What is "core"?

[Obryn]

You can play an excellent and complete 4e game using only the three books I'd call "true core." That is, the PHB, MM, and DMG.

If you want to start small, that's a good place to start!

From there, I'd probably add sources in more or less this order...

* Any DM-only book you care to add. No need to make up your mind here.

* Adventurer's Vault (mostly for the regular equipment, including superior weapons)
* PHB2 (Races, classes, and feats! OH MY!)
* FRPG (mostly for Drow, Genasi, and Swordmage)
* Eberron PG (mostly for races + Artificer)
* Martial Power and/or Arcane Power
* Dragon Magazine

I'm putting the Power books near-last because I think it's usually better to get more breadth than more depth. While I think they're excellent - particularly Arcane Power - they're intensely optional.

I have almost no concerns about the balance of Dragon articles, but lots of the stuff in them is pretty niche (as IMO it should be!) While they're neat additions, you could probably play for years and never miss them.

-O

 

[RigaMortus2]

I think Core is basically up to what the DM allows and everyone agrees on.

For me personally, I'd say all PHBs, DMGs and MMs are Core, and if you are playing a specific setting (like FR or Eberron) then those books would be "core" for those campaigns. Then again, as DM, I allow just about anything, so my definition of "core" doesn't really affect me and my group anyway. But that's the definition I'd use.

 

[IanB]

Some of the classes are a bit iffy right out of the PHB (or whatever) alone so I think the ___ Power books are a must-include, personally.

 

[Regicide]

It makes me sad that so many people disregard the magazines for perceived balance issues.

I disregard them because most of my players won't put up with the MMO pay-to-play nonsense of a monthly fee to play an offline game. Our games are "just" published books.

 

[keterys]

Almost every book has a small percentage of bad things in it - just as true for the PHB as for Dragon #371 or whatever. If you've got the character builder I'd suggest letting it all be used for character options (feats, etc) with the caveat to block anything that is excessively powerful (or weak) compared to the rest of the party. For items I'd advise the DM control that, whatever works for you guys.

Personally, if I were going to bother to exclude anything it would be a minor set of powers here and there (Storm of Blades kinda thing), superior weapons across the board, a couple bad items from AV like Bloodclaw and Reckless... oh and I'd make a rule for penalties not stacking to take care of all the damn save penalty things.

 

[Flipguarder]

these are the rules for my game

1. No dragonmark feats
2. No forgotten realms backgrounds
3. If you want to buy a specific magic item out of the AV, ask me at least 24 hours before the session.
4. If you want anything outside of purchasable books (dragon/dungeon magazine or third party stuff) ask me a least 24 hours before the session.