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7 months ago ::
Nov 13, 2012 - 6:20AM
#11
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Needs to have a size listing. Not just 7 feet tall in the text, but a stat that relates to a miniature footprint.
Kalex the Omen Dungeonmaster Extraordinaire Concerning Player Rules Bias
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Gaining victory through rules bias is a hollow victory and they know it.
The argument goes, that some idiot at the table might claim that because there is a "default" that is the only true way to play D&D. An idiotic misconception that should be quite easy to disprove just by reading the rules, coming to these forums, or sending a quick note off to Customer Support and sharing the inevitable response with the group. BTW, I'm not just talking about Next when I say this. Of course, D&D has always been this way since at least the late 70's when I began playing.
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7 months ago ::
Nov 13, 2012 - 10:37AM
#12
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- Forum Guide
- Hero Craftsman Gold Medalist
- Master Dungeon Master
Date Joined:
Jun 23, 2005
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I wrote my response to this stat block here. Overall, I thought it was fine, but it needed some help in organization. @Kalex. It has a size listing right at the top: medium.
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7 months ago ::
Nov 13, 2012 - 10:45AM
#13
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I like wrecan's statblock better.
I'm okay with the descriptive text and flavourful sub-sections as long as they are consistent. "Brutal Ambushers" and "Territorial Bands" are fine as long as the first section is always "combat & tactics" and the second is always "habitat & society" so I know where to look for infomation and the same thought is put into each monster. That way it's as evocative as Monster Vault, but without the information being random facts.
Before posting, ask yourself WWWS: What Would Wrecan Say? Spoiler:
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Read my blog on the WotC Community Site (updated irregularly to avoid spamming the "Featured Blogger" list).
You can follow me on Twitter: "@DnDJester"
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7 months ago ::
Nov 13, 2012 - 11:36AM
#14
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Date Joined:
Aug 31, 2007
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One issue I just thought of that isn't addressed here at all is multiple related monsters. If the rules include half a dozen different kinds of Hobgoblins, how is it going to be formatted? One thing that 4e didn't have that I wanted was an introduction section to the race along with abbreviated stats for a generic Hobgoblin to use for building various type, followed by the various type of Hobgoblins listed with the redundent sections from description on removed when they are the same as the base creature.
@Wrecan - I like the vertical organization but wasted white space was one of the things I hated about 4e stat blocks. Also, you need to bold traits and actions, the way it is formated right now draws the eyes away from the lines that are likely among the most heavily used in game.
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7 months ago ::
Nov 13, 2012 - 11:44AM
#15
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- Forum Guide
- Hero Craftsman Gold Medalist
- Master Dungeon Master
Date Joined:
Jun 23, 2005
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@Wrecan - I like the vertical organization but wasted white space was one of the things I hated about 4e stat blocks. Also, you need to bold traits and actions, the way it is formated right now draws the eyes away from the lines that are likely among the most heavily used in game.
I tried that, but then it doesn't look like a subtopic of "COMBAT", which is what it is. The blog is a bit too limited on formatting.
As for the wasted space, the stat block already has wasted space. That's the nature of much of the format. Using a margin pushes he information to the center of the page, which is easier on the eyes and brain. The narrative stuff (everything under "environment") doesn't need a margin. I was just having fun there, and that would ultimately depend on other presentation factors, like formatting, art placement, and the like.
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7 months ago ::
Nov 14, 2012 - 4:17PM
#16
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Date Joined:
Aug 31, 2008
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Wrecan, I like your idea of putting senses, languages, and alignment into an Interaction section.
The one thing I think is missing from the statblock is something for this: "sharing a bear's keen sense of smell". Perhaps give bugbear's advantage on wisdom checks to notice hidden creatures upwind.
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6 months ago ::
Nov 25, 2012 - 3:50AM
#17
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Date Joined:
Jun 10, 2008
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The Bugbear was perfect. The only thing that is wrong with it is this:
Melee Attack—Large Morningstar: +2 to hit (reach 5 ft.; one creature). Hit: 5 (1d8 + 1) bludgeoning damage and 5 (1d8 + 1) piercing damage.
Ranged Attack—Large Javelin: +2 to hit (range 30 ft./120 ft.; one creature). Hit: 9 (2d6 + 2) piercing damage.
And the damage? The regular morningstar does 1d8 damage, so a large one should do the next dice level, shouldn't it? Especially considering the Large Javelin here does twice the damage of a regular one. And the strength bonus is missing, too...
Other than that, it needs a quality picture, and some fine-tuning of the data. Also, having the combat stuff all in one place and adventuring info just below it would streamline using it.
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6 months ago ::
Nov 25, 2012 - 4:05AM
#18
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Date Joined:
Jul 29, 2012
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The Bugbear was perfect. The only thing that is wrong with it is this:
Melee Attack—Large Morningstar: +2 to hit (reach 5 ft.; one creature). Hit: 5 (1d8 + 1) bludgeoning damage and 5 (1d8 + 1) piercing damage.
Ranged Attack—Large Javelin: +2 to hit (range 30 ft./120 ft.; one creature). Hit: 9 (2d6 + 2) piercing damage.
And the damage? The regular morningstar does 1d8 damage, so a large one should do the next dice level, shouldn't it? Especially considering the Large Javelin here does twice the damage of a regular one. And the strength bonus is missing, too...
Yes, the large morningstar should deal 2d8 + 2 (it's a typo), but the point is the piddly attack bonus.
I like the extra +2 to hit monsters had in the 1st Bestiary (easy to just add it back in).
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6 months ago ::
Nov 25, 2012 - 5:10PM
#19
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Date Joined:
May 12, 2009
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Yes, the large morningstar should deal 2d8 + 2 (it's a typo), but the point is the piddly attack bonus.
The morningstar is doing 2d8+2. Its deals 1d8 + 1 bludgeoning damage and 1d8 + 1 piercing damage.
The playtest doesn't appear to currently have rules for Large weapons though but i agree it should be the next bigger die most likely, 1d10 (meaning it would deal 1d10 + 1 bludgeoning damage and 1d10 + 1 piercing damage.)
Yan
Montréal, Canada
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6 months ago ::
Nov 25, 2012 - 5:51PM
#20
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Date Joined:
Feb 24, 2008
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What's in a Monster? Literally, an adventurer...  Partially digested...
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