Essentials Rules Compendium preview copy in hand

[Scribble]

I doubt those rules are in essentials at all. Im betting it's one of those things left for pre essentials books.

So let's hope they keep supporting the old stuff.

It bothers me that they only have random loot and not advice on keeping a per level value. The parcel list is one of the things you can't find on ddi

Why? What makes you say that?

There is also a DM's guide that's part of the essentials line. I'm guessing the Parcel system is in there.

The random loot is good to have in the compendium so if you're at the table, you can use it to roll random loot.

 

[Joshua Randall]

Any clarifications of whether free actions happen at "interrupt speed" or "reaction speed"?

Also, any rules for how long it takes to put on / take off equipment other than armor & shield? IIRC there are (were) no rules for this in 4e!

 

[thalmin]

There has been a lot of debate over Hellish Rebuke and I'm hoping the RC clarified Extra Damage. A lot of people think the Hellish Rebuke damage is extra damage, as the word extra appears in the text.

Others have the opinion that the time loop that would cause, damage done now, more damage added to that damage later, thats part of the original damage roll, causing attacks that happened to not happen would seem to indicate it is not extra damage.

Here is hoping this is clarified in the Compendium.

It is not clarified here, but this might be handled in a more carefully worded description of Hellish Rebuke in the Heroes books.

 

[Zaran]

Why? What makes you say that?

There is also a DM's guide that's part of the essentials line. I'm guessing the Parcel system is in there.

The random loot is good to have in the compendium so if you're at the table, you can use it to roll random loot.

That's a good point. I guess I was thrown for a loop as to why a DM table was in that book and forgot there was a DM kit coming out as well.

 

[thalmin]

Any clarifications of whether free actions happen at "interrupt speed" or "reaction speed"?

Seems to say could be either, and would be specified in the power/ability.

Also, any rules for how long it takes to put on / take off equipment other than armor & shield? IIRC there are (were) no rules for this in 4e!

Equipment isn't really covered in this book. I haven't found the answer to your question.

 

[carmachu]

I think that is largely the point. An updated version that in no way invalidates what came before.

I freely admit Essentials is "a revision" to 4th Edition (the latest), but I don't think that makes it 4.5, because 4e has been continuously revised since its introduction. That somewhat begs the question: "With this model going forward, will there ever NEED to be a 5e?"

But I guess that's kinda off-topic.

Really? Did you still use your 3.0 PHB when the 3.5 came out after? Did you use the complete mage anymore after the complete arcane? And so on...

 

[thalmin]

Really? Did you still use your 3.0 PHB when the 3.5 came out after? Did you use the complete mage anymore after the complete arcane? And so on...

I do not believe the Rules Compendium will help much whether you are playing 3.0 or 3.5. I think it will be useful for anyone playing 4E whether you are playing Essentials or not.

 

[Eradan]

Just curious if the book is illustrated. I liked seeing the old Elmore illustrations in new red box.

 

[thalmin]

Just curious if the book is illustrated. I liked seeing the old Elmore illustrations in new red box.

Lots of illustrations, but not every other page. Full page art to start each chapter plus a few other places, a lot of half-page and smaller about every 5 or 8 pages.

 

[Vael]

So, now I have to ask, how's the art? Recycled pieces? Anything strike you as particularly good or bad?