The Humble Monster Stat Block - Learning from 4E

[Mustrum_Ridcully]

Its not the statblock that is the improvement, it is the monster design principles. Doing out a 3e demon with its full list of spell like abilities in a 4e stat block would not be significantly better for the DM than the late 3.5 or pathfinder stat blocks or even the original 3e MM ones. Throwing a 4e Demon into a 3e statblock (converted where necessary such as saves) would give you something you could use at the table easier in a 3e game.

Not the same rules as PCs, stats designed for a specific adversary combat role at a certain level, a few themed powers and done. KISS and themed makes for good at the table DM encounter tools.

I like the concept of monster roles a lot as an encounter design tool to shape the feel of an encounter, something easy to apply to 3e/PF.

Don't feel it is necessary to give monsters feats or limit the ones they have. Same for skills and NPC level appropriate equipment.

Yes. I think a lot is in the "philosophy" behind the 4E monster and encounter design.

It's not like 3E monsters didn't get to break the rules. But they first had to follow them to detail - determining ability scores, hit dice, hit points, attack bonuses, damage bonuses, feats, saves and so on. But afterwards, you could freely break the rules. Think this monster needs Weapon Finesse but don't have a feat slot? Give it as a bonus! There's this niffty Vampire Template, it adds a few powers and several bonus feats. Pick a few spell-like abilities if you like.

The "trick" of 4E is that it creates a much smaller baseline of rules to fulfill. No feats, skill points, saving throw modifiers.

Another advantage is that it gives you "target numbers" for each CR/Level, something 3E is lacking. You don't know what is a good AC at any level except by comparing and experience.

But once you got that experience, and if you accept the design philosophy, you can make things a lot simpler for yourself.

NPC Mage? Give him Fireball 3/day, Teleport 1/day, and Magic Missile at will. You're done. You don't have to calculate all 9 levels of Wizard to get him to be able to do this. (You are not really done though, since he still needs save DCs and stuff like that. But nothing really complicated now, and you can be certain - the stat block will be small)

Of course, if any rules lawyer comes around, he will complain that this is not "RAW". Some players (and DMs even) will say: "This is supposed to be a normal human that took on wizardry? How does it come that a PC can't do the same? Where's the PrC he took? What feats would he have".

If you can avoid getting your players and DMs out of that mindset you can make things a lot easier for yourself.

If I only I understood and accepted that 5-8 years ago. But 3e was a lot about "system mastery". Part of the fun was "understanding" these rules. And applying them correctly. Because I understood the system, I had to use it. That was, off course, stupid.

It took Iron Heroes Villain Classes to get me out of this mindset in the beginning. And 4E perfected it. I think if I would now go back to 3E, I would have an easier time DMing by not sweating these details. And, not to come off as a Wulf Ratbane fanboi - consider looking into Trailblazer for learning to not sweat the details but getting the cliff notes right.

(And in case anyone is confused. I am still a 4E DM and player these days and won't change "back". But then I have no serious problems with 4E and do not even have to change my mindset on how to approach the system or anything like that. )