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Message: <blockquote data-quote="MerricB" data-source="post: 2779065" data-attributes="member: 3586">One of the fascinating things about collecting DDM is that you see how they compress the statblocks of creatures. You can leave out a lot of information if your only interest in the creature is in fighting it.However, I've also noticed how leaving things out restricts options. A good example of this is the Basic D&D game (the BECM edition, not the collected Cyclopedia game).In my copies of the Basic Game, there is no mention of the Intelligence score of the Orc. Nor of the dragon, ghoul, minotaur, etc. It's not considered important.In the Master set of the rules, they introduced the maze spell. How long it lasts depends on the Intelligence score of the target. Oh dear - we don't have intelligence scores for monsters. Well, we'd better add them! They did. In the master set is a big table listing the intelligence scores for all previous monsters!Having the intelligence scores listed opens up design space. You can now have effects that trigger on this.There's a parallel in AD&D. The Monster Manual (1e, of course!) lists the Intelligence score of each creature. Gary wasn't going to run into the Maze problem! However, psionic powers have an effect based on both Intelligence and Wisdom. Gary's solution? He's got a table in the DMG for determining Wisdom based on the Intelligence score. So, you come up against an Orc with your psionic character, and you Mind Blast it! What happens next? In 3e, you'd have the Intelligence and Wisdom scores there. No biggie. In 1e, you first need to consult the Monster Manual (as Intelligence is rarely listed in stat blocks), then you need to consult the DMG and find the dice you need to roll for the Wisdom score.There comes a point when the DM of such a campaign just starts including Int and Wis values in their statblocks because it's simpler.Another DM, perusing an adventure the first DM has written, says, "Why do you need those Int and Wis scores? They'll rarely come up!" But they do all the time in the first DM's campaign.If you ever want to see something particularly bizarre, read the description of the AD&D (1e) Ray of Enfeeblement spell.3e is a system that went for the completist method. Not only that, it said, "well, if we're listing Intelligence for that rare case when someone casts maze, why not have other effects that are reliant on Intelligence?" Short stat blocks in 3e? I see them all the time. They read: Goblins (6), see MM.The issue of NPC standardisation is a for a later time.Cheers!</blockquote>

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