Monster Manual V

[Darrin Drader]

I'd like to see a book full of monsters for CR 10+.

Right now I'm probably going to skip MMIV, because I just don't see much of a need for existing monsters with templates and character levels applied, and a bunch more low level monsters. I'm perfectly happy with Tome of Horrors I - III and the two Monster Encyclopedias Mongoose put out. The only thing WotC Monster Manuals have on these books is color illustrations.

Don't get me wrong, I love WotC and I'm proud of the work I've done for them, but Monster Manual IV just doesn't have the elements that compell me to make a purchasing decision in favor of the book.

 

[JustKim]

Not all of the WotC stuff is on decline, just some of the general stuff. Eberron and FR has some redeemable valuble.

And then again, maybe it's a matter of taste, since I liked MM4 but don't care for FR or most of the Eberron stuff.

 

[Soel]

75% new monsters that are not just different colored orcs..
20% updated monsters from previous editions.
5% classed monster npcs ala MM4, except using templates and nonstandard classes(base and prestige) and putting them on non-standard monsters (Phrenic Mineral Warrior Gulgar Knight, or maybe Woodling Beholder Wizard/Fleshwarper)

Lair maps are ok in strict moderation.

 

[Khuxan]

I would like a book that uses the new MMIV format (including the typical treasure and random encounter sections, but also includes new templates, monster PrCs, equipment, feats, and so on. I'd like them to cut back on undead, fiends and constructs, and not have any statted up NPCs. I liked the idea of information for DMs on how to make their own Lore and Ecology sections.

 

[FireLance]

I'd like to see monsters of every type from CR 1 to CR 20. I know I can always advance them, but it's nice to be able to have a mix of new and familiar monsters at every level.

 

[ColonelHardisson]

While I welcome classed monsters, there weren't enough in IV to be satisfying. So I would suggest a new version of the old 1e Rogue's Gallery, combined with Enemies & Allies, which gives statblocks for all manner of NPCs, from "stock" characters to classed monsters.

For a new MM, I'd like to see a couple of things:

* Animals that could have been produced by, and are part of, an ecology infused with magic, as a D&D world is assumed to have. The prismasaurus of the Epic Level Handbook is an example, as is the krenshar. Too many critters seem to have been designed simply as a good challenge for PCs, and seem separate from the world's ecology.

* More fey. This monster type seems underrepresented in the game.

 

[Knightfall]

I would like to see a mix of new creatures and creatures from previous editions. I don't want to see monsters that are already in the Monster Manual.

Agreed.

I looked through Monster Manual IV yesterday at my FLGS, and I wasn't very impressed. The layout and quality of the book was good, but there were too many variant drow, orcs, gnolls, etc. with class levels and not enough new monsters. The various Spawns of Tiamat take up too much room, IMO. I did like the inclusion of the sample encounter locations and maps, but that wasn't enough for me to consider buying the book. And, of course, I don't like the idea of using the new NPC stat block format for monsters.

However, I could see myself buying Monster Manual IV used, for half-price, or getting it as a gift, but there isn't any way that I'm going to buy it at full price. It just doesn't look useful enough, IMO. Monster Manual III has much better content, even with the major stat block errors, and I haven't even found much use for that book, yet. But, at least, there is a possibility for MM III to be useful, IMO.

Monster Manual V better NOT be anything like Monster Manual IV or WotC can forget it. I'm not stupid. I don't need a monster book filled with MM creatures with levels (ie. generic, sample NPCs). I can create that myself. The inclusion of maps for lairs/encounters for monsters can say, and I'll learn to live with the new stat block format, but there better be more MONSTERS in MM V.

KF72

 

[Shade]

For starters, I'd call it "Fiend Folio 2" rather than MMV. Beyond the fact that the higher the sequel number, the higher the expected "suckitude", the MM name has become too muddled at this point to give you an idea of what to expect. Go back to the last great monster collection and pick up the pieces from there.

I'd like to see a 50-50 split of updated creatures from past editions and "new" creatures. The new creatures should include some of the best critters from Dragon, Dungeon, and modules, similar to what the Fiend Folio did. Just a few great beasties that deserve the attention: rotripper and kurge (Dra Annual 5), the numerous new demons and other creatures in the Demonomicon articles (I'm not talking the archfiends themselves), just about anything from the last Creature Catalog, the Kyuss-associated creatures (I hesitate to use the term "wormspawn" for fear of assoication with dragonspawn), the spirotovore energons from Bastion of Broken Souls, etc. Of the classics, finish rounding out the celestials, rilmani, and yugoloths. Bring back fan-favorites like the quickling, rakasta, sheens, ferrous dragons, ghazneths, etc.

I'd like to see them build upon existing groups of creatures such as nerra, ethergaunts, rilmani, rather than creating new, less interesting batches (I'm looking at you mindshredders).

How about an even spread of creatures across CRs 1-20 for a change, plus a few epic creatures?

Two words: More templates!

I want to see almost no humanoids, less monstrous humanoids and undead, more animals, fey, giants, and vermins, and about the same amount of the other creature types.

Absolutely, positively no MM creatures with class levels!

I'd like to see appendices better detailing how to advance creatures, and how to do it quickly, so people will feel more comfortable with the process and stop demanding things like the MM monsters with class levels. I'd like some of the more common abilities like sneak attack, etc. to move to the glossary, rather than be reprinted in individual entries (they've taken steps in this direction already).

I'll echo Demiurge's suggestion to follow the Dungeon stat block format, for all the same reasons.

Cut back on the "In Eberron/In the Realms" sections unless they actually have something worthwhile to say. If the creature is usually found in deserts, I don't need a suggestion to place the creature in the Raurin desert or the Anauroch...that seems to go without saying.

More critters for the less populated planes: Pandemonium, Positive and Negative Energy planes, Far Realm, Temporal Energy Plane, etc. (I realize some of those are variant planes, but they've used 'em in the past).

Make some truly gigantic giants (Gargantuan and Colossal).

Break new ground. The Fiend Folio introduced the swarm subtype, grafts, and symbionts, all game-changing elements that continue to pop up in later supplements.

Keep the expanded ecology information from the more recent books, as more flavor is never a bad thing. Keep the lore, but try to make it more useful. My players are much more interested in knowing if a critter is vulnerable to a certain energy type or a certain material is needed to bypass damage reduction than whether the creature is used as a mount by other creatures.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

I'd actually prefer if the AoW and Savage Tide monsters not be reprinted outside of Paizo books. I'd rather have an Age of Worms Monster Manual (or DM's Companion or whatever) and one for Savage Tide. (I figure both Adventure Paths are too big to fit into one volume.)

Ditto a Demonomicon with all its goodies intact.

I do think the setting-neutral monsters from Ghostwalk need to be in the next monster book, though.

 

[BlueBlackRed]

Monsters with descriptions.
Templates are good too.
I would like to see reprints from 2E.

But no lairs, suggestions of where to put them in Eberron or Forgotten Realms, anything they did with MMIV, and get it all done in 1-2 pages per creature.
They can do all of this in another book that is not titled Monster Manual. They can call it "Rogues' Gallery: Monster!"

Basically I want another Fiend Folio.