Monster Manual Layout/Organization: What do you prefer...

[steeldragons]

I'm not entirely sure what a "template" is exactly...having never played 3x and only ever did 4e once online...What, exactly is the point of that? I mean how does a template, as I understand them, able to get applied to anything?

Like, you have an "Undead Template", right? Pretty sure I've heard folks talk about this. Is that just, like...
"1. Make immune to sleep, charm and hold spells.
2. Take half damage from cold energy. Save for none.
3. Is not required to breathe, eat or sleep.
4. Drop HD by 2.
5. Has really bad complexion and smells?"

I mean, what do they look like that you should be able to just take this and, PRESTO, "Undead Orc, Undead Dragon, Undead Hamster"...all with the same traits, easy as pie...? That seems...silly...and unlikely. Easy? Yeah, I guess. But why do I want (or think that) a Zombie Bugbear and a Zombie Dragon that are the same?? And what if I want a Draco-lich undead dragon instead? Or have an idea for an adventure with a dwarf king who was turned into a wraith. Is there/do I need a "Lich Template" and a "Wraith tempalte"?

If so, then where does THAT end? If every monster can just be slapped with another monster's traits...there's really no need for a Monster Manual is there? Just a manual of templates that generate every imaginable combo...

Want a "Medusa"? Well here's the "Medusa Template on a human." Not to be confused with a Cockatrice, "Medusa Temple on a chicken." Put it on a lizard, there's your basilisk.

This all strikes me as not easier, nor less time consuming, nor more desirable to individual creatures already done without templates.

I suppose a few popular ones in an appendix isn't such a bad thing...to show those who want to build/make their own how they should work...I just don't get how they work.

As for indeces breaking down terrain and/or relative challenge, I'm all for those.

 

[Razjah]

The advanced template for Pathfinder allows for a fast modification to a monster to make a more powerful one. Here are some of the advancement rules for monsters for Pathfinder. I don't like the time spent in the building of a more power monsters. I would rather add the Advanced Template and use the quick rules.

However, when looking up templates for Pathfinder, it appears they have gone a bit overboard. I would like a simple way to easily make a monster more powerful and weaken it or some common ones like half-dragon and half-fiend. Templates here are great for that. When I am prepping for a game, I don't want to spend an hour making a monster that will die in one fight, I try to spend 60-90 minutes for every 4 hours of game play.