New Stat Block... With Pictures...

[scylis]

Yes.

Unequivocally, yes.

The stablock should describe the monster. The appearance of the monsters and where it usually is found is vital.

My most virulent criticisms of the 4E monsters is that, especially for the more obscure monsters, and especially obscure monsters without illustrations or minis, the players never had a good idea in their minds' eyes what they were fighting.

As a player I need to know: What physical shape does this threat take?

As a DM I need to know: Where can this threat credibly be found?

This is good stuff and overdue.

No.

Unequivocally no.

Should they have that sort of thing in the monster's entry in whatever book they're presented in? Yes please! I usually enjoy reading about that sort of thing. But not in stat blocks.

Stat blocks are what is used to run the monster in combat, so when you're actually using it, you certainly don't need to know that H&R Puffintroll Berzerkers like to eat cute animals and adventurers and that they like to live on the shady north side of swamps and have been know to sing bass in rousing folk melodies or whatnot. In combat, I just need to know its actual stats, defenses, attacks, skills, and whatnot, and a little picture that (hopefully) matches its token or mini (if a token or mini for it is available), because by then the party is already on said north side of swamp having been drawn in by the lovely bass rhythm wafting through the area and placated by the cute animals that lived nearby, and they'll only be dinner if they lose.

 

[Stormonu]

I'll just state that I'd like to see monster stats that fit on a single card - much like the cards for the mini line*. Stats on one side, picture on the other. Dragons and such creatures might need a "double" length card that folds up to regular card size.

Now, if you could expand that to have an MM with a single card sleeve on the page for the monster card and the rest was a 2E-like monster write-up - that would rock.


* I read MM's for the "story" bits - ecology, lore, hooks and the like. Leafing through stat blocks just makes my eyes cross and I could care less when I'm away from the DM table. Stats, you need to actually run the monsters. Write-ups you need to know why you want to include that monster in your game.

 

[Aegeri]

The reason I mostly poo poo putting extra stuff that isn't directly combat related into the stat blocks isn't because I think it wouldn't be worth-while, it's just 4E is transitioning into mechanical complexity for all monsters. Go and compare MM1 demons to Demonomicon demons. The sheer difference in powers is night and day in many cases. The stat blocks have got longer too, for example traits like all-around vision, swarm resistances are now powers on the stat block - instead of being one line descriptions tucked away in the block that the DM had to remember.

Then look at the way solo monsters especially are heading. Pazuzu, Allabah, Lolth and such with things in the original MM. Like the purple worm or dracolich, which have comparatively fewer powers (even many MM2 solos don't get the same amount of powers). Extending these stat blocks further is already pushing some intimidating looking stat blocks to be even more imposing.

Really, books should have write ups and tell you that stuff. Stat blocks should be as lean and focused as possible - that's what the DM needs most.

 

[Connorsrpg]

No to pics in stat blocks for me too. Yes I want pics - but in stat blocks that I often gather together and print out as an enc all together.

The pics need to be bigger anyway - to show players. A tiny icon on stat-block isn't really going to help much anyway. We already get all pics from MM as downloads.

I do agree we need to know what creatures look like. I show players pics of just about all creatures they fight. Either from the laptop or I print them out.

Quite often, on the one word doc, I put the monster pic on the top half of a page, upside down, and then the stats in the lower half. So then, when printed, you can fold the sheet over the DM screen. You have the pic facing the PCs and the stats facing you (and not taking up valuable table space). Works for me anyway.

 

[Mesh Hong]

Count me in on the NO to pictures and fluff in stat blocks.

The stat block should be as clean and easy to read as possible, everything that isn't mechanically relevant should be removed.

I like picture, background, habitat, eating habits and the names of the creatures best friends as much as the next DM. But a creatures thoughts about the need of a balanced economy and the price of fish are unnecessary when checking just how much ongoing poison damage its minor action attack does, or if it can understand Abyssal. (Ahem, might have got a bit carried away there )

 

[Klaus]

The new stat block has pictures most likely so the DM can identify the monster's token.

Fiery Dragon circumvents this by including the monster's name on the bloodied side of the token.

 

[Scribble]

If I had to guess, I'd say they will probably look something like this:

 

[CovertOps]

Scribble: I'm sure I should know who that is, but I don't. Please tell! Sorry I can't XP you for that...have to spread some around.

 

[Scribble]

Scribble: I'm sure I should know who that is, but I don't. Please tell! Sorry I can't XP you for that...have to spread some around.

That- unfortunately- is Snookie from The Jersey Shore...

(With apologies to the Tainted Ooze.)

 

[vaultdweller]

I am in agreement that such information needs to be available, but that the stat block is not the place for it to go. Even an "icon" sized image is too much bloat for an already lengthy format.