GenCon WotC Report, Day 2

[Rechan]

http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/4dnd/20080815

Real meat:

March: Player's Handbook II, with eight new classes, five new races, and the primal power source. September's Dragon will preview a build from one of the new classes for folk to playtest.

Oooooo. We get to see a build.

April: Arcane Power, with new powers, feats, and builds for arcane classes from the Player's Handbook and Player's Handbook II (such as the bard).

This seems to me to be confirmation the Bard will be in PHBII.

July: Divine Power.

First I've heard of this.

August: Adventurer's Vault 2.

That surprised me, but I guess I shouldn't be.


Does the Martial Power sourcebook mean we've seen all the martial classes?
No. As new, compelling martial classes are created, they will continue to be published where appropriate.


Psionics?
It's coming, but it's not yet on the schedule. Psionic characters were originally scheduled for the PH2 but were taken out for further development.

Both of these questions have popped up recently. I suppose I can understand why they held back Psionics, but it still sucks.


Will there be a published "core" setting?
There's concern that a core setting (any setting, really) will be used by only a minority of gamers, and thus any setting must be approached carefully. At this time, there are no plans for a published core setting (though online will likely see more core setting material, such as the return of Domains of Dread).


Will there be a two-weapon build for fighters?
Yes, in Martial Power, and it will be uniquely a fighter (that is, not like a two-weapon rogue or ranger).

Ooo.


Will we see a return of the polymorph school of magic?
Yes. Additional schools of magic will appear, such as illusion and summoning in Arcane Power. Polymorph is still in development. Some of it will appear in Player's Handbook 2.

Fantastic. (SPECULATION: The T class in PHB2: The Transmuter. At least, that'd be my wish.)

 

[Fallen Seraph]

Sounds good, I am glad they're taking their time so we get really good, balanced products.

I am glad there is going to be a second Adventurer's Vault. From the excerpts of the first one, more of the same is quite welcomed.

*Ponders* this line intrigues me: (that is, not like a two-weapon rogue or ranger). Could this mean a two-weapon build for Rogues as well?

 

[blargney the second]

The female dwarves in the artwork are supposed to be prettier? *blink* *blink*

I can't think of any way that's grandma-friendly to describe how unattractive they are.
-blarg

 

[Kzach]

There's a mention down the list of "Players Handbook II Power Cards".

When are the PHB I Power Cards being released?

 

[Rechan]

There's a mention down the list of "Players Handbook II Power Cards".

When are the PHB I Power Cards being released?

March: Player's Handbook and Martial Power Cards.

 

[fba827]

There's a mention down the list of "Players Handbook II Power Cards".

When are the PHB I Power Cards being released?

I can't find the source. But there was some thread where someone posted that the Martial Source power cards and PHB I power cards were being released the same month... I want to say that was January '09.

Edit: Never mind. It looks like it was March '09 for both of them

 

[Vael]

March: Player's Handbook II, with eight new classes, five new races, and the primal power source. September's Dragon will preview a build from one of the new classes for folk to playtest.

Oooooo. We get to see a build.

Druid, pretty please?

Martial Power is looking much more interesting.

 

[fba827]

Druid, pretty please?

Martial Power is looking much more interesting.

I, too, am hoping it's druid. However, my gut is telling me it will be Barbarian just because on multiple occasions it has been said that they 'hope to have a barbarian playtest preview up this summer or early fall' where as (as far as I've caught) they've only mentioned the possibility of a druid preview once.

 

[The_Fan]

Sounds good, I am glad they're taking their time so we get really good, balanced products.

I am glad there is going to be a second Adventurer's Vault. From the excerpts of the first one, more of the same is quite welcomed.

*Ponders* this line intrigues me: (that is, not like a two-weapon rogue or ranger). Could this mean a two-weapon build for Rogues as well?

Different strokes I guess. Personally, I find the dwarven females strikingly attractive. Those broad, stong features on a soft rounded face are just what I go for. To each his own though.

 

[Sonny]

Will there be a published "core" setting?
There's concern that a core setting (any setting, really) will be used by only a minority of gamers, and thus any setting must be approached carefully. At this time, there are no plans for a published core setting (though online will likely see more core setting material, such as the return of Domains of Dread).

So not only is Ravenloft coming back, but it's going to be attached to the core setting now? Sort of how Sigil is now considered core?