So I've been buying the Gale Force 9 cards to help run campaigns, and noticed something odd.
The boxes group cards according to two categories NPCs/creatures and then monsters. except it seems like creatures that are fundamentally the same are categorised differently. To save typing, I'll call NPCs as creatures, although they're fundamentally different - they're in the same box.
Orcs are creatures, but orc chieftains are monsters.
Kobolds are monsters while winged kobolds are creatures.
Dragons are monsters, but dakes and other dragon forms are creatures.
Drow are creatures, but elite drow are monsters.
Those are off the top of my head, but I'm sure there were others where they were fundamentally the same but in different categories.
My question is, why is that? Is there a lore based reason why they're grouped like that? Also, what is the difference between a creature and a monster? Originally, I assumed that a monster was a fantastical creature, but it seems not necessarily - fantastical creatures were also part of the NPC/creatures box. So what is the difference?
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If you're not willing or able to to discuss in good faith, then don't be surprised if I don't respond, there are better things in life for me to do than humour you. This signature is that response.
In game terms I consider Creature to be the base classification, as compared to an Object. Any creature can then be sub-classified as either a Character (PC or NPC) or a Monster (something you fight), although this can be a bit of a grey area.
Presumably GF9 wanted some way to break the cards into smaller groups so decided to split out creatures that are more likely to show up as just plain monsters that you're likely to fight, versus creatures that might have a deeper role in the story as an NPC/pet etc.
Those just the names of the products. It carries no technical meaning and have no mechanical impact.
Anything that has an initiative is a creature. This includes NPCs and PCs. Anything that is not a creature is an object. Creatures and objects are technical terms, and they matter mechanically. I am not completely sure, but I do not think NPCs and PCs are technical terms since I do not recall the game using either terms mechanically.
Monsters are just a type of NPC, and they are usually used as enemies of the players. The term monster is used if the distinction between enemy and allied NPCs is necessary, but I do not monster itself is not a technical term either and holds no mechanical weight.
So I've been buying the Gale Force 9 cards to help run campaigns, and noticed something odd.
The boxes group cards according to two categories NPCs/creatures and then monsters. except it seems like creatures that are fundamentally the same are categorised differently. To save typing, I'll call NPCs as creatures, although they're fundamentally different - they're in the same box.
Those are off the top of my head, but I'm sure there were others where they were fundamentally the same but in different categories.
My question is, why is that? Is there a lore based reason why they're grouped like that? Also, what is the difference between a creature and a monster? Originally, I assumed that a monster was a fantastical creature, but it seems not necessarily - fantastical creatures were also part of the NPC/creatures box. So what is the difference?
If you're not willing or able to to discuss in good faith, then don't be surprised if I don't respond, there are better things in life for me to do than humour you. This signature is that response.
In game terms I consider Creature to be the base classification, as compared to an Object. Any creature can then be sub-classified as either a Character (PC or NPC) or a Monster (something you fight), although this can be a bit of a grey area.
Presumably GF9 wanted some way to break the cards into smaller groups so decided to split out creatures that are more likely to show up as just plain monsters that you're likely to fight, versus creatures that might have a deeper role in the story as an NPC/pet etc.
Those just the names of the products. It carries no technical meaning and have no mechanical impact.
Anything that has an initiative is a creature. This includes NPCs and PCs. Anything that is not a creature is an object. Creatures and objects are technical terms, and they matter mechanically. I am not completely sure, but I do not think NPCs and PCs are technical terms since I do not recall the game using either terms mechanically.
Monsters are just a type of NPC, and they are usually used as enemies of the players. The term monster is used if the distinction between enemy and allied NPCs is necessary, but I do not monster itself is not a technical term either and holds no mechanical weight.
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