The reason the books feel incomplete

[Rechan]

Looking at the index of the 4e Monster Manual, I am quite pleased to see that the monsters cover a much more even spread. The epic section is a little thinner, but in general, the monsters are spread out across the levels a lot more. This, more than anything, I think will really help out 4e DMs who want to take their campaign across the full level range.

The funny thing is that I think levels 1-5 are really skimp. Y'got kobolds, goblins, gnomes (not sure how to make a combat adventure outta that one), a few humans, hobgoblins, a few animals, and lizardfolk. Also a few dragons. And an Ettercap. 6-10 is a little more intriguing, with trogs, shadar-kai (mm!), gnolls, a hag or two, and a few others.

Really, I think Paragon tier has the awesome monsters. Rakshasa, Yaun-ti, Drow, hags, slaad, demons/devils, angels, etc. 8-20 has some real good mileage, monster wise.

My main issue thus is those first few levels. That, and you have to come up with some reasons why monster X and Y are workign together. For instance, Magma Hurlers and the magma claw are 4th level. They're native to the Elemental Chaos, and they're stupid. So, unless you want to pitch your PCs into the Elemental Chaos at level 4, what're those monsters doing hanging out with other 4th level monsters?

I really want to avoid "In one room is an ooze, another room is a beholder, a third has some drow, and a fifth has two trolls, and somehow they've all not managed to encounter one another until you smash in the door!"

Finally, I'm just disappointed certain creatures are Elite. The Dryad Briarwitch benefits the best if paired with other plant monsters, but both the Briar Witch and the Treant are elites! So you can't have a big fight with multiple witches and treants.

 

[Agamon]

I see the MM as a list of examples. My pancreas aches at the ease of a) creating new versions of existing monsters, b) creating weaker/stronger versions of existing monsters, c) recreating old edition monsters, d) making new monsters (okay, that last one might take a bit of imagination, I guess).

I took the "easier to DM" mantra as meaning easier to be creative, not more spoon-feeding. Glad to see I wasn't misled.

 

[Mark]

You have to start asking yourself questions like, "why are two vine horrors, a marut and three ice archons working together to kill the PC's?"

They fight crime?