Published Adventures: Full Monster Stats or Book References?
- Thread starter MatthewJHanson
- Start date
If it's something that appears in a core resource like Monster Vault, I'd prefer to just have a page number. Sure, I'd have to have an extra book at the table, but I'd rather do that and get the extra quarter-page of content in the adventure (even more when you consider that the delve format has reprinted the same stats for the same monster if they appear in multiple encounters). More content is always better than sheer convenience to me.
"Three goblin cutthroats [Monster Vault, p. 154] ambush any creatures that cross the bridge."
If it's something with a very minor tweak (such as an extra power from a monster theme or something), you could print that specific tweak--or even better, just mention it in the encounter text, especially if it's something very simple.
"Three lava goblin cutthroats ambush any creatures that cross the bridge. Use the statistics for goblin cutthroats [Monster Vault, p. 154], except that the lava goblins have resist fire 5."
If it's a brand-new monster or an NPC or something (such as a goblin warlord leading a pack of raiders), I'd prefer it to be either listed in the encounter where it's used or in an appendix in the back.
For those who absolutely insist on having all of the stat blocks for any given encounter in one place... That'd be an ideal product support thing. That should just be a .pdf file you could download through the Dungeons & Dragons Insider premium service.
"Three goblin cutthroats [Monster Vault, p. 154] ambush any creatures that cross the bridge."
If it's something with a very minor tweak (such as an extra power from a monster theme or something), you could print that specific tweak--or even better, just mention it in the encounter text, especially if it's something very simple.
"Three lava goblin cutthroats ambush any creatures that cross the bridge. Use the statistics for goblin cutthroats [Monster Vault, p. 154], except that the lava goblins have resist fire 5."
If it's a brand-new monster or an NPC or something (such as a goblin warlord leading a pack of raiders), I'd prefer it to be either listed in the encounter where it's used or in an appendix in the back.
For those who absolutely insist on having all of the stat blocks for any given encounter in one place... That'd be an ideal product support thing. That should just be a .pdf file you could download through the Dungeons & Dragons Insider premium service.
Reads through your lovely published adventure to find a note:
[Monsters stats found in MM1]
Runs and opens up MM1 to find a sticky note:
[Please check June 2009 Errata for updated monster]
Runs to his computer and opens up the July 2009 Errata document:
[Please view new version of this monster in the Monster Vault]
Runs to his copy of Monster Vault to find a sticky note:
[Please check June 2011 Errata]
[Monsters stats found in MM1]
Runs and opens up MM1 to find a sticky note:
[Please check June 2009 Errata for updated monster]
Runs to his computer and opens up the July 2009 Errata document:
[Please view new version of this monster in the Monster Vault]
Runs to his copy of Monster Vault to find a sticky note:
[Please check June 2011 Errata]
Gort
Explorer
Yeah, in a lot of ways it's a shame that the MM1 monsters were so bad. They basically make the original 4e published adventures obsolete. Of course, the original adventures were crap, so it's just another nail in the coffin.
Skyscraper
Adventurer
Stat blocks in adventure.
I buy adventures to
1) get make maps
2) steal cool story elements from
3) avoid compiling monster and NPC stats
Removing one of those three is obviously not desirable.
I buy adventures to
1) get make maps
2) steal cool story elements from
3) avoid compiling monster and NPC stats
Removing one of those three is obviously not desirable.
Thanks all for the feedback. It seems like a few don't mind or prefer page references, but the majority want everything printed.
I used up my daily XP limit. I'll try to get the rest of you tomorrow.
I used up my daily XP limit. I'll try to get the rest of you tomorrow.
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