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Originally posted by Xysma

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Originally posted by Skeptic

Never I would go back to 2E monster blocks, but 3E had a problem too, using the same building blocks for PC/NPCs caused a lot of nearly identical monsters (orcs, goblins and hobgoblins is an example).

I hope 4E will give us meaningful difference between monsters, and ideas to use them to create interesting encounters (in some cases, non-combat ones).

IMHO, all the ecology fluff can be made on the fly without rules when such information is needed.

Edit : When I say that I want really different orcs and goblins, I'm not talking about a little fluffly text saying how they are, I want to see it in the way they interract (using rules) with the PCs.

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As sirreus pointed out to one of the new members of our group,"Get ready for when he runs, every creature on the board will have some class levels." You mentioned "using the same building blocks for PC/NPCs" and that is one of the things I enjoyed most about 3E. As a DM I can easily make any encounter a challenge. Goblins for instance are no longer simply fodder for low-level characters. I can tack on a few levels of fighter and make a a goblin encounter enjoyable at any level of play. Personally, having rules for interaction between monsters and PCs is a waste of space, I consider that to be my job as DM.

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Originally posted by KnightErrantJR


Darkmeer might remember the Grodd goblin shadowcaster that knocked a few of the PCs on their posteriors when they were rather high level. he didn't live too long, but they really weren't expecting a chain lightning effect out of the "little goblin shaman" either.

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