Shackled City stat blocks-how best to use them

[TimSmith]

Having been very favourably impressed with the Shackled City adventure path compilation, I have nevertheless been concerned with the stat blocks all being in the appendix! At first glance this seems good as it doesn't "distract" from the overview of the scenario. However, on further consideration, it seems very cumbersome to have to flip back and forth and I shudder to think what it will be like to run several high level enemies at once!

I would be interested in methods others have used to manage this sort of information, either in Shackled City or another mega adventure which might present stat blocks in a similar way.

Is it better to photocopy the stat block appendix? Write up the baddies for a session onto an A4 sheet? Use some software utility? Maybe make use of those original dungeon mags to cut out the stat blocks and manually paste them to A4?

 

[Berandor]

You should definitely prepare to have seperate statblocks. I type them up in a Word sheet I made, but I ususally change some things in their stats, too, so photocopying would probably be enough.

 

[derbacher]

You should definitely prepare to have seperate statblocks. I type them up in a Word sheet I made, but I ususally change some things in their stats, too, so photocopying would probably be enough.

Yep, what he said. I always either:

A) type out the stats in word so I have a seperate sheet with hit point, ammunition, and other consumable items tracks, as well as a place to check off spell use, or

B) Stat them out in etools (especially if I think a mistake was made on the original creation).

This also makes me aware of any special abilities or nifty items the NPC may have that I forgot, so I can be the evil RBDM I so strive for.

 

[HellHound]

I remember when RttToEE was released with all the statblocks in the back of the book... I ende dup photocopying those pages and keeping them beside me at the table.

While I like having them outside of the module test proper, so you aren't going back to encounter 1 to handle encounter 86, I wish they would be included in a seperate booklet so you don't have to flip around at all.

 

[HeapThaumaturgist]

For RttToEE I used DMGenie, a nice piece of software, to keep all of my stat-blocks. And all of the characters. It was great for running combats and tracking all kinds of stuff.

I'm getting the Shackled City book soon, and I plan on running the game with DMGenie.

--fje

 

[BiggusGeekus]

*shrug*

I don't see the problem. When I run informal adventures at home, I just use post-it notes in my copy of the monster manual.

My DM is running RttToEE and he likes it that he can just open the book and show us a picture of what we're looking at and we can't see the statblock.

 

[Voadam]

I generally end up using two bookmarks for this type of thing, one for the text I'm at and one for the stat appendices so I don't lose my place in flipping. It gives me a use for old magic cards.

Photocopying or copying onto a pad would work well to have them beside you in the game.

 

[Cam Banks]

Are the Shackled City stat blocks in the new or old format?

Cheers,
Cam

 

[Erik Mona]

We prefer to call the old format the "classic" format.

The Shackled City stat blocks are in the "classic" format. Updating them all to the new format would have added a month to the book's development, and we decided it ultimately wouldn't be worth the effort.

--Erik

 

[TimSmith]

We prefer to call the old format the "classic" format.

The Shackled City stat blocks are in the "classic" format. Updating them all to the new format would have added a month to the book's development, and we decided it ultimately wouldn't be worth the effort.

--Erik

Nice to "see" you, Eric. Even though I have the Dungeon mags, I still feel the Shackled City hardcover was a good investment. Well done you guys! Now I have shamelessly sucked up, what's the chance of getting the stat block appendix in a PDF on Paizo's website? I have no idea how much this would cost you in time and effort etc. so if you can't then fine, but it would certainly help. Maybe when you publish the hardcover "Age of Worms" you could put the stat appendix in as a separate booklet like the maps?