Heroes of Shadow Table of Contents

[Nullzone]

Why does the anti-essentials crowd feel they have to manifest that hate on every new product that comes out? We get it, you don't like the series. Go back to petting your PHBs.

Joke's on you, though; this book has nothing to do with essentials. It's a hardbound book, no different from any other player option book in print (Arcane Power, Martial Power...) and it seems pretty clear just from the overview that it provides a lot of flavor for both players and DMs in addition to the crunchy bits of the additional play options.

 

[Ryujin]

I have to say that I'm liking this new openness, from Wizards. This also looks like a good book, that I'll be picking up. The Pale Court and Binder Warlock are things that I could have used a year ago, so I'm definitely glad to see them now.

 

[AbdulAlhazred]

Why does the anti-essentials crowd feel they have to manifest that hate on every new product that comes out? We get it, you don't like the series. Go back to petting your PHBs.

Joke's on you, though; this book has nothing to do with essentials. It's a hardbound book, no different from any other player option book in print (Arcane Power, Martial Power...) and it seems pretty clear just from the overview that it provides a lot of flavor for both players and DMs in addition to the crunchy bits of the additional play options.

Right, and besides, would people expect that WotC would simply toss the e-classes out there and then forevermore ignore them? That they wouldn't incorporate what they've learned from designing Essentials into what they do from here on out? Of course there are options for Essentials classes. Of course when they create a new class it is likely to adhere to the Essentials class design pattern to one extent or another. I don't see anything that says "PHB1 classes, for get it, you're dirt, we're not going to even acknowledge you exist anymore!" Now, maybe that's the case, but maybe people want to actually see some of the previews at the very least before they decide. You might be pleasantly surprised.

 

[Dice4Hire]

Joke's on you, though; this book has nothing to do with essentials.

Warpriest.

nuff said, really.


but to continue.

Did you see the writeup for the paragon path they showed a few days ago?

 

[Klaus]

Warpriest.

nuff said, really.


but to continue.

Did you see the writeup for the paragon path they showed a few days ago?

Nuff what? Yes, there's the Death domain for warpriests. And those powers will still be "Cleric Attack X", meaning any cleric can take them. Ditto on the necromancy and nethermancy spells for the Wizard.

And aside from the format, the PP previewed in March & Beyond was no different from what PPs have always been.

 

[kaomera]

New books going forward are probably mostly going to include some contend aimed at the Essentials sub-classes. We can't be sure yet how that's going to work out, but it could well include alternate features etc. for the sub-classes that isn't compatible with core class builds.

Mind you, this is no different from supporting material from the PHB2 or 3 or any of the Power books, except that we've got a very vocal group who don't want to use options introduced in Essentials. You can't use any new Ranger Beast powers unless you're using PHB2 material in your game...

 

[Walking Dad]

Why does the anti-essentials crowd feel they have to manifest that hate on every new product that comes out? We get it, you don't like the series. Go back to petting your PHBs.

Joke's on you, though; this book has nothing to do with essentials. It's a hardbound book, no different from any other player option book in print (Arcane Power, Martial Power...) and it seems pretty clear just from the overview that it provides a lot of flavor for both players and DMs in addition to the crunchy bits of the additional play options.

I don't get the anti-anti-essentials hate

And no, it is not like the 'X Power' books. It contains new races.

It seems more like a 'Heroes of X' book, what is fitting as it is named 'Heroes of Shadow'

That said, yes, every new book will now contain essentials material. Live with it. The question remains, will there be new options for non-essential classes (and only them, not compatible with essentials, like new implement masteries for wizards)? I don't think so...

 

[AbdulAlhazred]

I don't get the anti-anti-essentials hate

And no, it is not like the 'X Power' books. It contains new races.

It seems more like a 'Heroes of X' book, what is fitting as it is named 'Heroes of Shadow'

That said, yes, every new book will now contain essentials material. Live with it. The question remains, will there be new options for non-essential classes (and only them, not compatible with essentials, like new implement masteries for wizards)? I don't think so...

I for one would really hope that there are options for pre-Essentials classes. It seems to me like it would be kind of dumb for WotC to release material that a lot of people are not going to be that interested in. It shouldn't be hard for them to provide a feat or two or just basic optional class features or whatever for old style classes.

 

[Jhaelen]

The question remains, will there be new options for non-essential classes (and only them, not compatible with essentials, like new implement masteries for wizards)? I don't think so...

I don't think so either. And that means I'm no longer interested.

I guess, I can stop looking at any forthcoming 4e product that is (mainly) aimed at players. The changes on the DM side of things have been less annoying, so I should still get good use out of things like the Nentir Vale MV.

Since they also cancelled the DDM line, this means I have more money to spend on other stuff. I think, I can live with that

 

[Nemesis Destiny]

There are most definitely options in there for pre-Essentials classes.

All those juicy Cleric, Warlock and Wizard options, under the heading of Class Options. If they were only for Essentials classes, then it would have likely said Warpriest, Hexblade, and Mage, but that's not what it says.

There is also a section later on that spells out that there are New Powers for older classes, Clerics, Warlocks, and Wizards, in addition to Death domain, Binder, and Nether/Necromancy schools.

Not to mention Paragon Paths, which usually have pretty broad entry requirements. And there will be feats that anyone can take.

And I'm pretty sure you don't need to be an Essentials character to enjoy a new race.