When will Wizards release an official playable version of druid and bard, or other classes? In the meantime, are there any well-written home-made versions?
Most likely they'll both show up in PHB2.
For fan-made versions, check the 4e Classes Compendium in my sig; I believe there are 2 bards and 1 druid so far, with more very likely to come soon.
I understand that Wizards need content to sell books. But I think it is ******** that they do it by withholding content that we should get in this book (like druids, barbs, and bards) instead of coming up with new stuff.
Theres new stuff in this PHB, also do you think they could fit those classes into it? The PHB is already practically bursting with crunch.
Theres new stuff in this PHB, also do you think they could fit those classes into it? The PHB is already practically bursting with crunch.
Yes, they could have easily fit Druid, Monk, Bard, and Barbarian, Scout, Swashbulcker etc into the players hand book. How? By removing the magic items chapter. This is the [i]players[i] hand book, players should not have access to the information on magic items, thats for the DM. 3rd had it right, no magic item in the players hand book. In my experience (please note that this is a personal experience thing, don't rant on my experience, each person has their own story to tell) If players are given access to magic items, they build their characters around a few items, and not a concept. "It would be cool if my character had this item, and this item, and with this item i could do this and that" Players negate much of the game play to focus on items. Also, players start asking the DM for "quests" so they may acquire said item, this to me as a DM, is not run a game.
Also, I am no way implying that tehsquirrely is wrong in his statement in any way. I'm just answering his question.
Yes, they could have easily fit Druid, Monk, Bard, and Barbarian, Scout, Swashbulcker etc into the players hand book. How? By removing the magic items chapter. This is the [i]players[i] hand book, players should not have access to the information on magic items, thats for the DM. 3rd had it right, no magic item in the players hand book. In my experience (please note that this is a personal experience thing, don't rant on my experience, each person has their own story to tell) If players are given access to magic items, they build their characters around a few items, and not a concept. "It would be cool if my character had this item, and this item, and with this item i could do this and that" Players negate much of the game play to focus on items. Also, players start asking the DM for "quests" so they may acquire said item, this to me as a DM, is not run a game.
Also, I am no way implying that tehsquirrely is wrong in his statement in any way. I'm just answering his question.
The magic item section is not that large. If they nixed it they could MAYBE fit 1 more class into the PHB, but I think its right to put magic items in the PHB. They are after all for player use. DMs are free to create their own items but I see no reason why you would not allow players to have a quest to get a magic item, after all they are the protagonists of the story and should have some say as to what they get to do. If all the players agree to go on a quest for a magic item I'd more than happily design one for them.
When will Wizards release an official playable version of druid and bard, or other classes? In the meantime, are there any well-written home-made versions?
As others have said, most likely phb 2. You could try looking over my Bard in the meantime. I could use the feedback
Just my $0.02
(I WANT MY CRAFTING BACK!)
so make a crafting feat. Not much else too it. 3.5 crafting skills should work in 4.0 about as well as they worked in 3.5