Monster Manual IV, from Amazon.com

[Cam Banks]

I think pre-statted humanoids are a great idea. Would be even better if they were in the original MM next to their main entries. And the easier the material is to pick up and play, the better in my opinion. Having some pre-built material doesn't stop you from using the tools provided to make other things for your game. It's like saying no one should publish campaign settings or adventure modules because any DM can do that.

Right, I can see that. I suppose the question is more whether that's what should be in the MM or what should be in a specific purpose-designed supplement. I've heard many people say that they would kill for a revised Enemies and Allies that meets this aim.

The danger is eliminating the elements that allow people to use tools to make their own creatures or versions of those creatures, I think. Pre-loading a stat block that represents the base creature with magic items and specific class levels makes it awkward.

Cheers,
Cam

 

[satori01]

Throwing my 2 cents in, I want to state right off the bat I have not seen MM IV.

I do not think WOTC is talking down to it's customers by giving them easy to use products. Mid to High level character class stats are probably the most time consuming aspect of DM'ing frankly.

That said, between the resources of Dungeon, and the NPC section of DMG 3.0 and DMG 3.5, I think it is pretty much covered. Now it sounds like the classed Humanoids in MM IV while sharing the names of the Minis, changes the statistics at least I hope so. I do not need WOTC to make a Drow Fighter 2 for me and call it an Arcane Guard. But Likewise, I do not really need WOTC to make a Drow Scout 2 and call it a sneaky SOB either.

If most of the book is races I already own, and classes I already own, I just dont feel like paying for the same matierial twice, and for an assembly charge no less. Mileage, may vary, this is my own personal opinion, but I really hate for paying for material twice, and WOTC reprints alot. MM IV seems great for those DMs that do not buy a lot of material, now you can use the Scout class as a monster entry but not buy Complete Adventurer.

Other issue I forsee, is the fact that WOTC products are planned out so far in advance, the tinker in me would feel compeled to play with feat selections, to incoporate good feats from sources they did not use. Reprint, Reissue will be a polarizing factor, regarding the book.

 

[Psion]

I put a more long winded post about MMIV @ RPGnet, may as well repeat it here:

I got it, quite by surprise, last night. My wife is the bestest.

Not much time to review it, but I will say this much:
It is a totally different format. If you loved prior MMs, you may dislike this, and if you hated prior MMs, you may like it. MAY.

The descriptions are more complete, and provide more exhaustive background details. If you disliked the trend in this sort of material between 2e Folios style MCs and 3e, this could be a good thing for you.

As for me, I thought that a lot of the extra background material felt a bit wasted outside the context of a setting. But perhaps some of it will prove useful as starting points to insert the new creatures into my setting.

I am not too unhappy with the new idea of classed creatures. Yeah, I usually roll my own, but in a pinch, these could come in handy. I think that Dezzavold by Green Ronin will still remain my main source of pre-statted drowish sword fodder... these seem much less interesting by way of comparison.

My main disgruntlement with the statted creatures is the Githyanki. They use supplemental rules elsewhere in the book (like scouts and ninjas), but fail to use psionic rules here. Githyanki are archetypal psionic creatures. They deserve to have a few creatures statted out using the XPH rules. As Githyanki are not OGC, I can't go to third party publishers to fill this need.

 

[Mercule]

I don't own the book, so I won't comment too absolutely. But, there are a few things that don't require a full read. I do plan to at least thumb through it to check out the new stat block.

I'm slowly warming to the idea of pre-statted critters. Still, if there are scouts and warlocks, but no psionic gith, that's pretty dumb. The gith are practically built around psionics.

I kinda like the idea of an ecology section, but I also want to see a line-item for environment. This is a really huge factor for my planning and world-building. Sure, I change it on occasion, but it's a great quick-reference tool.

 

[DaveMage]

I'd rather Wizards experiment a bit, so something like this is fine with me. If it sells, we'll know it was a good decision. If not, we probably won't see more.

 

[Kunimatyu]

The Githyanki points are very good. How do people feel about the lack of psionics for the Yuan-Ti, also psionic creatures(if not iconically psionic like the gith)?

 

[Mercule]

The Githyanki points are very good. How do people feel about the lack of psionics for the Yuan-Ti, also psionic creatures(if not iconically psionic like the gith)?

Don't take this as me ripping on 'em, but I just plain don't like the Yuan-ti. The less lovin' of any sort they get, the better. Same (x100) for drow.

In fairness, though, if WotC is going to include them, they should stat what would be a fairly common build -- i.e. psionics.

 

[Psion]

The Githyanki points are very good. How do people feel about the lack of psionics for the Yuan-Ti, also psionic creatures(if not iconically psionic like the gith)?

My stance here is a bit more "would have been nice." I run 'em psionic in my game, but they are less strictly associated with psionics, so it's a bit harder for me to make the case that the existing metasetting suggests that doing them non-psionic is wrong.

 

[frankthedm]

Ah, as long as i only pay 23 for the book i'll be happy enough. The negative responce is loud enough to where MM5 will go back to it's roots [if it gets made]. Not that pleased with the desicions of WotC for this one, but hey, there are some decent 3rd party monster books out there that one can spend thier cash on.
CC 1, 2 & 3
ToH 1, 2 & 3

 

[DonTadow]

But come on, Wotc still has some milking of 3.5 to do. Don't tell me none of you havn't thought that there's a likely psionic monster handbook around the corner somewhere.