I want to see one book

[Crazy Jerome]

I could go for a D&D-lite that's one book with all "modules" turned off. They could then produce a deluxe version with enough modules to make a 3-book set.

The word "Advanced" comes to mind for this latter set up...

This, except that the one book might have a handful of some of the more popular modules just to round it out. It can go to level 10 or max, but it needs to be a complete game by itself (however Spartan). Then do not repeat that material in the 3-book set so that people buying that set are getting all new stuff, and not incidently a heck of a lot more coverage of classes, spells, monsters, etc. if the material was repeated.

Thus we end up with two player books (core book and advanced PHB) and two additional GM books.

If such a "core book" can be split into 32 or 64 page booklets and included in a series of alternate boxed sets, fine. But no more "crippled play" starter sets!

 

[Stormonu]

This, except that the one book might have a handful of some of the more popular modules just to round it out. It can go to level 10 or max, but it needs to be a complete game by itself (however Spartan). Then do not repeat that material in the 3-book set so that people buying that set are getting all new stuff, and not incidently a heck of a lot more coverage of classes, spells, monsters, etc. if the material was repeated.

Thus we end up with two player books (core book and advanced PHB) and two additional GM books.

If such a "core book" can be split into 32 or 64 page booklets and included in a series of alternate boxed sets, fine. But no more "crippled play" starter sets!

Personally, I wouldn't mind if the lite book and full set repeat information - getting "half a game" would make many folks irate (probably on the same scale that folks would berate WotC for doubling costs by splitting things so you had to "buy 4 books to get the full game").

However, whichever way WotC goes, I would love to see a non-crippleware starter set. Whatever is produced needs to have good replay value.

 

[CasvalRemDeikun]

Three books or it isn't D&D. Period.

 

[Stormonu]

Three books or it isn't D&D. Period.

So B/X, BECMI isn't D&D, nor is the Rules Cyclopedia?

 

[Jeff Carlsen]

I just wanted to note that putting everything in one book is significantly cheaper for the DM, while only slightly more expensive for each player. Books generally get more cost effective the larger they become.

This is the primary reason I support the single book model. All you should need to play any roleplaying game is the core book and some dice.

 

[CasvalRemDeikun]

So B/X, BECMI isn't D&D, nor is the Rules Cyclopedia?

I don't really consider them part of the same branch that grew from 1E, so not really. I think 5E is going to be growing from the Advanced branch. Basic is the long abandoned branch. Technically, BECMI DOES have three books, it just happens to have a fourth and a fifth, though, too. You are free to disagree, but more versions of D&D have had three or more books than those that haven't.

 

[77IM]

This method increases the buy-in cost for referees

Conversely, it greatly lowers buy-in cost for the players. When I'm a player, I don't want to shell out $45 for a 300-page book if I'm only going to use the first half of it; I'd rather pay $25 for a 150-page book that I can use all of. (Single-book systems are even worse when the second half contains setting material spoilers!)

-- 77IM

 

[Abstruse]

I just wanted to note that putting everything in one book is significantly cheaper for the DM, while only slightly more expensive for each player. Books generally get more cost effective the larger they become.

This is the primary reason I support the single book model. All you should need to play any roleplaying game is the core book and some dice.

Core Rulebook: $60
PHB: $30
Heroes of... or Rules Compendium digest-sized book from Essentials: $20

I've been running a Pathfinder game since January. I bought the core rulebook and encouraged any or all of my seven players to pick up one to help speed up the game so we're not passing that heavy-ass thing around like a hot potato the entire session. Six months later, there is exactly one Pathfinder core rulebook at my game.

I ran two 4e games each of which lasted between 5 and 8 months. One had six players and one had five. The first game, there were 3 PHBs at every session. The second, we had 2 PHB and 2 Rules Compendiums.

That lower price point for smaller books is definitely a factor.

 

[Jeff Carlsen]

Core Rulebook: $60
PHB: $30
Heroes of... or Rules Compendium digest-sized book from Essentials: $20

I've been running a Pathfinder game since January. I bought the core rulebook and encouraged any or all of my seven players to pick up one to help speed up the game so we're not passing that heavy-ass thing around like a hot potato the entire session. Six months later, there is exactly one Pathfinder core rulebook at my game.

I ran two 4e games each of which lasted between 5 and 8 months. One had six players and one had five. The first game, there were 3 PHBs at every session. The second, we had 2 PHB and 2 Rules Compendiums.

That lower price point for smaller books is definitely a factor.

As an argument for the digest sized paperback, that's sound, though your numbers are off, unless the prices changed from when I purchased.

Personally, I want at least one copy of the rules as a hardcover. Extra copies can be digest size, and that's cool.

Savage Worlds follows a model where each new release gets a hardcover for the first printing, and then a digest for subsequent printings. I wouldn't mind that for D&D.

Though what I would really prefer is single hardcover rulebook that has everything, and then digest player's handbooks that contain only what players need.

 

[was]

Having purchased the Pathfinder PHB, I'm not interested in buying another massive, unwieldly, overpriced book. I like the three book split. I can see maybe a 2 book split though, like a PHB and DMG/MM combo.