Re: Savage Species and Spelljammer

On Monday, February 17, 2003, at 06:18 PM, Adam Miller wrote:

>> I do agree that there are some creatures whose HD and level
>> adjustment combined will result in some odd characters.
>> I think it is more of a sign that some monsters just don't make
>> good PC races.
>
>     Probably, though why use those odd monsters that would make poor
> PC races?

I did wonder that myself a bit, but then again, I have not
actually used any of it, so as far as I know it all works well as
written.


>     Oh, I understand that.  I just wish they'd have done some that
> would at
> least make real interesting PC instead of just really weird ones
> (bugbear I
> consider the most grevious error to leave out, especially given that
> really
> nice picture of one in the 2nd (?) chapter).

I know I am just restating what I said before, but I think their
purpose was to present a number of examples that would be
useful for working up your own. Because things like bugbears
would be very easy, it likely wasn't the best choice for
inclusion.

The thing is, things like bugbears are easy, and to some
degree, old hat. I think the point was that given a whole book
on playing monsters as characters, they wanted a mix of
normal and odd. If they put in all the choices that would make
decent, but predictable, PC races, then the book would have
fewer examples for the more difficult races. Bugbears are ECL
4, so they would only be a 4 level monster class. That should
be easy stuff to flesh out. And because they having no special
abilities, really, I am not so sure their inclusion would have
been the best choice given limited space.

I am hoping that over time Wizards will do a series of articles
on additional monster classes, as they did with Epic prestige
classes, on their site. Plus, I am guessing the fan community
will do some up as well. I know I will be doing some for SJ
eventually.


Leroy Van Camp III
malacoda@????????.net
ICQ #20039817

"You know, not kneeing you in the groin is a constant struggle."
                         MST3K