The Cunningly Disguised MMIV Preview

[demiurge1138]

So on the WoTC site today was posted the next stage in the Design and Development "Craft a Creature" polling thing, which we all know ENWorld did first. But that's not the interesting thing about the article.

It includes a detailed preview of Monster Manual IV

And I have to say my impressions are mixed. On one hand, it uses (as has been alluded to) the condensed statblock introduced for NPCs in the DMG 2, which, when used for monsters and not NPCs, is a concept I despise without sanity or shame. And it appears that by abandoning it, they're also getting rid of randomly generated treasure, at least in the example we're given.

On the other hand, in order to fill a two page spread, the creature's entry is expanded not with an advanced statblock, but detailed information on ecology and society. Cool. And there's even a Knowledge sidebar for DMs who don't feel comfortable winging it or don't want to give too much away by accident.

And the creature itself, a redspawn of Tiamat, is pretty cool - although I think the CR might be a bit off.

Thoughts?

Demiurge out.

 

[Shemeska]

Increased ecology material = made of Win and God

Sample encounters = could do without

Condensed statblock = some good, some bad, mostly good

Overall I'll need more time looking at it to say if what my overall feeling on the changes in format are, but it appears promising so long as the flavor writing is of good quality.

 

[Shade]

And I have to say my impressions are mixed. On one hand, it uses (as has been alluded to) the condensed statblock introduced for NPCs in the DMG 2, which, when used for monsters and not NPCs, is a concept I despise without sanity or shame.

My thoughts exactly. At least they added the AC breakdown back in.

I do like the addition of Ecology and Society, can do without the lore, and I prefer random treasure to pre-statted treasure (although I don't mind a suggestion). I'm also thankful to see that not every monster has an "In Faerun" or "In Eberron" entry just for the sake of having one.

 

[Ashrem Bayle]

I love it. In fact, I wish they would re-release the origianl MM in the same format.

 

[JustKim]

This format has already been used in Complete Psionic at least, so it's not surprising. I like the knowledge DCs and the return of ecologies, but I don't really care for the new stat block right now. I may change my mind when I get used to the new layout. One thing that does disappoint me is that the Environment entry is removed. I liked having a quick notation of where a creature could be found, especially with regards to planar encounters. Having to read through a monster's entire entry to determine if it hails from another plane, and if so which, is not convenient.

 

[Festivus]

As a relative newcomer to D20 D&D, I must say I much prefer the new statblock to the old ones. I can find information so much more quickly than the old ones. Downside, it takes up a lot of room. But if it saves me 2 minutes of reading the entire block to find what I need it's worth it.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

I love it. In fact, I wish they would re-release the origianl MM in the same format.

And MM2, MoF and FF, or at least the best stuff from each. (Abyssal ostriches, for instance, need no updating. They're 2 HD, they're extinct already anyway.)

 

[Kobold Avenger]

The possessions (for intelligent creatures) is a good thing compared to randomly generated treasure, because if they had all these magic items on them, then why aren't they using them? That's just one point that bugged me about rolling randomly generated treasure after killing a monster (yeah I know you could do it beforehand, but it might seem a bit too long for setting up an encounter).

 

[Ashrem Bayle]

And MM2, MoF and FF, or at least the best stuff from each. (Abyssal ostriches, for instance, need no updating. They're 2 HD, they're extinct already anyway.)

A "Classic" Monster Manual is actually a pretty darn good idea, especially if it had "In Eberron" & "In Faerun" sections.

 

[ThirdWizard]

I don't like them having built in treasure. Without it I could easily throw some items on them. Now, if I want them to have different items I have to recalculate their stats without the items and then give them the new items, adding a step I would rather do without. I like to pick and choose magic items often, though, so I might be in the minority. It just doesn't seem right that every one of these the PCs run across should have the same set of items, though.