Stat Block Problems w/ Hordes of the Abyss

[Wycen]

Everytime the designers start talking about the game itself being too complicated, I get exceptionally nervous that people are suggesting that the entire game needs overhauling, which is the sort of thing that can only be done with a new edition.

Were I a conspiracy theorist, I might consider the new stat block as a prelude to a non-OGL system and a means of "obfuscating" the monsters for the next edition. No reverse engineering for you!

 

[Vraille Darkfang]

As for the missing hit die types; those never change and are inexorably tied to a monster's type, so even though the stat blocks don't show them, they're easy enough to determine. Even more so for Hordes of the Abyss, since every new monster in there's an outsider, and thus they all have d8 Hit Dice.

Type & Class.

I'm glad they put the AC adjustments in, one of the biggest things I hate about Comp, Psionic.

While I don't mind leaving out HD type, it's gonna be trouble down the road. All those sample advanced monsters in the MM? They have levels of Fighter, Cleric, Sor, etc. That means different HD types within the same monster.

Again, for me? It doesn't matter so much. I can scan through & re-constuct HD pretty quickly (HD, Con Bonus, Feats, Type Bonus). As long as they aren't getting too wierd I can figure it out.

My wife (who wants to try running)?

She's confused.

Simple logic A=B, B=C, so A=C.

So when she sees 9 HD (116 hp) and 9 HD (40 hp) and 9 HD (50 hp) she's just a little bit confused. She's doesn't instantly know the CON bonus for a 35 Con (It take me a bit to figure it out). She also hasn't memorized what creature type has what HD.

This new stat block I find annoying.

My wife (as a new DM) finds it very frustrating because she CAN'T figure out where the numbers come from. It seems like they are just making them up? How can 9 HD be 116, 40, 50, or any other number?

I guess for the very first time you DM it'd be better. Everything is laid out nice & you just go with what is written down on the page.

The very second you decide (as most DM's do), "How does this work?" Be prepared to cross-reference 3-4 other books and don't expect your answer to match their's (either party could be at fault).

This new format forms a barrier to DM's learning the finer points of the game.

I don't like that.

 

[satori01]

Vraille Darkfang I agree with your post 100%.
As I have said before, the Monster Stats assume average rolls for hit points, an assumption I do not use. It is much easier for me as a DM to modify hit points if I know the total amount of Hit Points added or subtracted due to the monster's Constitution modifier.

Leaving out this type of information, might be fine for an adventure, but not for the Monster book that is supposed to be the central and sole point of origin for the monster. In a game of options, like D&D, information like how many hit points are garned from Size in the case of Constructs, or Con modifier are pretty useful.

Not all books will have just one type of creature type in it. Also I noticed that many of the stat blocks in Hordes of the Abyss have Average HD rolls that really are not .. more in the range of Average rolls +Con modifier + an miscelaneous 2 extra hit points.

As my math teacher always said, showing your work is not a bad thing.

 

[jgbrowning]

Similiar PDF products to this thread... *hint hint* *nudge nudge* *wink wink* The one on statistics is free.... *whoot* It won't answer everything but it's a good place to start, IM(ns)HO.

I find stats are the hardest things to do right because they're fiddly and interconnected/interdependent. One flub can cascade into a series of errors. And believe me, I've had my share, unfortunately.

joe b.

 

[Endur]

Anyway, I apologize for the errors in the book (although I'm fairly certain the majority of them didn't originate on my keyboard), and for the omission of things like the amount of Power Attack bonuses (which I had no control over). Hopefully an eratta (either John's or WotC's) will be available soon.

For future books/articles, please don't include the amount of Power Attack bonuses in your (and Dragon/Dungeon's) statblocks. This is a major pet peeve. As the GM, I'll decide whether the monster is using Power Attack. This is like pre-determining that the Balor is going to do a full attack, so not putting any spell like ability information in the Balor's stat block.

Likewise, the lack of hit dice information and showing how hit points are calculated is a major problem.

 

[Kunimatyu]

For future books/articles, please don't include the amount of Power Attack bonuses in your (and Dragon/Dungeon's) statblocks. This is a major pet peeve. As the GM, I'll decide whether the monster is using Power Attack. This is like pre-determining that the Balor is going to do a full attack, so not putting any spell like ability information in the Balor's stat block.

Likewise, the lack of hit dice information and showing how hit points are calculated is a major problem.

This is fine, I guess, but only if the text indicate how much a monster typically Power Attacks for. I'd prefer that monsters Power Attack at X amount if that's what they generally do, and then I'll adjust accordingly based on whether they hit, etc.

 

[Arnwyn]

As for the missing hit die types; those never change and are inexorably tied to a monster's type, so even though the stat blocks don't show them, they're easy enough to determine.

As a DM, I shouldn't have to.