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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Reaper Steve" data-source="post: 5414209" data-attributes="member: 51528">At first I was concerned when I noticed the Class Compendium gone. That increased when other products disappeared as well. But reading this thread and thinking more about it for the last few days has given me a new, more optimistic viewpoint: With one exception*, the Essentials products have been very well executed. I can tell there was a guiding vision behind them all, making sure they each were super individual products that also had amazing synergy together. (*that exception being the Red Box Thief not matching the HotFL Thief) I've been excited about the announced followup products, but something's been nagging me about them, and this thread helped me figure it out. To some extent, the now-unlisted books (Class Compedium, Emporium, and Heroes of the Heroic Tier) looked to be cut from the same mold as pre-Essentials releases. If Essentials was an evolutionary step forward, those books were a half step back; back to a 'time to make the donuts' approach to splatbooks. Don't get me wrong, there appears to have been some gems of material in there, but the way the material was grouped and marketed struck me as going back to how it always was. Maybe, just maybe, someone at WotC is continung to think outside the box. Maybe they have come up with a strategy and marketing plan that capitalizes on the innovations and successes of Essentials. maybe they have thought of a much better way to sell us the material that was going to be in those books. Honestly, if I wasn't a completist, there'd be no reason to buy Class Compendium. Similarly, the material in Heroes of the Heroic Tier seems appealing, but it strikes me as a book that would have a little bit for everyone, but not enough to justify many purchases. A player that is only interested in being a Wood Elf may just get that info from CB rather than buy a book that only has a couple of pages he cares about. Maybe all that information can be broken up and repackaged with other stuff that goes together better. Notice what survived the cut: Heroes of Shadow, a book with a very tight theme. Another post in this thread mentions a Monster Builder reference to Heroes of the Feywild, a parallel, tight theme (and a good place for Wood Elves.) Also mentioned was the Advanced DMG. Maybe we will see the return of Advanced D&D, which will exist with Essentials. But unlike the old Basic D&D / AD&D incompatibility rift, they will be completely integrated. Start with Essentials, when ready for more, grab the Advanced Player's Handbook. I think the book originally solicited as the Class Compendium would be much better marketed as the APH. So, maybe, just maybe... they have a plan, and maybe it's a damn good one. Maybe it will shake up the tired routine of splatbook of the month. Maybe it will further solidify Essentials as the entry point, with books aimed for advanced players clearly labeled and marketed, while all books are all plug-and-play 4E. Hopefully the January 'In the Works' article will shed some light, as will DDXP at the end of the month. Fingers crossed,RS</blockquote>

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