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I know what you mean. The Ranger description just falls flat. Here it is again: I think the core problem would be addressed by that age-old piece of writing wisdom: "show, don't tell." This paragraph, in addition to being very nearly the only flavor in the entire article, is really just a list...

No, you don't need to buy Essentials. There is no difference between Essentials rules and core 4e rules, except that the Essentials books include the latest rules updates. Those same rules updates are also available online for free. However, you may want to buy Essentials. Here's a rundown: *...

I've noticed the same thing Jack99 is referring to. The Cavalier preview and Scarecrow article were particularly good. Contrast to articles of just a few months ago--generally walls of powers with the barest sketch of evocative description. They were about mechanics, and we were expected to...

As an aside, the Companion Character rules in DMG2 are an excellent way to create an NPC with "real PC feel" without all the rules complexity of a real PC. I've used them for several NPCs now (including an Essentials Warpriest and Mage!) and have been very happy with the results.

I agree, not (just) marketing. Rather, an increased facility with the game's design combined with real care for the feel invoked by the mechanics. It's evident in the prose describing the cavalier, martial classes' use of basic attacks, and slimes' new immunity to being knocked prone. It all...

If you're doing your own printing, their Counter Collection Digital is a great value for the money. The images come as individual files rather than PDFs, which means you can mix and match to get exactly what you want. Also, a great tip for making your own tokens is to buy some chipboard...

My players just dinged level 5 (about halfway through second adventure) and I'm loving it. Lots of great roleplaying opportunities, good story, interesting situations. It inspires me to be a better DM. My only gripe would be that some of the combats are pretty dry, and some of them are poorly...

Most of the things you mentioned illuminate Wizard's current direction, but other than the cumulative updating of powers, I wouldn't count them as things that affected existing characters and adventures. With the change to monster math, for example, part of my prep now involves checking the...

Sorry, I'm not familiar with this. More details?

All the sturm und drang over Essentials got me thinking: what exactly are the major changes to 4e since it came out? I'm not talking about minor changes that only affect certain builds (like power errata) or additional options (like backgrounds, themes, racial stats, or Essentials classes), but...

Huh what? Other than a few small changes, the rules for Arcana in the RC (pp.133-136) are identical to the rules for Arcana in the PHB (pp.181-182). Arcana Knowledge: Identical. Monster Knowledge: Identical except for DCs. Identify Conjuration or Zone: Identical except for DCs...

As far as I can tell, WotC is making no distinction between "Essentials rules" and "standard 4e rules." So the Rules Compendium is the compiled core rules of D&D 4e, including all updates up through September. That includes things that some people think of as "Essentials rules" like updated...

My flag: Tools aimed at the Essentials market. 1- For players: A simplified/streamlined Character Builder that only contains Essentials classes and races, with a streamlined interface and clear choices at every step of the character building process. Existing classes will be released later...

True. Also quite probable. The "$10 for all crunch" (combined with the announcement of web-based tools) is what makes me think a rewrite is likely. All the rest is just supporting evidence. Remember, it's not "$10 / month subscription" -- it's "buy one month, download the CB, and keep using...

I do this, and once one of my players used an immediate interrupt to shift away. Lost all of those monsters' attacks. :mad: Seems fair to me. ;)

Here's the evidence: - If WotC was developing a new tool that had nothing to do with the CB, it wouldn't affect CB development times. - On the other hand, if a rewrite or major overhaul of CB was planned, it absolutely would affect CB development, quite possibly to the point where CB was...

The updates were in the September update, and are included in the "compiled updates" part of the October update. I've attached the September update so you can see the changes more easily.

Essentials isn't a new version. It's just new books. Some of those books reprint existing rules. Some of those rules were updated as part of the Essentials editing process. The "Essentials Update" contained the updates to the rules that were reprinted in the essentials books. For example...

Wizards has been hinting pretty strongly that we wouldn't get much out of the DM Kit. Last month's Save My Game column had this to say: And then this month's editorial seems to be dancing a bit, too: Directed information. I'm guessing that means the DM Kit will provide a simplified...

There's another reason: Software development involves a staggering amount of uncertanty. Typical software projects have a 90% chance of needing more time than estimated and a 50% chance of taking more than twice as long as estimated. 10% take more than four times as long. If you want to be...