List of Essentials-styled products?

[Grandpa]

Has anyone made a complete list or release list that notes which products and future products are Essentials-styled? By that I mean books with the same small, softcover format, and box sets with similar softcover books, floppy modules and counter sets.

I knew the upcoming Class Compendium was being released as an Essentials-styled softcover book, but was a little surprised to learn Heroes of Shadow was too, and to discover a Shadowfell DM box set and Nentir Vale Monster Vault box set on Amazon. I have no love of hardcover books and since I prefer that my D&D "set" be of the same style, I'm done with hardcovers, for better or worse.

Thanks.

 

[ggroy]

Has anyone made a complete list or release list that notes which products and future products are Essentials-styled? By that I mean books with the same small, softcover format, and box sets with similar softcover books, floppy modules and counter sets.

Post-2010 4E modules, counter/tile sets, and other "DM specific" type WotC titles, will most likely be 4E "neutral" (ie. can be used with or without 4E Essentials).

Player specific books, may be a different story. Since the 2011 player specific titles have not been released yet nor any previews yet, we have no way of knowing whether they will be "Essentials-style" and/or "4E Heinsoo style" (ie. 2008 -> early/mid-2010), or both.

 

[Grandpa]

Thanks for replying. To be clear, I'm not referring to how content is written or presented as "Essentials," just that it is presented in small softcover books, or box sets with said books, floppy modules, and counter sets. I would love a list that helps me avoid hardcovers and track products that match the physical format of the Essentials line on my shelf.

Does such a list exist?

 

[Scribble]

Thanks for replying. To be clear, I'm not referring to how content is written or presented as "Essentials," just that it is presented in small softcover books, or box sets with said books, floppy modules, and counter sets.

From what I've heard... and it might not be totally correct, they've switched away from hard backs- the soft cover small book format + boxed sets seems to be the way going forward.

But, that said it doesn't sound like they're doing like always one format for a particular thing... For instance the next monster vault (threats to the nentire vale) isn't a boxed set- it will be a book with the tiles shrink wrapped to it...

 

[Grandpa]

Thanks Scribble. I was under the impression the new Mordenkainen's book, for example, was a hardcover book. I didn't realize the Nentir wasn't a box set, but it still interests me as long as the book is softcover and it comes with counters.

 

[Scribble]

Thanks Scribble. I was under the impression the new Mordenkainen's book, for example, was a hardcover book. I didn't realize the Nentir wasn't a box set, but it still interests me as long as the book is softcover and it comes with counters.

Yeah it's still a little nebulous though, so take my info with whatever sized grain of salt you feel appropriate!

 

[TerraDave]

The clown is right, we are getting mixed info.

Looking at Amazon Plyr Opt: Shadow Stuff and Class Comp. are being sold for 16.47 and listed as softcover while Plyr Opt: Heroic stuff and Mordk Book of Stuff for 19.77 and listed as hardcover.

No idea why they would divide them up like that, but that is what we know.

 

[bagger245]

They should just standardize all books to Essential sized ones to maintain consistency for the new buyers.

Ggroy: I like how you define pre and post Essentials as Heinsoo/Mearls versions. I wholeheartedly agree.

 

[Jhaelen]

They should just standardize all books to Essential sized ones to maintain consistency for the new buyers.

No, thank you. I want hardcovers.

 

[Grandpa]

No, thank you. I want hardcovers.

Though I justify my interest in softcovers as a completionist, your post makes me consider my lack of love for hardcovers. Even if hardcovers are more unwieldy to transport and use at the table, the difference is slight and complaint in practice, rare. And hardcovers presumably last longer. But hardcovers, to me, make D&D feel like a hobby instead of a game. Softcovers are more approachable, and I like that.