Great White Games/Pinnacle Entertainment Group

[Stan Shinn]

I loved the way OD&D, 1st Edition D&D modules and LBB Traveller had a shorthand method for stat blocks, and I’d love to see something similar as an option for Savage Worlds adventures. While I would want full statblocks for Wildcard adversaries or important NPCs, for less important Extras (minor NPCs, lesser monsters and minions) I’d favor a statblock like this which you could include in your adventure text:

[TheLoremaster]

While I think you might have a good idea, there's a couple of reasons why these abbreviated stat blocks aren't used any more. Firstly, rules have expanded to the point where more detail is necessary, but secondly, abbreviated stat blocks can be slower. You need to know what the abbreviations mean, then translate them back to that meaning in order to use the information. That adds a layer of mental processing that can slow you down.

I'd be curious to see other people's reactions to this, however. I know that, when pressed for an NPCs stats, I'll say, "He just has d6s in everything", even though that's not really true. The guardsman you just met probably doesn't have Spellcasting: d6, after all.

[Stan Shinn]

[Sean-Khan]

[SavageGamerGirl]

[Stan Shinn]

[Vinzent]

I use the full Stat blocks on 3x5 cards. That way, once I make an enemy card I can keep it in a folder and use it again later. That way when I'm writing up an adventure I don't have to put the stat blocks into the document. I just have to say 2x Storm Samurai per hero.
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[ValhallaGH]

[Thasmodious]

I shorthand in a very similar format to Eli's, I just don't know how well that would work for an industry standard. My lines are meant to jog my memory and make on the fly combats easy, so they assume a lot of inside knowledge on the readers part.

I keep any stat lines I make in a file and I have a sheet of generics I keep in my GM folder at the ready - typical guard/thug, typical soldier, skilled fighter, brute, typical monsters for the setting, etc. For example of a more complex one, here's my shorthand for:

Generic 4 legged beast (animal); (d6-d12; fight/not d; (p:6 t:6+s); (nat: str+d6)
Pounce/Gore/Charge: 1d6" +4a/d -2parry
Frenzy: 2 attacks no pen
GFTT: hit most vulnerable area on raise
Hug: hit with raise - pins

With a small statblock like that I have everything from wolves to bears to the great cats or whatever else covered. All I have to do is think is it stronger or faster and give it a boost to agi or str, raise toughness by size (I keep the size chart on the same page), and pick the abilities that make sense. The rest is flavor.
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There's more than seventy earths spinning 'bout the galaxy and the meek have inherited not a one.

[Sean-Khan]

[Stan Shinn]

[ValhallaGH]

[TheLoremaster]

[operations]

[Vinzent]

[jpk]

[Timon]