D&D 4E Is Essentials Compatible with Old School 4ed?

[Xyrlove Woodsoul]

I'm confused, because I've heard a bunch of people say they are, but then when I looked though my buddy's Essential books, briefly, it looked way different; and then on the optimization boards all the feats from Heroes of the Fallen Lands were rated gold (which are considered, must haves, or feat taxes). I mean, I know Essentials is basically a condensed and polished version old school 4ed, geared towards casual players, that part i understand, but I'm still confused about the compatability factor.

 

[FireLance]

They are compatible in the sense that they are using the same terminology, game stats and resolution mechanics. Things like class, race, ability scores, hit points, AC, fortitude, reflex, will, healing surges, healing surge value, attack rolls, damage rolls, saving throws, skill checks, at-will powers, encounter powers, daily powers, utility powers, feats, keywords, damage types, conditions, push, pull, slide, etc. are the same and/or are resolved in the same way in pre and post Essentials 4E.

They are also compatible in the sense that a pre-Essentials 4E character could adventure alongside an Essentials 4E character of the same level and each would be approximately as effective as the other. There is more scope for variation post-Essentials, since some Essentials builds do not have daily powers, but (IMO) the variation is still kept within acceptable limits.

Some feats have been given a power-up in Essentials, but there is nothing to stop a pre-Essentials character from taking Essentials feats.

In addition, WotC has plans to release a Class Compendium which would further integrate pre and post Essentials characters as it would feature "rules that allow D&D Essentials characters to select non-D&D Essentials powers, and it grants non-D&D Essentials characters access to class features from Heroes of the Fallen Lands and Heroes of the Forgotten Kingdoms".

 

[Prestidigitalis]

[...]and it grants non-D&D Essentials characters access to class features from Heroes of the Fallen Lands and Heroes of the Forgotten Kingdoms".

Now that part is interesting. I was afraid that those class features were going to be Essentials-only forever.

 

[the Jester]

Essentials is part of 4e. Of course it's compatible. Yes, there are some changes to the generic power structure and such, but it's as compatible as the new builds in PH2 or the psionic classes without encounter powers.

 

[mkill]

The 4ed PHB came out in 2008, it's barely 2 years old. Let's please keep the "Old School" moniker for thinks that you actually have to be old for to remember them.

 

[Dice4Hire]

Compatible? Not really, not 100%. If you play two characters side by side, yes, it might work, but how to MC a knight or slayer without dailies or encounters? How do the at-will stances work with regular at-wills?

Ask your DM, and watch him or her scratch their head.

Sure, they are coming out with rules ...... later. Does not help much now.

 

[Henry]

Compatible? Not really, not 100%. If you play two characters side by side, yes, it might work, but how to MC a knight or slayer without dailies or encounters? How do the at-will stances work with regular at-wills?

Ask your DM, and watch him or her scratch their head.

Sure, they are coming out with rules ...... later. Does not help much now.

I'd still consider it compatible in the most important sense -- you could have the two in the same party, fighting the same threats, and little to no problems. I've seen the attacks, defenses, and damages, and they're pretty close.

 

[Raikun]

Its every bit as compatible as a PHB4 would be.

 

[Obryn]

Compatible? Not really, not 100%. If you play two characters side by side, yes, it might work,

It does work fine, actually. I know because I have a 50-50 party for my Dark Sun game.

but how to MC a knight or slayer without dailies or encounters? How do the at-will stances work with regular at-wills?

Ask your DM, and watch him or her scratch their head.

"You can take the basic multiclass feat, but you can only take the Utility power-swap feat so far. There might be more options later, but for the moment, if you're serious about multiclassing, you should stick with a more traditional 4e class. If you're multiclassing, it's all about having power options, anyway."

Not really a head-scratcher.

-O

 

[The Little Raven]

Compatible? Not really, not 100%.

Yes, 100% compatible.

If you play two characters side by side, yes, it might work, but how to MC a knight or slayer without dailies or encounters?

Easy. You take a multiclass feat. You do not take two of the Power Swap feats because they are useless for you (lacking daily and encounter powers that can be swapped). Just like you wouldn't take any feats that deal with Power Points or anything like that when you don't have Power Points.

Anyway, multiclassing and hybrids are against the spirit of the Essentials Martial builds: to provide simple classes.

How do the at-will stances work with regular at-wills?

Easy. They don't. At-will stances are explicit about only working with melee basic attacks. As most at-will attack powers are not melee basic attacks, they do not benefit from the stances.

Ask your DM, and watch him or her scratch their head.

I like to assume that most DMs can read the rules and understand how they work. But then again, that's because I'm a DM and don't get confused when my players ask simple questions about clear rules.