I can't read 4e books like I could 3e books. You?

[Simon Atavax]

Anyone else notice this? Do you miss the "old style" of dense text and writing?

God, yes. Lately I've been enjoying reading my 3.5 Player's Handbook (secure in the knowledge that I am under no pressure to DM the dang thing ). I've been really enjoying reading spell descriptions, and the sheer amount of detail that went into them. And as you said, Gygax's DMG is a work of art. I also really think Zeb Cook did a bang-up job with the 2e PHB and DMG (though nothing compares to EGG. ).

As for the 4e books, the Monster Manual is dreadful. It isn't even really a "Book" so much as a reference manual. I used to love reading Monster Manuals; not this time around. The DMG I haven't really looked at; the PHB is bland. More like a detailed rulebook for a board game than an immersive RPG manual. (shrug)

 

[Simon Atavax]

Hmm... interesting topic.

D&D is not as readable as WoD, IMO.

WoD uses far too many obnoxious fonts and black-on-grey to make their books enjoyable reads. IMHO, of course.

 

[Mustrum_Ridcully]

I think the books are very good for use at the game table (though damn, now I've got this neat DM Screen and write down my powers - what do I need the books for now? ), but it reads less well for "entertainment".

I think focusing on use at the game table is a good idea. I want that from game books.
But it would still be nice if there was more "fluff" text to read, maybe even with a different layout. So I hope WotC will find an even better combination - WotC_Logans answer certainly gives me reason to believe they will keep working on this, and I am eager to see the results.

 

[vagabundo]

I couldnt read the 3e RAW books for long, they made my eyes bleed. But I've dipped in an out of the 4e books and they are interesting, the only part I wouldnt read for fun are the power sections.

The most accessible and interesting DND book I've ever read was the Dark Sun original boxed set.

 

[S'mon]

I really dislike the 4e books - I find them unreadable. I've tried repeatedly, but they're so bad I have to put them down again. They're dull and lifeless, they actively dissuade me from wanting to play the game.

I just got a 3.5 DMG in the post yesterday. I used to think 3e was dull - compared to 1e it certainly is - but compared to 4e it sparkles.

 

[Aus_Snow]

Heh, yeah.

3e was always appealing, to a lesser or greater extent at times, but 4e illustrates in the most unfortunate of ways just how appealing 3e actually is.

However, more fundamentally, I agree with WayneLigon's assessment of (most?) core D&D books so far.

 

[Snoweel]

Cheer up fellas.

There's a surplus of fluff out there. Has been for years.

4e has finally given us the tight, fast ruleset we've never had.

Surely you can find fluff somewhere else or, god forbid, wait for the fluff books to come out.

 

[avin]

I wish I had another fluff MM than this one.

Use to spend a lot of time reading monster ecology at older MMs... the new one, while good for DMing, lacks inspiration. They traded a Nymph for some Cyclops...

 

[Fifth Element]

No printed d20 SRD could have the immense utility of d20srd.org, no matter how hard it tried, no matter how encyclopedic it was.

There is one area where printed rules trump online ones in utility. It's the "I don't have access to the internet right now" area, which is quite often for many people.

d20srd.org is great, but not very useful if you're at your game and no one has a laptop with an internet connection at the table. This describes both of my current games.

 

[Nightchilde-2]

There is one area where printed rules trump online ones in utility. It's the "I don't have access to the internet right now" area, which is quite often for many people.

Also if you're like me and spend 8 hours a day at work staring at a computer screen, plus a couple of hours at home each day. The break from the electronic medium is excellent.

Plus, .pdfs are just a pain to read IMHO.

As for the utility vs. fluffability of the 4e books, I like the way the 4e books are designed. If I want a novel, I'll go read one.