D&D 5E The use of Monster Stat Blocks in Adventures

[Ranes]

Like others here, I used to create monster/NPC index cards, one card per creature type (with multiple, random hit point totals if required), but I would also re-write a module's encounters in shorthand, because it helped me remember them without needing to refer to my pristine module and thereby exposing it to game table hazards. However, when I'm reading an adventure, I prefer monster stat blocks kept to appendices. That's partly because my preferred system's stat heavy. If I'm reading an old 1e module, I don't mind seeing stats inline.

Having said that, these days I DM with a laptop bristling with PDFs, which renders a module's stat format almost irrelevant.

 

[wedgeski]

I would love adventures that came shrink wrapped with a fold out map and monster and NPC cards.

But would your wallet?

 

[AtomicPope]

I wouldn't be surprised if the lack of stat-blocks was at least in part for non-5e players to use the adventures: people can then go look up the appropriate version of the orc for their own game.

Personally, I'm torn - in principle, I'd prefer to have everything right there on the page, but that eats up a lot of space. I don't think I actually even have a single preferred option, except that I do know I'm not really a fan of the Paizo approach. (Which is to present the block once, when first used, and then provide a reference later - better, IMO, to hold the block to an appendix later and then have all uses provide a reference. If I'm going to have to cross-reference stat-blocks, I'd rather have all the references go to a single, easy-to-find place, rather than to some random page somewhere in the adventure.)

Neither am I, but at the same time I do like to have my encounters handy. The only solution I've come up with was when I started my first 4e Campaign about 8 years ago or so:
* Break each encounter into a single page whenever possible
* Label each encounter accordingly
* Summarize stats, skills and abilities
* Include group tactics
* Total exp and treasure

I've been doing this for a while now and it works great. It allows me to limit my page turning and use a module or Monster Manual only when I need details. Once you get the hang of writing and printing your own summaries then it's just a quick bit of homework and you're all set. You have a half a dozen printed pages to reference for the entire session and you can write on them however you like. When I use a module I label the encounters by Page, Chapter and Room Number. Make a quick reference for Random Encounters and you're all set. Your entire campaign fits in a manilla folder.

The problem I have with the Paizo approach is it clutters the source material. I don't want to thumb through two dozen stat blocks. I want to read the block text aloud, describe the rooms, draw the maps/battle mats, and play the NPCs. When it comes time for combat I've been a DM long enough to write my own notes.

 

[KingsRule77]

Can't have full stat blocks in the adventure. Even minimal ones would eat up pretty serious chunks of page count.
I knock out my own abbreviated versions and keep them handy.

 

[FormerlyHemlock]

One of the odd things that I didn't realise until I started writing about it (new article: A Short History of Monster Stat Blocks) was that 5E doesn't actually use a monster stat block!

The official adventures use monster references... similar to how Gygax did it in the Steading of the Hill Giant Chief. Although he had hit points; these don't even have those!

I'm intending to write a follow-up article for my blog on the use of stat-blocks and how they affect the flow of adventure text. In the last few years, we've gone from one extreme to the other. Early 4E was "everything for the encounter must be on the page" and that gave use the occasionally much-misused "Delve" format, while 5E is all about the readability of the adventure text without being interrupted by pesky stat-blocks, which means you'll be flipping to an appendix or pulling out your Monster Manual...

Just wondering what your preferred method is - full monster stats? shortened stats? references? And how much do including the stats affect your comprehension of the adventure material? Do you prefer Paizo's way of doing it? Wizards? Someone else's? I know that Quests of Doom 2 uses a format that relates back to the 2E/early 3E format...

Cheers!

I find that Frog God's in-line stat-blocks are just about perfect for me. Occasionally I look something up in the MM like an obscure saving throw, but for the most part the in-line stat blocks are sufficient to run the adventure.

 

[Wolf118]

The Angry GM came up with a way to streamline a 5e stat block: http://theangrygm.com/abbreviate-stat-blocks/

 

[Lojak]

I much prefer having the stat blocks in the adventure. In fact, I do not even like having to reference the PHB for spells (which is why I really liked later 4e monster design). Having to reference 3-4 different books just to run an encounter is simply too cumbersome.

When we had the compendium, I would write adventures and just copy and paste the monster stat blocks into my notes. It worked really well and was a big part of the reason I paid for an insider account. I wish WotC would do something similar for 5e.