If you already have 4th ed books, do you need Essentials?

[Ghostwind]

If you already have the core 4th ed. books plus several of the supplements/campaign books, do you really need to buy into the Essentials line? Does the Essentials change 4e enough that it's worth buying them to supplement your game (or even replace the original 4e stuff)?

I'm not looking for a "it's your game" answer, rather something more substantive. Did Essentials alter the game enough to upgrade ala 3.5 to 3.0?

 

[samursus]

Your questions, within the parameters you described, are not easily answered. Do you need Essentials? No.

Do you want Essentials? Maybe.

The answer is really very subjective. I would suggest you read all the Essentials discussions you can and read up on the Essentials previews on the WotC site.

The nice thing, and the difference from the 3.0->3.5 change, is that playing only with the books you have will work perfectly fine with Essentials characters or games (taking into account the most recent errata). Original 4e characters are at the (relatively) same power level as Essentials characters.

Essentially (heh) the changes are for the most part different ways to play character classes you already probably have, using a different power structure in some cases. The Essential changes were designed to appeal to those who may have had issues with the way 4e killed some sacred cows and also to present character classes that were designed to be simpler to play and more new player friendly.

All other changes have been implemented into the game as a whole as a result of player feedback, and can be accessed for free from the Wizards site.

Hope that helps some.

 

[abyssaldeath]

Samursus pretty much said it, but he forgot one of the biggest changes of all. We can no longer use the words essential or essentially when talking about DnD without sounding like we are making a bad pun.

 

[AbdulAlhazred]

@ad, so true!

I think personally the RC is a very good buy at this point, as you can pretty much see it as a reprint of the crunch parts of the PHB1/2 and DMG1/2 with errata. Noting that it has NO specific game element information (items, powers, classes, etc). It is NOT required in any way, nor are any of the other Essentials books. It is just a very handy updated reference to the rules. You can simply continue to play with the PHB etc books and use as much or little of the errata as you need/want.

 

[Truename]

If you already have the core 4th ed. books plus several of the supplements/campaign books, do you really need to buy into the Essentials line? Does the Essentials change 4e enough that it's worth buying them to supplement your game (or even replace the original 4e stuff)?

No, you don't need to buy Essentials. There is no difference between Essentials rules and core 4e rules, except that the Essentials books include the latest rules updates. Those same rules updates are also available online for free.

However, you may want to buy Essentials. Here's a rundown:

* If you want a comprehensive, fully up-to-date copy of the rules, get the Rules Compendium. It's excellent. The smaller size and comprehensive index/glossary (along with a few strategically-placed bookmarks) make it my only rules reference at the table.

* If you're interested in new class options (equivalent to a PH4) or you want more flavor in your classes, take a look at Heroes of the Forgotten Lands and Heroes of the Fallen Kingdoms.

* Read reviews of Monster Vault when it comes out. I have high hopes for this product.

* Skip the DM Kit. It's just a retread, from what I hear.

* The remaining products are dice, dungeon tiles, and the Red Box. Skip 'em unless you want that sort of thing.

 

[jeffh]

Truename's summary is very good. I would only add a little to this point:

* If you're interested in new class options (equivalent to a PH4) or you want more flavor in your classes, take a look at Heroes of the Forgotten Lands and Heroes of the Fallen Kingdoms.

Also, feats are retooled quite a bit in HoFL. Basically, Heroic tier characters get a manageable number of feat choices that are all more straightforward and attractive than the majority of previous 4E feats. About half of them are new to that book, including a whack of new Expertise feats for specific weapons and implements, the other half are sort of a greatest hits collection from the previous PHs, mainly the original. This only amounts to a few pages of material but I think it's among the most useful and important things Essentials has done so far.

 

[Kurtomatic]

I would like to add that the Rules Compendium is more than just ''essentials". It is a general purpose rule book that is equally useful with any 4E super/sub-set game. Still mostly redundant with previous books, but the rules updates, better copy, and all-around thoroughness add significant value.

 

[Nikosandros]

I would like to add that the Rules Compendium is more than just ''essentials". It is a general purpose rule book that is equally useful with any 4E super/sub-set game. Still mostly redundant with previous books, but the rules updates, better copy, and all-around thoroughness add significant value.

It might be somewhat redundant, but I think that RC really is a fantastic book. It is clear and concise, an excellent way to quickly check the rules. If only it had a bit less generic stuff about role-playing and some more stuff like general rules about rituals, the missing weapon properties and masterwork armors...

 

[Tony Vargas]

I'm not looking for a "it's your game" answer, rather something more substantive. Did Essentials alter the game enough to upgrade ala 3.5 to 3.0?

No. Essentials changed a few things here and there, any of which that have a meaningful impact on the broader game should be propegated through updates, eventually. So, no, you can keep using your existing books, while remaining more or less up-to-date via updates without buying Essentials. A fair chunk of Essentials is reprints-with-errata (not of any one book, but of subsets of various books), so it's a convenience more than a must-have if you already have the core books.

There are a few brand-new things in Essentials, some 'new' takes on 'old' classes, for instance. They're notable only in that a few do the same old things using very different mechanics in order to evoke a more classic feel.

 

[Mr. Wilson]

I'm not planning on buying any of the essentials line. Anything I want will be updated via CB, MB, or the Compendium anyways.

This is more due to my personal dislike of a couple things essentials is doing, however (stuff like magic item rarity hardcoded and slayer/knight style class design).