Stat-blocks: In text, or in appendix?

[TeaBee]

My "other" vote:

Both.

I like in the adventure, and in an appendix at the back. If it was one or the other, it's hard to choose, but I'd have to say in the adventure.

 

[mkletch]

I voted "in the text", but I also really like the idea of a downloadable 'web enhancement' that you could print. IMO, the appendix option is just unworkable. As if I don't have enough books to flip through as a DM already, now even the module is a constant flipper. I'm flipped out over appendix-driven modules!

-Fletch!

 

[mkletch]

Sometimes I'll put their combat stats on 3x5 cards [...]

Man, I have infinitely better things to do than hand-write index cards for every beastie in an adventure. That is flat out insane (at least for me). You user name must describe the rolling of dice after such a copy-fest.

-Fletch!

 

[smetzger]

I think it should be in text with the encounter and a free web enhancement with just the stat blocks should be available for download.

I also vote for a more readable statblock format that uses bold and line breaks at key points thus allowing me to find the information quicker.

 

[Painfully]

What's better is an appendix with stat blocks made out to fit on 3x5 cards!

 

[Numion]

I prefer the appendix. In RttToEE, which had like 30 pages of them, having them in appendix made it as easy as possible. I could photocopy and make markings on the stats easily, without ruining the original adventure.

I guess it's the same as if they were on a separate pull-out section, but I'd still have to photocopy them, to make my own markings.

 

[Madfox]

I prefer an Appendix with ALL creatures, including the regular MM ones, at the back of the adventure which can be pulled out just like the map booklets in Return to the Temple of Elemental Evil and City of the Spider Queen. A reference purely to the MM irritates me greatly, because it forces me to note the stats down on paper anyway. At the very least they should have included hide, move silently, listen and spot skills together with the hit points. Grabbing a book is a lot more conspicuous then just turning a page in the adventure. It tends to disrupt the mood and when you are facing several different creatures (like for example a Yuan-ti with the snake companions and summoned demon allies) you have to do a lot of flipping.

 

[Sanackranib]

in text

I'd rather have 'um at hand then track down where they are in
the half dozen monstrer books I have then ave go go back and forth to it as the counter progresses.

 

[Jeph]

If I ruled the universe, I'd have them in both places. But I don't, so I prefer 'em in the encounter description.

 

[the Jester]

I have no problem with the idea of stat blocks being online for easy and quick download, but all the guys without computers or internet access or printers prolly do.