>--- John Kim <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > >> 2) If the players have to reference the _Monster Manual_ anyhow, why >> not just tell them to use the stat block from the MM? Why waste >> space copying verbatim something they already have? > >Because not everyone needs to reference the MM. If I know the abilities and >qualities of hobgoblins in general, then the stat block is enough.
YMMV, but if i know the abilities and qualities of hobgoblins in general, then "hobgoblins" or "tough hobgoblins" is enough info. i'm going to adjust their stats to match my party/setting/etc. before, and possibly during, play anyway, so why even have them there? why not just make them up as i go? "hmmm... 4 hobgoblins. the PCs have two heavy fighters and a mage with lots of ranged attack spells. better give the hobgoblins 8HD each, and a couple of feats to get past the fighters and take down the mage."--and, not having looked at any monster stats in 3E, i neither know nor care if that's tougher or weaker than a by-the-book hobgoblin, so long as it works in my game, and behaves like a hobgoblin, since that's the part that matters for their inclusion in the scenario. >Plus, it >lets you customize these hobgoblins...more or less hit points, add a character >level or three, give them some odd magical item...endless uses for stat blocks >besides description. but, by a strict reading, you can't customize how they behave--you either have to start from scratch, or leave them unchanged by implication. or, at least, that's what we're arguing about in this thread. i don't see why it's more useful to be able to provide a version with customized stats in your game than one with customized description/personality/culture. -- woodelf <*> [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://webpages.charter.net/woodelph/ If any religion is right, maybe they all have to be right. Maybe God doesn't care how you say your prayers, just as long as you say them. --Sinclair _______________________________________________ Ogf-l mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://mail.opengamingfoundation.org/mailman/listinfo/ogf-l
