DM's kit preview

[Ruzak]

...
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.

Somewhere (I think a podcast) someone at WotC made a reference to potentially having such a toggle on the character generator. It sounded like the intent was to limit to only the essential stuff, mainly for ease of character generation by the new essentials folk. It may or may not be possible to exclude the new stuff.

 

[The Little Raven]

Somewhere (I think a podcast) someone at WotC made a reference to potentially having such a toggle on the character generator. It sounded like the intent was to limit to only the essential stuff, mainly for ease of character generation by the new essentials folk. It may or may not be possible to exclude the new stuff.

It's possible to exclude game elements from any source currently, down to selecting which ones are excluded on a item-by-item basis. I don't see why it would be any different for the Essentials content.

 

[UngeheuerLich]

Because of the updated wizard encounters etc... anf for the ease of use. I guess you can use the normal way of excluding PHB 1 material, but then you lose out the normal fighter builds...

I mainly thought of a toggle for feats and powers...

 

[Echohawk]

You know, now that I'm thinking about it, I collect DM screens as well.

Not so long ago I was pondering how many D&D screens there have been over the years. The answer turned out to be 38 (with two more on the way), assuming that I didn't miss any...

[size=-2]Dungeons & Dragons screen checklist

Dungeons & Dragons
Judge's Shield (1977) [JG28]
AC2: Combat Shield and Mini-Adventure (1984) [TSR9099]
AC7: Master Player Screen (1985) [TSR9156]
Dungeon Master's Screen (and folder) (1991) [included with The New Easy to Master Dungeons & Dragons Game, TSR1070]
DMR1: Dungeon Master Screen (1993) [TSR9437]
Dungeon Master Screen (1994) [included with The Classic Dungeons & Dragons Game, TSR1106]
Dungeon Master Screen (Two-panel) (1999) [included with Dungeons & Dragons Adventure Game, TSR11450]
D&D Diablo II DM Screen (1999) [included with D&D Adventure Game: Diablo II Edition, TSR11548]

Advanced Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeon Master's Screen (1979) [TSR9024]
REF1: Dungeon Master's Screen (1985) [TSR9146]

Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 2nd Edition
REF1: Dungeon Master's Screen (1989) [TSR9263]
Ravenloft Screen (1990) [cover of Feast of Goblyns, TSR9298]
SJR3: Spelljammer Dungeon Master's Screen (1991) [TSR9313]
Dragonlance Dungeon Master Screen (1992) [included with Tales of the Lance, TSR1074]
Al-Qadim Screen (1992) [included with ALQ1: Golden Voyages, TSR9366]
Fighter's Screen (1994) [TSR9457]
Priest's Screen (1994) [TSR9462]
Thief's Screen (1994) [TSR9463]
Wizard's Screen (1994) [TSR9468]
Planescape Dungeon Master Screen (1994) [included with the Planescape Campaign Setting, TSR2600]
First Quest Dungeon Master Screen (1994) [included with First Quest: The Introduction to Role-Playing Games, TSR1105]
Ravenloft Dungeon Master Screen (1994) [included with Ravenloft Campaign Setting, TSR1108]
Masque of the Red Death And Other Tales DM Screen (1994) [included in the Masque of the Red Death,TSR 1103]
Birthright Dungeon Master Screen (1995) [included with the Birthright Campaign Setting, TSR3100]
Dungeon Master Screen & Master Index (1995) [TSR9504]
Introduction to AD&D Dungeon Master Screen (1995) [included with Introduction to AD&D, TSR1134]
Dungeon Master Screen (1995) [included with The Complete Starter Set: AD&D Game, TSR1167]
Dark Sun Dungeon Master Screen (1995) [included with the Dark Sun Campaign Setting Expanded and Revised, TSR2438]

Dungeons & Dragons 3.0
Dungeon Master Screen (2000) [WOC11639]
Ravenloft Secrets of the Dread Realms and Dungeon Master's Screen (2001) [WW15001]
Forgotten Realms Dungeon Master's Screen (2002) [WOC886860000]
Kingdoms of Kalamar Dungeon Master's Shield (2002) [K&C1006]

Dungeons & Dragons 3.5
Dungeon Master's Screen (2003) [included with Dragon #310, PZO82310]
Deluxe Dungeon Master's Screen (2004) [WOC885960000]
Kingdoms of Kalamar Dungeon Master's Shield (2004) [K&C1023]
Dragonlance Dungeon Master's Screen (2004) [SVP4901]
Eberron Deluxe Dungeon Master's Screen (2005) [WOC950060000]

Dungeons & Dragons 4th Edition
Dungeon Master's Screen (2008) [WOC218307400]
Dungeon Master's Screen (2010) [included with the Dungeon Master's Kit, WOC244640000]
Deluxe Dungeon Master's Screen (2011) [WOC280590000][/size]

 

[TerraDave]

Echohawk, I can no XP you, but that list is awesome.

 

[fanboy2000]

I'm pathetic. When I read your post, my first thought was "They must be mine." I'm since recovered.

Anyways, after I get this, I may stop bringing my DMGs to the game for ref. The biggest thing I use them for is DC (with I know the kit has) and hit points for monsters/npcs. When I de-level a monster or npc on the fly, the DMG one is the only place with monster hit point tables. If the new book from the kit has that, that's two less books to lug around.

 

[TerraDave]

...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..

I think the errata stopped being simple a while ago. And again, what about new skill challenge guidelines, default dcs, alt treasure rules...

...they want new players to graduated from the Essentials products to the Core ones.

Its unclear what they want them to buy post essentials. I mean, they want to sell everything, but if you have your DM kit, Monster vault, compendium...those three 2008 books are not doing a ton for you.

^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.

Almost conceding a ....zuchini... here.

I could see future support for the "Heroes" classes. New domains, schools, fighter and rogue subclasses (like an essentials swashbuckler) or an essentials take on the warlord. Probably will depend on sales.

 

[Scribble]

Almost conceding a ....zuchini... here.

Man... Did you consider PHB II a zucchini as well? How about PHB III?

I could see future support for the "Heroes" classes. New domains, schools, fighter and rogue subclasses (like an essentials swashbuckler) or an essentials take on the warlord. Probably will depend on sales.

Yeah they already said if there's something cool for essentials classes that gets submitted to Dragon then they'll publish.

 

[UngeheuerLich]

They can put out as many subclasses as they want and not affect any of the PHB builds. Actually martial classes have so many builds which you can mix and match (swap out CS etc.) that i believe its enough...

wait a moment: there are so many builds you can mix and match? Lets have a closer look:
there are powers which require a hand free, powers that need two weapons, powers where you need one two handed weapon... ok these are the obvious offenders. Then there are more subtle ones, like rain of blows (you miss 1/3 of the power with the wrong weapon... ok some are still good, but)
So now, even for an experienced players, there are too many choices for the one single fighter (classic) build.
We could have a much cleaner structure, if WotC hade made more out of the builds, which are already introduced in the CB.
Right now, chosing war wizard or control wizard, scourge warlock or the other one, has zero effect on your choices.
If at least, powers were structured by those choices, and better presented, it would be great for the new player.
I guess, at least with the warpriest, we will now get our domains, nicely structured, and then we can swap them for a different power. It should have been that way forever...

 

[mach1.9pants]

Almost conceding a ....zuchini... here.

I could see future support for the "Heroes" classes. New domains, schools, fighter and rogue subclasses (like an essentials swashbuckler) or an essentials take on the warlord. Probably will depend on sales.

Ah I didn't mean there wouldn't be extras for essentials players, what I meant is future modules etc will only support the full rulset (old style 4E and Rules Compendium) not the cut down GM kit and Heroes rules. IMO.

WTF Zuchini? Lay off the drugs.