Question storm - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Question storm

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
il_miet
Jul 31, 2010 14:56:07
Hi to everyone. I am "il mietitore", which means "the reaper", in italian. It is silly, yes, but i was a noob when many years ago i chose my nickname, and now i mantein it because it is cool to have the same nickname for many years.

Anyway, as i was saying i am italian, so please do not kill me if i make some mistake somewhere around my posts.

I registered myself here because i've got a ton of question about the product's calendar. I've seen many... strange things, that i would like to understand better. I would like you tu know that i've read the FAQs, and that i tried to look around the forum for some answers, but i didn't find anything, or in same cases i found TOO MUCH. I refer to the fact that there are tons of threads and posts around here, so i don't have really idea about where to start reading. With this i want to say: maybe some official response has already arrived, but i didn't find it 8(

1) First question: what exactly is D&D Essentials? I've read something about people thinking it is a sort of D&D 4.5, and others that say it's not. The impression i had from reading the product descriptions is that it is the same game, re-presented in a different manner so it is simpler to transport, understand, and play. It sounds strange to me, anyway, that WotC will publish something that pratically talking we have already seen in past (no matter how you write the rules in the DM kit: they will be the same things written in the DMG 1 and 2... i think O.O), so i ask here to have some definitive, ultimate, powerful answer.

2) Paperback. Why? I mean, let's take for example that Heroes of Shadow. It seem to be like a supplement, or something even more important, as it is more similar to a Player's Handbook. But... why it is published in paperback? This make it seem something absolutely diffent, and maybe this impression is true... I noticed, anyway, that it is a manual of 320 pages. In a bigger format (i don't know how you call the, ehm, normal format in US) it would have been 160 pages long, which is, here in italy, exactly the standard for a D&D manual. I so have the impression that this new format, paperback, doesn't have the mean to represent a sort of "new era" for D&D4E, because this handbook will be long like any other >.< So, to return to the question above, why you decided to publish this and other manuals in paperback format?

3) March was the PH's month. This time, anyway, we'll see Heroes of Shadow published in those days. No more PH4, so? The content caratteristics of HoS is actually very much similar to a PH... but HoS is called Heroes of Shadow, not PH4: Heroes of Shadow, or something like that...

4) I'm particularly interested in the seventh edition of Gamma World, and i would like to follow its realization. There is an official forum where the news about that game will be released as the launch day approaches?

I wonder i haven't scared you with all those questions ;) i'll wait for answers.

OI!!
#2
Marandahir
Jul 31, 2010 16:05:57 1.) D&D Essentials, in the words of Bill Slavicsek, is another way to entre the game. It's a different pathway into the game as it'll be played in the future. It has new builds that work differently that previous builds for old classes, and is setting the standard for how classes and builds will be dealt with in the future: the mechanics will be dictated by the flavour of the class, rather than trying to stick to the 2 at-will/4 encounter/4 daily/7 utility standard of the past. Make what you will of that. I'd like to trust WotC, rather than calling them liars.

2.) Not sure about the Paperback format. WotC's determined that'll sell better for these particular books, so they're paperback. Time will tell.

3.) Player's Option: Heroes of Shadow is the successor to the Player's Handbook 3. Rather than having classes from multiple power sources, it only has classes from one power source, so it's not a hodge-podge. PH1 could be called PO: Heroes of Battle or something, but it also has clerics, paladins, wizards, and warlocks. PH2 could be called PO: Heroes of Primal, but it also has Bards, Sorcerers, Invokers, and Avengers. PH3 could be called PO: Heroes of Psionics, but it also has Runepriests and Seekers. What it really comes down to, most likely though, is that if you have a "4" label there, people will feel they need to go and buy 1-3 first before they can even touch that. But WotC wants people to also be able to buy it right after graduating from Heroes of the Fallen Lands and Heroes of the Forgotten Kingdoms in D&D Essentials. So giving it the Player's Handbook 4 label would be bad marketing. It's the same with Mordenkainen's Majestic Emporium. It could be called Adventurer's Vault 3, but that would require, to some people, buying 1-2. The exit off the Essentials highway should be as smooth as possible.

4.) Don't know about a Gamma World forum yet. Will definitely appear when the setting arrives later on.
#3
il_miet
Jul 31, 2010 18:02:16 Uhm, thanks for the response. In particular about what concerns HoS & Co: now it makes definitely sense.

I'm still a bit perplexed about the paperback format, i am curious to see if it will work better. Im not convinced but, ehy, i'm not a WotC manager XP

Thanks again for the response: if i will have need another time i will be back ;)
#4
malisteen
Aug 01, 2010 7:58:49 Some people hate the paperback format, and for perfectly understandable reasons. Lower production quality and durability will be problems.

I personally like it, since I tend to carry a lot of books, and the weight can become a strain. Also, there's the fact that the projected retail price is about half of what the hardcovers cost, which means I might actually be tempted to spend some money on them - the hardcovers got to be just too expensive for me in the current economy, especially as I'm a DDI subscriber and get much of the content within my already-paid subscription cost.

But to each their own. Hopefully as the economy improves we'll see some 'deluxe' re-releases of some of the paperpack books in hardcover for those players who prefer them that way.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 il_miet Jul 31, 2010 14:56:07	Hi to everyone. I am "il mietitore", which means "the reaper", in italian. It is silly, yes, but i was a noob when many years ago i chose my nickname, and now i mantein it because it is cool to have the same nickname for many years. Anyway, as i was saying i am italian, so please do not kill me if i make some mistake somewhere around my posts. I registered myself here because i've got a ton of question about the product's calendar. I've seen many... strange things, that i would like to understand better. I would like you tu know that i've read the FAQs, and that i tried to look around the forum for some answers, but i didn't find anything, or in same cases i found TOO MUCH. I refer to the fact that there are tons of threads and posts around here, so i don't have really idea about where to start reading. With this i want to say: maybe some official response has already arrived, but i didn't find it 8( 1) First question: what exactly is D&D Essentials? I've read something about people thinking it is a sort of D&D 4.5, and others that say it's not. The impression i had from reading the product descriptions is that it is the same game, re-presented in a different manner so it is simpler to transport, understand, and play. It sounds strange to me, anyway, that WotC will publish something that pratically talking we have already seen in past (no matter how you write the rules in the DM kit: they will be the same things written in the DMG 1 and 2... i think O.O), so i ask here to have some definitive, ultimate, powerful answer. 2) Paperback. Why? I mean, let's take for example that Heroes of Shadow. It seem to be like a supplement, or something even more important, as it is more similar to a Player's Handbook. But... why it is published in paperback? This make it seem something absolutely diffent, and maybe this impression is true... I noticed, anyway, that it is a manual of 320 pages. In a bigger format (i don't know how you call the, ehm, normal format in US) it would have been 160 pages long, which is, here in italy, exactly the standard for a D&D manual. I so have the impression that this new format, paperback, doesn't have the mean to represent a sort of "new era" for D&D4E, because this handbook will be long like any other >.< So, to return to the question above, why you decided to publish this and other manuals in paperback format? 3) March was the PH's month. This time, anyway, we'll see Heroes of Shadow published in those days. No more PH4, so? The content caratteristics of HoS is actually very much similar to a PH... but HoS is called Heroes of Shadow, not PH4: Heroes of Shadow, or something like that... 4) I'm particularly interested in the seventh edition of Gamma World, and i would like to follow its realization. There is an official forum where the news about that game will be released as the launch day approaches? I wonder i haven't scared you with all those questions ;) i'll wait for answers. OI!!
#2 Marandahir Jul 31, 2010 16:05:57	1.) D&D Essentials, in the words of Bill Slavicsek, is another way to entre the game. It's a different pathway into the game as it'll be played in the future. It has new builds that work differently that previous builds for old classes, and is setting the standard for how classes and builds will be dealt with in the future: the mechanics will be dictated by the flavour of the class, rather than trying to stick to the 2 at-will/4 encounter/4 daily/7 utility standard of the past. Make what you will of that. I'd like to trust WotC, rather than calling them liars. 2.) Not sure about the Paperback format. WotC's determined that'll sell better for these particular books, so they're paperback. Time will tell. 3.) Player's Option: Heroes of Shadow is the successor to the Player's Handbook 3. Rather than having classes from multiple power sources, it only has classes from one power source, so it's not a hodge-podge. PH1 could be called PO: Heroes of Battle or something, but it also has clerics, paladins, wizards, and warlocks. PH2 could be called PO: Heroes of Primal, but it also has Bards, Sorcerers, Invokers, and Avengers. PH3 could be called PO: Heroes of Psionics, but it also has Runepriests and Seekers. What it really comes down to, most likely though, is that if you have a "4" label there, people will feel they need to go and buy 1-3 first before they can even touch that. But WotC wants people to also be able to buy it right after graduating from Heroes of the Fallen Lands and Heroes of the Forgotten Kingdoms in D&D Essentials. So giving it the Player's Handbook 4 label would be bad marketing. It's the same with Mordenkainen's Majestic Emporium. It could be called Adventurer's Vault 3, but that would require, to some people, buying 1-2. The exit off the Essentials highway should be as smooth as possible. 4.) Don't know about a Gamma World forum yet. Will definitely appear when the setting arrives later on.
#3 il_miet Jul 31, 2010 18:02:16	Uhm, thanks for the response. In particular about what concerns HoS & Co: now it makes definitely sense. I'm still a bit perplexed about the paperback format, i am curious to see if it will work better. Im not convinced but, ehy, i'm not a WotC manager XP Thanks again for the response: if i will have need another time i will be back ;)
#4 malisteen Aug 01, 2010 7:58:49	Some people hate the paperback format, and for perfectly understandable reasons. Lower production quality and durability will be problems. I personally like it, since I tend to carry a lot of books, and the weight can become a strain. Also, there's the fact that the projected retail price is about half of what the hardcovers cost, which means I might actually be tempted to spend some money on them - the hardcovers got to be just too expensive for me in the current economy, especially as I'm a DDI subscriber and get much of the content within my already-paid subscription cost. But to each their own. Hopefully as the economy improves we'll see some 'deluxe' re-releases of some of the paperpack books in hardcover for those players who prefer them that way.