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8 months ago ::
Sep 28, 2012 - 9:25AM
#21
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Date Joined:
Sep 11, 2008
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"D"
Like the ooze itself, it combines the clarity some people demand, with the fluffy flexibility others require.
It's strong enough for a Munchkin, but pH balanced for a Grognard.
It's two, two, two monsters in one. Double D.
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8 months ago ::
Sep 28, 2012 - 5:00PM
#22
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Date Joined:
Apr 10, 2009
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Not to invalidate your poll up to now, but...
Are asking what we want in the Monster Manual or what we want in the room description of an adventure.
Because the answer is very different depending upon the location.
Carl
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8 months ago ::
Sep 28, 2012 - 5:10PM
#23
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Date Joined:
Apr 12, 2008
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I didn't even consider that he might be talking about room descriptions in adventures.
I thought he was talking about MM entries. Well, those, or anywhere that an actual "stat-block" might appear (magazine articles, MMs, the "new monsters" sections at the end of adventures, etc.).
As for mid-adventure entries, I'm used to seeing:
1st Edition:
Gelmark, fighter (AC 8; MV 12”; F2; hp 12; #AT 1; D by weapon; AL LN; S 15, I 15, W 9, D 13, C 13, Ch 17). He carries a broadsword and dagger.
or
2nd Edition:
Flameskull: AC 3; MV Fl21 (A); HD 4+4; hp 31; THACO 15; #AT 2; Dmg 2d4/2d4 (10' f;rebolts); SA magic missile (3 missiles), spell reftectiou (on alternate rounds); SO regenerate 1 hit point a round, immune to charm, hold, sleep, cold, fire, electrical, poison, and death magic; SW may be turned (as lich); MR 88%; SZ S; ML elite (14); Tnt average (10); AL LE; XP 2,000.
In fond memory of Mark "Wrecan" Monack.
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8 months ago ::
Sep 28, 2012 - 5:14PM
#24
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Generally, I want everything that matters mechanically to be a close together and as compact as possible. If there's a need to explain why a creature has a certain property, that should be be in an entirely segregated chunk of fluff text. It's fine for there to be a little prose and fluff in the part that describes the mechanics (3.5, for example, gives names to the special properties monsters have), but I shouldn't have to pick through the entire monster entry just to get all the relevant mechanics. In addition, things should be clumped to the greatest extent possible based on when they matter - that means that a monster's offensive characteristics generally go together, that its defensive characteristics generally go together, and that its properties that have mechanical weight but are relevant outside of hitting and being hit go together. Something between B and C is what makes sense to me. The information contained in A and D is fine, but it should be dumped somewhere where it's not wasting space. I think that even if you shoot for B, you end up with a lot of C, because you can only codify so many abilities before the game becomes too vocabulary-intensive.
Dwarves invented beer so they could toast to their axes. Dwarves invented axes to kill people and take their beer.
"Feel free to claim I said anything you like. How's someone going to call you out on it? Are they going to be all like, 'I know all of the things that Gary said, and that's not one of them?'"
- Gary Gygax
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8 months ago ::
Sep 28, 2012 - 5:14PM
#25
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Date Joined:
Oct 21, 2008
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Since its for a monster block I'd say B. Leave the flavor to the flavor/ecology text. Plus you get a +1 for your immune to prone ooze mello! 
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8 months ago ::
Sep 28, 2012 - 5:16PM
#26
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Date Joined:
Apr 10, 2009
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I didn't even consider that he might be talking about room descriptions in adventures.
I thought he was talking about MM entries. Well, those, or anywhere that an actual "stat-block" might appear (magazine articles, MMs, the "new monsters" sections at the end of adventures, etc.).
The problem with that is that 4E started the trend of including full stat blocks with the adventure text.
It is handy - but takes up a lot of valuable space.
Carl
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8 months ago ::
Sep 28, 2012 - 5:23PM
#27
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Date Joined:
Sep 28, 2012
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D.
It saves having to remember what a special ability is. That might be obvious for some abilities but not for all. With other systems I can see a succint summary of a creatures ability *with* that creature, no need to look at the start of the book for definitions.
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8 months ago ::
Sep 28, 2012 - 6:20PM
#28
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Date Joined:
May 18, 2002
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Are asking what we want in the Monster Manual or what we want in the room description of an adventure.
Because the answer is very different depending upon the location.
B in an adventure pamphlet, D (but in the other order) in the MM.
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8 months ago ::
Sep 28, 2012 - 6:21PM
#29
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C
Formless: immune to Prone and squeezing. An Ooze has no set form, which allows it to squeeze though small openings without penalties and cannot be tripped or knocked off balance.
I like the quick text and ease of reference but I like a little explination.
Before posting, ask yourself WWWS: What Would Wrecan Say? Spoiler:
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8 months ago ::
Sep 28, 2012 - 6:45PM
#30
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Date Joined:
May 12, 2009
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C
Yan
Montréal, Canada
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