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<blockquote data-quote="WalterKovacs" data-source="post: 5526686" data-attributes="member: 63763">159 pages.&nbsp;&nbsp;Assuming access to DDi:&nbsp;You've already seen the Executioner build (it has a minor tweak, but mostly as is) and the Revenant (with new second stat option and updated 'when dropping below 0hp' wording) plus its feats (one feat is a general version of lots of feats ... a single feat works to get any race's racial power).&nbsp;Outside of that, some was previewed/spoiled during the lead up. &nbsp;&nbsp;Well, the new classes (Executioner, Blackguard, Vampire, Binder) don't need the Essential books at all. The new options for old classes (Death domain, necromancer school, nethermancer school, gloom pact hexblade) requires the Essential books to use, but plenty of the powers are useable by older classes. Even stuff like STR clerics and CHA paladins gets some usable attack powers (since they don't reference any stat at all, heck a paragon multiclasses half-elf versatile master could pick up those powers since they are completely stat/weapon/implement independent).&nbsp;In terms of encouraging people to play with Essentials? Not sure. The stuff in here is very flavorful. The vampire, the assassin, the blackguard ... all have different types of &quot;cool&quot;. The necromancer and nethermancer get summons that last &quot;forever&quot; (until killed or replaced, not just encouter long), something very different from what's come before. The Cleric has access to old favorites like Inflict Wounds and other &quot;auto-hit&quot; damage attacks. So, if you didn't like Essentials because it was more &quot;fighter, rogue, wizard, cleric&quot; ... there are some new more niche type classes. If you didn't like Essentials because stuff was simple... I'd argue this book (the vampire's surge burning and gaining mechanics, the assassin's poison, which is like wizard spells, the blackguard's methods of dealing ther striker damage) is a bit more complex than HotFK and HotFL. They still use some of the class design, but it's executed in a more complex way.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="WalterKovacs, post: 5526686, member: 63763"] 159 pages. Assuming access to DDi: You've already seen the Executioner build (it has a minor tweak, but mostly as is) and the Revenant (with new second stat option and updated 'when dropping below 0hp' wording) plus its feats (one feat is a general version of lots of feats ... a single feat works to get any race's racial power). Outside of that, some was previewed/spoiled during the lead up. Well, the new classes (Executioner, Blackguard, Vampire, Binder) don't need the Essential books at all. The new options for old classes (Death domain, necromancer school, nethermancer school, gloom pact hexblade) requires the Essential books to use, but plenty of the powers are useable by older classes. Even stuff like STR clerics and CHA paladins gets some usable attack powers (since they don't reference any stat at all, heck a paragon multiclasses half-elf versatile master could pick up those powers since they are completely stat/weapon/implement independent). In terms of encouraging people to play with Essentials? Not sure. The stuff in here is very flavorful. The vampire, the assassin, the blackguard ... all have different types of "cool". The necromancer and nethermancer get summons that last "forever" (until killed or replaced, not just encouter long), something very different from what's come before. The Cleric has access to old favorites like Inflict Wounds and other "auto-hit" damage attacks. So, if you didn't like Essentials because it was more "fighter, rogue, wizard, cleric" ... there are some new more niche type classes. If you didn't like Essentials because stuff was simple... I'd argue this book (the vampire's surge burning and gaining mechanics, the assassin's poison, which is like wizard spells, the blackguard's methods of dealing ther striker damage) is a bit more complex than HotFK and HotFL. They still use some of the class design, but it's executed in a more complex way. [/QUOTE]

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