D&D 5E What belongs in a $50 PHB?

[Mistwell]

I think it should be relatively similar to the 3.5 PHB. The DMG should have the magic items again, and should also be where the optional modules are contained. It should be the DMs realm to decide to add in the tactics, character customization, storygame, and kingdom-running modules. Nothing makes it more clear thatr something is a DM-based decision than putting it in the DMG. Then the DMG of course has the exploration rules, DMing advice, world-building stuff, etc..

I don't need or want a PHB combined with the DMG. I want those books separate. I don't even want players reading the DMG if it can be avoided.

 

[ExploderWizard]

I think it should be relatively similar to the 3.5 PHB. The DMG should have the magic items again, and should also be where the optional modules are contained. It should be the DMs realm to decide to add in the tactics, character customization, storygame, and kingdom-running modules. Nothing makes it more clear thatr something is a DM-based decision than putting it in the DMG. Then the DMG of course has the exploration rules, DMing advice, world-building stuff, etc..

I don't need or want a PHB combined with the DMG. I want those books separate. I don't even want players reading the DMG if it can be avoided.

Yup. If some or all of the magic items don't exist in the campaign or don't work as described then putting them in the PHB is a waste of space.

 

[Derren]

What belongs into a $50 PHB?

Everything you need to run the game.

 

[Wulfgar76]

The economic reality of 2014 is that a big, high quality, 300+ page book full of art is going to be around $50 - regardless of what gaming company publishes it.

The days of $30 PHBs are over - unless you want to start cutting costs and reduce the size, amount of art, go to softcover, etc.


Also, last time I checked, TTRPGs are about the cheapest hobby in the world. This whining and hand-wringing over $50 is pretty funny to someone like me who counts off-roading and Jeep customizing as a hobby.

 

[Mistwell]

What belongs into a $50 PHB?

Everything you need to run the game.

So monsters, magic items, all of that in the Player's Handbook?

 

[Derren]

So monsters, magic items, all of that in the Player's Handbook?

Yes. Not the full complement of course, but enough to play comfortably without needing more books. You know like many other RPGs with core books in that price range manage to do.

 

[Wulfgar76]

Yes. Not the full complement of course, but enough to play comfortably without needing more books. You know like many other RPGs with core books in that price range manage to do.

Except D&D has never done this. Including Magic Items in the 4e PHB was a mistake IMO. They want to sell books, and past history suggests that customers buy the 3 core rulebooks of a new edition by the truckload. If the 5e PHB does not include 'everything you need to play' it may grind your gears, but it's really not going to hurt their sales.

 

[I'm A Banana]

Whores!

Ale and whores!

Ale and whores and 100 shares of HASBRO stock!

AND A DONKEYHORSE PONY.

More seriously? I'm gonna be happy if I can make any character with that book that I could've made in any previous D&D edition with the first release of the rules in that edition.

Bonus points available if you want to expand that to any character that I could've made in any previous D&D edition, period.

 

[Kobold Stew]

Using the play test materials as a guideline:

PHB
Backgrounds and Skills
Character Creation
Equipment
Feats
How to Play
Multiclassing
Races
Classes
Spells

DMG
DM Guidelines
Magic Items

MM
Bestiary

The PHB is the core book, and it might even be reasonable for its price point to be ten bucks higher than the other two.

 

[Derren]

Except D&D has never done this

And you see that as excuse for price gouging?