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<blockquote data-quote="Irda Ranger" data-source="post: 3813104" data-attributes="member: 1003">I caught that too.&nbsp; I think they are fey, yes, &quot;as similar to elves as elves are to eladrin.&quot;There's a lot of dark fey in this edition, given the example where the PC's are fighting a Dryad and her treants minions.&nbsp; Feywild indeed.On the Giants issue, I actually find that problematic, on two levels.&nbsp; One was the reasoning given.&nbsp; It sounded from the podcast like they're deliberately witholding classic monsters from the MM so they can sell more books in the future.&nbsp; I know that sounds cynical, but that's really how it sounded to me.&nbsp; Two, I have long considered the test of &quot;Is it D&amp;D?&quot; to be: can I play the classic adventures?&nbsp; Can I take some 4e PC's and monsters and situate them in a classic adventure and &quot;just run&quot; the module?&nbsp; If I can't, the game has strayed too far from its roots.&nbsp; It may be a good game, but it's not D&amp;D.So, I ask you, can you play Against the Giants in 4e?Because if you can't, I kind of curious what game it is you're playing ....Some other notes:&nbsp;- &quot;Briar Witches.&quot;&nbsp; Are they new?&nbsp; I don't have all the MMs ...&nbsp;- Monsters have a two-axis grid of 2x3, for a total of six monsters types.&nbsp; One axis is BBEG-Horde.&nbsp; Gnolls fight in packs, so I guess they're horde.&nbsp; I'm guessing Giants are BBEG.&nbsp; The second axis is Brute/Soldier -- Skirmisher -- Artillery.&nbsp; So, each monster is a BBEG/Skirmisher or a Horde/Brute.&nbsp; etc.&nbsp; That section sounded like it's still in flux though.&nbsp;- Also, within the above categories you also have &quot;regulars&quot; and &quot;elites.&quot;&nbsp; An elite is still a 12th level monster (not the equivalent of a higher CR), but is worth two regulars in a fight.&nbsp; No idea how that's supposed to work.&nbsp; A Death Knight is a 12th level elite Soldier/BBEG.&nbsp;- Tactical Activation.&nbsp; When the PC's use a tactic, the monsters may get an immediate counter-tactic.&nbsp; Dragons can tail slap as an immediate action if someone flanks like.&nbsp; Like a special-purpose AOO?&nbsp;- &quot;Exceptions Based Design.&quot;&nbsp; That phrase got use a lot.&nbsp; Basically it's just a fancy way of saying monster &quot;just do what they do.&quot;&nbsp; There's no over-arching Feat system that works the same way for every monster (so you don't have 1/3rd of all monsters with the Improved Grab feat) or a unified &quot;change size&quot; mechanic.&nbsp; Each monster just works the way it works; period.&nbsp; Much more free-form and with lots of room for creativity in the design process, and makes for less predictable encounters.&nbsp; Higher learning curve for the DM though.&nbsp; Hopefully the simpler stat blocks will more than soften the blow.&nbsp;- &quot;Attack + Zone.&quot;&nbsp; This is the second time I have heard this.&nbsp; A Warlock PC used the Mire of Minoas to do an acid attack and then create a pool of acid that shaped the battlefield.&nbsp; Now we have a monster (which didn't make the MM1 cut) that would throw a cold attack that would leave an ice patch which effected movement.&nbsp; I expect to see more things like this, where there's an immediate effect and an ongoing effect.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Irda Ranger, post: 3813104, member: 1003"] I caught that too. I think they are fey, yes, "as similar to elves as elves are to eladrin." There's a lot of dark fey in this edition, given the example where the PC's are fighting a Dryad and her treants minions. Fey[B]wild[/B] indeed. On the Giants issue, I actually find that problematic, on two levels. One was the reasoning given. It sounded from the podcast like they're deliberately witholding classic monsters from the MM so they can sell more books in the future. I know that sounds cynical, but that's really how it sounded to me. Two, I have long considered the test of "Is it D&D?" to be: can I play the classic adventures? Can I take some 4e PC's and monsters and situate them in a classic adventure and "just run" the module? If I can't, the game has strayed too far from its roots. It may be a good game, but it's not D&D. So, I ask you, can you play Against the Giants in 4e? Because if you can't, I kind of curious what game it is you're playing .... Some other notes: - "Briar Witches." Are they new? I don't have all the MMs ... - Monsters have a two-axis grid of 2x3, for a total of six monsters types. One axis is BBEG-Horde. Gnolls fight in packs, so I guess they're horde. I'm guessing Giants are BBEG. The second axis is Brute/Soldier -- Skirmisher -- Artillery. So, each monster is a BBEG/Skirmisher or a Horde/Brute. etc. That section sounded like it's still in flux though. - Also, within the above categories you also have "regulars" and "elites." An elite is still a 12th level monster (not the equivalent of a higher CR), but is worth two regulars in a fight. No idea how that's supposed to work. A Death Knight is a 12th level elite Soldier/BBEG. - Tactical Activation. When the PC's use a tactic, the monsters may get an immediate counter-tactic. Dragons can tail slap as an immediate action if someone flanks like. Like a special-purpose AOO? - "Exceptions Based Design." That phrase got use [I]a lot[/I]. Basically it's just a fancy way of saying monster "just do what they do." There's no over-arching Feat system that works the same way for every monster (so you don't have 1/3rd of all monsters with the Improved Grab feat) or a unified "change size" mechanic. Each monster just works the way it works; period. Much more free-form and with lots of room for creativity in the design process, and makes for less predictable encounters. Higher learning curve for the DM though. Hopefully the simpler stat blocks will more than soften the blow. - "Attack + Zone." This is the second time I have heard this. A Warlock PC used the Mire of Minoas to do an acid attack and then create a pool of acid that shaped the battlefield. Now we have a monster (which didn't make the MM1 cut) that would throw a cold attack that would leave an ice patch which effected movement. I expect to see more things like this, where there's an immediate effect and an ongoing effect. [/QUOTE]

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