What I'm hoping for D&D Essentials - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

What I'm hoping for D&D Essentials

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
migo
Jul 18, 2010 1:30:52 What I'd like for D&D Essentials is to be able to buy some books that are somewhat off side from the rest of the D&D line so that I don't have to worry about constant errata. 3e -> 3.5 was a pretty bad shock, and the constant updates to 4e give me the impression that buying a PHB would be of only limited utility given all the changes (I like my books without sections taped over or corrections written in the margins). On the one hand it makes getting a DDI subscription and entirely skipping on buying books appealing, but at the same time I'd like to have the books.

So, is there any sign that D&D Essentials will be like this? Will 4e continue on as it has been to date, with Essentials being an introductory line that will get reprinted as they are with minimal errata? Have the rules been erratad and revised enough that the Rules Compendium will be as valid 5 years from now as it is today?
#2
areola
Jul 18, 2010 12:35:30 No one can say. For all you know, someone might be able to find broken powers the day the Essential books comes out.
#3
migo
Jul 18, 2010 12:44:47 Good point.
#4
ZaxonDMir
Jul 18, 2010 13:35:09
No one can say. For all you know, someone might be able to find broken powers the day the Essential books comes out.

And the boards would be in total meltdown for a month. So, I really hope that's not the case.

#5
loonmaxx
Jul 18, 2010 15:30:26
So, is there any sign that D&D Essentials will be like this? Will 4e continue on as it has been to date, with Essentials being an introductory line that will get reprinted as they are with minimal errata? Have the rules been erratad and revised enough that the Rules Compendium will be as valid 5 years from now as it is today?

The errata releases this year were ramped up, both in frequency and details covered. One of the designers--I think Mearls, but it was a while back--said that they were trying to catch everything possible and get the errata as close to final as possible before printing the Rules Compendium and other Essentials books. So, there is an expressed intent by WotC to do exactly what you're talking about.
#6
migo
Jul 18, 2010 16:05:26 Cool! I'm glad to hear that.

I'm also curious if they'll re-release PHB1 and DMG1 in revised formats to include the errata.
#7
mkill
Jul 19, 2010 9:25:24
I'm also curious if they'll re-release PHB1 and DMG1 in revised formats to include the errata.

Nothing has been announced yet. However, if you assume an edition lifetime of 8 years, then it would make sense to publish a revised / errata'd PHB exactly at halftime. That's 2012.

Now if you also consider that books need about a year to be written, edited, playtested, layouted and printed, the start for a revised PHB would be around Summer 2011. And you won't hear an announcement for the book before first quarter 2012.
#8
migo
Jul 19, 2010 14:08:14 That would make sense. It would also seem to be following 2e a bit more closely, with an original release in 1989 and a revised release in 1995.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 migo Jul 18, 2010 1:30:52	What I'd like for D&D Essentials is to be able to buy some books that are somewhat off side from the rest of the D&D line so that I don't have to worry about constant errata. 3e -> 3.5 was a pretty bad shock, and the constant updates to 4e give me the impression that buying a PHB would be of only limited utility given all the changes (I like my books without sections taped over or corrections written in the margins). On the one hand it makes getting a DDI subscription and entirely skipping on buying books appealing, but at the same time I'd like to have the books. So, is there any sign that D&D Essentials will be like this? Will 4e continue on as it has been to date, with Essentials being an introductory line that will get reprinted as they are with minimal errata? Have the rules been erratad and revised enough that the Rules Compendium will be as valid 5 years from now as it is today?
#2 areola Jul 18, 2010 12:35:30	No one can say. For all you know, someone might be able to find broken powers the day the Essential books comes out.
#3 migo Jul 18, 2010 12:44:47	Good point.
#4 ZaxonDMir Jul 18, 2010 13:35:09	No one can say. For all you know, someone might be able to find broken powers the day the Essential books comes out. And the boards would be in total meltdown for a month. So, I really hope that's not the case.
#5 loonmaxx Jul 18, 2010 15:30:26	So, is there any sign that D&D Essentials will be like this? Will 4e continue on as it has been to date, with Essentials being an introductory line that will get reprinted as they are with minimal errata? Have the rules been erratad and revised enough that the Rules Compendium will be as valid 5 years from now as it is today? The errata releases this year were ramped up, both in frequency and details covered. One of the designers--I think Mearls, but it was a while back--said that they were trying to catch everything possible and get the errata as close to final as possible before printing the Rules Compendium and other Essentials books. So, there is an expressed intent by WotC to do exactly what you're talking about.
#6 migo Jul 18, 2010 16:05:26	Cool! I'm glad to hear that. I'm also curious if they'll re-release PHB1 and DMG1 in revised formats to include the errata.
#7 mkill Jul 19, 2010 9:25:24	I'm also curious if they'll re-release PHB1 and DMG1 in revised formats to include the errata. Nothing has been announced yet. However, if you assume an edition lifetime of 8 years, then it would make sense to publish a revised / errata'd PHB exactly at halftime. That's 2012. Now if you also consider that books need about a year to be written, edited, playtested, layouted and printed, the start for a revised PHB would be around Summer 2011. And you won't hear an announcement for the book before first quarter 2012.
#8 migo Jul 19, 2010 14:08:14	That would make sense. It would also seem to be following 2e a bit more closely, with an original release in 1989 and a revised release in 1995.