Return of the DonkeyHorse!

[Nahat Anoj]

I voted "Yes" because I would like to see this kind of product, but I don't see why it has to be limited to "noncombat" things.

 

[Desdichado]

Do you own or use the Stronghold Builder's guide made for 3.5?

No, none of us own that particular book, as far as I know.

Or use any of the items in the equipment lists in the phb?

Sure, we'll buy them at chargen. And then usually never look at our equipment list again except maybe once or twice a campaign.

Or maybe your GM uses the per day pay values of common servants that's in the DMG.

I've never used that when I GM, and I've never noticed anyone else use it either.

That stuff is missing in 4th edition. That's why I am making a wish for a book. Alot of people don't have access to those things, especially new players that WotC is targeting later this year.

Yes, I know that. I'm just answering the question that I don't particularly care about those things and certainly wouldn't buy a book that was just about them. Also, pointing out my opinion that I don't think there's enough demand for a product that lists that stuff out. At least not enough demand to satisfy a WotC revenue target. It'd be a perfect project for a GSL shop, though.

 

[Zaran]

Frankly, I'm not sure that what you're talking about would fill a book. The mundane items in 3rd edition take, what, a dozen pages or so? I don't own the 2E Aurora's Realms Catalog, and I don't own the 3.0 Arms & Equipment guide, but I've got the general impression that they included a number of magical or unusual items in addition to the mundanities.

I wouldn't mind if they printed it in a section of a new Adventurer's Vault although if they expanded on things like building strongholds and ships you can put together a small book at least.

I voted "Yes" because I would like to see this kind of product, but I don't see why it has to be limited to "noncombat" things.

It doesn't really need to be limited in any way. This is just an imaginary book that I dreamed up. The thing is, we will always see more combat oriented things added to the game because that's what the game is designed around. It WAS a design decision to do it this way and it's my belief that GMs are supposed to deal with any extras that the players might want to buy. In my opinion, we have plenty of stuff that can be used in combat already and players can benefit from having non-combat stuff to develop the other parts of their character's life.

 

[darjr]

The absence of these "mundane" things in 4E is the direct result of the 4E design philosophy. Early on - and I read this and heard this in multiple sources - the designers wanted to focus solely on things a typical adventurer would want or do. And this mostly means combat and adventuring. This is why there are no Craft or Profession skills in 4E and no way to make mundane items or even play a musical instrument to entertain the masses.

Better not tell some of my players. Some of them have characters who played an instrument to please the masses using rules as written. Once it was as accompaniment to another character who was telling a story to a group of children just as a favor to an NPC. This was in an RPGA event.

I believe there IS room in the 4E tableau for some variety and a "book of mundane things" has its place. I agree with some of the posters, however, that such a book would have to do a LOT more than merely list some items to get someone to buy it. Referencing skill challenges might be a good place to start. Building a castle would be nice. Running a guild.

While I'm not sure I agree that the specific book in question needs to do all that, it sure would be nice.

 

[Cadfan]

I didn't vote.

I would be interested in a big book of stronghold construction, maintenance, and operation rules.

I would be absolutely uninterested in a book that told me things like "a ten foot pole costs you X gp."

 

[Miphon]

I voted "No. There is no place for this sort of thing in 4e." but that doesn't really reflect that my major opposition to such a product is that I don't think there is enough of this sort of material to fill such a book and make it a worthwhile purchase.

I wouldn't be opposed however to this sort of material appearing in other books, but I just can't see it being a book in its own right.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

Mine is a qualified "Yes!"

I'm no fan of 4Ed, but I own the Core 3 plus PHBs 2 & 3- one member of our group is contemplating running a 4Ed campaign, and in the interest of being helpful, I picked up the additional PHBs today.

I will never run 4Ed, but I'll play just about anything...and I can see (and have extolled) the value of such a sourcebook.

So, IF I were to be involved in a 4Ed campaign of any length, such a book would be on my "Must Buy" list.

 

[Hussar]

Ok, we had a good thread going and a couple guys turned it into an edition war. Please, do not that here.

This is a poll on whether you think there is room in 4e DnD for a book of mundane noncombat stuff. While this may include mules, 10ft poles, and other items mentioned in the other thread, a book of this sort would have all manner of things for your character to spend their loot on. Also, stronghold construction, shipbuilding, merchantilism rules can all be included in book like this.

Basically this book would be a player aid and would relieve the GM of having to "wing it".

I would point out that the goalposts have shifted somewhat.

First, it was, "Where's the mundane equipment"? Now you are including a number of elements that are pretty far beyond what was originally being asked, like stronghold construction, mercantilism and the like. But, that being neither here nor there, I can see such a book being useful for some groups, but, I would hope that it would be put in a completely separate book from the core 3, even as defined by 4e (all PHB's, DMG's and MM's are core).

A Stronghold Builder's Guide 4e would be fine for those that want one.

Although, to be fair, to put everything you listed into one book would make for one MASSIVE tome.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

Just buy a donkeyhorse to carry it around!

 

[Zaran]

First, it was, "Where's the mundane equipment"? Now you are including a number of elements that are pretty far beyond what was originally being asked, like stronghold construction, mercantilism and the like. But, that being neither here nor there, I can see such a book being useful for some groups, but, I would hope that it would be put in a completely separate book from the core 3, even as defined by 4e (all PHB's, DMG's and MM's are core).

Actually everything I mentioned was talked about in the "Where's my freaking mule?" thread. I'm sure we can come up with alot of things that could be put in a book of "useless" stuff.