Player's Handbook II (long)

[Sagan Darkside]

Re: Index

I had forgotten but one of the biggest appeals was going to be its index, a full massive index that would tell you where to go if you wanted to make an archer, or if you were looking up a feat that gave a bonus to climb. It would give references in either the phb or phb2.

I would buy a product that was just that- an index of all d20 products out there. It would be a monster, and perhaps better served electronically.

SD

 

[Technik4]

SRD

That is the other appeal of such a book. If it was so large and encompassed so much, it would be an easier task to add to the SRD, which means other companies could then use the feats, spells, etc as they wished on their npcs or whatnot.

Technik

 

[Dr. Zoom]

You're asking a company to combine into one $40 to $60 book 6 books that sell for a combined $130? It will not happen.

 

[RodneyThompson]

This is very similar to what JD Wiker and I did on the Hero's Guide for the Star Wars RPG. We wanted to create what essentially boiled down to a Player's Handbook for the line, drew inspiration from the style of the splatbooks, and then condensed it. We didn't quite have the page space to include everything we wanted (books on the Star Wars line are pretty restricted on page count due to licensing with LucasFilm) but I think it's a pretty solid effort. We'll see how well it sells when it comes out in June, though!

 

[Arnwyn]

An interesting concept, Technik4. Would I buy one? No.

 

[KnowTheToe]

I am creating this currently for a home brew world I have been working on. I am creating my own Setting book with all of the spells, feats, skills and home rules in one place.

Currently, I have completed the classes and added classes from WoT and Kalamar, feats from many books and deleted a few I did not like. I would love to share it to get feedback, but since I typed out classes not covered in the open gaming agreement, I cannot post it anywhere on the net.

I have a few more feats to add and then I have the hardest project, modifying the spell lists. One thing has come from all this work, I have a much better understanding of class balance and small rules I often overlooked.

I am moving in July and hope to have it ready to share with a new gaming group this Fall. Anyone here from DeKalb IL?

 

[Technik4]

Im proposing a company sell a hardcover book that will appeal to many people for $40-60. The fact that the material appears in 5 seperate softcover books for $20 each is relevant, but I dont know how much those books sell. Its often been stated that only the "core" books really sell to an extent that the bean counters like.

They are updating their rules and have a golden opportunity on a venture like this. New players can buy 2 books and jump in the game with tons of possibilities (not that there isnt with just the phb, but you know). Old players would appreciate the consolidated, easy to read/indexed volume as well as the new art and updated crunch.

In short, I think a hardcover book would sell more than 5 softcovers. Addtitionally, since wotc already paid for the intellectual property, its all profit. If they want to release the individual softcovers (with the same revised material) then people would have the option to buy the whole shebang or the individual class book of their choice.

Technik

 

[KnowTheToe]

You're asking a company to combine into one $40 to $60 book 6 books that sell for a combined $130? It will not happen.

That is not neccessarily true. Since hardcovers sell better than softcovers and many people that may not have picked up the splatbooks may buy this and many people who already bought the splatbooks would buy the hard cover. Also profit margins might be significantly better, but then they may not be. I think it could make money, but I wouldn't buy it, I already have the other books.

 

[Mercule]

Ideally, I would hope the SRD would eventually be updated with all the crunchy bits from the class books.

I'd like to see that, too. (And I own all the class books already.)

Even if they did, though, I'd _still_ buy a PH2. Why? 1) I like hardbound a _lot_ more than paperback. 2) I like carrying around one ELH-sized book a _lot_ more than 5 smaller books. 3) Only one place to guess at where a feat came from. 4) Did I mention that I like big hardbound books?

 

[Technik4]

Mercule: Thats what Im talking about. Despite owning all the books myself (obviously), I would be very interested in a hardback, color, compiled book. It makes it easier to carry around, easier to add to the SRD, and if they made a good index it would be one of my most valuable books.

Technik