Comments on: D&D Burgoo (3.5): I need a bugbear with a bad attitude http://www.gnomestew.com/gming-advice/dd-burgoo-i-need-a-bugbear-with-a-bad-attitude The Game Mastering Blog Sat, 11 Feb 2012 00:00:43 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Troy E. Taylor http://www.gnomestew.com/gming-advice/dd-burgoo-i-need-a-bugbear-with-a-bad-attitude/comment-page-1#comment-1323 Troy E. Taylor Tue, 15 Jul 2008 16:20:40 +0000 http://www.gnomestew.com/?p=109#comment-1323 Actually, 4E attempts to "fix" this little problem by already providing in the Monster Manual variations of each creature, each one programmed to work at a different level. For example, under the entry for Goblin, you have a Level 5 Brute in the Bugbear Warrior and the Level 6 Lurker in the Bugbear Strangler. Of course, that may not be enough variation for you. The DMG then offers suggestions for increasing or decreasing the level of the creature, as well as functional (role) and class-level templates. The idea of having ready-made versions of iconic monsters was given a spin for 3.5 in the Monster Manual 5 supplement, where variations of the hobgoblin was provided, including the hobgoblin versions of the duskblade, spellscourge, warcaster and warsoul -- which are, if nothing else, certainly 4E-ish sounding names. Dragon magazine would explore this idea a little bit in its ecology articles. But the only standard monster to get the treatment was the lizardfolk. Looking back, I wish more had been done with the classic monsters along these line. Sure, there was stuff here and there, but no real concerted effort to assemble variations of the these monsters and provide them in a plug'n'play presentation..<div class="comment-remix-meta"><a href="#" class="replyto" onclick="replyto('1323','Troy E. Taylor'); return false;">Reply</a> </div> Actually, 4E attempts to “fix” this little problem by already providing in the Monster Manual variations of each creature, each one programmed to work at a different level.

For example, under the entry for Goblin, you have a Level 5 Brute in the Bugbear Warrior and the Level 6 Lurker in the Bugbear Strangler. Of course, that may not be enough variation for you. The DMG then offers suggestions for increasing or decreasing the level of the creature, as well as functional (role) and class-level templates.

The idea of having ready-made versions of iconic monsters was given a spin for 3.5 in the Monster Manual 5 supplement, where variations of the hobgoblin was provided, including the hobgoblin versions of the duskblade, spellscourge, warcaster and warsoul — which are, if nothing else, certainly 4E-ish sounding names.

Dragon magazine would explore this idea a little bit in its ecology articles. But the only standard monster to get the treatment was the lizardfolk. Looking back, I wish more had been done with the classic monsters along these line. Sure, there was stuff here and there, but no real concerted effort to assemble variations of the these monsters and provide them in a plug’n'play presentation..

Reply
]]> By: StephenWard http://www.gnomestew.com/gming-advice/dd-burgoo-i-need-a-bugbear-with-a-bad-attitude/comment-page-1#comment-1314 StephenWard Tue, 15 Jul 2008 00:00:36 +0000 http://www.gnomestew.com/?p=109#comment-1314 I guess I'm in the wrong place, then. Take care.<div class="comment-remix-meta"><a href="#" class="replyto" onclick="replyto('1314','StephenWard'); return false;">Reply</a> </div> I guess I’m in the wrong place, then. Take care.
Reply
]]> By: Martin Ralya http://www.gnomestew.com/gming-advice/dd-burgoo-i-need-a-bugbear-with-a-bad-attitude/comment-page-1#comment-1311 Martin Ralya Mon, 14 Jul 2008 22:23:07 +0000 http://www.gnomestew.com/?p=109#comment-1311 @Stephen Ward: We're not a D&D blog, we're an RPG blog -- having separate feeds for two editions of one of the games we talk about here doesn't make any sense for us. We'll be sticking with one feed, but thank you for the suggestion.<div class="comment-remix-meta"><a href="#" class="replyto" onclick="replyto('1311','Martin Ralya'); return false;">Reply</a> </div> @Stephen Ward: We’re not a D&D blog, we’re an RPG blog — having separate feeds for two editions of one of the games we talk about here doesn’t make any sense for us. We’ll be sticking with one feed, but thank you for the suggestion.
Reply
]]> By: Taliesin http://www.gnomestew.com/gming-advice/dd-burgoo-i-need-a-bugbear-with-a-bad-attitude/comment-page-1#comment-1309 Taliesin Mon, 14 Jul 2008 21:57:30 +0000 http://www.gnomestew.com/?p=109#comment-1309 I'd like to add to the throng who noticed that the title of the post in my feed reader said 3.5 in it. If I were looking for 4th ed stuff, I'd have skipped over this particular post. That being said, I've used the hitpoints method before, when I think my players think all of any type of monster is the same. Just to keep 'em guessing. :)<div class="comment-remix-meta"><a href="#" class="replyto" onclick="replyto('1309','Taliesin'); return false;">Reply</a> </div> I’d like to add to the throng who noticed that the title of the post in my feed reader said 3.5 in it. If I were looking for 4th ed stuff, I’d have skipped over this particular post.

That being said, I’ve used the hitpoints method before, when I think my players think all of any type of monster is the same. Just to keep ‘em guessing. :)

Reply
]]> By: Scott Martin http://www.gnomestew.com/gming-advice/dd-burgoo-i-need-a-bugbear-with-a-bad-attitude/comment-page-1#comment-1305 Scott Martin Mon, 14 Jul 2008 16:14:43 +0000 http://www.gnomestew.com/?p=109#comment-1305 It's easy when running 3.5 to get into the "complete math" mode-- I do it myself. Our world has a lot of humanoids and a war atmosphere, so a lot of the foes have class levels. It's a little tricky walking the line you lay out-- if you just toss the extra HPs on, the critter will often feel underpowered (since it'll miss a lot more than the math suggests), but each step of character development you decide to use takes time away for the rest of your prep. It's tough to get right! I tend to use online NPCs (when possible), or random generators to get me to 90%. From there I can modify a feat choice or two to make it mine. Often, just mixing up the weapons does the right trick.<div class="comment-remix-meta"><a href="#" class="replyto" onclick="replyto('1305','Scott Martin'); return false;">Reply</a> </div> It’s easy when running 3.5 to get into the “complete math” mode– I do it myself. Our world has a lot of humanoids and a war atmosphere, so a lot of the foes have class levels. It’s a little tricky walking the line you lay out– if you just toss the extra HPs on, the critter will often feel underpowered (since it’ll miss a lot more than the math suggests), but each step of character development you decide to use takes time away for the rest of your prep. It’s tough to get right!

I tend to use online NPCs (when possible), or random generators to get me to 90%. From there I can modify a feat choice or two to make it mine. Often, just mixing up the weapons does the right trick.

Reply
]]> By: StephenWard http://www.gnomestew.com/gming-advice/dd-burgoo-i-need-a-bugbear-with-a-bad-attitude/comment-page-1#comment-1303 StephenWard Mon, 14 Jul 2008 16:08:48 +0000 http://www.gnomestew.com/?p=109#comment-1303 Point taken. However, I disagree that it doesn't make sense not to have separate feeds. I myself have no more need of 3.5-based content and don't so much as want to see it in my feed reader. As it stands, I'm close to unsubscribing and thought I'd offer the writers a way to retain me. I could be much mistaken, but I'm sure I'm not the only one reading Gnome Stew who's primary interest is fourth edition.<div class="comment-remix-meta"><a href="#" class="replyto" onclick="replyto('1303','StephenWard'); return false;">Reply</a> </div> Point taken. However, I disagree that it doesn’t make sense not to have separate feeds. I myself have no more need of 3.5-based content and don’t so much as want to see it in my feed reader. As it stands, I’m close to unsubscribing and thought I’d offer the writers a way to retain me. I could be much mistaken, but I’m sure I’m not the only one reading Gnome Stew who’s primary interest is fourth edition.
Reply
]]> By: Wild Joker http://www.gnomestew.com/gming-advice/dd-burgoo-i-need-a-bugbear-with-a-bad-attitude/comment-page-1#comment-1301 Wild Joker Mon, 14 Jul 2008 15:51:30 +0000 http://www.gnomestew.com/?p=109#comment-1301 Interestingly, my RSS feed specifically said "(3.5)" in the title when I clicked on it.<div class="comment-remix-meta"><a href="#" class="replyto" onclick="replyto('1301','Wild Joker'); return false;">Reply</a> </div> Interestingly, my RSS feed specifically said “(3.5)” in the title when I clicked on it.
Reply
]]> By: Sarlax http://www.gnomestew.com/gming-advice/dd-burgoo-i-need-a-bugbear-with-a-bad-attitude/comment-page-1#comment-1300 Sarlax Mon, 14 Jul 2008 15:51:20 +0000 http://www.gnomestew.com/?p=109#comment-1300 RE: Separate Feeds - Well, the topic does say (3.5) right there in it. Additionally, since it's not a D&D specific site, it wouldn't make sense to have D&D edition-based feeds. RE: Topic - I've been advancing monsters this way for a long time; I just look up a monster that does what I want and give it a new wardrobe. Even though I have a lot of fun reading about new monsters across all the manuals that comes out, the core MM has pretty much all I'd need to produce any number of monsters.<div class="comment-remix-meta"><a href="#" class="replyto" onclick="replyto('1300','Sarlax'); return false;">Reply</a> </div> RE: Separate Feeds – Well, the topic does say (3.5) right there in it. Additionally, since it’s not a D&D specific site, it wouldn’t make sense to have D&D edition-based feeds.

RE: Topic – I’ve been advancing monsters this way for a long time; I just look up a monster that does what I want and give it a new wardrobe. Even though I have a lot of fun reading about new monsters across all the manuals that comes out, the core MM has pretty much all I’d need to produce any number of monsters.

Reply
]]> By: Kurt "Telas" Schneider http://www.gnomestew.com/gming-advice/dd-burgoo-i-need-a-bugbear-with-a-bad-attitude/comment-page-1#comment-1296 Kurt "Telas" Schneider Mon, 14 Jul 2008 15:02:34 +0000 http://www.gnomestew.com/?p=109#comment-1296 It really gets fun when you start throwing class levels at things that normally don't class: Skeleton Rogue, Dire Boar Barbarian, etc. Stephenward: We also have posts on Fudge, Synnibar, and "no specific system" (among others). You may be able to set up filters for the tags in the post, however. Cole: I'm a fan (and occasional volunteer for) <a href="http://nzcomputers.net/heroforge/" rel="nofollow">HeroForge</a>. Thirtieth level Bugbear Half-Dragon True Necromancer? No problem.<div class="comment-remix-meta"><a href="#" class="replyto" onclick="replyto('1296','Kurt \"Telas\" Schneider'); return false;">Reply</a> </div> It really gets fun when you start throwing class levels at things that normally don’t class: Skeleton Rogue, Dire Boar Barbarian, etc.

Stephenward: We also have posts on Fudge, Synnibar, and “no specific system” (among others). You may be able to set up filters for the tags in the post, however.

Cole: I’m a fan (and occasional volunteer for) HeroForge. Thirtieth level Bugbear Half-Dragon True Necromancer? No problem.

Reply
]]> By: Cole http://www.gnomestew.com/gming-advice/dd-burgoo-i-need-a-bugbear-with-a-bad-attitude/comment-page-1#comment-1295 Cole Mon, 14 Jul 2008 13:20:32 +0000 http://www.gnomestew.com/?p=109#comment-1295 I usually use PCGen when changing the monsters in the MM. It's faster and way easier then doing it by hand.<div class="comment-remix-meta"><a href="#" class="replyto" onclick="replyto('1295','Cole'); return false;">Reply</a> </div> I usually use PCGen when changing the monsters in the MM. It’s faster and way easier then doing it by hand.
Reply
]]> By: StephenWard http://www.gnomestew.com/gming-advice/dd-burgoo-i-need-a-bugbear-with-a-bad-attitude/comment-page-1#comment-1294 StephenWard Mon, 14 Jul 2008 13:08:55 +0000 http://www.gnomestew.com/?p=109#comment-1294 FYI, I stopped at this post in my feed reader under the assumption that you were talking about the fourth edition bugbear. I'll shortly be DMing my first fourth edition game, so I would've found that useful. The second I saw the term "CR," I knew it was a false pretense. To be honest, landing on a post like this that dashes my expectations is a poor user experience. Maybe you guys should separate your feed into posts relating to the two separate editions. I have no further desire to see third edition content, and I'm sure more than a few of your readers have no desire to see fourth edition stuff. What do you say? Separate feeds?<div class="comment-remix-meta"><a href="#" class="replyto" onclick="replyto('1294','StephenWard'); return false;">Reply</a> </div> FYI, I stopped at this post in my feed reader under the assumption that you were talking about the fourth edition bugbear. I’ll shortly be DMing my first fourth edition game, so I would’ve found that useful. The second I saw the term “CR,” I knew it was a false pretense.

To be honest, landing on a post like this that dashes my expectations is a poor user experience. Maybe you guys should separate your feed into posts relating to the two separate editions. I have no further desire to see third edition content, and I’m sure more than a few of your readers have no desire to see fourth edition stuff.

What do you say? Separate feeds?

Reply
]]>