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

[Scribble]

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

I heard:

34-24-36

She might be exaggerating though.

 

[keterys]

I suspect the answer is similar to...
The DMG2 isn't 4.5e, but it has new treasure, minion, challenge, etc rules - is 4e as we know it over?
MM3 has upgraded damage, ... "
(Pick your favorite) errata ... "

I'm sure battleragers sure thought the game changed a year or so ago

 

[Dice4Hire]

I heard:

34-24-36

She might be exaggerating though.

And you call yourself a gamer?

No gamer would be satisfied by human measurements....

48-20-30 would be far more anime-like measurements.

 

[Vyvyan Basterd]

The biggest concern will not be one of compatibility but relative viability with the new material. If the new classes are largely better in every way then the fact that they are fully compatible with the old is meaningless.

You're not the only one voicing this concern. But I have to ask, did you have the same concerns with PHB2, PHB3, Martial Power, Arcane Power, etc? The same potential for a class or build that outshines an old class was just as possible, why does Essentials keep provoking this concern when I didn't see that concern voiced for the other books?

 

[bagger245]

You're not the only one voicing this concern. But I have to ask, did you have the same concerns with PHB2, PHB3, Martial Power, Arcane Power, etc? The same potential for a class or build that outshines an old class was just as possible, why does Essentials keep provoking this concern when I didn't see that concern voiced for the other books?

I think for one is the Warpriest is better designed than the Battle Cleric, eliminating a V-class. The books you listed act as expansions, but is the Warpriest really an expansion or replacement for the Battle Cleric? Same goes for the Slayer build on two-handed weapon fighter and Knight for the sword-board fighter.

 

[juboke]

“We’ve charted a new direction in class design with the Essentials products. It’s a direction we intend to use from here on out.”

If this is the case I do not see the problem.

4e is designed with this in mind – to be completely compatible with older material as well as diverse enough for newer elements to be added.

You can’t look at D&D Essentials as for “beginners”. If that was the case then it should have been designed for the first tier of play. Its goal is to be “friendlier” to beginners.

Also you can’t look at older 4e material as traditional. There will never be a 4.5 but rather 4e can and will evolve (with products like D&D Essentials) no matter if the material is from 2008, 2010 or even later.

Good business sense by Wizards of the Coast. Continue to build on an existing model rather than creating a new edition every couple of years.

 

[The Little Raven]

“We’ve charted a new direction in class design with the Essentials products. It’s a direction we intend to use from here on out.”

It's A direction. Not necessarily the only direction. I'm pretty sure we will see more Essentials-style classes as well as new experiments with class design and some more traditional 4e design.

 

[mkill]

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.

Yeah, but that's what WotC will do anyway.

Imagine you're the manager in charge of the D&D line. Looking at your previous sales figures, you estimate that a splatbook in line A will sell 30.000 copies, and a splatbook in line B will sell 60.000 copies. Not surprisingly, you'll plan for more splatbooks in line B.

So, the answer is that if the essentials line will achieve higher sales than the main line from combined sales to existing players and newcomers, we'll see more essentials products.

If however, only 10% of the existing player base will buy and essentials books, and the newcomers will not be more than another 10%, while a standard splatbooks sells to 25%, you know the answer.

 

[KarinsDad]

I'm worried that Essentials will make Psionics less special

I felt that way big time when Martial Exploits made Arcane Spells and Divine Prayers less special.

 

[Steelwill]

Below is a snippet from an article by Bill Slavicek regarding the Essential's Line and what it represents;

"Hi. Welcome to a special free-to-all edition of my regular column. Every week throughout July and August, I’ll be here to tell you about the many exciting things going on around the Dungeons & Dragons brand, including all kinds of details about the upcoming line of Essentials products. What are the Essentials products, you ask? Great question. Let me tell you all about it …

Dungeons & Dragons Essential Products

Starting in September and rolling out until the end of the year, the Dungeons & Dragons Essentials products consist of 10 key products that form the basis of the roleplaying game system going forward. These 10 key products are designed to be a great place to start your Dungeons & Dragons game experience, as well as being a set of core reference tools for everyone playing the game."


I think the last paragraph immediately above tells the tale, especially the portions I have underlined. Essentials will be 4E rebooted with a new design philosophy, and the legacy material will be compatible, but it will be legacy in all ways going forward. Calling Essentials 4.5, a sub-edition, or a beginner set doesn't matter, it amounts to a new edition of core materials being born based on the above.