When is the actual release date for those stores that qualify as premier or flag stores. They are suppose to get them two weeks early right? Does that mean the Heroes of the Fallen lands is comming out on the 7th for those stores?
I thought that premiere stores could sell them 11 days early, which would put the release on September 10th (the day before Red Box Game Day).
This. 11 days, and it makes sense for it to be out before game day.
From the threads about the contents of this product on various message boards, I think a few stores must have it out already. Too bad none of these stores are in my area!
They sent out 100 preview copies of each book to stores and reviewers. WotC_M2A0 confirmed this.
My GM received his copy at some point last week.
There are changes we were not informed of previously.
Such as....
My GM received his copy at some point last week.
There are changes we were not informed of previously.
Such as....
Sorcelocks no longer gain dwarf expertise at 5th surge.
My GM received his copy at some point last week.
There are changes we were not informed of previously.
Until you can provide proof I'm calling shenanigans.
Other better, more comprehensive reviews have already covered much of this anyway. It's pretty clear though essentials lives up to its name: It's the essential rules for playing and starting to play 4E with some simplified builds. There aren't hybrid and multiclass rules either. I mean, from what Wizards were telling us from the start this is clearly not a 4.5. If you want to play all of 4E, believe it or not, you actually DO need the original core three books. Fancy that.
Seriously though, just because options aren't mentioned doesn't mean that WotC has removed them. Do you really think that they are getting rid of Multi-classing and Hybrids? There is a reason why they are calling this line of products 'essentials' and not 'DnD complete' or 'every option available reprinted'.
That way I can drop it off the back of my truck to stop the zombie hordes.
Yep, I was right. Shenanigans.
Seriously though, just because options aren't mentioned doesn't mean that WotC has removed them. Do you really think that they are getting rid of Multi-classing and Hybrids? There is a reason why they are calling this line of products 'essentials' and not 'DnD complete' or 'every option available reprinted'.
We still have Heroes of the Forgotten Kingdoms coming out in November. It has the same number of races and classes as the first book and is (I think) the same size as the first. There are many basic things that seem to have been covered in the first book that do not need to be repeated in the second. Maybe multiclassing and hybrid classes will be covered in this second book?
Yep, I was right. Shenanigans.
.
No you weren't. No shenanigans, just you jumping to conclusions.
Yep, I was right. Shenanigans.
Seriously though, just because options aren't mentioned doesn't mean that WotC has removed them. Do you really think that they are getting rid of Multi-classing and Hybrids? There is a reason why they are calling this line of products 'essentials' and not 'DnD complete' or 'every option available reprinted'.
We still have Heroes of the Forgotten Kingdoms coming out in November. It has the same number of races and classes as the first book and is (I think) the same size as the first. There are many basic things that seem to have been covered in the first book that do not need to be repeated in the second. Maybe multiclassing and hybrid classes will be covered in this second book?
I agree, maybe the forgotten kingdoms will have more stuff. the fallen lands is more of an intro book. I don't think there will a ton of more material, especially hybrids or magic items.
Yep, I was right. Shenanigans.
.
No you weren't. No shenanigans, just you jumping to conclusions.
If jumping to conclusions includes staying up to date with every piece of information released about Essentials and not seeing a single thing that backs up his claim and the fact that every post he makes about Essentials completely misses the point about what Essentials is suppose to be and/or spreads misinformation then yes I was "jumping to conclusions".
1) Point buy, 3d6, or any other methods of statgeneration were not mentioned. Instead; there is a list of three fully detailed choices to choose from. There is the 20 after racial for classes that only need to hit things. There is two 18's after racial for classes that need to be good at two stats. And the third seems rather blah, not even as good as the 4.0 standard array.
I can see the first two (as from D&D Encounter's pregens, WotC seems to have a hadron for 18 in the main stat, and I like the two 16's in main and secondary). I am curious about the third.
2) There is no mention of superior weapons in the players weapon section.
What? But ... they need those! I take it Superior Weapon Proficiency wasn't a listed feat either?
3) The magic item section, while we knew that there would be the rarity change, for common armors, there were only three or four choices, all of which were fairly weak. Which is expected, but not the quantity of items, it seems like a poor choice to restrict to that extent.
I suppose this makes sense for a short book, to limit it to popular and useful ones (at least, I hope so).
4) Magical weapons section, again only 3 or 4 choices, and there should be more.
Ditto from above.
What? But ... they need those! I take it Superior Weapon Proficiency wasn't a listed feat either?
As I said I was drinking during the time I was going thru the book. However I do not recall seeing the feat.
I'm sure some 4.5 elitist will tell you its in the RC.
If you are keeping a list of things the essentials newbie wont see/feel... I am sure it will get pretty long but here is one.... they wont know that magic in D&D is anything but battle magic. I dont think a single feat hiding in the RC is going to get the idea across either.
I thought that premiere stores could sell them 11 days early, which would put the release on September 10th (the day before Red Box Game Day).
This. 11 days, and it makes sense for it to be out before game day.
From the threads about the contents of this product on various message boards, I think a few stores must have it out already. Too bad none of these stores are in my area!
They sent out 100 preview copies of each book to stores and reviewers. WotC_M2A0 confirmed this.
My GM received his copy at some point last week.
There are changes we were not informed of previously.
Such as....
My GM received his copy at some point last week.
There are changes we were not informed of previously.
Such as....
Sorcelocks no longer gain dwarf expertise at 5th surge.
My GM received his copy at some point last week.
There are changes we were not informed of previously.
Until you can provide proof I'm calling shenanigans.
Other better, more comprehensive reviews have already covered much of this anyway. It's pretty clear though essentials lives up to its name: It's the essential rules for playing and starting to play 4E with some simplified builds. There aren't hybrid and multiclass rules either. I mean, from what Wizards were telling us from the start this is clearly not a 4.5. If you want to play all of 4E, believe it or not, you actually DO need the original core three books. Fancy that.
Seriously though, just because options aren't mentioned doesn't mean that WotC has removed them. Do you really think that they are getting rid of Multi-classing and Hybrids? There is a reason why they are calling this line of products 'essentials' and not 'DnD complete' or 'every option available reprinted'.
That way I can drop it off the back of my truck to stop the zombie hordes.
Yep, I was right. Shenanigans.
Seriously though, just because options aren't mentioned doesn't mean that WotC has removed them. Do you really think that they are getting rid of Multi-classing and Hybrids? There is a reason why they are calling this line of products 'essentials' and not 'DnD complete' or 'every option available reprinted'.
We still have Heroes of the Forgotten Kingdoms coming out in November. It has the same number of races and classes as the first book and is (I think) the same size as the first. There are many basic things that seem to have been covered in the first book that do not need to be repeated in the second. Maybe multiclassing and hybrid classes will be covered in this second book?
Yep, I was right. Shenanigans.
.
No you weren't. No shenanigans, just you jumping to conclusions.
Yep, I was right. Shenanigans.
Seriously though, just because options aren't mentioned doesn't mean that WotC has removed them. Do you really think that they are getting rid of Multi-classing and Hybrids? There is a reason why they are calling this line of products 'essentials' and not 'DnD complete' or 'every option available reprinted'.
We still have Heroes of the Forgotten Kingdoms coming out in November. It has the same number of races and classes as the first book and is (I think) the same size as the first. There are many basic things that seem to have been covered in the first book that do not need to be repeated in the second. Maybe multiclassing and hybrid classes will be covered in this second book?
I agree, maybe the forgotten kingdoms will have more stuff. the fallen lands is more of an intro book. I don't think there will a ton of more material, especially hybrids or magic items.
Yep, I was right. Shenanigans.
.
No you weren't. No shenanigans, just you jumping to conclusions.
If jumping to conclusions includes staying up to date with every piece of information released about Essentials and not seeing a single thing that backs up his claim and the fact that every post he makes about Essentials completely misses the point about what Essentials is suppose to be and/or spreads misinformation then yes I was "jumping to conclusions".
1) Point buy, 3d6, or any other methods of statgeneration were not mentioned. Instead; there is a list of three fully detailed choices to choose from. There is the 20 after racial for classes that only need to hit things. There is two 18's after racial for classes that need to be good at two stats. And the third seems rather blah, not even as good as the 4.0 standard array.
I can see the first two (as from D&D Encounter's pregens, WotC seems to have a hadron for 18 in the main stat, and I like the two 16's in main and secondary). I am curious about the third.
2) There is no mention of superior weapons in the players weapon section.
What? But ... they need those! I take it Superior Weapon Proficiency wasn't a listed feat either?
3) The magic item section, while we knew that there would be the rarity change, for common armors, there were only three or four choices, all of which were fairly weak. Which is expected, but not the quantity of items, it seems like a poor choice to restrict to that extent.
I suppose this makes sense for a short book, to limit it to popular and useful ones (at least, I hope so).
4) Magical weapons section, again only 3 or 4 choices, and there should be more.
Ditto from above.
What? But ... they need those! I take it Superior Weapon Proficiency wasn't a listed feat either?
As I said I was drinking during the time I was going thru the book. However I do not recall seeing the feat.
I'm sure some 4.5 elitist will tell you its in the RC.
If you are keeping a list of things the essentials newbie wont see/feel... I am sure it will get pretty long but here is one.... they wont know that magic in D&D is anything but battle magic. I dont think a single feat hiding in the RC is going to get the idea across either.