Reply to thread

Message: <blockquote data-quote="MrMyth" data-source="post: 5287066" data-attributes="member: 61155">The big reason I don't see anything squash-related with Essentials is that most of those changes only add to existing characters.  Your character built with the PHB races remains legal. They could have chosen a different ability score bump, but the existing choice isn't invalid.  Your character built to use multiple implements remains legal. They could use one implement for both classes, but using two seperate ones isn't invalid.  Your character built with PHB magic items remains legal. The DM has some new options for distribution, and we will see new items with a more detailed classification, but the existing items aer not rendered invalid.  Your character built with PHB feats remains legal. Some new feats are coming out that might be better options earlier, but your current feats aren't changing.  So... Wizard Encounter powers are changing. (Getting some boosts.)  One feat is getting relatively slight errata.  Some other unknown powers might receive 'clarification', which sounds more like simply tidying up unclear wording more than any actual changes.  And yes, we've seen a few key elements actually change - Infernal Wrath, Magic Missile. It does look like they are finally fixing the skill DCs and expanding page 42 into a more robust system.  The thing is, this is such a smaller scale than 3.5, that claiming they are a nigh-identical phenomenom (or fruit) is relatively absurd. This is far closer to 3.5's PHBII, which added various new options and builds for races and classes, and included updates on certain rules like polymorph effects.  Are changes being made? Yeah. But minor tweaking does not make for a full revision. The idea that there are required 'replacements' for any existing books, or a 'need to keep paying WotC for a DDI subscription' or that people need to 'get the Rules Compendium'... yeah, I don't buy it.  The Rules Compendium will be a useful tool, sure, to new and old players, with various advice and designer notes and examples and so forth. But I don't think it will even be required for entirely new players. The basic rules will be in the DM's book. Only if they want a more in-depth approach will they have to pick up the Rules Compendium, and suggesting that it is instead a vital tool to be able to play the game, for both new and old players, seems a pretty significant exaggeration.</blockquote>

Verification