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Message: <blockquote data-quote="steeldragons" data-source="post: 5906498" data-attributes="member: 92511">Howdy! <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f600.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":D" title="Big grin    :D"  data-smilie="8"data-shortname=":D" /> I don't see why. Using the monsters as written or tacking on a theme should not take any time at all. Obviously, perhaps there's some learning curve as noone will know, until the game comes out, just what/how many themes and backgrounds and such there are. But once we are familiarized with the system/set, I can't see it taking any significant amount of time.Absolutely! We agree on that. DMs that choose not to or cannot, should be easily able to incorporate the "average monster" in their games with no alterations needed. I don't think that mandates a boring or limited experience. And, as I said above, even tacking on a theme ought not require "prep" time. Since we know themes are going to be a package of feats, *POOF*, your goblin now has these feats. This isn't some chemistry equation or calculus as my esteemed colleague mentions above. Those that wish to put in tons of time, can. But it is hardly necessary.Well, I for one, have no interest in a "one hour" session. But sure, you could play that way...if WotC gets the system right for doing so.But yes, 5 minutes or less seems about what I'm envisioning. I honestly do not expect that applying a theme or ability on top of the "average" stat block should or would require more than 5 minutes...assuming what we know of Themes as groupings of feats is accurate.Par example [and completely hypothetical since we have limited knowledge of what the mechanics will actually entail]:"Ok, 10 goblins, Goblin-archer...ok, that's +1 with their shortbow, called shot and moving/running shot...I'll use that for 3 of them...oh, and I want a shaman to mess with the PC mage. +1 to AC, +5 HP,...they're only 3rd level, so I'll make the shaman 2nd. Ummmmm...Burning Hands and Cause Light Wounds...[possibly, and just totally making this up as I go along] and shaman theme comes with Bless and an at-will Light....I'll reverse that to make it "Darkness" instead." Done. That leaves 4 minutes more to specialize a couple of the other 6 goblins, if I want, and/or use "generic goblin" for the rest. Even without doing anything else, I have a group of goblins the party hasn't encountered yet and one, they likely will not, precisely, encounter again. But they have a few tricks up their musty sleeves that the party didn't get in their last run-in with a group of goblins [when, hypothetically, I just used a group of 5 generic goblins].And, yes, of course, refluffing/skinning takes no time at all and requires no "mechanic computations" for the DM, as you noted.I see no reason why what I proposed wouldn't allow you to do this.<img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)"  data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" />--SD</blockquote>

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