D&D 4E 4E PHB II & DMG II 1 year after release (and a new one every year after that)

[Tharkun]

How is this really different than the splat books for 3.0 or 3.5? I mean I see that tehy are going to release a PHB DMG & MM annually which would be cool but how is that drastically different than what is going on now?

I mean content wise mainly.

 

[Zaruthustran]

Well, presumably putting out one PHB a year is superior to putting out multiple splat books a year because you have a year to test, polish, and refine. There's no frenzied rush to crank out a book every 1-2 months, so hopefully we'll see better balance, clearer rules text, and fewer editing errors.

But yeah, it seems like after 12 months the net total number of new feats and classes will be the same as what we're used to. Just presented in a better format, and collected all in one place (no more having to spread a dozen books across your floor when making a high level character).

 

[Branduil]

I like the PHB II, so if they do this instead of a million splatbooks I'll be happy.

 

[Ankh-Morpork Guard]

I like the idea, but really don't like taking a PHB race in every edition of AD&D so far and not giving them a full racial write-up until a year after 4E is released.

If WotC is reading this, please at least put the first 10 levels of gnomes online if you're going to make gnome players wait like this.

I expect whatever race(s) get the cut from the PHB will end up in the MM...especially something like the Gnomes, who HAVE been around so long.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

I expect whatever race(s) get the cut from the PHB will end up in the MM...especially something like the Gnomes, who HAVE been around so long.

It sounds like there's at least 20 levels of racial abilities for PHB races, though. I doubt the Monster Manual races will get that kind of write-up. (Although it would be nice, at least for select races.)

 

[Ankh-Morpork Guard]

It sounds like there's at least 20 levels of racial abilities for PHB races, though. I doubt the Monster Manual races will get that kind of write-up. (Although it would be nice, at least for select races.)

I guess the question is, if that's the case, how much space it takes up and how much it can be reduced to.

I'm not a big fan of Gnomes(they're for punting, thankyou), but they have been around long enough that I'd be surprised to see them gone for as long as a year.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

I'm not getting the torches and pitchforks and demanding they be in the PHB -- heck, they weren't playable in BD&D for the longest time -- but I would like them to get as good of a write-up as possible, as soon as possible. Honestly, the Insider seems a good place for them in the interim.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

And back on the original topic: I think the idea of general annual player, DM and monster supplements is a good one. Hopefully this means the name "Fiend Folio" can be saved for something a little different than what was, in the end, just another monster book previously.

 

[mhacdebhandia]

I'm 99% certain that gnomes will appear in D&D Insider ASAP. If nothing else, they're very important to Eberron, having one of the dragonmarks, and James Wyatt has promised strong Eberron content online right out of the gate.

 

[Glyfair]

Hopefully this means the name "Fiend Folio" can be saved for something a little different than what was, in the end, just another monster book previously.

Originally it was TSR UK's monster book, with some monsters that were from modules (drow, for example).

Maybe they could keep that sort of vibe and make the Fiend Foilo either a collection of fan created monsters, or a best of "d20" monsters.