WotC_Dave: You will be able to make monsters...weaker...

[TerraDave]

Dave Noonans got another blog post, on a section in the DMG on customizing monsters:

Expanding a DMG section: How to customize a monster. We're doing more with making 'em different, better, "classier," and (le gasp!) weaker.

That's something 3.5 never did very well--let you quickly crank out a version of the monster that's weaker than the standard one in the Monster Manual. But it's a nice arrow for the DM and/or encounter designer to have in the quiver. You might want to do a juvenile beastie, one that's been weakened by fell magics...or maybe you just don't want to wait until 12th-level to spring a frost worm on your PCs.

To pull off that trick in 3.5, there's the quick way (impose some across-the-board penalties to pretty much everything numerical in the stat block and call it good) and the slow way (pull HD off the monster, changing skill totals, feats, and probably reduce the base stats, too, changing the relevant DC and damage dice...oh, and do something about AC before you finish). Neither is completely satisfying, and both have some potential landmines that won't blow up until you're in the middle of the encounter.

That strikes me as an improveable situation...but we'll see. Can't make any claims about the 4e technique until I write it, can I? In any case, I'm also writing a warning: Don't downshift your monsters too often. Part of the thrill of D&D is seeing that mind flayer or beholder come around the corner for the first time--and it's a thrill because you know those are dangerous monsters. But if every monster becomes widely downshiftable, then that mind flayer coming around the corner feels less thrilling, because for all you know, he's pretty weak. And that beholder hovering over the treasure hoard isn't a big deal if you've been facing beholders of increasing difficulty throughout your adventuring career.

It's a little strange to write a rule and say "Don't use this too often." But I guess not every tool needs to be a Swiss army knife. Some of them can be resistor lead forming tools instead.

His blog also has some sorta funny "propaganda posters".

 

[EricNoah]

Very interesting -- I have occasionally created "lesser" versions of things like liches, ghouls, etc. for certain situations. A useful tool if it can be done right.

 

[Nebulous]

To pull off that trick in 3.5, there's the quick way (impose some across-the-board penalties to pretty much everything numerical in the stat block and call it good) and the slow way (pull HD off the monster, changing skill totals, feats, and probably reduce the base stats, too, changing the relevant DC and damage dice...oh, and do something about AC before you finish). Neither is completely satisfying, and both have some potential landmines that won't blow up until you're in the middle of the encounter.

Actually, dumbing down the numerical stat block has always been satisfying to me. I don't mind if they want to implement an actual system, but it probably won't stop me from just eyeballin' it and reducing the numbers slightly.

 

[TerraDave]

This is also something I have wanted to do, and sometimes done, in practice.

One alteranative to the juvenile version...the old version that is showing its age (actually, I just realized you could do this right of 3rd ed, assuming the aging rules work the same for all creatures, though, I don't know how easy it would be).

But, as always with these updates, so many promises, so few details.

 

[frankthedm]

I like it, I like it a lot.

 

[Doug McCrae]

Those propaganda posters are completely brilliant.

 

[WhatGravitas]

I don't know what I like more - the "downscaling" or the posters. I guess it doesn't matter - both things are good things!

Cheers, LT.

 

[Wormwood]

Those propaganda posters are completely brilliant.

I was really impressed.

 

[Irda Ranger]

This sounds like a useful quiver to have around. More than just dragons should come in various power levels.

An interesting application of this tool might be to make monsters into PC races. Maybe you want to play in the Arcane Evolved campaign setting using 4e rules - could you take an Firbolg or Ogre and scale him down to the equivalent of (and this is a 3e-ism, I admit) ECL +0 to make the Giant race? That might be interesting.

 

[Black Knight Irios]

I think it is good to include such a tool - good not necessary!

I can see times when you want to throw a "lesser" version of a monster on your grp but you would do it anyway, even without such a tool, but maybe not as elegant.

Still I'm pro Dave's idea!