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Canonfire :: View topic - MM IV
Canonfire Forum Index -> Greyhawk- D&D 3.0e/3.5e/d20/Pathfinder
MM IV
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Master Greytalker

Joined: Jun 29, 2001
Posts: 777
From: Bronx, NY

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Wed Jul 12, 2006 11:05 am  
MM IV

My copy showed up today.

It could be better.
The new format isn't that horrible, although a minimum of 2 pages per critter is pretty hefty. I shudder to think how many books it will take for monsters in 4E.
The "Critters in Eberron" and "Critters in Faerun" are just wasted space as far as I'm concerned. If WotC is going to have settings that are so divergent from the core rules that they need conversion information for monsters, then that conversion information should be put in setting books, not in the core books. That is a waste of space for everyone else.
The sample encounters aren't that bad, but when they are expanded with maps and the like it becomes padding. If WotC can't sell a book of encounters and doesn't want to give it away as a web enhancement then I'd rather see more direct content.
A major waste was all the NPC monsters. Again, this is either a separate supplement, which I guess won't sell, or a web enhancement. I don't need a bunch of sample orcs with levels in a monster book.
The new stt block isn't bad. Mostly is just requires getting used to. I expect in due course everyone will just accept it. The ecology could possibly have been handled better, with a simple one line entry, but given that is so constantly ignored I can see why it was abandoned. The typical treasure entry is actually a lot more useful than "Standard" and the like.

Overall, I'm not particularly impressed, but I'm not particularly unimpressed. It could have been better, and I'd hope WotC won't repeat the web enhancement/cross product silliness in the future.
Forum Moderator

Joined: Feb 26, 2004
Posts: 2592
From: Ullinois

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Wed Jul 19, 2006 12:57 pm  

Quote:
The "Critters in Eberron" and "Critters in Faerun" are just wasted space as far as I'm concerned. If WotC is going to have settings that are so divergent from the core rules that they need conversion information for monsters, then that conversion information should be put in setting books, not in the core books. That is a waste of space for everyone else.
Now that you put it that way, I am quite unhappy with WotC's treatment of books. MM 4 looked good to me for its GH content, but I stopped buying them after Fiend Folio because I just wasn't using their new monsters, too many were lame to me.
Apprentice Greytalker

Joined: Feb 18, 2002
Posts: 59
From: Baltimore, MD, USA

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Fri Jul 21, 2006 8:23 pm  

What Greyhawk content in MMIV? I did see the Avatars of Elemental Evil, but that was all I noticed.

Thanks,
ROB
Master Greytalker

Joined: Jun 29, 2001
Posts: 777
From: Bronx, NY

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Fri Aug 04, 2006 7:29 am  

There is no particular GH content n MM IV.
Some things, like the Elemental Avatars, might have had GH origins, but they are now just "generic."
Master Greytalker

Joined: Jun 25, 2007
Posts: 951
From: Neck Deep in the Viscounty of Verbobonc

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Wed Sep 05, 2007 2:14 pm  

It would seem we're all going to have to get used to this kind of hand-holding, overly-marketed, newbie-friendly, "you-obviously-don't-know-how-to-use-this-stuff-so-we're-going-to-tell-you" approach from WotC.

But I'm not bitter. Confused
Apprentice Greytalker

Joined: Feb 05, 2003
Posts: 15
From: Edmonton, AB, Canada

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Mon Jul 21, 2008 9:30 pm  

MM 4 is by far the worst monster book I've ever seen or read. It is a horrible book with little to no real flavor to it. I didn't buy it.

MM 5 is a lot better for your money, IMO.
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Apprentice Greytalker

Joined: Mar 05, 2008
Posts: 75
From: Long Beach, California USA

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Thu Oct 02, 2008 11:39 am  

I agree, it's total crapola.

I stopped after III and the Fiend Folio. To me all the essentials were covered and I use the Tome of Horrors series books for all my nostalgia type monsters. Although its a realms book, the Monsters of Faerun book is good for Greyhawk.

Smile


Jim
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