If the Draconomicon is split so that each book released is truly unique then there won't be a problem I agree. Fiend Folio I&II are good examples of that put to good work. If every dragon is different than each other that will be wonderful, especially if the book goes into depth about each dragon's ecology and putting it to effect. However if they are not, then we are looking at rehash already as the portions which are the same have to be reexplained in subsequent books as it relates to each new dragon. That is what I am worried about in this sudden chain of books poised by all the sudden titles with a number one behind it.
I've speculated that PHBII will probably be a compilation of classes and races presented in miscellaneous books through out the previous years, i.e. Drow have been cited as getting their first full detailed play ability in the FR campaign book. They would make a logical inclusion in PHBII for those who didn't want to buy the FR book and want a more in depth view of the race than provided in the MMI, assuming they are included in it.
During the years of 2nd ed I averaged $50 a month on books, buying just about everything. I dread even thinking of trying to calculate what it would cost these days. If my speculation is correct and PHBII, DMGII, MMII and their sequels are collections of all the best stuff of the coming year that makes them very desirable to me who no longer wants nor can afford to buy every book released. I've long since sworn off buying every book, I just don't want to see the game evolve into a necessity to do so, unless you want to be a completest or have the money to waste. I would like to see WotC keep that in mind when deciding on these books as well as keep in mind not everyone can afford to buy so many books. Granted most players are college age but the game needs to be kept with in a reasonable expense range to allow younger players as well as college students to be able to afford them.
With the recent title announcements it's almost as if the logic they are taking is, "Well title X sold well, perhaps we should do sequels to it every year." It's true that the Spell Compendium did well but do we need one every year? Same with the announced Treasure book. Some of the titles popping up are books which came around after two or three years of material being around, if not longer, consolidating everything into one book covering the given subject making it convenient if not comprehensible. The books being announce so soon seem like they are deliberately holding stuff back from the books they would normally put them in, i.e. DMG or other source books, or possibly not making everything available in their entirety. Lending to the possible thinking of "why put a complete list of treasure into the DMG when we can put out a whole book on treasure." I'm being fictitious here with my speculation so don't taken anything too serious, but this is how these titles are lending themselves to my interpretation based on titles and discussions from WotC employees concerning future releases of PHBII, DMGII, and other books with a different numeral behind it. Just the pessimist in me coming out; I don't trust them.
You win. Thread over.
