Will the MM2 have more than monsters...Forked from "advice to anyone still ..."

[malraux]

Maybe a section on creating monsters. Perhaps a section on monsters and their environment. Maybe a section on "reskinning monsters."

Thoughts?

BTW, that all sounds like excellent stuff for the DMG2, though most of the monster creation rules have already been done.

 

[op1983]

I like the crunch heavy books. I don't mind the fluff but in most cases I end up changing it to fit my campaign anyway.

For traps I would prefer an entire book dedicated to traps, trap creation, modifying existing traps and that sort of thing.

 

[Rechan]

Is that really a problem, though? If I spend 60 buying 3 books, vs 60 buying the DDI, I'd imagine WotC is in worse shape. I'd be shocked if WotC makes nearly as much on the paper MMs as with DDI.

I know it may be hard to believe in this day and age, but I'm betting that 80% of gamers aren't online.

You have tons of people out there who just pick up the gaming books and play, without coming onto the internet, or at least looking for the internet stuff.

 

[MadLordOfMilk]

The issue with this, as the original post I quoted hints at, is that if it is all statblocks then you can get all that from the D&D Compendium. Why buy the MM2 if you subscribe to DDI if all the statblocks are part of your subscription?

The art.

No, seriously, I've had friends buy the MM just because they loved the art in it despite having zero personal use for the statblocks. Some, of course, also like the lore stuff, but there's generally enough in there to make them interested without murdering them with details about a particular creature. However, adding a bit more about the backgrounds of creatures and whatnot couldn't hurt as long as it doesn't kill the mechanical value of it.

 

[Glyfair]

Is that really a problem, though? If I spend 60 buying 3 books, vs 60 buying the DDI, I'd imagine WotC is in worse shape.

I count about 15 4E books through the end of next year that are "crunch heavy.' A player who is only interested in the crunch spends about $60 for access this year, and saves $450 or more in books.

Now, most books have significant sections not on DDI. The Monster Manuals, however, don't. If that's all they are, they are setting themselves up for a big hit in sales.

I do expect that more than 80% of D&D DMs have internet access. Given the sort of person that tends to play D&D (college students being very heavy in the "play often" category, IME), I wouldn't be surprised if 80% of the games being run have DMs with that level of internet access.

The art.

You know, they used to have the art galleries online with all the art from the books. Indeed, they often had more, including the art that was edited out (such as monsters they ended up not including). 4E has been spotty in this area.

 

[malraux]

Of the 2009 products currently listed on WotC, the ones I would count as crunch heavy are the MM2, * Power, PHB2, and AV2. That's only 6 books, most of which I wouldn't have purchased anyway. Stuff like the book of undead, dragons, planes, etc, is a book that offers more than crunch and that you lose out on by not buying. Of course, I'd also save 450 a year if I don't buy anything.

 

[webrunner]

The Monster Manual contains information on enemy groups, tactics, descriptions, and background as well as including art. It's not ALL statblocks.

 

[Glyfair]

The Monster Manual contains information on enemy groups, tactics, descriptions, and background as well as including art. It's not ALL statblocks.

True, but is that worth $30 (assuming you already subscribe to DDI)?

Indeed, art doesn't count since WotC has been putting up the art galleries regularly. So, DDI access will get you access to the art (admittedly, not tied into the statblock, so the book does add a bit of convenience).

 

[Nymrohd]

Still, the actual book is a superior tool to browse for ideas than the DDI is, at least for me.

 

[Rechan]

Woops, wrong thread.