However, in regards to the power sources:
Player's Handbook 1 - Arcane, Divine, Martial
Player's Handbook 2 - Primal, Arcane, Divine
Player's Handbook 3 - Psionic, Primal, and Divine
There seems to be a lot of repeat power sources.
I think it would have been better to do this:
Player's Hanbook 1 - Arcane, Divine, Martial
Player's Handbook 2 - Primal, Psionic, and Shadow
This way, the expansion of the power sources could have been reserved for books like Primal Power.
As far as electronic versions of D&D, I am hoping that the D&D Game Table gets completed in a timely fashion. Also, having 4th edtion PC games (Neverwinter Nights 3 perhaps) would also be fun.
First, of all - if 4th edition D&D is the focus of WoTC now, then why pray tell is the online version still in D&D 3.5?
The online version of what?
Divine? Again???! We have had two player's handbooks go into the divine already. Primal - AGAIN???! Player's handbook 2 was severly primal already. With the druid and the barbarian classes, to say the least, I think that the primal power source has had enough of the spot light.
Who cares? So long as we get new classes that do new things and appeal to new concepts, who care what power source they belong to? It's certainly very possible that we'll actually new stuff that's really different, regardless of power source similarities.
Where is this shadow power source that alot of the materials, INCLUDING the player's handbook 1 talks about at??? Remember, if you say something (especially in writing) you should be good enough to keep your word - without your word, no one will trust you.
Nobody said they weren't going to release Shadow. Why do you need for them to release Shadow now? I'd be perfectly content with one new power source per PHB. Primal was the new source for PHB2, Psionic will be the new source for PHB3, and then maybe Shadow will be the new source for the PHB4. What's the problem?
EDIT: Also, Reducto ad WoW is looked down upon as normally being completely fallacious. This is no exception. If you can't make your argument without making that comparison, you have no argument.
I remember at Gen Con last year someone at the Secrets of Eberron seminar asked a DDO specific question and the devlopers all looked at each other uncomfortably, seems most of them would like to forget it.
Oh wait, this is D&D not WoW, silly me.
First of all, let me begin by saying that I am quite pleased with 4th edition as a whole. The mechanics are wonderfully balanced, with each class and race finally playing on even ground.
However, there are some things that disturb me. First, of all - if 4th edition D&D is the focus of WoTC now, then why pray tell is the online version still in D&D 3.5?
I stopped reading after that baseless comment. Do you realize the undertaking it would take to convert DDO from 3.5 to 4e? Or to create a new one for 4e? Odds are extremely high they don't directly deal with it, because it's a video game, and WotC isn't a video game company.
Seriously, get your act together before you make complaints like that. I refuse to read the rest of your post until you can justify this lack in thought. These can't possibly be "a few thoughts". More like a "not well thought out rant"...
Maybe he (she?) means Dungeons and Dragons Online: Stormreach. Which was released in Feb 06.
You mean 3 years after 3.5 was released? While 4E has been out for 1 year?
You mean 3 years after 3.5 was released? While 4E has been out for 1 year?
Yet so much was meant to be ready for 4e release.
Second, I just learned that in PHB3 they are focusing on psionic, divine, and primal? Ok this just outright confuses me. Psionics do not bother me, unless of course they unbalance the class. It needs to be even with everyone else. Divine? Again???! We have had two player's handbooks go into the divine already. Primal - AGAIN???! Player's handbook 2 was severly primal already. With the druid and the barbarian classes, to say the least, I think that the primal power source has had enough of the spot light. Where is this shadow power source that alot of the materials, INCLUDING the player's handbook 1 talks about at??? Remember, if you say something (especially in writing) you should be good enough to keep your word - without your word, no one will trust you.
I know this might sound a little preachy, but seriously WoTC - if you say you are going to make something (like the D&D game table) then I suggest for the reputation of the company you follow through. You CLAIM that 4th edition is not a rip off of World of Warcraft, then I challenge you not to act like Blizzard Entertainment - the company that is famous for saying one thing and doing another.
Okay, ignoring the first part of the OP, which has been responded to by those more knowledgeble than me about such things, I really need to address this.
New classes, power sources and races should be released when they are ready and not before, one of the problems with 3.5 especially was the proliferation of prestige classes the seemed to be released as soon as they were conceived, no playtesting or even attempts at balancing. Well, some of them anyways. I'm glad that WotC is looking long and hard at each new power source before unleashing it on the rpg community. In the beginning they felt that there was a basis for the Ki power source, subsequent developement proved that not to be true, so they dropped Ki. Now their taking their time to make shadow and elemental every bit as playable as arcane, primal or martial and I applaud them for it.
As for DDi aplications, look how long it took for them to release the character builder, as awesome as it is, it's basically a database. But, seeing as WotC is not a software developer, it's going to take some time to get it right.
Yes they promised a lot of things at the beginning, but I feel that was the marketing dept. taking liberties with what R&D could produce. We already know that communication within the company isn't so good, but I wait patiently for the products they will release, because those will be the best they can be.
Bel
C_C is right; why hold WotC responsible for a product that isn't produced by them? DDO merely bears a D&D license, but it's not really a D&D product. I would certainly be nice if there was a 4E MMO (and a much, much better one than DDO at that) but it's not realistic to expect it at this point.
As others have already stated, PHBx series will probably release only one new power source per book, which is just fine with me. Otherwise, they'd release 4 of one new source and 2 of the other, which simply isn't enough to justify it. As for the two other power sources that were chosen to get support, arcane has been getting extra stuff in the campaign books and both martial and arcane both have a power book released. That really only leaves divine and primal with no other support.
Besides, the power source / class ratios will even out just fine after this release.
Martial = 4+power
Divine = 6 (power coming soon)
Arcane = 6+power (heaviest supported power source)
Primal = 6
Psionic = 4
The least supported power source will be Psionic, but that's to be expected of a source that just got released.
Psionic, Divine, Primal. What did you expect?
As others have already stated, PHBx series will probably release only one new power source per book, which is just fine with me. Otherwise, they'd release 4 of one new source and 2 of the other, which simply isn't enough to justify it. As for the two other power sources that were chosen to get support, arcane has been getting extra stuff in the campaign books and both martial and arcane both have a power book released. That really only leaves divine and primal with no other support.
Besides, the power source / class ratios will even out just fine after this release.
Martial = 4+power
Divine = 6 (power coming soon)
Arcane = 6+power (heaviest supported power source)
Primal = 6
Psionic = 4
The least supported power source will be Psionic, but that's to be expected of a source that just got released.
Technically, there's no hard evidence that PH3 will include eight classes, nor that it will be an even 4/2/2 split even if there are. It's completely possible that PH3 will have four Psionic classes, two Primal, and one Divine, or maybe even five Psionic, two Primal, and one Divine.
Also, don't forget that Primal Power and Martial Power 2 are both on the upcoming release schedule, too.
It's completely possible that PH3 will have four Psionic classes, two Primal, and one Divine, or maybe even five Psionic, two Primal, and one Divine.
You keep sayign one Divine. Why do you hate Divine? Are you some kind of sourcist? ;)
You keep sayign one Divine. Why do you hate Divine? Are you some kind of sourcist? ;)
It's true! I refuse to hire, work for, serve, give up my seat to, or vote for "Divines". I just don't trust their kind in our neighbourhoods, because they're always up to something suspicious. I don't want my kids going to school with Divines, because they're dangerous; they'll probably mug him for money to buy plasticrack. Divines are lazy and stupid; we should deport them all. Have you heard their so-called "music"? It's just idiotic chanting! "The Divine Man" can't be educated, so he deserves to be paid less for his work. Divine women are ugly and promiscuous. Divines are hardly better than apes.
That's what I was raised to believe; Dad used to call them "Diggers".
Primals aren't much better.
Racism: It's this stupid.^
Racism: It's this stupid.^
/thread
Racism: It's this stupid.^
Hmm, I dunno. I'm on the fence as to whether it's that stupid or more stupid than that... :P
Hmm, I dunno. I'm on the fence as to whether it's that stupid or more stupid than that... :P
yea dr hook, I have to say, I think you were more thought provoking, and had mroe evadance to support your thoughts then some racest...and you didn't go far enough...and that is sad
I don't know what they plan for Primal or Divine classes in PHB3, we'll find out though wont we. I can see 4 to 5 Psionic classes going into PHB3, which includes the Monk.
I would have liked to have seen Shadow or Elemental classes in next years PHB, but I guess they want to take their time defining these two power sources. Though I do already suspect that the Shadow is more defined of a source right now than the Elemental(which I haven't even the remotest clue on what would be considered Elemental, with all the dang speculation on this power source as it is).
[i]It's true! I refuse to hire, work for, serve, give up my seat to, or vote for "Divines". I just don't trust their kind in our neighborhoods,
A ha! So you ARE a sourcist! Now I understand the token Divine. ;)
yea dr hook, I have to say, I think you were more thought provoking, and had mroe evadance to support your thoughts then some racest...and you didn't go far enough...and that is sad
Unfortunately, I can't spread the message if the post gets deleted.