D&D 4E Essentials isn't 4.5e, but is 4e as we know it over?

[MrMyth]

I think focusing too much concern on a single sentence is a poor choice. We have also had indications from Mearls that the products produced after Essentials are being designed based on elements from the PHB, not the Essentials books.

I think we'll see some of the Essentials elements remain around in design, likely the format for classes and other advents in presentation. I think we'll see more willingness to experiment - a trend that started with PHB2, grew with PHB3, and is simply continuing onwards in a logical fashion.

I don't think we'll see all simplified classes with rigid builds. Those are part of Essentials to make it easier for new players. I don't think they are a goal of 4E from here on out. I just don't think there is any reason to proclaim "4E as we know it is changed forever!" based on a single line, from a single designer, that could have multiple meanings or interpretations.

 

[mkill]

Why am I reading a 4e obituary here when the edition is very much alive and kicking?

I think the answer is very simple:
In 2011, WotC will look at their sales figures, and compare the Essentials line with PHB3, MP2 and other later main line products.
Depending on the results, we'll either see PHB4, Arcane Power 2 and so on, or more Essentials stuff.

As a player, that means you should vote with your wallet.

 

[Moon_Goddess]

You know what bothers me about all this

Everyone uses this formula...
Psionics was always different in the past lets change stuff for Psi
Hey that didn't kill anything, lets change everyone to be like Psi

I'm worried that Essentials will make Psionics less special

 

[Herschel]

Also, I don't understand why they don't have a Martial Controller yet.. "Trapper" or "Gadgeteer" would be completely obvious for it.

It's called a defender. Fighters are great at it.

 

[Scribble]

You know what bothers me about all this

Everyone uses this formula...
Psionics was always different in the past lets change stuff for Psi
Hey that didn't kill anything, lets change everyone to be like Psi

I'm worried that Essentials will make Psionics less special

Only so much as any one class's features make others "less" special.

I think all the various options are going to make the game as a whole pretty darn fun.

 

[ExploderWizard]

Why am I reading a 4e obituary here when the edition is very much alive and kicking?

I think the answer is very simple:
In 2011, WotC will look at their sales figures, and compare the Essentials line with PHB3, MP2 and other later main line products.
Depending on the results, we'll either see PHB4, Arcane Power 2 and so on, or more Essentials stuff.

As a player, that means you should vote with your wallet.

Considering that WOTC is marketing the essentials line to both established players and newcomers and there will not be any new "regular" 4E content being released at the same time this data won't exist. You really can't compare sales of new releases to sales of older material to draw a fair comparison.

The only voting possible is to buy or not buy essentials.

That and the "from this point forward" line is fairly good indicator that essentials IS 4E from now on.

 

[MrMyth]

Considering that WOTC is marketing the essentials line to both established players and newcomers and there will not be any new "regular" 4E content being released at the same time this data won't exist. You really can't compare sales of new releases to sales of older material to draw a fair comparison.

The only voting possible is to buy or not buy essentials.

That and the "from this point forward" line is fairly good indicator that essentials IS 4E from now on.

Only if one ignores the dozens of other lines insisting it is not. The vast majority of indications is that while Essentials will likely inform future 4E design, it won't define it. Especially since, according to the designers themselves, the PHB itself is far more of an influence on the post-Essentials products than anything in Essentials.

 

[Mythtify]

Bill Slavicsek is "the man" over at WotC as far as D&D goes. If he is saying that essentials is the direction that they are going in the future, it is a good bet that is the case.

While I am in a wait and see mode over the essential content, I am dissapointed with the actual products that may or may not be sitting on my shelf. Going to a trade paper back, not to mention box sets, is a step back, for me anyway. I understand why they are doing it. Lower price point, and to lure badck old timers with fond memories of the boxes. As an old timer, I do not long for the return of box sets. The boxes were very hard to keep in prime condition. Trade paperbacks take a beating easier than hard backs. As rpgs are such a niche industry, is making a cheaper product going to draw in a lot of new players? If so great, and I will appluad the move. Though I wish that WotC would make pdfs availble again so that I don't risk damage to my books lugging them around to games (Having the information availble online as a DDI subscriber is not the same as having a digital copy..and I refuse to download a pirated
file).

 

[Jack99]

Why am I reading a 4e obituary here when the edition is very much alive and kicking?

I think the answer is very simple:
In 2011, WotC will look at their sales figures, and compare the Essentials line with PHB3, MP2 and other later main line products.
Depending on the results, we'll either see PHB4, Arcane Power 2 and so on, or more Essentials stuff.

As a player, that means you should vote with your wallet.

But I buy everything, does that mean I can't vote?

Only if one ignores the dozens of other lines insisting it is not. The vast majority of indications is that while Essentials will likely inform future 4E design, it won't define it. Especially since, according to the designers themselves, the PHB itself is far more of an influence on the post-Essentials products than anything in Essentials.

This needs to be repeated ad nauseum - Essentials will influence future 4e design, it won't define it. Mike, who is nr1 when it comes to the D&D RPG (aside from Bill ofc), still uses the PHB1 as baseline when designing their 2011 products. Not the RC, not the other Essentials' - the PHB, you know the one from 2008.

 

[Dice4Hire]

Has anyone said definitively what the measurements for these trade paperbacks will be?