D&D 5E Street date for D&D Next Starter Game is July 15

[thalmin]

I'd like to see a starter that looks a lot like the BECMI red box, but still encourages buyers to later go out and pick up the three core rulebooks. The starter should allow for character creation (it might or might not include pregens). It should include either the big four classes or all of them. It should include humans, elves, dwarves, and halflings. Characters created with the starter set should be every bit as complete as characters created with the phb; but I am alright with them being created with fewer options. Users of the starter box should be able to take these characters up to level 3.

The starter box should include dice, but not minis; we don't need them with this iteration, right?

The starter box should include a bestiary full of monsters that will challenge 1st through 3rd level characters.

it should include an introductory adventure that is more or less complete. It should include a second adventure that is open to a small amount of customization, and it should include a loose framework for a third adventure.

I am in nearly total agreement with you. I think pregens are a must, as well as character creation rules. I hope only the big four classes are included, so as not to be too confusing for the new players.

 

[tuxgeo]

< snip > The starter box should include dice, but not minis; we don't need them with this iteration, right?

That's right: miniature figures aren't needed with this iteration. For example, the D&D Next Live game at PAX East didn't use miniatures.

(That is to say, the "Acquisitions Incorporated" game that was DM'd by Chris Perkins and was played by Jerry Holkins, Mike Krahulic, Scott Kurtz, and Morgan Webb.)

 

[Mistwell]

So, 5e box set is due July 15 for $19.99

And WoTC will be holding "Character Creation Workshops" at Gencon...


I guess my hope for an actual starter set and not crippleware ad copy is pointless...


*sigh*

I don't think the connection you're drawing there is a logical one.

 

[DMZ2112]

Hmm. Still holding out hope that the Starter is actually "an adventure box" with pre-gens, starter rules, a 10 level adventure, and some dice.
If newbies like playing the game, they could then pick up the PHB for character creation and the DMG for creating adventures.
(Am aware this opinion is not popular.)

The more I think about it, the more this is what I am expecting. I'd rather have character generation rules, because that is what would be best for /me/, but... well, here are my points:

- If this product is /not/ Tyranny of Dragons, that means there is going to be /another/ standalone D&D product releasing this summer other than the PHB. Does that make sense to anyone?

- I am going forward assuming that this product is Tyranny of Dragons.

- If Tyranny of Dragons is also supposed to be this huge overarching multimedia push that is going to drive the first several months of D&D narrative, it has to be usable with the PHB -- it can't just be a starter kit.

- Therefore, I think it is most likely that Tyranny of Dragons will consist primarily of adventure content, with supplementary rules probably including pregenerated characters intended to hold players over until the release of the PHB.

- When the PHB is released, those pregenerated characters -- or characters custom built at a Gen Con workshop or privately at home -- can be leveled up beyond the capacity of the Tyranny of Dragons boxed set and play can continue through the remainder of the Tyranny of Dragons adventure and subsequent releases.

I'm just trying to think about this so-called "starter game" in the context of all the fleeting glimpses of strategy we've seen over the last six months. I think a bigger picture is starting to materialize.

 

[YourSwordIsMine]

I don't think the connection you're drawing there is a logical one.

IF there were character creation rules in the Starter, then there would be no need for character creation workshops a month later at Gencon?


If there is no creation rules in the starter (rules that SEAMLESSLY transition into the full game), then it is nothing more than crippleware ad copy like the 4e Redbox.

 

[GMforPowergamers]

IF there were character creation rules in the Starter, then there would be no need for character creation workshops a month later at Gencon?


If there is no creation rules in the starter (rules that SEAMLESSLY transition into the full game), then it is nothing more than crippleware ad copy like the 4e Redbox.

I don't know what crippleware is (is it offensive, it sounds it ) but why doe pregens and everything to play them for a few levels not work in your mind?

 

[the Jester]

IF there were character creation rules in the Starter, then there would be no need for character creation workshops a month later at Gencon?

I disagree here.

You're assuming that 1. Every gamer at GenCon already has the starter set and 2. The character creation rules in the starter set have everything that's in the PH.

We already pretty much know better- from all indications, there won't be sorcerers, bards, dragonborn or gnomes in the starter set. Or feats. There are likely to be entire optional subsystems in the character creation process that are in the PH but aren't in the starter set (not due to lack of completeness, but rather due to limited options).

If there is no creation rules in the starter (rules that SEAMLESSLY transition into the full game), then it is nothing more than crippleware ad copy like the 4e Redbox.

I'll agree with this, although I won't hate on the 4e red box quite so much.

 

[YourSwordIsMine]

I don't know what crippleware is (is it offensive, it sounds it ) but why doe pregens and everything to play them for a few levels not work in your mind?

No, it isn't an offensive term. It is used to describe a product that is purposefully crippled in its features to force consumers to buy the full product. Its usually used for software.

The 4e Redbox was incompatible with the rest of Essentials in the fact that in order to progress beyond L2, you not only had to use the Essentials books, but you had to completely reroll the character from scratch as they were not compatible. Thus it was crippleware

 

[YourSwordIsMine]

I disagree here.

You're assuming that 1. Every gamer at GenCon already has the starter set and 2. The character creation rules in the starter set have everything that's in the PH.

We already pretty much know better- from all indications, there won't be sorcerers, bards, dragonborn or gnomes in the starter set. Or feats. There are likely to be entire optional subsystems in the character creation process that are in the PH but aren't in the starter set (not due to lack of completeness, but rather due to limited options).



I'll agree with this, although I won't hate on the 4e red box quite so much.

I wouldn't expect the starter set to have everything in the PHB. I would be completely happy with limited options. What a starter set should offer is rules that are fully compatible with the rest of the game. If I create a L1 Fighter with the starter, then you should be able to continue with that fighter when you transition into the full game. You shouldn't have to completely remake said character because it wont work like a Fighter created with the PHB.

The PFBB character creation rules are very limited to the options available. The one thing that makes it such a wonderful product is that you can use those characters once you start using the PF rulebook.

 

[delericho]

Does the Disney PR department gear its advertising towards the dunderheads on Ain't It Cool's message boards that have been picking apart Guardians of the Galaxy information for a year and a half?

No, they almost certainly use a multi-pronged strategy - a year and a half of 'leaks' to the hardcore fans (or 'dunderheads' as you would term them), stoking the fires of their enthusiasm, so that they will then evangelise the film when the marketing for everyone else hits.

But that year and a half of 'leaks' will most certainly have come from the Disney PR department. Indeed, they'll go to great lengths to ensure there are no unauthorised leaks of any information.

And the reason they want to control the flow of information is quite simple: that way they get to control the presentation, and that way they can manage the response. So, when half the player base get hit with the sticker shock of a $50 PHB, they can turn around and say, "yes, but it includes everything you need to play", or "yes, but it's a 600-page book", or "yes, but look at all this wonderful art!", or "yes, but it includes a three-month subscription to the new DDI", or whatever.

But if they don't do that, they get what we saw a few months ago: lots of people arguing over the price, detailed threads about the prices through the editions and adjusted for inflation, and that "are you less likely to buy now?" poll. None of which has an upside for WotC.