Are We Entering A Reprint Cycle?

[the Jester]

Anyone else notice how much stuff in the newer WotC books is reprinted/updated from older sources? Complete Warrior certainly is, and I was looking at the teaser for the forthcoming Unearthed Arcana- I suspect a significant part of it will be things like the wound/vitality system and other things harvested, at least in part, from other Wizards' other d20 stuff. Also, didn't a bunch of monsters from Monsters of Faerun recently reappear in a couple of books?

I'm not judging this as good or bad, but I'm curious as to what all y'all think. Is it just me? Is this a real trend that I've noticed, a way to reap the benefits of the work put into developing the 3.0 books by upgrading them to 3.5? Cheap money-making ploy or necessary release?

Personally, I prolly will buy both CW and UA... I don't have d20 Modern or anything, so I don't really mind that stuff, and I've mixed feelings on the massive number of updates in there...

 

[Viktyr Gehrig]

Well, on the one hand, every piece of reprinted material is something you've paid for at least twice, if you have more than one copy of it.

On the other hand, reprinted material means that you can buy less material without missing as much-- especially good when the original source of an item you want is otherwise a very poor book.

 

[johnsemlak]

A lot of material in various WotC hardcovers is from Dragon Magazine, of course, but that's a long-standing tradtion.

I'm really beginning to wonder what new direction WotC will go with sourcebooks. A lot of stuff on the burner for next year is in the accessory category (deluxe character sheets, dm screen, etc.) Besides the PGtF and UA, there isn't much (as yet announced) in the way of new material until Eberron hits the stands in the Summer.

 

[jgsugden]

Much of the CW stuff, although containing names of prior materials, is a rewrite. The name might be old, but the material is new and improved.

Is it recycling? Only to a small extent.

Will it continue? Probably. They had a lot of good concepts that were poorly implemented. Now, we'll be able to see nice implementation of those concepts. I consider that a good thing.

After all, I'd rathe see them take their best ideas and give them better rules than to see them struggle for ideas and give them good rules while ignoring old good concepts that have been poorly implemented.

 

[jgsugden]

A lot of material in various WotC hardcovers is from Dragon Magazine, of course, but that's a long-standing tradtion.

I'm really beginning to wonder what new direction WotC will go with sourcebooks. A lot of stuff on the burner for next year is in the accessory category (deluxe character sheets, dm screen, etc.) Besides the PGtF and UA, there isn't much (as yet announced) in the way of new material until Eberron hits the stands in the Summer.

Geee ... mayybe that'll give them some time to get their arrata right.

 

[Wombat]

Yep, huge reprint period.

I mean, all the splat books, etc., have to be retooled for 3.5.

So, yes, there will be a LOT of recycled product over the next year.

 

[johnsemlak]

fter all, I'd rathe see them take their best ideas and give them better rules than to see them struggle for ideas and give them good rules while ignoring old good concepts that have been poorly implemented.

Agreed.

New material is nice to though

 

[WizarDru]

Considering how dramatic some of the Prestige classes were reworked in Complete Warrior, I wouldn't just call it a simple updating, especially given how many sources they drew from. I'm assuming a Complete Spellcaster or something similar is coming...and if it's in the same category as CW, I'll be quite happy.

 

[Arnwyn]

Besides the PGtF... there isn't much (as yet announced) in the way of new material until Eberron hits the stands in the Summer.

Sadly, PGtF supposedly has a lot of reprinted material as well.

 

[Hardhead]

What is PGtF?

Players Guide to Fighting?

Pirate Gnolls took Frank?

Poisoned Gorillas talk French?

I have no idea.