Player's Strategy Guide

[AllisterH]

Olgar, did you actually read the book? I think the last chapter might actually apply to you and DavetheMage....

Personally, I think it is a great book for anyone that has been playing for only a couple of years.

Basically...this is the book for Gabe and people that got into D&D just recently.

 

[Mournblade94]

I was thoroughly familiar with the 1st round of 4e products ie PH1, DMG1, and while in the game store I pretty thoroughly flipped through it. There was alot I was not familiar with, such as anything from PHB2 and beyond.

The section on character optimization reads like a minmax formula to me. This seems to encourage a lack of variety.

I do not think you can treat table top like a video game with a strategy guide. Video games have variables. Table tops have too many variables to follow that model.

The good parts of this book were the Roleplaying advice sections. I found the artwork to be terrible as well, not on a talent level, but on an asthetic level. If that is the mood they are trying to set with 4e I am glad I bailed when I did.

Granted I don't think that is the mood, as their other products do not have that artwork. If I was coming in as a new player however, that artwork would definitely influence me though over the long term. Do they really want new players viewing D&D as cartoony?

 

[Crothian]

Still? I think you should contact someone. This book has been on the shelves for a few weeks.

It depends on who sends them out to him. I get my books direct from Wizards too and I just got a copy a few days ago.

 

[Tav_Behemoth]

The good parts of this book were the Roleplaying advice sections.

As I was saying in the 4E Discussion thread, Play Unsafe is a great resource for roleplaying in general, not restricted to D&D or 4E. It was recommended to me when I was asking folks I knew: "There are lots of books of advice for GMs; where do you find good advice for players?"

I think that's a good question, and the fact that folks take GM how-to books in stride but freak out about player how-to books maybe says something about how we prioritize the GM's input and skill over the player's. (Mournblade, I agree that the tactical infinity of a tabletop RPG means you can't write the same "go here and do this" kind of strategy guide as a videogame, but it seems to me that just means it needs a more open-ended approach to strategy.)

 

[Halivar]

I found the artwork to be terrible as well, not on a talent level, but on an asthetic level. If that is the mood they are trying to set with 4e I am glad I bailed when I did.

Granted I don't think that is the mood, as their other products do not have that artwork. If I was coming in as a new player however, that artwork would definitely influence me though over the long term. Do they really want new players viewing D&D as cartoony?

See PC's statement above. This was a one-off Penny Arcade did because they've been such a big gateway for new players into the game.

 

[DaveMage]

A lot of the art is by the Penny Arcade guys, and I think that's a great thing.

Well, I've been reading the Wilderlands Box with its Frezetta cover art.

That's my style.

After spending time there, seeing this art on a D&D RPG product was nauseating.

Now - don't get me wrong - if this art was for a D&D Comic, no problem. But for the cover of a D&D RPG product - ugh!

Edit - and, I'm also not really a fan of Penny Arcade, so that may have something to do with it as well. (Although I didn't know it was them when I saw the cover.)

 

[Scribble]

The section on character optimization reads like a minmax formula to me. This seems to encourage a lack of variety.

I got one of these types of books for 3.5- not because I like to min/max, but because I had a few players who did, and I'm terrible at it.

The book helped me challenge them.

Do they really want new players viewing D&D as cartoony?

That would really piss off Uni... (baaahhhhh....)

 

[falcarrion]

It could be geared to new young players ( pre teen or low teens). The art work is more parent friendly.

 

[Mournblade94]

That would really piss off Uni... (baaahhhhh....)

I just bought all of those cartoons on DVD. Absolutely fantastic. Some of those cartoon plot actually make good adventures.

That cartoon aired just after I started playing D&D. Alot of the background imagery shaped my idea of D&D environments, but it did not dominate my imagination. I suppose the Players guide would have the same effect.

Uni said more of a Meeeahhhh! Rather than a baaaahhh.

 

[Dire Bare]

Do they really want new players viewing D&D as cartoony?

Heavens no! We all know that D&D is serious stuff!