This book doesnt sound like it will hold any interest for me. The 3.X book I didnt own because it held no interest for me. So unless there is a ton of stuff for DM's for NPC's and monsters etc this will also not be a purchase for me.
You can volunteer to run Encounters and get the modules that way or you can purchase them off of Ebay. WOTC has stated they wont release them to the public.
The community levels up and puts out sheets for the pregens. The community also makes some great tools for the DM's to use that makes being a DM easier. Every organizer/DM should peruse the March of the Phantom Brigade forums at WOTC.
***As a side note they have not created the new seasons...
Has anyone yet posted that perhaps the OP should read the stealth rules in the rules compendium or at the least read the errata/updates provided by WOTC?
The OP I noticed referred to the PHB which is why I ask.
That is weird since Nemesis and I dont observe this when we do it.
Did you import a character at any point and time that had Staff Fighting and it caused a crash in the builder?
Here try to import this file and modify it and see if it works. It shows the staff damage as 1d12 and has the staff...
I have noticed that not all weapons that are supposed to be listed as in both hands do say so. This will probably cause problems with certain feats etc.
I did just go back and choose a staff implement and it still showed d12 for damage but did not show the AC bonus. So the AC bonus being shown is definitely a bug.
Did you purchase a Quarterstaff or a Staff Implement?
And unless you plan to multi-class etc to get powers to let you attack with the offhand part of the staff its better to take hafted defense.
I will try to recreate this myself here in a few mins and will let ya know what I see.
***Edit: I...
No you don't have to purchase the books unless you want to. They have provided 6 pregen characters for you to play with for the Season.
And the books are just more options for 4th edition anyhow there is no reason to really not pick them up.
Only Essentials means only Essentials.
It makes it so that new people that come in and find interest only have 2 players resources they have to worry about for classes, feats and powers etc.
I am sure the mods will censure me, but if you think that you were paying for that for 2 years you have got to be one of the most oblivious people in the world. It was documented a couple months prior to DDi's release that the 3d VT would not be released with it.
If you're sure the mods will...
I like Runepriests.
But I think they would have made a great Essentials style class:
Aura 1 - Rune state
Stances - Effects dependent upon which Rune state your in
Melee Basics for attacks
I dont see them needing the Ritual caster feat for free.
Runepriests I would like to see Essentialized. I believe that the Rune states could be an Aura. Give them some stances that do different things depending upon the Rune state. Make them a Basic Attack class like Knight, Thief and Slayer.