D&D 4E Inquiry: How do 4E fans feel about 4E Essentials?

[Garthanos]

It's a shame we never got a Primal Power 2 to help it out though, cause I feel they could have done some cool things with zone 'trap-like' effects. I even had this concept I wanted to explore of a seeker who specialized in slings that would throw enchanted seeds and have enchanted plants grow all over the battlefield with various effects. I had this one power that created a carnivorous plant that could do opportunity attacks with a chance of knocking prone.

I generally figured if it had more time and development it would have been fine but it was suffering being new.

 

[cavalier973]

An advantage of the essentials classes is that their ability scores were more focused. A Cavalier just had to worry about STR and CHA (and really, just STR), while a core paladin had to worry about STR, CHA, and WIS.

The weapon and implement expertise feats in Essentials are superior to the expertise feats from the PHB2, because they added some other element to the +1 per tier attack bonus.

you could set up a level 1 mage to do 8 automatic damage every round with magic missile. Start with a 20 in INT, and take the implement focus feat. EDIT: this is possible with the core wizard, too, if you use the errata for magic missile. I would allow players to use either essentials magic missile or the original “roll-to-hit” magic missile (which I would refer to as “Jim’s Magic Missile”).
My favorite spell comes from the essentials Red Box—“Slimy Transmutation”.

 

[Garthanos]

My favorite spell comes from the essentials Red Box—“Slimy Transmutation”.

Anything which upped witchy flavor including that one sneaked in..
Beast Switch is also fun particularly if you get it on a Swordmage or similar melee character.

 

[Vaalingrade]

And the first time a Fighter could ACTUALLY hold the front line and protect the squishies not reliant on DM fiat.

And the absolute last, sadly.

 

[Vaalingrade]

Simplicity is literally all I heard in regard to the Slayer and Knight. If you heard complaints about fighters being defenders, or only being defenders, that is the same as a complaint about marks, IME.

Complaints about defenders fighters I saw was that they weren't Strikers because of the word 'fighter'.

 

[doctorbadwolf]

Complaints about defenders fighters I saw was that they weren't Strikers because of the word 'fighter'.

Okay. I think it’s possible that you weren’t really hearing people about what they didn’t like about a thing you did like, but hey maybe we just saw completely different things.

 

[Undrave]

And the absolute last, sadly.

Well the Sentinel feat and the Cavalier can still stop enemies in their tracks.

Complaints about defenders fighters I saw was that they weren't Strikers because of the word 'fighter'.

Don't forget complaints you couldn't do an 'Archer Fighter' despite the Ranger being a perfectly fine martial archer.

 

[FitzTheRuke]

Don't forget complaints you couldn't do an 'Archer Fighter' despite the Ranger being a perfectly fine martial archer.

Especially seeing as you very much COULD do an Archer Fighter (though the Ranger chassis made for a better one, and was nearly the exact same character, just better).

 

[Vaalingrade]

Okay. I think it’s possible that you weren’t really hearing people about what they didn’t like about a thing you did like, but hey maybe we just saw completely different things.

Yes, I was biased in hearing literally the things that were said to me.

"It's a fighter. It's supposed to fight. So not being the best as dealing damage means it isn't a fighter!"

 

[Deekin]

Well the Sentinel feat and the Cavalier can still stop enemies in their tracks.

The change from 1 reaction per turn to 1 reaction per round puts a significant nerf to both of those, however.