I'm Sorry.. i have an Essentials question

[gjnave]

Couldnt find the Essentials sticky for some-reaons (i think there used to be one)

So.. could someone please clarify to me the basics of what "rules" changes there are?
Ive heard someone say that running an Essentials game is diff than original 4E due to some basic rule changes.

Is this true?

If so, what are the changes? (or at least a sampling)

 

[Cyronax]

Couldnt find the Essentials sticky for some-reaons (i think there used to be one)

So.. could someone please clarify to me the basics of what "rules" changes there are?
Ive heard someone say that running an Essentials game is diff than original 4E due to some basic rule changes.

Is this true?

If so, what are the changes? (or at least a sampling)

Here's a review I found helpful before I bought all of the Essentials books.

Many-Hour Review: Rules Compendium and D&D Essentials Products, Part 1 | Castles & Cooks

Essentially, Essentials aims at streamlining all of the errata from the main books and making the game less of a Grind in combat. It also simplify certain races and classes.

Its what 4e should have been from the start, IMHO.

 

[Truename]

So.. could someone please clarify to me the basics of what "rules" changes there are?
Ive heard someone say that running an Essentials game is diff than original 4E due to some basic rule changes.

Essentials is the same game as 4E. What's happened is that 4E itself has changed since it came out. Some of those changes came out in the same year as Essentials, and some of those were caused by the work on Essentials, I'm sure. But it's still all the same game, and everything in Essentials can be mixed-and-matched with everything in prior books.

The major rule changes since 4E came out are:

• Stealth rules changed, Hidden condition added
• Skill DCs changed (twice)
• Skill challenge design rules changed (twice)
• Monster design rules changed to make combat faster and more brutal*
• Magic item daily limit replaced with item rarity

*Old monsters still work, but the monsters found in MM3 and Monster Vault are way more fun.

This thread has more info: http://www.enworld.org/forum/4e-discussion/295738-major-changes-2008-today.html

 

[Cyronax]

*Old monsters still work, but the monsters found in MM3 and Monster Vault are way more fun.[/URL]

MM3, MV, yes, but don't forget the Dark Sun Creature Catalog (which is surprisingly easy to reflavor). It uses the same 'new math'. This trilogy of books pretty much runs the gamut of awesome.

The DSCC has a chapter on the effects of strange weather as well. Their sunwarped creature themes for instance could be used for any mutated monster or environment.

 

[gjnave]

Sounds good...

But why do i have to buy new books? If its just a matter (besides the monsters) of some rule changes, why cant i just dl erratta?

Can you explain this further - how it works?: "Magic item daily limit replaced with item rarity".

So.. the main books are the Rules Compendium - which is the rules + errata compiled(?)
HotFL is the new builds
The new monster manual

so basically, you could use an Essentials character (made out of the CB) with your regular PHB1-3, BUT it might not work so smooth? Correct?

 

[Dice4Hire]

Sounds good...

But why do i have to buy new books? If its just a matter (besides the monsters) of some rule changes, why cant i just dl erratta?

You certainly can do that. That is what I have done with the old stuff.

Can you explain this further - how it works?: "Magic item daily limit replaced with item rarity".

In 4E, you could only use one daily power on a magical item per tier, and got one more use after each milestone. This was the method of balancing using those kinds of powers.

Now with Essentials, most magical items (common and uncommon) do not have daily powers, (or mostly don't) and rares do. Characters can create common items whenever they wish, but the uncommon and rare items must be found while adventuring . In other words the DM hands them out. Rare items should be only one per character per tier, so they are very rare.

So.. the main books are the Rules Compendium - which is the rules + errata compiled(?)
HotFL is the new builds
The new monster manual

Yea, the Compendium, Heroes of Fallen/Forgotten Lands, and Monster Vault and you should be good.

Most people recommend skipping the DM Kit and the Red Box.

so basically, you could use an Essentials character (made out of the CB) with your regular PHB1-3, BUT it might not work so smooth? Correct?

It should work well, but not seamlessly. The real difficulty is if you try to mix and match PHBI,II,II and Essentials in the same character.

 

[SteveC]

Sounds good...

But why do i have to buy new books? If its just a matter (besides the monsters) of some rule changes, why cant i just dl erratta?

Can you explain this further - how it works?: "Magic item daily limit replaced with item rarity".

So.. the main books are the Rules Compendium - which is the rules + errata compiled(?)
HotFL is the new builds
The new monster manual

so basically, you could use an Essentials character (made out of the CB) with your regular PHB1-3, BUT it might not work so smooth? Correct?

Yep, there's absolutely no reason to pick up the new books, unless you're interested in the new builds. The Rules Compendium has the most recent rules with the current errata, so it has been a popular book with my group.

Aside from that, if you like one of the new classes, you might want to pick up the corresponding book, but with the DDI there's no need.

The Essentials Series is more of a new starting point than anything else... if you're already with the program, no need to buy a thing.

 

[gjnave]

Is there a place to dl the errata for the new item rarity rules?

Also, how is it that going to work with all the existing items? AV1, AV2, PHB, etc... etc...?

 

[Dice4Hire]

Is there a place to dl the errata for the new item rarity rules?

Also, how is it that going to work with all the existing items? AV1, AV2, PHB, etc... etc...?

In the October Errata (I think it was) there was a list of common items from previous books, but I seriously doubt WOTC is going to make a whole list of all the items in previous works as to what is rare , uncommon and such.

Personally, I am ignoring the whole deal, so I'm not concerned about it.

I think it would be possible to make a list yourself, for your campaign's needs.

As I understand it:

Common items, would be magic, or ones with simple properties and no powers.
Uncommon items might have minor daily and encounter powers, but still be simple
Rare items change the encounter quite a bit when worn or used.