New Core Rulebooks Every Year - A Mistake

[Duncan Haldane]

[off-topic]If players didn't make me aware of their special toys and how they worked before the game, I didn't let them use them. [/off-topic]

Wonderful rule that one.
At the start of each session, the Cleric lists ALL spells not in the PHB they could possibly choose to memorise during the session. Then when they are finished the Hexblade reads out the definition of Hexblade.

Then we realise the session time is over, and we are done.

 

[Duncan Haldane]

To those that are worried about new players buying the wrong book, I would like to point out that someone is VERY likely to tell them that the book the need is called the Player's Handbook.

It's not an obvious name to someone who hasn't played before.

When I started I bought a box labelled "Dungeons and Dragons Basic Set".

 

[Lonely Tylenol]

My theory:

• PHB contains martial, arcane, and divine characters
• We will see three splatbooks this year, detailing expanded rules for martial, arcane, and divine characters, respectively
• PHB II will contain three other power sources, say psionic, nature, and ki
• We will see three splatbooks next year, detailing expanded rules for psionic, natural and ki-based characters, respectively
• Repeat until 5e

I also predict that the new power sources in each PHB will tie into the campaign setting released that year. So this year's FR campaign will focus on the three sources in the PHB. Next year's Eberron book will draw upon whatever sources are in PHB 2, likely including psionics, since it's a feature of that campaign setting.

 

[Glyfair]

[*]PHB II will contain three other power sources, say psionic, nature, and ki

I'm torn. I do not see psionics as anything other than a standalone book. I do see psionics material in the PHB II, though.

Maybe there will be a 4E Psionics book and the PHB II will have some additional Psionics material, and enough rules to support the classes/races on the PHB II (which will be a small fraction of what is in the 4E Psionics Handbook).

 

[Lonely Tylenol]

I'm torn. I do not see psionics as anything other than a standalone book. I do see psionics material in the PHB II, though.

Maybe there will be a 4E Psionics book and the PHB II will have some additional Psionics material, and enough rules to support the classes/races on the PHB II (which will be a small fraction of what is in the 4E Psionics Handbook).

Well, I see it the other way around. I think the PHB II will introduce the psionics system, much in the same way that the PHB I introduces arcane and divine powers, and then the 4E psionics handbook will come out, fleshing out the system completely for those who really want a whole book o' psionics.

 

[Glyfair]

Well, I see it the other way around. I think the PHB II will introduce the psionics system, much in the same way that the PHB I introduces arcane and divine powers, and then the 4E psionics handbook will come out, fleshing out the system completely for those who really want a whole book o' psionics.

The real problem is that until the PHB II is released (or at least close to being released), we don't have any good idea what sort of concept these books will be released under. While guessing what sort of things will be in books always involves guesswork, it is much harder when you have no idea what the concept for the books will be.

 

[Lonely Tylenol]

The real problem is that until the PHB II is released (or at least close to being released), we don't have any good idea what sort of concept these books will be released under. While guessing what sort of things will be in books always involves guesswork, it is much harder when you have no idea what the concept for the books will be.

That's true. I'm constructing a likely PHB II based on what's supposed to be in the PHB I. That is, three power sources. It's just a guess, but not a totally ungrounded one.

 

[MerricB]

Well, I see it the other way around. I think the PHB II will introduce the psionics system, much in the same way that the PHB I introduces arcane and divine powers, and then the 4E psionics handbook will come out, fleshing out the system completely for those who really want a whole book o' psionics.

I think that's how it'll work.

We may even have an "oriental" player's handbook - all the regular rules, but the races & classes will be oriental-themed.

Cheers!

 

[Jhaelen]

Wonderful rule that one.
At the start of each session, the Cleric lists ALL spells not in the PHB they could possibly choose to memorise during the session. Then when they are finished the Hexblade reads out the definition of Hexblade.

Then we realise the session time is over, and we are done.

Well, that's not how it works. If I as a DM have never read anything about the Hexblade, no player will have a character with levels in the Hexblade class.
I don't accept anything at the table I haven't read beforehand. Has worked without fault so far.

P.S.: Gish, Gish, Gish!

 

[Christian]

Well, that's not how it works. If I as a DM have never read anything about the Hexblade, no player will have a character with levels in the Hexblade class.
I don't accept anything at the table I haven't read beforehand. Has worked without fault so far.

You do that in RPGA Living X games? That's what's under discussion here ... It must really chafe the shorts of players that show up with their long-standing characters to get booted like that.