D&D 5E What would be your preferred format for the core rules of 5E?

[JediSoth]

I would like to see a boxed set for the core rules with enough materials (including dice) to play a campaign. If levels 1-20 are too much, then maybe have one set be 1-10 and the next 2-20 (or whatever the level cap is going to be).

If I can't get a boxed set, I want all the rules to play the game in one book. 3 books is too much buy in (IMO) with the competition out there putting everything I need to run the game in one book/box (it's my main beef with HackMaster which STILL doesn't have a GM's guide).

Third choice, digest-sized books. ESPECIALLY if they're going with the trifecta of PHB/DMG/MM.

 

[Li Shenron]

All in all, the 3-books solutions is probably still the best one (not counting introductory/basic products) for most purposes.

The most important feature of the 3-books scheme, is that players only need to buy the first book. Especially if they can make it cheap like in the 3.0 era, it would mean that the entry barrier for the standard game (thus not just the basic game) will be very nicely low.

Book 2 and 3 could then be merged into one, but probably having them separate is still better in some cases: a DM that is already very experienced with the edition might leave the DMG on the shelf during the game and use it mostly for preparing adventures, while another DM using published adventures may not normally need the MM if monsters stats are provided by such adventures.

 

[HeroForge]

I voted for the big three, though there would be other ways to accomplish my main goal, which is a a low barrier for entry.

I'd like there to be a single book that I could press into new player's hands that has all the necessary PC information, that is at a reasonable price point. Pathfinder, for me, doesn't do that -- it's too much in one place. A PhB (possibly available in a boxed version, like the 3.5 player's kit does that.

If they could et it into a paperback the size of one of the 4e Essentials volumes, that would be better still, though that might be hoping for too much.

Oh man, yeah, a cheaper, but still high quality, paperback option would be super cool!