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Message: <blockquote data-quote="pemerton" data-source="post: 5478883" data-attributes="member: 42582">For building PCs, Essentials is easier due to (i) fewer options and (ii) clearer presentation.If you're starting with pregens (which I might be tempted to do in your situation) this won't matter.For play in combat, the Essentials martial classes are probably a bit simpler to play. The divine and arcane classes probably aren't much difference.For play out of combat, core clerics and wizards get rituals which the Essentials casters don't. This may be a plus or a minus, depending on what your new players are looking for in a spell caster.Also for play out of combat, the Essentials skill descriptions and suggested uses of skills are far far better than those in the PHB.I've never tried to teach new RPGers 4e, but if I was going to I'd probably (i) build the PC myself, based on their description of what they want their PC to be able to do, (ii) give them a copy of the Essentials skill descriptions for the skills of their PC, and then (iii) talk them through the first combat using their character sheet as a reference tool. I think trying to hand the combat rules to new players and expecting them to work it out for themselves won't work unless they're a hardcore gamer already.I'd also be tempted to start with a non-combat encounter/skill challenge rather than a combat encounter, because I think a new player will find their skills easier to work with than their combat powers - even if playing an Essentials PC.</blockquote>

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