Essentials Rules Compendium preview copy in hand

[thalmin]

Today we received a preview copy of the Rules Compendium.



First impressions:

• It doesn't lay flat unless opened to about the middle of the book. Might improve with use. EDIT This is slowly improving.
• Easy to read, no extra color added to page just to make it full color (it is but some pages are just b&w text)
• Table of Contents type is a little small for my aging eyes. But TOC is all on one 3-column page.
• Good quality paper and binding. Should hold up to substantial use, but time will tell.

Time to do a quick read and see what it has. I will answer questions and update this post as well. Please do not ask for me to retype sections of the book.
Edit: Looks to be a very handy reference book of the rules, useful for pre-essentials games as well, I have not found anything that contradicts or changes any rules, other than Magic Item Rarity which is new and errata which has been incorporated.

EDIT: Used at the gaming table it IS a good quick reference for a regular 4E game.
edit:Table of Contents (in brief)

Introduction (pg 5)
Chapter 1 The Basics (pg19)
Chapter 2 Adventurers and Monsters (pg59) (on page 74 they start the character creation rules)
Chapter 3 Understanding Powers (pg 89)
Chapter 4 Skills (pg123) (this includes skill checks and skill challenges)
Chapter 5 Exploration and the Environment (pg165)
Chapter 6 Combat (pg187)
Chapter 7 Equipment (pg263)
Appendix 1 Building a Combat Encounter (pg285)
Appendix 2 Rewards (pg289)
Appendix 3 Terrain Features (pg303)
Glossary (pg308)
Index (pg318)


For my customers: Book is at the store. Come in and take a look. Sit down with it for a bit. Buy it a cup of coffee.

 

[Cormacolinde]

Mostly curious about rules regarding:
- Implements
- Weapliments

 

[Neverfate]

How is the book structured? Table of contents puts the rules in what order? etc

Table of contents/book have any glaring omissions? ( I realize that's an in depth question, but it's bound to come up over time)

 

[thalmin]

Mostly curious about rules regarding:
- Implements
- Weapliments

What about them?
It does say some weapons can be used as implements, proficiency required to use as weapon, separate proficiency required to use as implement.

 

[thalmin]

How is the book structured? Table of contents puts the rules in what order? etc

Table of contents/book have any glaring omissions? ( I realize that's an in depth question, but it's bound to come up over time)

Book has section on how to equipment descriptions (weapons, armor, magic items) but the actual lists are not in this book. Explaining weapon groups and properties are here, as this book is where you look up the rules.

 

[UngeheuerLich]

Are there infos about skill DCs, how to use them in skill challenges and diseases?

Thanks for sharing all that stuff with us.

 

[Reaper Steve]

Does it appear to be current through the 6 July 2010 rules update?
For example, under Prone, there should no longer be any mention of flying creatures descending their speed... they just fall.

Any new changes jump out at you (that may be in the forthcoming 7 Oct errata?)

 

[thalmin]

Does it appear to be current through the 6 July 2010 rules update?
For example, under Prone, there should no longer be any mention of flying creatures descending their speed... they just fall.

Any new changes jump out at you (that may be in the forthcoming 7 Oct errata?)

Checked Prone. Climbing or flying creatures just fall if knocked prone. Havern't seen enough yet to tell about other changes.

 

[thalmin]

Are there infos about skill DCs, how to use them in skill challenges and diseases?

Thanks for sharing all that stuff with us.

Rules for skills and skill checks are here, including healing and disease checks. How to use skill checks and the disease progressions are explained in general, but individual disease effects are not here, presumably in the DM kit.

 

[JoeGKushner]

I must spread some experience around!