New Ampersand - future stuff (DDi)

[MerricB]

Bill Slavicsek has posted his latest Ampersand column for those who are DDi members. For those who aren't, a brief summary:

* There will soon be a new statblock format for monsters. It groups powers by action type: Traits, Standard, Minor, Triggered.
* Wednesday night organised play: D&D Encounters starts March 17.
* The first hints of material past the release of the Essentials line - he hints at a new power source - but more of what we've seen and they're trying some new formats/products as well.

The statblock format isn't that different from what we already have; it just makes a couple of minor adjustments that look like they'll very much help us find information when running them at the table. (One thing much appreciated is a clearer breakdown of attack powers into Attack, Hit, Effect and Miss sections).

It's amazing how a couple of little changes make a big difference.

When you add this to the latest errata to the D&D books, it makes me very happy about how D&D is travelling at present. I feel that the designers and developers are keeping a closer eye on the game than ever before, and they're prepared to step in and fix things when they realise they've made a mistake.

Cheers!

 

[Derulbaskul]

I'm surprised by the new format for stat blocks. I don't think I have seen a single complaint about the existing format or anything else that would provoke such a revision.

More importantly, I wonder how long before we will see the Monster Builder updated to generate the new stat blocks? And I wonder what this will do to any existing custom stat blocks we have created (I'm thinking particularly of the new classification of traits).

 

[FireLance]

I like the new stat block, probably because it already does something that I've done for my own (self-formatted) stat blocks: pull out the triggered actions to a separate section so that it is easier for me to notice them and remember to use them.

The grouping together of Standard, Minor, (presumably Move) and Traits (from the context, "constant" qualities that do not require actions to activate) is an additional step that did not occur to me but which I approve of and support.

 

[Truename]

LOVE the new stat blocks. In the heat of combat, I have trouble remembering all the little extras monsters could do. I forget minor actions, and especially forget immediate and opportunity powers. This should be a big help. Wish I had it today.

 

[Mustrum_Ridcully]

I'm surprised by the new format for stat blocks. I don't think I have seen a single complaint about the existing format or anything else that would provoke such a revision.

Well, I guess they experienced some issues in their own games. Organizing by action type and highlighting reactive/immediate actions makes a lot of sense to me, and it will definitely help understand monster stat blocks faster. There are a few Solos and Elites, for example, that have minor action attacks, sometimes it is difficult to keep that in min.

More importantly, I wonder how long before we will see the Monster Builder updated to generate the new stat blocks? And I wonder what this will do to any existing custom stat blocks we have created (I'm thinking particularly of the new classification of traits).

That's a good question. Technically, traits might be identified by the fact that they require no action (you can already create such powers) and they could be automatically grouped there. It might become a new action type in the editor?

Edit:
Also interesting - the D&D novel line is also being released as PDF. I wonder if this will also create hope for PDF rulebooks again? (I think we had this discussion before... I am still wondering. )

 

[fba827]

I do not have DDI access, but based on what you wrote here:

* There will soon be a new statblock format for monsters. It groups powers by action type: Traits, Standard, Minor, Triggered.

THANK YOU WOTC (if you're reading).

Any monster I've ever copied the stat block for, I've always reorganized it like that.
And my PCs, I don't sort my powers by daily, encounter, at will, I sort them by standard/minor/move/immediate actions/opportunity actions/free/etc - cause in the midst of combat, i'm looking to see what i can do with the actions i have remaining, not looking to see how frequently i can do it (though, of course, frequency is still noted since i might decide to save it if i'm borderline as to whether or not i should use it at that time)


having someone else pre-do the work for me (at least with regards to monsters) is all kinds of awesome for a lazy person like myself.

 

[vagabundo]

I like that they are looking to improve on things that are already excellent. I had no complaints about the old stats, but I love this change.

Viva la DND....

 

[Dire Bare]

I feel that the designers and developers are keeping a closer eye on the game than ever before, and they're prepared to step in and fix things when they realise they've made a mistake.

Well, I don't see the new stat block as fixing a mistake! WotC has simply found an improved form, there was nothing wrong with the old one!

 

[Dire Bare]

Also interesting - the D&D novel line is also being released as PDF. I wonder if this will also create hope for PDF rulebooks again? (I think we had this discussion before... I am still wondering. )

I saw the news that D&D novels will start releasing as ebooks . . . . but I saw nothing about the PDF format . . . did I miss something?

 

[MerricB]

Well, I don't see the new stat block as fixing a mistake! WotC has simply found an improved form, there was nothing wrong with the old one!

Check the new updates to the rules: Orb of Imposition fixed, a bunch of other powers changed to make them not dominate or work better...

Cheers!