Has there been any talk on when, or even if, there will be a PDF Update with the DMG out?
Any DMG update is probably already in basic.
But they don't announce these things.
mellored wrote:
A while back, they said that Basic V1 should be final by the end of the year.
As my DMG is currently in transit via Amazon (in Anchorage as of now), I also wonder when the next update to Basic will be.
In fact, I first expected it around the day when the WPN whatever stores stocked up on the early released copies...
I thought the updates would occur "as needed". The latest versions of the basic rules are pretty well complete, aren't they? is there something missing or wrong in them?
Karnos wrote:
mellored wrote:
Brock_Landers wrote:
mellored wrote:
mellored wrote:
Can't say where, but they said it would be in the DMG.
@SlyFlourish: @christulach Will THAC0 be an optional rule?
@Wizards_DnD: @SlyFlourish @christulach Yes, the bit on thaco is a sidebar optional thing in the DMG.
I'd expect they would probably polish off the DM's Basic rules a bit. It should have some sort of intro prose and other material, including some advice on how to DM. It would also make sense to add a few more classic magic items. I can understand why that stuff wouldn't come out until after the DMG was out.
Basically, it needs to look more like the Player's Basic rules, instead of just being a quick reference for common monsters and animals.
mellored wrote:
And I remember one of the devs saying that Basic's most powerful monster will be the Ancient Red Dragon, whereas of now the Adult version is the biggest baddie in there.
Other than that, maybe a number of magic items for every rarity rank would be nice to be included in...
Just checked and no THAC0 is not in the DMG, as a section or a sidebar. They may have planned to put it in at some point but it was cut in editing if so.
We may see THAC0 show up in one of the Unearthed Arcana column instead. I could see many of the experimental rules be featured there instead of printed in the DMG.
Fingers crossed there will be an update some point soon. I am certainly looking forward to it. The players section of the basic rulebook certainly gives players enough material to play a balance group of character from 1st to 20th level - along with the basic information needed on how to play. The DM section is still very lacking - understandable as Wizards will have wanted to get both the MM and DMG out before they can finish this. I agree with Sword_of_Spirit above, the DM section of the basic rules is currently not much more than a list of basic monsters stats and a handful of magic items (with a useful "how to design an encounter" sectioned added in. As it stands this is not a complete game. Not expected all the whistles and bells in the full MM and DMG, but certainly looking forward to a complete DM rulebook which gives a DM enough material to plan, prep and run their own adventures.
Maybe the "THAC0 will be in the DMG" really was just a joke.
I mean, if you want to use THAC0 it's really easy, all the information is out there- you just have to recreate some tables.
Base AC is still 10.
Ac is calculated as normal, and then adjusted to the descending system
11 becomes 9
12 becomes 8
13 becomes 7
14 becomes 6
15 becomes 5
16 becomes 4
17 becomes 3
18 becomes 2
19 becomes 1
20 becomes 0
21 becomes -1
etc
Base THAC0 is 20 for all characters. From 20, subtract your normal hit bonuses (in most cases, this is your relevant ability score bonus and proficiency bonus) to get your adjusted THAC0. So as an example, a level 1 fighter with 16 strength would have an adjusted THAC0 of 15.
Easy as pie.
So, I never had a problem with THAC0, back in the day. It was confusing and esoteric, but it was also the only system I knew. However, now that we have the whole "unified d20 resolution system," what would be the point in going back to THAC0? Doesn't it produce the same results, just with some extra calculations?
Nevertheless, they did say it would be in the DMG and it's not (for anybody who actually prefers it).
They'll likely have the surveys in 2015 and consider updating after those results are in.
I'm just curious as to when the conversion documents are suppposed to drop.
Azzy1974 wrote:
pukunui wrote:
Reius wrote:
I think they were doing a bunch of overtime until recently and are getting some extra time off now to make up for it. Things will probably be slow until January kicks in.
THAC0 will probably be in the previous edition conversion guidelines, which I expect in one of the first 3 or 4 Unearthed Arcana articles.
DMPortillo wrote:
Grazel wrote:
Sword_of_Spirit wrote:
MechaPilot wrote:
Sword_of_Spirit wrote:
i've never understood the appeal of a THAC0 conversion. that, fixed thief skills and weapon speeds are among the things i absolutely do not miss about those early days.
is it something beyond nostalgia?
Grazel wrote:
blake_marlowe wrote:
I like ACK's way of doing Thac0.
A man wearing normal clothes is AC 0. Anything that reduces his chances of getting hit increases that number.
An attack value is presented as Thac0 on character sheets. That number is the number required to hit AC 0. Then you just add on the enemy AC to get the actual number.
So if my Thac0 is a 5 and the AC of the enemy is 10 then the number I need is 15.
Emerikol wrote:
Aaaand, back to the topic.
It's about time (hopefully) that the Next (pun intended) version of Basic Rules be out.
I'm jumping all over for it! ...Hopefully, yes...
Looks like it may be in the new year 
I am just waiting to see if and when Battle System rules will appear. I want to try out that concept with mass combats.
It's already the 1st day of the year 2015 right here where I reside in the real world, and still no changes.
...Guess I'm out of luck for an another uncertain amount of time...
MechaPilot wrote: