I like much of D&D 5E, but one thing about stat blocks bothers me: They only include a "Saves" line if the creature in question is proficient in one or more saves. Further, when there *is* a saves line, only the specific saving throws with which the creature is proficient are included. In theory, this is clean and consistent. In practice, it makes looking up saves unnecessarily troublesome. Consider this -- in order to find a saving throw:
In D&D 3E/3.5E/Pathfinder/4E:
1. Look at the saves line. You're done.
In in D&D 5E:
1. Check if there is there a saves line. If so, continue to step 2. If not, go to step 3.
2. Check whether the desired save is present on the saves line. If so, you're done. If not, go to step 3.
3. Go to the creature's ability scores and locate the appropriate stat modifier. You're done.
In the case of the 5E stat block, if the creature lacks a save entry, *or* the creature has a save entry, but the desired save is not present, you have to look two different places in the state block to find the save.
This could easily be addressed by *always* including the save line, and *always* including all six saves. If emphasis for proficient saves is needed, such saves could simply be written in bold. For the low, low price of making some stat blocks one line longer, you eliminate the need for the DM to check two places for the same piece of information. That seems like a an obviously worthwhile trade-off to me.
Thoughts?
Ultimately, I agree with your suggested treatment - that would have been useful and perhaps this is a case of the 'simplify everything' mantra going a little too far.
Having said that, I'm generally a fan of "less is more" when it comes to statblocks, so hopefully this treatment will grow on me and become reasonably automatic. (I dont have a D&D statblock in front of me - arent the stat bonuses listed? If so, I dont think it'll be any great drama).
Ultimately, I agree with your suggested treatment - that would have been useful and perhaps this is a case of the 'simplify everything' mantra going a little too far.
Having said that, I'm generally a fan of "less is more" when it comes to statblocks, so hopefully this treatment will grow on me and become reasonably automatic. (I dont have a D&D statblock in front of me - arent the stat bonuses listed? If so, I dont think it'll be any great drama).
I few sample pages to a few of the D&D Next monsters were linked in another thread.
Decided to look at ENWorld, and saw this on the front when I scrolled down a little: 5th edition Sphynx
Edit: Also, this: The Tarrasque of 5th edition
The Saving Throw line is right under each of their ability score sets, but only mentions the bonuses if the monster was proficient with the saving throw. It is trivial for me to make an Intelligence check for the sphinx since that is very clearly marked. It is a bit harder to make a Intelligence saving throw. I can see how it could be better even though it isn't horrible in any way.
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It does seem that it would an improvement right now to have all ability score under saving throws or have the saving throws within the ability score section itself rather than being in the Saving Throw section only if the creature is proficient.
Ultimately, I agree with your suggested treatment - that would have been useful and perhaps this is a case of the 'simplify everything' mantra going a little too far.
Having said that, I'm generally a fan of "less is more" when it comes to statblocks, so hopefully this treatment will grow on me and become reasonably automatic. (I dont have a D&D statblock in front of me - arent the stat bonuses listed? If so, I dont think it'll be any great drama).
I few sample pages to a few of the D&D Next monsters were linked in another thread.
Decided to look at ENWorld, and saw this on the front when I scrolled down a little: 5th edition Sphynx
Edit: Also, this: The Tarrasque of 5th editionThe Saving Throw line is right under each of their ability score sets, but only mentions the bonuses if the monster was proficient with the saving throw. It is trivial for me to make an Intelligence check for the sphinx since that is very clearly marked. It is a bit harder to make a Intelligence saving throw. I can see how it could be better even though it isn't horrible in any way.
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It does seem that it would an improvement right now to have all ability score under saving throws or have the saving throws within the ability score section itself rather than being in the Saving Throw section only if the creature is proficient.
Ah Cheers.
Yeah, it doesnt seem to be a big deal to me - it's easy enough to just look one line higher if the saving throw isnt listed.
It's a little messy and I'd still prefer all six were listed, but I dont think it will slow me down too much once I'm used to it.
Yeah, I'm definitely not suggesting we light the torches or anything, but when I run a game, I prefer everything to be available at a glance in order to keep my attention focused on other things.