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Just trying to point out that there have been "cheap and easy" introductions to 4E since its release. The new red box is nothing new.

This was a product. It was released in October of 2008. It cost $16.99 (MSRP). It was an inexpensive and easy way to start playing the game. Hasbro let it go out of print. The new red box appears to be the D&D Roleplaying Game Starter Set in nostalgic packaging with rules updates applied...

I'm saying you are mistaken and the whole intent of the Essentials line is actually to make players pay more than they would if they just went with the core books to start with. I haven't come across anyone who thought the 4E PHB made the game too hard. And it's only $35. The 4E starter set box...

That's fair. I'm clearly speculating about what exactly is in the Essentials line since I haven't seen it yet. What do you **need** to play the game today? I say you need at least the PHB1 at the table. PHB1 has rules for how to play; rules for how to make characters; descriptions of races...

You're analogy is severely flawed, IMHO. I'd say the PHB, DMG, and MM **together** are like a 1000-piece bin of legos. The new red box is like a 50-piece bin. But take the core books individually--say you only have a PHB, or only have the DMG--they're like having just a square green base. Or...

You are cynical about my cynicism?

Is this actually the case? Has anyone actually released research that shows this is happening and is a major problem? Or have sales of the core rule books flattened because the market is satisfied, and so the corporation needs a newish product to drum up revenue? Both? Or something else?

As someone who owns the Blade Runner Five-Disc Ultimate Collector's Edition DVD briefcase that came out a couple Christmases ago (with fake origami unicorn and Matchbox-style spinner) and the original Director's Cut DVD, (my dad keeps the laserdisc) I know of what you speak. And that's...

Allow me to be cynical and make an analogy: Essentials is like a "Director's Cut" edition of a movie release or a "Remastering" of a music release. Director's Cuts and Remasters add a bit of additional value to the customer. Sometimes they dramatically affect the artistic merits of...

Awesome, awesome, awesome. I can't believe DMG3 still isn't on a publication calendar.

This is a good idea. It also provides a nice adventure and roleplaying hook as the players discover their heroism and develop as characters due to their unique lifestyle. I also recommend not planning for or expecting a years-long campaign with these characters. Construct your early adventures...

Dire Radiance is Con v For, 1d6 + Con damage. A Star Pact, Scourge-build Warlock should have its highest ability score in Con (I'm not doing any excessive minmaxing/charoping magic here; the PHB tells you this explicitly), which should make that a +3 to +5 bonus depending on how you generated...

First: Most every campaign I run starts with PHB1 only. Other sources are allowed as the player's explore the world and discover other cultures. I especially encourage this for new players since it is often easier to discover the game and role-play when they are using characters that are easy...

What does it take to get this thing stickied? It's a pain digging this out every time I want to double-check my gaming budget and plans, and it's more useful at this point than the collected errata sticky.

The Core Essence of D&D, To Me: Characters You play the role of a character (rarely more than one at a time) in an imaginary world. The world is a fantastic and quasi-medieval place, usually strongly influenced by Tolkien's writings of Middle Earth, where magic exists. Characters are primarily...

Just thought of a semi-obvious addition. I'll be granting 1d4 HP for minor boons in addition to detracting 1d4 for minor disadvantages.

Let me throw out the opposite extreme: At my table the campaigns start with PHB1 only. Anyone using "official" character sheets is mocked and provided with a 4 page Word template, a 3x5 card Word template, and a piece of 1/4" graph paper. Additional books are added only when the DM approves...

I'm DMing Encounters and I've ruled that this rule only impacts powers that have the weapon keyword. So the sorcerer can't break his implement, a monk wouldn't break his ki focus, etc. They also would not be able to take advantage of the reroll. It's going to be key that the DM make weapons...

I love the responses everyone! Since I already edit my monsters before using them, I'm going to take a long hard look at using different dice sizes for different monster roles. Using 1d4 for incidental damage is brilliant and I can't believe I haven't been doing that. And I'm going to start...

Actually, Open Grave: Secrets of the Undead **is** essentially the Shadowfell plane book. And as a DM, **I am** interested in a Feywild book. I am also longing for a DMG3 with advice on running epic-tier adventures and campaigns. Damn this "essentials" line for denying my desires!