Let's speculate what the Essentials line rules will look like

[jbear]

All Races gain a fixed stat and then a second stat choice between between two. I think this will definitely happen.

But if humans don't get a fixed stat it's TOTALLY unfair!! All the other races just doubled their optimum class stats' possible combinations... versatility is stepping on the toes of the human. Unfair. They should have CON as thier fixed STAT and choose any one other.

As for the rest of what will be in there, I don't predict any major changes to classes. However more straightforward powers is a plausible feature. I guess they will strive for straightforward yet interesting enough to entice veterans to buy the product as well.

 

[Zaran]

I'm telling you guys, they aren't going to change the rules besides the updated rules. They will probalby leave out certain things to be less confusing and because of space but they aren't going to hide a 4.5 edition in the Essentials. I doubt they even add new feats and powers at least in the red box.

 

[doctorhook]

I like the OP's thinking (except about Epic), but I don't think it's gonna happen like that.

Still, I wouldn't mind a revision to early 4E material, and Essentials is a good a place as any to put it -- even if it is a replacement rather than a revision.

 

[doctorhook]

All Races gain a fixed stat and then a second stat choice between between two. I think this will definitely happen.

But if humans don't get a fixed stat it's TOTALLY unfair!! All the other races just doubled their optimum class stats' possible combinations... versatility is stepping on the toes of the human. Unfair. They should have CON as thier fixed STAT and choose any one other.

If they change anything, humans should just have two floating stats, to put into any two abilities -- versatility. This is how I already allow it. (I also allow other races to choose one of their two stats as fixed and the other as free floating; this way, your Dwarf can be +2 Con/Int and your Gnomes can be +2 Dex/Cha, if it suits your character better. This houserule only applies to PCs, mind you.)

 

[mkill]

I would not expect Dex-based melee attacks for the ranger. Nothing that's going to make old material obsolete.

There already are Dex-based melee powers for the Ranger in MP2. If I wanted to simplify the Ranger, this is what I would do.

Well, it is just speculation of course.

I also wonder about the Warlock. Will there be a new pact or will they choose Fey or Infernal as the representative?

 

[jbear]

If they change anything, humans should just have two floating stats, to put into any two abilities -- versatility. This is how I already allow it. (I also allow other races to choose one of their two stats as fixed and the other as free floating; this way, your Dwarf can be +2 Con/Int and your Gnomes can be +2 Dex/Cha, if it suits your character better. This houserule only applies to PCs, mind you.)

Maybe, but I can't see them being sooo generous to humans (although I'd be stoked as they are by far my prefered race). +2 Str, Con or Dex and +2 Int, Wis, or Cha is a neat idea, as suggested by the OP. But I also doubt they are going to go down that line either.

Actually i also think Humans are going to get the bumb deal and remain with +2 anywhere fullstop. Which, as I said before, is crap!

 

[fba827]

As others have said ...

i really don't think they'll make any changes that don't appear in the errata...

So I don't expect a different version, just repackaged/reorganized (i.e. just grouped by levels, or a different division of classes in the different books, etc.)

 

[AbdulAlhazred]

I'm telling you guys, they aren't going to change the rules besides the updated rules. They will probalby leave out certain things to be less confusing and because of space but they aren't going to hide a 4.5 edition in the Essentials. I doubt they even add new feats and powers at least in the red box.

Yep. I will be VERY surprised if Essentials rewrites anything. At most its going to provide some more 'errata' that will also be released as core book errata. Every PC you can make with Essentials I predict with 100% confidence will be legal in the existing rules. No races with extra alternate ability score buffs, etc.

They apparently will introduce some additional class builds for various classes, but that's not changing anything. I wouldn't be too surprised if they saw off one leg of most of the V shaped classes either, but that's just restricting what they put out.

I seriously doubt it will go to the extent of for example creating a whole dex based melee ranger build. I'm not AS sure about that, but it would be a really deep thematic change to the class. Not quite incompatible with existing material though.

This is the key thing though. An essentials character and a PHB character will be able to play in the same game and both be legal in either one except for any powers or feats that don't exist in the other rules set. You're not going to get a class or race that contradicts existing rules, that would just be very messy and most changes that deep to the existing system would require a LOT of other follow-on errata.

 

[Steelwill]

The more I read about things like Essentials the more it sounds like its 4.5, they just aren't being upfront about it. Time will tell.

 

[doctorhook]

The more I read about things like Essentials the more it sounds like its 4.5, they just aren't being upfront about it. Time will tell.

To be fair, most of what there is to read is speculation on our parts.

What we've heard is that it's going to be largely new material for the classes involved, and that the Player's Handbook will still be a valid rulebook with unique character options. To my mind, this sounds like they intend to release new character options to replace the most problematic ones in 4E so far. (Remember how 3.5's Player's Handbook II offered an alternative Druid class feature that wasn't totally broken? I think that's what's up.)