Making monsters is really tedious...

How do you guys make your monster journal entries? I started with a Gnoll for 5e. I set the default token, added their 3 attacks as token actions and figured I could just click and drag them out to use them.  Nope.  I drag it out onto the map but it isn't set to the Gnoll. I have to go into each one and set the token to represent the Gnoll. And I have to manually set the Health attribute from the drop down. Then, to make it worse, I can't just duplicate the gnoll because editing one health updates all the others. I googled that and I understand why, so now my workflow is dragging out the gnoll and and just typing the health into the green circle. I don't get the token actions or anything because I can't keep the Gnoll character set to the token.  For how well developed and useful Roll20 is, I'm utterly shocked at the monster management. It's complete garbage. Any advice? I'd like to be able to have the few token actions so I can speed up the amount of time I spend on the monster's turns. Thanks in advance.

This will help some. It shows you why the duplication method you used doesn't work, and how to resolve the problem. -Phnord, who had the same issue once.

Justin, Seems that you are probably not setting up your tokens properly. &nbsp;See the following Wiki article that would be a good starting point: <a href="https://wiki.roll20.net/Linking_Tokens_to_Journals" rel="nofollow">https://wiki.roll20.net/Linking_Tokens_to_Journals</a>... Depending on the game and sheet you use, there are many (many!) advantages to the pro membership through the use of API scripts, but that gets beyond the initial concerns that you have.

Phnord Prephect said: This will help some. It shows you why the duplication method you used doesn't work, and how to resolve the problem. -Phnord, who had the same issue once. Ok awesome. Now I don't have to set up the stats every time. Thanks GOODNESS! Much better, and much appreciated. Kevin said: Justin, Seems that you are probably not setting up your tokens properly. &nbsp;See the following Wiki article that would be a good starting point: <a href="https://wiki.roll20.net/Linking_Tokens_to_Journals" rel="nofollow">https://wiki.roll20.net/Linking_Tokens_to_Journals</a>... Depending on the game and sheet you use, there are many (many!) advantages to the pro membership through the use of API scripts, but that gets beyond the initial concerns that you have. I'm a pro user at the $5/mo level. Not sure if I have access to API or not. I was planning on digging in eventually because I'm a programmer at heart. You both linked to the same place, so I'll direct this at both of you... What about abilities? In the journal entry for my Gnoll I still don't see the token buttons for the attacks I set up. Is that not an option with generic tokens or something? Thanks for all the help so far!

Hey, Justin S. You can check out the perks of your Plus membership level on our Supporter page . The page also lists the Perks of the Pro membership level.

Thank you Silvyre. So is the answer then that I can not have token actions for generic "Mooks"?

Justin S. said: So is the answer then that I can not have token actions for generic "Mooks"? You can have Ability Token Actions , as "mook" Tokens would still Represent a Character .

Silvyre said: Justin S. said: So is the answer then that I can not have token actions for generic "Mooks"? You can have Ability Token Actions , as "mook" Tokens would still Represent a Character . Sorry, that question was too vague. I want to set up the token actions once and then be done with it. My understanding now is that I'd have to create the token actions for each individual token, because if the token doesn't represent a character the token action isn't available. Here's a confusing paragraph from what you just linked me that suggests what I'm trying to do is supposed to work.&nbsp; "You can also, for example, set up a monster's abilities in a Character for that monster type, and then have easy access as GM to those abilities whenever you select a token of that type, without cluttering your macro bar or hunting in the journal tab to use them. For example, create a Character called "Dire Bear", link all tokens that are dire bears to that character, and then set up abilities designated as token actions such as "Swipe" and "Roar". You can then just click a dire bear token, then click the button for "Swipe"." I want to be able to throw 5 gnolls out on the map and have all their token actions and attributes set up already.&nbsp;

Abilities (like Attributes ) are stored on the Attributes & Abilities Tab of individual Characters. When an Ability is made a Token Action (by ticking a check box), a corresponding button appears when a Token that Represents that Character is selected. I hope this is able to help; please let me know if there's anything I can help clarify.

Yes, you can (and should) do that. Remember, when you "Save As", the token is saved in its exact form. So, for this instance you would: Create a character sheet, with token actions as appropriate. Create a token to represent that Mook. In the token, set the HP (and other bars) to the proper values, but NOT to any specific attribute. IE: the green bar is 10/10, but the bar itself still represents NONE. In the token, set the Represents Character to the character sheet from step 1. MAKE SURE your token is exactly how you want it; don't forget the advanced settings (so your players can see the name and such). Then, and only then, do you Edit the Character Sheet and save the token as the default token. If this still isn't working for you, PM me and I'll show you how to do it in person. This may also help: Color Animal Innstructions (Sorry about the background hiss; I've gotten a new microphone since then!) -Phnord

Phnord Prephect said: Yes, you can (and should) do that. Remember, when you "Save As", the token is saved in its exact form. So, for this instance you would: Create a character sheet, with token actions as appropriate. Create a token to represent that Mook. In the token, set the HP (and other bars) to the proper values, but NOT to any specific attribute. IE: the green bar is 10/10, but the bar itself still represents NONE. In the token, set the Represents Character to the character sheet from step 1. MAKE SURE your token is exactly how you want it; don't forget the advanced settings (so your players can see the name and such). Then, and only then, do you Edit the Character Sheet and save the token as the default token. If this still isn't working for you, PM me and I'll show you how to do it in person. This may also help: Color Animal Innstructions (Sorry about the background hiss; I've gotten a new microphone since then!) -Phnord It all just clicked. I had to read your post a few times. Thank you! Hopefully some day there's simply a check box or whatever to toggle attribute linking so none of this has to be so complicated.

This helped me a lot in quickly setting up many monsters at once: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zLI-oAyHFaA" rel="nofollow">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zLI-oAyHFaA</a>