The New Red-Box...

[Maggan]

I like the new design covers of the Essential books and boxes except the red box seems out of place.

Until I have the box in my hands, I fully expect the cover to change. E.g. I can't see WotC changing the current D&D logo for just one box set.

My gut feeling is that this is a place holder, until they have a final cover ready.

/M

 

[Scribble]

As for cost effectiveness I think it kind of depends on what you want.

If you're a player, and you never say intend to play a Dragonborn, you can save yourself 20 bux and not buy the book with the dragonborn in it.

 

[M.L. Martin]

My gut feeling is that this is a place holder, until they have a final cover ready.

/M

The one problem with that hypothesis is that they had a placeholder up before this--same general design, but the Rules Compendium art and the 4E logo. Either someone on the design or web team is just having some fun, or they're actually planning to reuse the classic look--and given that WotC is fond of using that artwork for legacy items (cf. Thirty Years of Adventure), I wouldn't be surprised if they're going to do it again.

 

[JoeGKushner]

Dice, monster/character tolkens, poster map, and power cards? Yeah, those are pretty handy tools to have. I recall some really bad dice in the old sets but not the other goods.

And for those interested in more, the free adventure on the WoTC website should cover it. For free even.

This and some of the other books making their way down stream look like good things from WoTC.

Now they need to work on releasing more print adventures. Smaller print adventurers that cover a smaller range of levels that can be completed in a night or three. Something like the delves but with a little more story and coherence.

 

[Almacov]

I think they're already starting to do that in terms of adventures, Joe.
The Monster Vault comes with a 32 page adventure, and the DM's kit comes with two more 32-page adventures.
There are some things I really like about the boxed-set format... given they're a subsidiary of Hasbro, to be honest I'd expected more of that sort of thing earlier.

 

[Maggan]

or they're actually planning to reuse the classic look

Yeah, I'm certain they will keep close to the classic look. I'm also certain that they won't start reusing an old logo after using the D&D4e logo on every single 4e product to date.

So the design will change, not dramatically, but I see at least a logo change, and maybe a cover image change.

Given that, D&D Red Box Basic Set is my favourite D&D product ever. Both for looks and content.

/M

 

[Scribble]

The one problem with that hypothesis is that they had a placeholder up before this--same general design, but the Rules Compendium art and the 4E logo. Either someone on the design or web team is just having some fun, or they're actually planning to reuse the classic look--and given that WotC is fond of using that artwork for legacy items (cf. Thirty Years of Adventure), I wouldn't be surprised if they're going to do it again.

Maybe it's just me, but I kind of feel like Wizards has been trying very hard to sort of capture the "feel" of the "golden days" of D&D with their marketing.

Yeah, I'm certain they will keep close to the classic look. I'm also certain that they won't start reusing an old logo after using the D&D4e logo on every single 4e product to date.

So the design will change, not dramatically, but I see at least a logo change, and maybe a cover image change.

One thing I find interesting is I get the feeling the product line is going to change a little bit... This line is what inspires this:

Yes, our focus for the end of 2010 is on setting up the Essentials line. But right after that, our new frontlist plan begins to roll out, providing expanded game options and materials for all players. I’ll talk a bit more about how that’s going to work next month.

Could be nothing... but it kind of makes me feel like it's going to be a change in how the product is delivered. (And thus a good time to change the logo and stuff around.)

 

[ggroy]

Could be nothing... but it kind of makes me feel like it's going to be a change in how the product is delivered. (And thus a good time to change the logo and stuff around.)

Back in the 2E AD&D days, they changed the cover format, logo, etc ... of the revised core books in 1995 (approximately 6 years after the original core books were first released).

Back in the 1E AD&D days, they changed the covers of all the hardcover AD&D books back in 1983 (approximately 4-5 years after the original core books were first released).

During the 3E D&D era, 3.5E was released three years after the original 3E core books were first released.

Regardless of whether or not the 4E Essentials product line is a "stealth" 4.5 or a revised edition, it is being released just 2 years after the 4E D&D core books were first released.

 

[Scribble]

Regardless of whether or not the 4E Essentials product line is a "stealth" 4.5 or a revised edition, it is being released just 2 years after the 4E D&D core books were first released.

Changes don't bother me so much- Especially if it means the company is paying attention to how the consumers (read majority) are using the product.

If say, people are going to the DDI for the majority of the crunchy bits, then why would any rational company waste a lot of resources on high cost physical products?

 

[Dire Bare]

They are 6x9. Hence the 300+pages to fit the classes and races. In the long run, it is still better to go Core than Essential. Other than the two Essential books, there is no new crunch (excluding the new monsters in the Monster Vault, which might be variations of Goblinoids and other iconic monsters). By 2011, we are back to seeing hardback PHB4, Arcane Power 2, DMG3 etc...

If the 256page book from the DM kit doesn't include the Rules Compendium, the buy in for the DM is higher. Don't forget the 320page RC is 6x9 and the 256page DM book is presumably 8.5x11, hence lesser pages needed.

I think "Core" is better than "Essential" only if you are a D&D veteran. Or you are starting your D&D hobby in the company of D&D veterans.

I think "Essential" is better than "Core" if you are a newb and you only have other newbs to play with. The two product lines have different purposes, and one is clearly only superior to the other in context.

Oh, and ALL of the Essentials products will include new crunch, new builds, new powers, and new feats. So if you are a completest, like me, you'll want to pick them up anyway (even though it will all be on DDI).