new 4E titles for Sept/Oct 2010

[Squizzle]

The Rules Compendium and Gamma World are released in successive months. The RC is probably a genre-agnostic presentation of the essential 4E rules, divorced of things like race and class, so that genre-specific settings can plug into it without every single one having to say "and none of the D&D classes and races apply, and most of the items don't, either".

 

[Phaezen]

The Rules Compendium and Gamma World are released in successive months. The RC is probably a genre-agnostic presentation of the essential 4E rules, divorced of things like race and class, so that genre-specific settings can plug into it without every single one having to say "and none of the D&D classes and races apply, and most of the items don't, either".

I think you might be on to something there, we find out tomorrow in any event.

 

[Dragonhelm]

Maybe they figure that there are too many rules scattered in too many books so it's time to start collecting them all.

Possibly. I could see them collecting things like the artificer, swordmage, and dark and vestige warlock pacts into one book. That would be a real bonus for those who didn't want to collect all the setting and splat sourcebooks. Hopefully, there's new material in there too.

 

[Windjammer]

RC and Player's Essentials are tagged at 320 and 350 pages and are paperbacks. Haven't seen WotC do a paperback for the D&D game at that magnitude since they released the 3.5 PHB in softcover for the Player's Kit.

If you recall, the first 4E softcover "book" ever will be the Dark Sun Bestiary.* Apparently it's a wider change... it's a trend! *pads his shelves of WotC hardcovers*

And I'm not pleased with the Ravenloft boardgame. This, juxtaposed with the D&D set for heroscape out now, smacks too much of "the future of DDM.... right here!". But then, I hope to be wrong and DDX tells us something else.

On the other hand, I'm pleased they put out a new 4E [ame=http://www.amazon.com/Dungeons-Dragons-Fantasy-Roleplaying-Game/dp/0786956291/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1264606740&sr=1-6]Starter Game[/ame]. About time that they fully owned up to the fact that the extant Starter Game, while very well priced, just offered too little for new players (as opposed to: new DMs).

*The race codeces at 30 pages a piece are a different story.

 

[malraux]

RC and Player's Essentials are tagged at 320 and 350 pages and are paperbacks. Haven't seen WotC do a paperback for the D&D game at that magnitude since they released the 3.5 PHB in softcover for the Player's Kit.

I wouldn't trust amazon's data this early on.

 

[Jack99]

I think it might be a little to early to be looking FOR a new edition at this POINT, but I do think the Rules Compendium is about FIVE years too soon.

LOL, XP for you

 

[Hunter In Darkness]

I think it might be a little to early to be looking FOR a new edition at this POINT, but I do think the Rules Compendium is about FIVE years too soon.

LOL that would indeed explain it so early

 

[M.L. Martin]

And I'm not pleased with the Ravenloft boardgame. This, juxtaposed with the D&D set for heroscape out now, smacks too much of "the future of DDM.... right here!". But then, I hope to be wrong and DDX tells us something else.

Well, I can understand the worry, but keep in mind that that's 40 minis for a list price of $65--only about $40 if you go through Amazon--plus dungeon tiles to boot. There may be few or no new sculpts--we'll have to see--but it looks like an awfully good value simply by quantity.

But I don't think the random packs will be phased out entirely. They seem to be too good as impulse purchases.

 

[Obryn]

I can completely believe it's a stealth 4.5 update.

And, for the record, I am 100% fine with it. Even excited about it, honestly - there's a marked quality gap, IMO, between the PHB1 and later releases. 4e didn't hit its stride until a while after the Core 3 were released.

-O

 

[Scribble]

Another point which can be raise is whether WotC's intentions are to have the upcoming 4E Rules Compendium and Player's Essentials books entirely replace the Player's Handbooks 1-2-3, and letting the 4E PHB1 + PHB2 + PHB3 hardcover books go out of print.

This is my guess... To combat the rising tide of if everything is core then I have to spend too much money to get into the game...

Instead of multiple books you can get one massive softcover with the relevant info.

Same as the digital compendium but not as cool.