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<blockquote data-quote="Henry" data-source="post: 7775063" data-attributes="member: 158">I REALLY don't like it, and I'll tell you why:Often during my prep notes, I have to copy the information from a stat block into a quickly-referential format for use in my notes, without having to scan for information useful in an RP interaction or a combat. If the format is already a relatively compact stat block, it's a matter of either typing it in, or if i have time, actually scanning or OCR scanning that block of text into a format for my tablet or printout. Making the information require more reading time to locate the relevant info does not help my prep time as GM, and actively hinders it.I suppose if I were a new GM, and finding the stat blocks intimidating, I might welcome such a change. Similarly, if I were looking for some pleasure-reading of the adventure in prep for a future session, I also might like it. HOWEVER, New GMs do not remain new GMs for more than a few months, and are able to digest stat blocks more easily after their learning curve levels out (no pun intended). At that point, they will likely appreciate a stat block that can be quickly parsed. I much more often read adventures in prep for a game, not as pleasure reading. In both cases, I want a standard format that does not take up a lot of room for ease of transfer to notes.If the only thing affected were the simple references in in-line text, then it won't make a difference one way or another. As it is, most of the time it's not even a stat block, it's a one-word descriptor (&quot;Chuff-Chuff is a goblin...&quot;) or a block of only changes from the MM stat block (&quot;Chuff-Chuff is a goblin, but with the folliowing changes: Alignment Lawful Good; He carries a Warhammer instead of a short sword for +4 to hit, and 1d8-1 damage...&quot;) I really hate those, but I can understand the desire for room for more flavor and less crunch space; if even monster manuals start getting prosaic stat blocks, it would REALLY turn me off.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Henry, post: 7775063, member: 158"] I REALLY don't like it, and I'll tell you why: Often during my prep notes, I have to copy the information from a stat block into a quickly-referential format for use in my notes, without having to scan for information useful in an RP interaction or a combat. If the format is already a relatively compact stat block, it's a matter of either typing it in, or if i have time, actually scanning or OCR scanning that block of text into a format for my tablet or printout. Making the information require more reading time to locate the relevant info does not help my prep time as GM, and actively hinders it. I suppose if I were a new GM, and finding the stat blocks intimidating, I might welcome such a change. Similarly, if I were looking for some pleasure-reading of the adventure in prep for a future session, I also might like it. HOWEVER, New GMs do not remain new GMs for more than a few months, and are able to digest stat blocks more easily after their learning curve levels out (no pun intended). At that point, they will likely appreciate a stat block that can be quickly parsed. I much more often read adventures in prep for a game, not as pleasure reading. In both cases, I want a standard format that does not take up a lot of room for ease of transfer to notes. If the only thing affected were the simple references in in-line text, then it won't make a difference one way or another. As it is, most of the time it's not even a stat block, it's a one-word descriptor ("Chuff-Chuff is a [B]goblin[/B]...") or a block of only changes from the MM stat block ("Chuff-Chuff is a [B]goblin[/B], but with the folliowing changes: Alignment Lawful Good; He carries a Warhammer instead of a short sword for +4 to hit, and 1d8-1 damage...") I really hate those, but I can understand the desire for room for more flavor and less crunch space; if even monster manuals start getting prosaic stat blocks, it would REALLY turn me off. [/QUOTE]

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