talking about, I'm not a lawyer!

Cheers!

 

[Nightfall]

i work for no one! i do it for fun.

Didn't expect any thing less Boz.

Btw, while I hope CC is used, doesn't mean that it's the ONLY d20 stuff or should be used. I also imagine that there will be SIGNIFICANT changes for some of the CC monsters IF they use them. (High Gorgon certainly for one.)

 

[Green Knight]

Well, personally I think sticking in Chainmail monsters is a good idea. There're a lot of new interesting monsters created for Chainmail which would be cool in regular D&D, too.

As for the Monster Manual II, I'd rather they did it like in 2E where they released packets of monsters that you could stick in ring binders. I'd rather have 1 big ringbinder full of monsters then have to lug around several hardcover books.