Swordmage-> annoying...

[pawsplay]

"Rules spread" is just one of the worst things that can happen to a game. 3.5 made a big move to consolidate stuff, even stuff that was spread out in 3e.

 

[WheresMyD20]

The spells chapter in the 3.5 PHB takes up half the book, and that's for only 2 classes (plus hangers-on).

Bards, clerics, druids, paladins, rangers, sorcerers, and wizards all use spells in 3.5. That's seven classes out of eleven. The imbalance isn't quite that bad. The spells chapter is only "wasted" for barbarians, fighters, monks, and rogues. Even then, I say "wasted" because most players who buy a PHB will use the chapter sooner or later.

 

[WheresMyD20]

"Rules spread" is just one of the worst things that can happen to a game. 3.5 made a big move to consolidate stuff, even stuff that was spread out in 3e.

That's the best thing about the old Rules Cyclopedia - the entire game is in one book.

 

[hong]

Bards, clerics, druids, paladins, rangers, sorcerers, and wizards all use spells in 3.5. That's seven classes out of eleven. The imbalance isn't quite that bad. The spells chapter is only "wasted" for barbarians, fighters, monks, and rogues. Even then, I say "wasted" because most players who buy a PHB will use the chapter sooner or later.

However, the spell lists for 3 of those classes are abbreviated, and all of them share a lot of spells in common. In 4E, they're going for unique special powers for everyone, hence more space required.

 

[Teemu]

I think WotC is trying to make FR books (or at least the Player's Guide) more useful to groups that aren't interested in the setting itself. You'll notice that the Player's Guide cover doesn't have a FR logo - just the regular Dungeons & Dragons text.

 

[amethal]

But what if they put the listing for 10' poles in the Forgotten Realms Players Guide? Then you'd have to buy that to have a 10' pole to not touch the book with...

As someone else has said, there are no 10' poles in 4th edition. Instead, you have "2 squares" poles.