D&D 4E Forked Thread: [4E] accessories and other products we buy

[jephlewis]

Forked from: [4E] power card displays vs. single decks

No, definetily I'm not going to spend money in a "product" that I can do myself!

Sonyuu's comment in another thread regarding the 'official' power cards got me wondering about various accessories and supplements that are bought. Me personally, for 4E, I currently have [my main reason for buying/using is listed in brackets]:

3 book slipcase core rules x3 [needed]
dungeon master's screen [quick lookup of info, store notes w/paperclips]
frpg [more player options]
frcg [already made campaign setting]
martial power [more player options]
manual of the planes [a little bit of everything]
draconomicon [info on dragons, a few monsters, dragon lairs]
adventurer's vault [more player options]
D&D 'starter' game x3 [introducing new people to D&D, tiles, counters]
du1 x3 [I love dungeon tiles]
du2 x3 [see above]
H1 [premade adventure; I get to see how 'they did it'; helps me make better adventures]
H2 [see above]
H3 [see above]
P1 [see above]
P2 [see above]
scepter tower of spellguard [see above]
ander's power cards in pdf format on my computer [free; practical; good quality]

I will probaby be getting the 'official' power cards by buying a display with all eight different packs in it when it comes out as well.

Now, as to what I don't have, nor will be getting at this point:
4E minis [too expensive for percieved value in MY opinion]
DDI subscription [don't like digital, don't like subscriptions]
4E 'official' printed character sheets [not enough sheets for the money]

I have a few minis from the '3e black dragon basic set' because I picked a few of the sets up cheap at hastings last year, and I bought maybe three or four boosters around the same time. I'm not really into digital subscriptions, but I do plan to buy the 'dragon annual 2009' as well as the 'dungeon annual 2009'. I prefer print over pdf a great deal.

After thinking about Sonyuu's comment, I came to see that all I 'really need' is the core books, and maybe a grid, and using coins to indicate where the pc's and monsters are. I could do adventures myself, as well as make up new equipment, and magical items, but i've always enjoyed having all that work done for me, which is why I buy supplements and accessories.

So, besides the core rules, what 'official' wotc product does everybody buy for their games and why?
What do you NOT buy, and why?

 

[timbannock]

So, besides the core rules, what 'official' wotc product does everybody buy for their games and why?
What do you NOT buy, and why?

I bought:

Core 3 books
FRPG [for the races, swordmage, feats and rituals]
AV [so I can give the PCs phat lewtz]
DDI Subscription [because now I don't have to buy anything else for monsters, magic items, premade NPCs, new classes and powers]


DDI's Compendium has really proven to be the worth the money. I can copy/paste all the monsters/NPCs and items I could ever want to populate with my adventures, and reference the PHB and DMG for whatever templates I want to apply. That's all I need.

I've got enough adventures to last me about 2 lifetimes, so conversion is fine with me:

Rappan Athuk
Castle Zagyg Upper Works
Castle Whiterock
World's Largest Dungeon
Dungeon Magazine (print version)...about 20+ issues
Pathfinder #s 1-7
Lost City of Barakus
City of Brass
Every Planescape product ever created
Several Scarred Lands adventures and setting books

I'm curious if others do this: substitute DDI for buying the books. Or is it just a complementary tool for you?

I find I'll likely never need another book again, seems how I use fluff either from my own twisted mind or whatever adventure I'm running.

 

[enigma5915]

What I buy and Why

I have every 4e book published so far and I plan to buy all that are made. I use the material for help with DMing and my occasional playing. Every book eventuly gets used either completley, or just portions of it. I still have all my books form first, second, and third editions. The only things I have gotten rid of are my old school lead and pewter minis, that I replaced with well over 7,000 D&D minis since the Harbinger set. In addition to the dungeon tiles I also get and use Dwarven Forge set peices, Cause nothing on earth can compare with them for truely amazing dungeons of almost any enviroment. I just wish they decide to finish thier D&D minis Icon line and Produce the gargatuan Orcus, dracolich, and green dragon!

 

[timbannock]

I have every 4e book published so far and I plan to buy all that are made. I use the material for help with DMing and my occasional playing. Every book eventuly gets used either completley, or just portions of it. I still have all my books form first, second, and third editions. The only things I have gotten rid of are my old school lead and pewter minis, that I replaced with well over 7,000 D&D minis since the Harbinger set. In addition to the dungeon tiles I also get and use Dwarven Forge set peices, Cause nothing on earth can compare with them for truely amazing dungeons of almost any enviroment. I just wish they decide to finish thier D&D minis Icon line and Produce the gargatuan Orcus, dracolich, and green dragon!

I used to be this way, until the past couple years (mostly this past year). I have one almost-weekly game going, and it's already planned out for most of the coming year (Red Hand of Doom, just started).

I'm lucky if I can find time to do any other gaming; therefore, I can't use half of what I've got, and that's after several MAJOR purges of what I own.

In short, I envy you.

 

[James McMurray]

I'll buy every hardback rulebook I can afford.

I won't be buying any adventures, that's what the Dungeon subscription is for.

I won't be buying any power cards, the character builder will print those and until it's fully functional I've got my home made single sheet tracker.

I won't be buying any starter products, as I'm not a starter.

I won't be buying any minis, mostly because I can't afford it. If I could, and if a couple of members of our group didn't already have tons of them, I'd definitely pick up specific sets that I know I can use.

 

[MadLordOfMilk]

PHB, KotS, DM Screen, and the "Premium Dice"

That's it. Surprisingly, enough to try out 4e without spending too much. I do plan on getting the rest of the core books ASAP though, I just couldn't really afford to spend too much at the time I bought them. That's also why I'm holding off on books like AV, Draconomicon, etc... cool to have, but you don't really need 'em. I'll probably pick up Martial Power though.

UNOFFICIALLY I also had to buy a battle mat, get some card stock to make tokens out of because minis get expensive fast, and photocopy a bunch of character sheets for people. Also, I had a decent amount of dice but I had to get a bit more so I grabbed two clear sets on top of the official premium dice.

This hobby does not have a cheap start-up fee :\ But on the bright side, I was able to share the experience with a bunch of friends, have fun, and introduce them to tabletop RPGs Of course, though I had some experience I'm also very much a newbie, so it's a new experience for everyone. I'd also like to mention, it makes DMing tough without a ton to go on and a lack of a 4e DMG (I've read small bits of it but not owning it makes things tough).

 

[jephlewis]

PHB, KotS, DM Screen, and the "Premium Dice"

So you were able to run a few games with just these? This is good! I'm interested in hearing of your play experiences with no DMG or MM. Like your encounters, and how your players enjoyed them. I presume one of your main reasons for buying the PHB was so the other players could make characters and not just use the pregens? I also assume you bought the DM screen for the tables of information?

That's it. Surprisingly, enough to try out 4e without spending too much. I do plan on getting the rest of the core books ASAP though, I just couldn't really afford to spend too much at the time I bought them. That's also why I'm holding off on books like AV, Draconomicon, etc... cool to have, but you don't really need 'em. I'll probably pick up Martial Power though.

Yes, surprisingly SMART! You've given me something to think about.
I believe martial power and adventurer's vault are pretty useful.
Do you buy your books in a game store, book chain, online at amazon?

UNOFFICIALLY I also had to buy a battle mat, get some card stock to make tokens out of because minis get expensive fast, and photocopy a bunch of character sheets for people. Also, I had a decent amount of dice but I had to get a bit more so I grabbed two clear sets on top of the official premium dice.

What kind and size battlemat did you buy? How are you liking it?
Card stock to make tokens is also very smart! very efficient!
I've got about 12 sets of dice myself; I think that's enough, but I'd like more.

This hobby does not have a cheap start-up fee : But on the bright side, I was able to share the experience with a bunch of friends, have fun, and introduce them to tabletop RPGs Of course, though I had some experience I'm also very much a newbie, so it's a new experience for everyone. I'd also like to mention, it makes DMing tough without a ton to go on and a lack of a 4e DMG (I've read small bits of it but not owning it makes things tough).

There's a thread here somewhere, and the people in it crunched some numbers for the cost of the books today, and the cost of the AD&D 1st edition books, and it appears that we've got a better deal today; larger page count, better quality paper and binding, full color pages. But a hundred bucks for three books is still rather expensive. I'm glad you found a way to side step the price hurdle and have a good time with your friends!

 

[bigwillt]

@ jephlewis,
KotS was actually designed for this, I believe, because it came out before the Core Rules, IIRC. It was to give people a taste of 4e before the BIG release. It has the quick-start rules, all of the encounters built up and all of the monsters stated for quick and easy play. My kids and I played a couple of delves at GENCON and this was our first try of 4e at home. It's got enough material for about 3 sessions so far, (we are not power-gamers) and probably 3 or 4 more to finish it. We do use the PHB a lot because they wanted to make their own characters, but we could have used the pre-made ones that come with it.

 

[DDogwood]

I have the 3 core rulebooks, H1, H2, and Adventurer's Vault. I feel that the core books are a good value for the money; I'm running my group through H1 right now, and we will probably do H2 next. Since we only play once a month, this is enough material for a couple of years of gaming.

I bought Adventurer's Vault because it's nice to have lots of premade magic items - both H1 and H2 have treasure that isn't always appropriate for the PCs, and so this book makes my job easier. I have 6 players, and 4 of them are playing Martial classes, so I may pick up Martial Power at some point as well - we'll see what my (limited) gaming budget allows.

I already have a couple of battlemats, loads of dice, and plenty of minis because I've been gaming for over 20 years, so these weren't a major issue for me. I do sometimes buy D&D minis, but usually I just buy cheap singles from online dealers - that way, I can often get them for as little as 5 for $1.00, and as long as I'm not too picky about the minis perfectly representing the monsters, I have a plentiful supply of bad guys for my PCs to fight.

I picked up a couple of packs of dungeon tiles, but I'm not totally sold on them yet. I find it hard to keep them organized, and time-consuming to set them up - so far, it's been easier just to use a battlemat.

I won't be picking up any Forgotten Realms stuff, or most of the other hardback books for that matter - if I'm not likely to use it in my campaign, I'd rather not have it.

 

[Nail]

What do you NOT buy, and why?

What I won't buy:

#1) Given how easy Power Cards are to make, I see no reason to buy them.

#2) "Counters" are also easy to make, and a DM can make exactly what he needs; so again: I don't see any reason to buy minatures.

#3) PC sheets are widely available online for free.

#4) DM Screens are best when customized by the particular DM that's using them. Certain DMs need specific lists, other need skill info, others need condition lists...and still others need nothing but cool artwork. All can be had online for free.

#5) Adventures are best (IMNSHO) when home-brewed, rather than purchased. I can't think of a published adventure that I found completely satisfying as-is.