DM's kit preview

[Korgoth]

I wonder if it will rules for monster and trap creation?

 

[UngeheuerLich]

Hey, the fist quote now tells us, that the answer to everything is beeing evil^^. I guess that´s a hint about what Wizards is all about...

No, I was waiting for just this information if I will invest into DMG2 (DMG 1 long disappeared from my buy list). I guess this will make me more or less an essential only DM (ok, with MM 2 and maybe 3 soon)

I am loving the random treasure list, and tokens and the adventure...

I really have no understanding left for those who claim, that selling us an adventure, tokens, maps and updated rules is an evil act of wizards to grab our money.

I just had to buy new schoolbooks, because my old (2002 edition) is outdated and I now need 2005 edition. That´s life.

You can´t sell the old stuff over and over again. No one likes to buy the same old stuff over and over again. Your old Handy is not made worthless by new touch screen handys. You don´t need a touch screen handy. But when you buy a new handy (mobile phone, thats how we call it in germany), you usually get one of the newer kinds. Sometimes with nearly the same functions, but nicer access/layout.

Did I mention, that a company who sells the same stuff ove and over again will not be a company for much longer...

 

[huank]

I still don't get it. Essentials will be the “new way” of playing 4e or is just an easy way for noobs or people who have no idea about RPGs?

I'm kind of scared of thinking that I lost a lot of money on expensive books that won't be completely useful anymore.

 

[UngeheuerLich]

I still don't get it. Essentials will be the “new way” of playing 4e or is just an easy way for noobs or people who have no idea about RPGs?

I'm kind of scared of thinking that I lost a lot of money on expensive books that won't be completely useful anymore.

???

If they served you well until now, how can they not be useful anymore?

Maybe some things change with essentials... but those are minor all in all, and ther will be supplemental or alternate ways of doing some things.

The only thing which could happen is, that DDI changes a bit. And actually, if they can make a toggle, which will turn off essentials, makes essentials only (which turns off redundant feats) or a mix of both.

 

[huank]

I know, there are still useful and I don't think I'll get the essentials... but still, it's like when you buy a real good computer and some weeks later a new one comes out at the same price but way much better... That sucks! Don't you think? I recently bought my first 4e books, that's why I'm not very happy with the essentials theme, maybe I should have waited.

 

[UngeheuerLich]

I know exactly how you feel... i didn´t buy 3.5 because i waned to wait for errated prints. But then, when i had the money and the time to spend on D&D, and i forgot about the reason I waited so long, i thought: hey, i buy it...
... the next time i went into the shop, there was a new PHB lying out... i looked into it and it was an updated print... that was one week later...

and still: you could have waited a while as i did... essentials was announced 10 month ago, and we knew they will be updated prints...

and I am just happy, that i thought to myself that i will wait until this announcement before buying the DMG2... last thursday i nearly bought DMG 2, because it is famous for beeing great... but i could resist... maybe i will get it sometime later... hardcovers are nice!

 

[Jhaelen]

Wow. I'm really curious to see the skill challenge New Math. (Cue Tom Lehrer song....)

Ask and you shall receive

I've started a new thread to discuss this.

In it I've posted the known values plus some guesstimates for levels 1-5 and some musings about my pet theory that skill DCs should really be derived from monster ability scores.

I'm really curious, if they're actually going to explain how they calculated the values for the new skill DCs!

 

[giant.robot]

I still don't get it. Essentials will be the “new way” of playing 4e or is just an easy way for noobs or people who have no idea about RPGs?

I'm kind of scared of thinking that I lost a lot of money on expensive books that won't be completely useful anymore.

None of your old books will be worthless. The Essentials line has simplified variations on current rules to help new players get into the game but they don't affect existing rules beyond simple errata. You don't have to adopt any of the new variants on rules at your table.

Nothing I've seen from the previews have suggested that the rules in the Essentials books are in any way incompatible with existing 4E rules. The Essentials rules are meant to be a fully compatible subset of 4E, they want new players to graduated from the Essentials products to the Core ones.

 

[mach1.9pants]

^ Yeah this, it seems that if you do not buy the Rules Compendium and just the DMG you will miss out on rules such as Coup de Grace (as discussed in a different thread). My guess is that CdG is still in the game, won't be errata'd out but is only presented in the Rules Compendium (and all the standard 4E books). So you can play basic 4E, which has not all the rules, or full 4E which does. A (Very) little bit like BECMI and ADnD

But remember the Basic Set, then the DM Kit + Fallen Heroes, then the Rules Compendium and Standard 4E are not separate games like BECMI/ADND they are stepping stones to more complexity but all totally (or will be after updates/errata) backwards compatible.

You can only play basic set for ever (not much PC advancement) or just the DMs kit plus Heroes, but there (probably) will be no latter releases which are aimed at groups that just use those more basic things. Like a Red Box or DM Kit + Heroes only module. To have all the rules that later modules etc will include essentials groups will have to buy the Rules Compendium.

IMO obviously.

There’s a section of streamlined combat rules that can help you run the game until you decide it’s time to pick up the Rules Compendium.

 

[fanboy2000]

The DM screen in this is the old kind, and not the deluxe super hardback kind (that's the deluxe one...) so eh (I've been spoiled!)

You know, now that I'm thinking about it, I collect DM screens as well. I can't explain the fact that I own the 3e, 3.5, 3.5 from Dragon/Dungon, FR, Eberron, 3.0 Ravenloft, d20 Modern (o.k., I can explain that one, it came with the 3.5, IIRC), Planescape (came with one of the box sets, it's awesome), and 4e DM Screens any other way. I'm also planning on buying the new deluxe DM Screen in 2011.

The 4e screen is the most useful screen I've owned, but it'd be great if I had one with errataed conditions and DCs.