4E value < 3E value

[Mercurius]

After browsing through the FR Player's Guide at a local bookstore, I just cancelled my Amazon order (coupled with the Adventurer's Vault, which I look enough to re-order once I figure out what to add to get super saver shipping). While not a "4E Hater," I'm a little disappointed with the value of 4E items so far. Don't get me wrong, the core set--especially at the Amazon price--was great value; but I think WotC pulled a bit of a fast one when they split the FRCS into two books, when one book with smaller text would have been dandy. $70 list for both? Why not $50 for one big book? Seeing that I'd only be mining the book for ideas, I couldn't bring myself to even spend the Amazon $18 on the Player's Guide.

Anyone else disappointed with post-core 4E value? One of the hallmarks of 3E books was the dense type which, for most D&Ders, was a major plus. Now it seems like we're getting about half the text per page, with the same or lower page counts. Are they "dumbing down" D&D? Or is this just a typical--and relatively harmless, if annoying--case of trying to make a few extra bucks?

 

[The Little Raven]

$70 list for both?

Because players and DMs need different information on the setting. Players don't need to know about the threats in detail, nor the adventure hooks in a given location, while the DM does in order to put together a campaign.

One of the hallmarks of 3E books was the dense type which, for most D&Ders, was a major plus.

I never liked the crowded feeling of the 3rd Edition books, especially when they'd squeeze text in around pictures.

Are they "dumbing down" D&D?

Are we back to this nonsense again?

 

[Fifth Element]

Are we back to this nonsense again?

Did we ever get away from it?

 

[WhatGravitas]

I never liked the crowded feeling of the 3rd Edition books, especially when they'd squeeze text in around pictures.

Plus, a lot of people complained about "filler" in 3E material, like the more extensive PrC format, the example PrC NPCs, longer format for spells and items...

I, for one, like the new FRPG/CG split - I'm not going to pick up the CG, simply because I only like the Realms as story/novel world, not as a game world - but this way, I can snag all the interesting crunch in one neat little book (at least I intend to).

Cheers, LT.

 

[I'm A Banana]

Are they "dumbing down" D&D? Or is this just a typical--and relatively harmless, if annoying--case of trying to make a few extra bucks?

It's really neither.

People probably complained about tiny little eye-straining type in 3e. 4e, casting itself as the "accessible D&D," blew up the typeface, much to some peoples' pleasure.

As for splitting the FR setting into two books: the agenda behind this isn't (just) to get people to buy more FR. It is to show dedicated support for a setting for a period of time before letting it lie fallow. FR is the setting of the year, so it not only has these two books, I'm sure it will have more by the end of the year, and perhaps even next year, until the next setting (Eberron) comes out next year.

4e's "Everything Is Core" approach means that WotC expects people to pick up FR books at about the same rate that they picked up 3e books: one per month.

Ultimately, yes, this will make each setting more profitable. But it also means we're seeing true support for diversity in WotC: rather than weakly shepherd a setting along with minor releases, they're dedicating some resources to it for a time, then letting it lie. FRPG is just the second big FR release. There will be more, and each one will "feel core," because that is one of 4e's selling strategies: everyone should be buying everything.

 

[D'karr]

Are they "dumbing down" D&D? Or is this just a typical--and relatively harmless, if annoying--case of trying to make a few extra bucks?

Yes, I would refer you here.

 

[Scribble]

$70 list for both? Why not $50 for one big book? Seeing that I'd only be mining the book for ideas, I couldn't bring myself to even spend the Amazon $18 on the Player's Guide

I think this is a how you look at it thing...

I'm finding that 4e has a greater ability to let me buy only what I need. Since I don't really "need" all the feats and class stuff to make monsters and challenges in 4e, I can concentrate my buying on the parts I DO need.

Forcing me to pay 50 bux for a book I'm only going to use "part of" is annoying.

 

[Dragonbait]

Post removed.

I need to read things more carefully.

 

[JeffB]

Amount of info is the same.

Just all the 3E stat blocks required all that extra space and smaller font.




























I kid. I kid.

However I don;t see why less info per book or a lower page count= 4E is dumbed down" Maybe 3.X was just a big fat slob and they put it on a diet to make 4e??

 

[BryonD]

I never liked the crowded feeling of the 3rd Edition books, especially when they'd squeeze text in around pictures.

OK, so paying more for less is a feature of the new approach. noted.