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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Nemesis Destiny" data-source="post: 5472943" data-attributes="member: 98255">I agree. And for players/GMs like me, who do almost all their prep in the digital, and have a computer present during the game (I use a laptop instead of a DM screen now, as I'm sure many others do), having pdfs, and especially access to everything via the Compendium has become a godsend.The last game I ran, I opened everything I knew I'd need during the game in separate compendium tabs and was thus able to quickly switch back and forth between them. It was brilliant (my first time DMing 4e). In one 6-hour session, we blew through a skill challenge, 2 at-level fights, one Level +3 fight, and still had plenty of time for RP, and some exploring. Previously, this would have been a feat of DMing heroics with my group.So yeah, as long as all this stuff makes its way into the Compendium/CB, I'm a happy camper.I actually do like to use pdfs at the table, but it's usually maps and modules. Monsters, I prefer using the compendium pages, or if it's a custom critter, I'll build it with Adventure Tools and print it on an as-needed basis. Again though, this is why I like seeing everything that comes from Dragon and Dungeon find its way to the digital tools.I always host the game, but even then I don't want to use anymore big clunky hardbacks. I store all my RPG material inside a coffee table ottoman type thing and I'm running out of room. Even the bulkiness doesn't matter so much when like you point out, it's all character generating material, because it should happen outside of game time or whatever.As far as double-checking stuff goes, that can largely be done via the Compendium as well, which is (or should be) reasonably up-to-date and errata'd.I think there are a lot of people that disagree with you, and a lot that agree. The 'agree' crowd seems to share your sentiment of not wanting to lug a pile of huge bulky books everywhere. The 'disagree' crowd seems mostly miffed that the Essentials products look out of place on their shelf and don't match the existing format, which to me implies something about the personality type of that crowd.These are just generalizations, and anecdotal ones at that, but it's a trend I've noticed on these, and other, boards.And yes, I agree about the image on p31 of the RC. Excellent stuff. I'm a D&D art grognard, in that I much prefer the old Easleys, Elmores, Parkinsons, Caldwells, Lakeys, and so on from 2e and earlier to the cartoon-ish, comic book style art of 3.x and early 4e. I immediately noticed an improvement in the art direction for Essentials. It still has some of the old cartoony stuff that I disdain, but now contains much more of the kind of thing that I like. I feel that it's a good compromise. I appreciate that they're giving a nod to that artstyle instead of concentrating solely on trying to impress the predominantly younger comic book and anime crowd.Sorry about the highly tangental and rambling post. <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)"  data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" />And I really hope my last comment doesn't start an art-style jihad.</blockquote>

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