Wild Speculation: Player's Handbook Revised

[Charwoman Gene]

So, here is my wild speculation.

• Class Compendium, Emporium, and Hero Builder's Guidebook have been pulled.
• WotC (and trusted freelancers) have started a massive communication push.
• Much of the push is soliciting feedback about style and presentation, including a more Old School vibe, but with 4E rules.
• The deleted products all were fundamental things. Themes, Magic Items, Classes, Rituals.

WotC is going to release a set of Advanced Dungeons & Dragons Books in 2012.

Essentials stay in as the "Basic" line.

Player's Handbook, DMG, Monster Manual.

Revised, into an "old-school" format.

 

[DEFCON 1]

My only question would be "What's so 'Advanced' about the cleric and the wizard compared to the warpriest and mage that it warrants being reprinted and rebranded?"

Sure, the martial classes from classic might seem 'advanced' to a minor extent in comparison to Essentials, but even they aren't rocket surgery. There is really so little difference in difficulty between classic and Essentials that rebranding classic as 'Advanced' seems a little counterproductive. Those of us who know both realize that they're all pretty easy to learn once you sit down with them.

 

[the Jester]

Maybe, but I doubt it.

Too much existing back stock on the PH, DMG and MM.

 

[Plane Sailing]

I very much doubt anything like this will happen

 

[SteveC]

Actually, one thing I'd really like to see (that we probably won't) is a revised PHB, with cleaned up classes (all the corrections and errata) and perhaps some different powers that have proven more popular than what we saw at launch, something like more options for the strength paladin, that sort of thing. I'd buy that in a heartbeat.

 

[TerraDave]

Some of us were expecting this to be announced at D&D XP. At least an adv PHB. There have been various indicators that at some point both an adv PHB and DMG were considred.

The Adv PHB would be a compilation of the above, as the cw gene notes, fitting it better with essentials,with new multicallsing rules and themes.

Still wouldn't be surprised to see it (that means I yell called it when it happens), maybe after they vet some of it through DDI.

 

[UngeheuerLich]

We need a new book with guidelines for building monsters traps and maybe dungeons and magic items. And one book with rituals. Maybe guidelines to create rituals could fit into the same books, as rituals are a great tool for DMs.

An advanced DM book would actually be something that could prove worhwhile, as it has a strong theme:
a DM´s toolbox to adapt your game to your table

 

[Osgood]

Interesting thought, but I doubt it will happen. More based on the fan reaction than the merit of the actual idea.

For the past half a year or so WotC has made many controversial moves that have left a bad taste in many fans mouths. Such a move would almost surely be seen as a "cash grab" and lead to an edition war. The last thing WotC wants to do is risk further segmenting the fan base.

Personally, I think WotC is unsure what direction to take at this point. They tried to do too many things with the Essentials (gateway for new/younger players, retro red box for old timers who haven't played in ages, and 3.5 style mechanics/presentation to try to bring back wayward PF players) and I personally think the products suffered as a result.

I think WotC needs to do another major market research project to find out exactly what the community wants and what would best bring in potential players before trying something like this.

 

[Zaran]

They need to stop trying to add more stuff and bring everything up to the same point. The articles in this months dragon will help get there.

They also need to get the character builder to a point where it matches the versatility of the old builder.

These two things will would make me a happy customer. After that they can sell me new products like the nentir vale monster book.

 

[DangerAbe]

I'd like to see a new massive player's handbook that compiles information from previous 4e books into one volume. I'd like it to feature all of the iconic classes (i.e. the 3.5/Pathfinder classes + the Warlock and Warlord): Barbarian, Bard, Cleric, Druid, Fighter, Monk, Paladin, Ranger, Rogue, Sorcerer, Wizard, Warlock, and Warlord.) 13 classes all together in one book. Plus all the standard races from the first 4e players handbook updated with the essentials options (and add in gnome, drow, half-orc, and whatever Players Handbook 2 or 3 race is the highest in popularity.)

The classes should each have at least 3 different builds based on the various builds found scattered throughout ALL of 4th edition right now. Using the most popular options and listing the most popular powers(which WotC now knows thanks to the character builder).

One of the advantages I feel that Pathfinder has is that all the "classic" D&D class-race combinations are available in one book.4e would do well to do the same.

Nothing in this new player's handbook needs to be new. It just needs to be compiled and with fixed errata.

They can call it the "2012 Player's Handbook" and then maybe release a new one every two or three years with errata and the whatever the currently most popular powers and builds are.