Tome of Treasure and what is "core"- I am a little worried

[Thornir Alekeg]

There's also the matter that *every other* book of this sort - PHB, MM, DMG - is going to have a new iteration every year. Given that evidence *plus* the "I" in the working title, and the nature of magic items as a sort of infinitely inventable sort of thing, I think the conclusion that they're going to keep releasing volumes of magic items is completely reasonable and is very likely.

But the PHB, DMG and MM are the main rulebooks for the game. I have not heard ToT has been added as the "Fourth Core Rulebook." Until I hear something from WotC saying the ToT is a book that they plan on releasing annually with new material, I do not think it is worth getting worked up over a web page on Amazon.

Personally I find it hard to believe they will be able to churn out enough material to pull off an annual PHB, DMG and MM and if magic items end up in their own book, I find it even less likely. If they do I wonder what the quality of the contents will be versus the price.

 

[Khairn]

4E will have the same amount of books published each year as 3E, or maybe even more. So any thought that rules / supplement bloat will be reduced (or eliminated) by 4E is certain to be a pipe-dream. And in all likelihood, the books will be more expensive.

As for "Core" ... in 3E "Core" books were clearly defined by WotC and the gaming community as the PHB, DMG and MM. With 4E, WotC is no longer accepting that definition. For them, core books are now anything outside of the setting specific supplements. In fact, if I don't miss my guess, everything from the DDI will probably be core as well.

What books a GM decides to accept in his game is still up to the individual GM, as it was with 3E and every other edition of D&D. The only thing that has really changed is that the term "core" no longer has any meaning in reference to 4E D&D books. Sure some players may still refer to the first 3 books as core, but since that is not how WotC defines the books, its ultimately irrelevant.

That's retail, though. Does anyone pay full retail price?

I buy retail as a way to support my FLGS.

My sincere hope is that the term core is no longer used as a weapon by rules lawyers in the rules forum to declare anything non-core as not applicable to a discussion.

If it is from the same company, using the same version of the rules, and in a paper-published format (or errata on the web for those paper-published formats), it should all count equally. You might choose to not use a particular book, but it shouldn't be considered as somehow "not counting" because it isn't titled Player's Handbook, Dungeon Master's Guide, or Monster Manual. Particularly for this edition, where we know WOTC is planning ahead and intentionally placing some things they consider important in future books, so as to develop the game in stages.

I just realized that Mistwell was referring to core being used in discussions, not in games themselves. Sorry about the confusion.

 

[mhacdebhandia]

As for "Core" ... in 3E "Core" books were clearly defined by WotC and the gaming community as the PHB, DMG and MM. With 4E, WotC is no longer accepting that definition. For them, core books are now anything outside of the setting specific supplements.

You're wrong. The new "core" will be each year's iteration of the Player's Handbook, Dungeon Master's Guide, and Monster Manual. Other sourcebooks aren't necessarily counted as "core".

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

My sincere hope is that the term core is no longer used as a weapon by rules lawyers in the rules forum to declare anything non-core as not applicable to a discussion.

I hope so as well, but I'm not holding my breath.

A clearer, better policy with regard to the FAQ/sage rulings is much needed.

A-FREAKIN-MEN!

I buy retail as a way to support my FLGS.

I buy very little online, but I'm willing to wait for/take advantage of sales my FLGS has, so I pay, on average, a little less than cover price.

But I do tend to spend 90% of my RPG hobby in brick & mortar stores.

 

[Khairn]

You're wrong. The new "core" will be each year's iteration of the Player's Handbook, Dungeon Master's Guide, and Monster Manual. Other sourcebooks aren't necessarily counted as "core".

I'm not saying you're wrong, only that the posts I have read from WotC clearly imply that there are no official "core" books, as was defined in 3E. If that is not the case, I'd love to read any quote on that subject.

 

[Sadrik]

Will the new versions of the PHB, DMG and MM, be direct reprints between one another with maybe a couple new races and classes- but all of the other sections (combat etc.) are duplicated with possible errata?

 

[IanB]

Will the new versions of the PHB, DMG and MM, be direct reprints between one another with maybe a couple new races and classes- but all of the other sections (combat etc.) are duplicated with possible errata?

They won't be "new versions"; PHB II will be an entirely new book with entirely different content. Think the 3.5 PHB vs. the 3.5 PHB II, in other words.

 

[Remathilis]

Will the new versions of the PHB, DMG and MM, be direct reprints between one another with maybe a couple new races and classes- but all of the other sections (combat etc.) are duplicated with possible errata?

No, they'll be separate entities that give additional, supplemental, and augmented rules, spells, races, classes, and feats. You'll still need Core Rules 1 to use Core Rules 2 and 3, for example.

 

[Abstraction]

I buy retail as a way to support my FLGS.

Your FLGS charges full cover price‽

 

[Glyfair]

IIRC, the working title for the book Magic Item Compendium I

Which implies there will be more, not that it will be an annual release.

The above is correct. However, while the virtual minis won't be randomized, WotC still plans to sell them at extra cost. Your DDI subscription will only include tokens. THAT's the latest on virtual minis.

I haven't heard that there will only be tokens. Has this been confirmed?

Scott has stated in this forum that there will be a selection of "miniatures" to start. Expanding that selection will cost extra, but are supposed to be some to begin.

I know that statement wasn't final (they are even likely still in discussions about details). However, I have not seen anything to contradict Scott's statement.