Dragongirl
First Post
Now that Savage Species is out. Should new monster books go ahead and break down their critters by level?
-
NOW LIVE! Into the Woods--new character species, eerie monsters, and haunting villains to populate the woodlands of your D&D games.
Should monster books from now on have level breakdowns?
- Thread starter Dragongirl
- Start date
I voted "Good idea, but unnecessary." It would take up a lot of space, and kind of invalidate Savage Species to include that info in all future monster supplements. Just an entry for Level Adjustment (or ECL) would be enough to make creating a class pretty easy.
I would appreciate having some monsters with default "treasure" though. That CR 5 Troll should have somewhere between 800 and 2000 gp (roughly) worth of stuff. That's definitely enough for a masterwork weapon, and maybe magic armor and potions. That way, instead of rolling for treasure every time, a DM can simply use the default. Of course, it wouldn't preclude random treasure generation, but that's rule 0 territory anyways.
I would appreciate having some monsters with default "treasure" though. That CR 5 Troll should have somewhere between 800 and 2000 gp (roughly) worth of stuff. That's definitely enough for a masterwork weapon, and maybe magic armor and potions. That way, instead of rolling for treasure every time, a DM can simply use the default. Of course, it wouldn't preclude random treasure generation, but that's rule 0 territory anyways.
EarthsShadow
First Post
I think it would be cool if the future monster books had hints that suggested how they could be used as possible classes and definately ecl modifiers and why they are the way they are, but I don't think that all monsters should be converted into classes. Some of the more common monsters would be nice though, especially if they are unique.
BiggusGeekus
That's Latin for "cool"
I voted for this. How does this work?
thundershot
Adventurer
One of the problems with current books is that many writers (admittedly) have no clue what exactly an ECL is. Now we have a definite way of handling level adjustments and ECLs. Sure, there's some guesstimation involved, but it's more of a comparison. I hope publishers consider releasing tables with all of their monsters and the adjustments similar to the ones at the end of Savage Species.
Chris
Chris
Dragongirl
First Post
Basicly it breaks down a multiple HD creature into levels. Dividing all their stats and powers up so that you can play a young(er) version of the monster and not suffer the full ECL.BiggusGeekus said:
BiggusGeekus
That's Latin for "cool"
Dragongirl said:
Hmmmmm.
I like this and hate this depending on the monster.
Dragongirl
First Post
Bump
The Grey Dwarf
First Post
I like the idea but it should not be included in the books.
Something available online would be great.
Something available online would be great.
Bagpuss
Legend
I think the people that are saying its a good idea haven't thought to hard about the implications.
If you going to break each monster down by level then its going to take at least twice as much room. If as a DM I had a choice between a book with 160 monsters without levels and 60 to 80 monsters with levels. I know which I would find more useful.
I'm sure with the information in Savage Species I could work out Levels for any monster my players fancied playing and I would allow.
Who needs monster level information? A player and then only for the one monster he decides to play so 99% of that monster book information is useless to them.
Who generally buys monster books? DM's and they don't need the space wasted with level information, so about 50% of the monster book isn't that useful.
If you going to break each monster down by level then its going to take at least twice as much room. If as a DM I had a choice between a book with 160 monsters without levels and 60 to 80 monsters with levels. I know which I would find more useful.
I'm sure with the information in Savage Species I could work out Levels for any monster my players fancied playing and I would allow.
Who needs monster level information? A player and then only for the one monster he decides to play so 99% of that monster book information is useless to them.
Who generally buys monster books? DM's and they don't need the space wasted with level information, so about 50% of the monster book isn't that useful.
Similar Threads
