AV2 came out not too long after PHB2 so it's reasonable to expect that AV3 would be on the horizon. Except when I check the product catalogue I don't see it anywhere. Anybody else find that strange? Was AV2 considered a failure? Just curious...
I for one would love to see more magic items to support the PHB3 classes and MP2 builds. I'd also like to see more item sets aimed at classes that got left out the first time (paladin specific item set please!)
The AV3 will probably be an Essential product.
I doubt it since we know 9 of the 10 essential products and continueing an already numbered book series doesn't really fit with the goal of the Eseentials line.
Redbox, DM box, Monster box, 3 dungeon tiles, Rules Compendium, Dice, 2 Heroes of..
I thought we know all 10 already?
Redbox, DM box, Monster box, 3 dungeon tiles, Rules Compendium, Dice, 2 Heroes of..
Hopefully the 4E Rules Compendium won't signal the same thing that the 3.5 version did.
Honestly, I still don't understand what the Essentials line is supposed to be. I've read the previews, and -if the rules are all the same- I'm not understanding who this is geared toward.
As for AV3, I wouldn't count on seeing it for a little while.
I thought we know all 10 already?
Redbox, DM box, Monster box, 3 dungeon tiles, Rules Compendium, Dice, 2 Heroes of..
Oh the last one is another dungeon tile set? I originally thought that we knew all of them, but every single time I go to check the product catalog I can only find 9, so I've just been assuming that the tenth one hasn't been "announced" yet. If they have mentioned that the last one is another tile set, then I guess that I was just jumping to conclusions.
Honestly, I still don't understand what the Essentials line is supposed to be. I've read the previews, and -if the rules are all the same- I'm not understanding who this is geared toward.
Supposedly newbies. I am not against getting new blood to the hobby, but if the old starter failed to get newbies, how will the redbox attract them? It's not the issue of having better presentation of rules in the redbox, it's about how to get a kid to pick up that box from the shelf in the first place.
If the redbox was geared towards old timers who recognize the redbox, wouldn't they have already made up their minds whether to play 4e or stay with old editions?
If the redbox was geared towards old timers who recognize the redbox, wouldn't they have already made up their minds whether to play 4e or stay with old editions?
I think they're betting on people who "grew out" of D&D willing to give it another shot. Possibly with their kids.
Honestly, I still don't understand what the Essentials line is supposed to be. I've read the previews, and -if the rules are all the same- I'm not understanding who this is geared toward.
Supposedly newbies. I am not against getting new blood to the hobby, but if the old starter failed to get newbies, how will the redbox attract them? It's not the issue of having better presentation of rules in the redbox, it's about how to get a kid to pick up that box from the shelf in the first place.
If the redbox was geared towards old timers who recognize the redbox, wouldn't they have already made up their minds whether to play 4e or stay with old editions?
It is my understanding that it is more geared towards people who didn't make the switch to 4e but who likely played 3e. The Red Box is meant to be a nostalgic nod to the old games and deals with 4e in a similar manner (i.e. a restricted level band). It's meant to have fewer options so its not so overwhelming to someone picking it up. It's like 4e with training wheels.
It is my understanding that it is more geared towards people who didn't make the switch to 4e but who likely played 3e. The Red Box is meant to be a nostalgic nod to the old games and deals with 4e in a similar manner (i.e. a restricted level band). It's meant to have fewer options so its not so overwhelming to someone picking it up. It's like 4e with training wheels.
It's a little odd to try to imagine 4E with less options.
One thing which I'd like to see with the Essential's series would be for them to clean up the language of some of the older rules... basically an errata compendium, but that seems to be what maybe the Rules Compendium is intended to be?
One thing which I was hoping to see was either a MM3 or the DMG3 to complete the third round of books. Now that there are psionics on the player side of the table, it would be nice to have a few options on the DM side of the table. I'm aware there are DDI articles which deal with some of this, but not everybody has DDI & it still doesn't address things that a MM or DMG might.
Sorry! Off topic.
One thing which I'd like to see with the Essential's series would be for them to clean up the language of some of the older rules... basically an errata compendium, but that seems to be what maybe the Rules Compendium is intended to be?
The Rules Compendium kills two birds with one stone. It gives WoTC a way to do a physical errata (ie- not from the internet) without revising and reprinting the PHB and DMG which would be a risky financial experiment. I also puts all the rules in a single book which is appealing to those people new to D&D who might not want to spend the $$ on multiple books.
One thing which I was hoping to see was either a MM3 or the DMG3 to complete the third round of books.
Did you know MM3 comes out in June? I fully expect to see more psionic/far realm monsters. As for the DMG3, that project was put on indefinite hold. I think they're waiting for the economy to improve a little. Books that cater to DM's only sell less than others and many DM's probably won't bite on DMG3. That makes it profit margin very small. With limited resources, WoTC is spending this year focussing on expanding their player base by developing the Essentials line. My guess is that once the Essentials are complete, we'll see the DMG3, PHB4, and MM4 all announced.
Since DMG3 is on hold, do you think MM3 will contain a few psionic templates for monsters?
I know the economy isn't doing well, but I had thought 4E was still doing ok. Everyone always says it is selling like wildfire. I don't see that happening here where I live, but I assumed that was something of an anomaly since the the tastes of people in this area seem to vary from many other areas.
Honestly, I had no idea that MM3 came out in June.
Since DMG3 is on hold, do you think MM3 will contain a few psionic templates for monsters?
I know the economy isn't doing well, but I had thought 4E was still doing ok. Everyone always says it is selling like wildfire. I don't see that happening here where I live, but I assumed that was something of an anomaly since the the tastes of people in this area seem to vary from many other areas.
You should check the main site for the product catalog. Even tells you the races that are going to be in the Essentials books.
Just doing some thinking....
AV2 came out not too long after PHB2 so it's reasonable to expect that AV3 would be on the horizon. Except when I check the product catalogue I don't see it anywhere. Anybody else find that strange? Was AV2 considered a failure? Just curious...
I for one would love to see more magic items to support the PHB3 classes and MP2 builds. I'd also like to see more item sets aimed at classes that got left out the first time (paladin specific item set please!)
It's in the same place as DMG3, Divine Power 2 with the runepriest's extra builds, Primal Power 2 with the seeker's extra builds, and Arcane Power 2 for the artificer.
Unless you're brand new to the game you can just sit out the last quarter of 2010.
(And yes, I know the artificer got a 3rd build in DDI. This worries me since it suggests AP2 might not be forthcoming and they're re-evaluating D&D 4e's viability)
Just doing some thinking....
AV2 came out not too long after PHB2 so it's reasonable to expect that AV3 would be on the horizon. Except when I check the product catalogue I don't see it anywhere. Anybody else find that strange? Was AV2 considered a failure? Just curious...
I for one would love to see more magic items to support the PHB3 classes and MP2 builds. I'd also like to see more item sets aimed at classes that got left out the first time (paladin specific item set please!)
It's in the same place as DMG3, Divine Power 2 with the runepriest's extra builds, Primal Power 2 with the seeker's extra builds, and Arcane Power 2 for the artificer.
Unless you're brand new to the game you can just sit out the last quarter of 2010.
(And yes, I know the artificer got a 3rd build in DDI. This worries me since it suggests AP2 might not be forthcoming and they're re-evaluating D&D 4e's viability)
So they might just give out new builds via DDI than in hardcovers? I know the iconic classes will get new ones in the Heroes of... books.
I am not sure how popular was MP2 but will we get a 3rd series of the power books?
So they might just give out new builds via DDI than in hardcovers? I know the iconic classes will get new ones in the Heroes of... books.
I am not sure how popular was MP2 but will we get a 3rd series of the power books?
We haven't been told if D&DE and the "Heroes of X" books will make it into DDI and the Compendium/Character Builder. The D&DE classes/races might be designed to look, feel, and play the same but not mesh identically mechanically. If they are similar, D&DE might replace the third and second power books for the core classes and might act as a "patch" for the original PHB1 classes/races with the power creep from PHB3.
However, DDI really encourages players not to buy books, so D&DE might be an attempt to remove some digital content.
It's a catch-22.:
* They want experienced players to buy the books if possible, so they'll want to make D&DE work with regular 4e.
* They want new players to not be bogged down by options and books, so they'll want to make D&DE stand-alone.
* They want the new Essentials players to segue well into 4e, so they'll want to make D&DE work with regular 4e.
* They want the Essential players to buy the old core books and not just get DDI, so they'll want to make D&DE stand-alone.
D&DE might have different game mechanics? I didn't get that from reading the previews. I mean, each round of books has changed the 4E rules, and I somewhat expected Essentials to do the same, but I was unsure how different Essentials would be from non-Essentials.
I am somewhat curious how the classes for the "Heroes of..." series were chosen.
On a side note, I think we'll need new abbreviations for D&D once Essentials is released. 4EE just doesn't look quite right.
You look at some of the options in those books and you just have to wonder "how that item ever got approved and written in the first place".