worlds and monsters is in my hands

[Badkarmaboy]

I've looked at the same information and come to the opposite conclusion.

I *prefer* monster stats to be limited solely to combat stats. That way, I can--within the rules--give my monsters whatever noncombat abilities I wish.

If I want a standard orc to also be a master craftsman with a +20 Blacksmith check, I can.

If I want a Dragon to be a dullard bully with a zero ranks in any social skills, I can.

In 3E, neither of those would be possible. In order to "earn" the required skill points, that blacksmith would have to be advanced with HD and class levels, which would add unwanted HP, BAB, Saves, and other nonsense. The Dragon would have to have a humongous penalty to Int and Cha, or suffer some kind of curse, of something.

It seems like 4E is going toward giving monsters what they *need*--combat stats--and leaving the noncombat bits intentionally vague, for DMs to fill in as the adventure warrants.

I realize that 3E had rule zero, and certainly DMs can (and have) been improvising since the dawn of time. My point is that 4E seems like it's going to explicitly encourage such improvisation. The tone seems to be "This monster has these combat stats, but it fills whatever noncombat story role you as DM require."

-z

Zaruthustran is my hero...and a snappy dresser to boot. Well put good sir.

 

[frankthedm]

The pantheon mentioned is: Bahamut, Vecna, Avandra, Zehir, Ioun, Pelor, Tiamat, Gruumsh, Lolth, Corellon, Moradin, Kord, Bane, The Raven Queen, Asmodeus, Torog

The full pantheon has 'twenty plus one' gods

Interesting pantheon---it's like the D&D Dream Team.

Sounding like it so far.

My money is riding on the "plus one" is good old Tharizdun.

- Demon Lords as corrupt Primordials... I need to see more on this before saying one way or the other.

Hmm, think the elemental princes of evil will be bumping shoulders with demon lords now? Maybe they will now be one in the same…

- Mezzo/Nyca-demons or daemons? Are Daemons getting folded into Demons now? What about the Arcanadaemon (the most interesting of the lot)?

They are probably demons. I am hoping the Arcanadæmon is the ‘walking around form’ of the Glabrazu. Kinda like a were-demon.

Most of the Daemons will get absorbed by the demon camp just because of their appearances. The Arcanaloth could be tied into the Glabrazu some how, possibly even combining the two, with the huge Glabrezu being the Crinos / Warform.

and I bet the piscoloth and Hydroloth will team up with the Hezrou. Though I have a hard time picturing them not merging the Hydroloth with the Hezrou.

 

[Derren]

Zaruthustran is my hero...and a snappy dresser to boot. Well put good sir.

Monsters having social stats does not prevent you from anything. You can always change it.
But when they have those stats you can easily recognize how this monster would fit into the world and what it would do. You wouldn't need to make it up.
Also those stats might give an idea about possible plot hooks. I certainly can thing of more plot hooks involving "+20 blacksmithing" than "Deals 1d6 unholy damage on a critical hit".

 

[jaer]

3E Mind Flayers are a good example for this.
Their fluff says that they created huge empires consisting out of dominated slaves (and they still build their cities that way). but they lacked any dominate ability. They could only charm monsters and they charmed individuals are no slaves.

True, but once charmed, someone is easy to shackle. Once imprisioned, someone is easy to break. Keep charming a Handeler of some sort to carry out your work, to keep them in line. Use something big and bad and mean. The position of power will eventually be it's own reward and you won't need to charm them anymore.

Every so often charm random people to pump them for info about any up-coming rebellions or discontents, then publicly eat the brain of the those planning revolts. With just a charm monster power, one can easily rule with fear. Your slaves can never organize anything, for at any time, friend and ally can become spy for the enemy.

There are more ways to dominate someone than the spells with that name.

 

[Cadfan]

Monsters having social stats does not prevent you from anything. You can always change it.
But when they have those stats you can easily recognize how this monster would fit into the world and what it would do. You wouldn't need to make it up.
Also those stats might give an idea about possible plot hooks. I certainly can thing of more plot hooks involving "+20 blacksmithing" than "Deals 1d6 unholy damage on a critical hit".

Right, right. But I believe the point being made here is that things like "are often really good blacksmiths" belong in the monster description, not in the monster stat block. Putting that in the monster stat block shackles the monster in a way that putting it in the description does not. And even worse, it commits an unforgivable sin- cluttering up the stat block with information not relevant to combat, where the stat block is actually used.

 

[Professor Phobos]

I
If they ignore that, then they've made me pre-plan my games more than I have had to before, increasing the prep time I need to run a game.

Aren't they increasing the fluff-per-entry in the MM? Like ecology and society stuff?

 

[Nebulous]

whites.. brutes.Heard bout this from the wotc guy who wanted ALL giants to start at huge. Now that would have been cool.

Guess which Uncommons and Rares the next Huge boosters will feature?

 

[frankthedm]

Guess which Uncommons and Rares the next Huge boosters will feature?

Titans. Like the Fire titan they have the concept art for.

I feel giants should start at huge, leaving large for ogres and trolls.

 

[Steely Dan]

giants should start at huge,leaving large for ogres and trolls.

I thought they said giants will come in large and huge varieties, with huge having more elemental abilities?

 

[Aeolius]

Hags as feywild, eh? Has as fey creatures is a concept I toyed with, some time ago, so that change doesn't scare me... so long as I can add "Ecology of the Greenhag" from DRAGON #125 into the mix.