[WOTC] Revised Corebooks for July confirmed with info

[Thorvald Kviksverd]

I think the people expressing a bit of disappointment over this do have some basis for it. I suspect it wouldn't be nearly as great if it weren't for the fact that it is coming so soon. The price of the 3 core books represents a sizable investment for many--and they expect it to remain relatively current for more than a few years.

I know this is being touted as a revision, rather than a new edition (Where exactly is the line drawn when making such a distinction anyway?), but--unless the greatly increased page count turns out to be mostly "fluff"--it would seem that it is going to be a fairly substantial one.

So, I think there is room for concern about exactly how compatible material released after the revision will be with the current core rules.

Welcome to my world--Ye World of Olde Tyme D&D!

 

[CSB046]

I've got to agree with those who feel 3 years for a (fairly minor?) revision of such widely discussed, debated, and dissected rules seems pretty reasonable. Then again, I only bought my original copies of the core books 4 months ago, and I still intend to grab at least the revised PHB as soon as it hits the stands.

No question: I'm EXACTLY the sort of completist WotC is counting on!

"Here, just take the wallet too..."

 

[Vanye]

If there are major changes to pc tactics or preperation required by it (i.e. haste is now 4th level or whatever) it becomes a virtual must-have unless the changes are published on the website or in Dragon. That would suck; I don't want to set a precedent where it's okay to put out a new core rules set every three years.

That's better than White Wolf's prior track record, though. 1 year between editions for their games, vs just under 4 for D&D? I'll take that any day.

I hope everything new is an optional rule, that way I won't feel "behind the times" if I pass the RPH up.

That's how it already is....

 

[resistor]

A lot of people seem to be blowing those who are peeved off by saying "Well, you don't have to buy it." That's not exactly true. Most of my gaming I do online as I don't have a reliable group to play with in person. I will probably have to at least get the new PHB, since any changes to the core classes would make entering new games with people who use that one rather difficult.

I probably will get them, but not immediately. The RPHB will come first, as soon after the release as I get enoguh free cash. Then the RMM, becuase I really really want level adjustments for all monsters are PCs. Finally I might get the RDMG, which I find to be the least useful of the book, despite the fact that I DM a lot. I've found that it contains very little that I couldn't have created for myself. I only ever use it to look up magic items.

 

[The Halfling]

I can see the advantages to clarified rules and better examples and layout. But I can't see any good coming of changed rules.

It's a matter of code forking (to stick with the OGL's own comparison to open source). We'll have almost three years of material written to the original books by the time these come out. (Well, except Monte's recent stuff, and the slowdown of releases that fear of rules changes may cause in 3rd party publishers.) After they're out, everyone has to decide which variant of d20 to write for. Original? Revised? Arcana Unearthed? Own variant?

Books aren't code, they can't all be easily revised to the current rules version, and, unlike open source code, can't simply be downloaded for (near) free when updates are put out.

Even if the only rules changes are simply feat and spell additions, that still means that players and DM's who want to be able to easily use future material will have to either buy the revised rules or be prepared to rewrite statblocks for npcs and creatures who use those feats and spells. (Or are new types of creatures.) I always approved of Wizards' policy of not referencing outside of the core books in their adventures. Now they'll have to choose which books to reference.

Actually, I think this is more of a new version of the rules, which, while a big problem in a dead-tree, non-free environment, isn't nearly as difficult to deal with as proprietary changes to the core system that makes one companies products not work with everyone else's.


On a different tangent; does anyone know if these books are finished yet? They're not releasing untill next summer, so where in production would they be right now?

Well Excepting the fact that 3rd party publishers are not supposed to reference Core books directly, just the SRD.

Some items from the Core books were not released into the SRD. The witch variant in the DMG is one such example. The expanded Suprise/Spot/Listen rules from the DMG are another example.

WotC, and the OGL itself, have always maintained that the SRD can and may be changed by the WotC. This has always been a provision the 3rd party pubs have worked under. Items may not nessesarily be removed, but they may be modified.

All things evolve over time. The OGL pretty much assures the D&D/d20 will change over time. As consumers, we are not garranteed the next upgrade as a freebie, no matter what he market.

 

[Geoffrey]

I must admit that I get a cheap laugh out of imagining how much errata is going to be needed for this 960-page behemoth.

 

[tbug]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Disgusted!

It would be one thing if there was a small, $10 booklet that would have just the changes in it. But there won't be.

If all of the changes are OGL then there's nothing stopping someone from printing up such a ten-dollar booklet, is there?

 

[jgbrowning]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Disgusted!

If all of the changes are OGL then there's nothing stopping someone from printing up such a ten-dollar booklet, is there?

are you saying that they wont be ogl because someone can simply make a cheap little 10 book out of the "revision" or are you saying they will be ogl so someone can go ahead and make the little book?


joe b.

 

[jgbrowning]

I must admit that I get a cheap laugh out of imagining how much errata is going to be needed for this 960-page behemoth.

yep.

joe b.

 

[The It's Man]

So, when will the Unoffical D&D Third-dot-one Edition News page be online?