WOTC books use non-core material now?

[Flexor the Mighty!]

I thought the policy was to not use stuff from other books outside core in new books? Or has that changed? I've been reading the Tyrants of the Nine Hells book and I notice there is some non-core stuff in there, and I don't think it is all listed with core book alternatives. Mainly the Hellfire Warlock PRC. And some of the NPC's use classes from the Complete Books. The devils have some feats from other books, but they do have core book replacements for the non-core abilities. Anyway I was just wondering.

 

[Alzrius]

They've been filtering in non-core stuff for the last few years now, though it's never more than a trickle. If you look through some of the more recent sourcebooks, you'll find things regarding epic material, psionics, warlocks, and more.

 

[FireLance]

I can't say this is true in all cases because I haven't gone through every page of the book in detail, but when a non-core option is used, I believe it is usually reprinted or a core substitution is suggested (with the possible exception of the Hellfire Warlock since that directly plays to a non-core class).

 

[blargney the second]

I'm glad they use it - for the books that I do have it's great to have support, and for the others it's easy enough to ignore or modify.

 

[Flexor the Mighty!]

I'm glad they use it - for the books that I do have it's great to have support, and for the others it's easy enough to ignore or modify.

It depends on how much modification would be required. This is fairly minimal from what I can tell so far, though the Warlock class is a waste of space for me since I don't have that class.

 

[Razz]

It's not fair either way.

If you only use core-material than there is no incentive to purchase non-core material knowing they will never receive support beyond their initial introduction.

If you add in non-core material support, than you have complaints from those who don't have access to some or all of the non-core material support.

Lose-Lose situation.

The best route IMO? Either increase the page count to include non-core material support in books or create a line of books made simply for supporting non-core material. I would go for the latter. Two separate lines of books, one that enhances core-material and the other non-core, would work wonders.

 

[smootrk]

As long as it is done rather lightly, then I don't mind. Especially if some care is taken to suggest alternatives when I might not have the particular book in question. Cross marketing is wise for most companies, although if WotC wants to really get Warlock stuff (as an example) to be essentially core, then they ought to insert certain choice materials into the SRD. That would make many quite happy.

 

[Pants]

IIRC, FCI had lots of references to non-core material, but I think that's one is just sort of a standout in this regard.

Complete Mage references the Warlock and Wu'Jen quite a bit too and PHBII provides some abilities for the Scout, Swashbuckler, Marshal, and a few other non-Core classes.

 

[the Jester]

I like the non-core support, but I'm a whore and I buy a ton of gaming books so I usually have whatever is being supported.

If I didn't, I suspect I would feel differently about it. I don't think a core support and non-core support line would have the sales necessary to keep both alive; the mixed support works for me now, and I think there is enough stuff for the core rules that, if that's all I used, I wouldn't feel like I was really getting ripped off (at least, in the books I have).

Then again, if I feel like a book has a ton of wasted space in it, I don't buy it (eg. MM4).

 

[Nyaricus]

I like the non-core support, but I'm a whore and I buy a ton of gaming books so I usually have whatever is being supported.

I'll second being a whore, at least in regards to books purchases

cheers,
--N