Wotc takes on ... Optimization?!?

[ggroy]

Yeah, but this is book is triple the cost, triple the page count and was which was given a green light during an economic slump when the entire print gaming industry is suffering. At time point in history, I don't think printing a throw away is not a best move (especially when you want maximum profits).

They'll find out very quickly whether it is a stinker.

 

[Thanlis]

I imagine it's not aimed at either CharOp or those of us who understand CharOp but don't choose to use it. Play some LFR; you'll soon discover that plenty of people blithely start with a 16 or less in their primary stat, for example. (More power to them; they are no less fun to play with!)

And the CharOp boards don't spend a lot of time thinking about tactics, for that matter. If I'm playing in a party with a cleric with Astral Seal, I know when to delay for best effect -- whether it's to ensure I get the heal or to ensure that someone else gets it. This is not at all obvious to the novice.

I'm a little leery of the "wow people at the gaming table" bit, but with any luck there'll be good advice on how to be impressive without overshadowing others.

In any case, I'm not the target market. I'm also not the only reasonable target market in the wide world of D&D.

 

[cignus_pfaccari]

I have never heard of the hero builder's guidebook before. What it any good?

It was okay. It'd be very good for someone new to gaming, and had some interesting ideas on characterization, but for someone who's been around the block a bit, it doesn't offer much.

Brad

 

[Dross]

I have never heard of the hero builder's guidebook before. What it any good?

It was a 3.0 book, released shortly after the new edition came out.

it was, IMHO, okay. Had a few decent ideas that I hadn't seen before. I've looked/skimmed at it a couple of times after the initial read, but it is currently hiding in some out of the way corner unused.

I think it was aimed more at the newbies that at experienced gamers.

 

[ggroy]

Probably old news to you vets here, but just saw this a while ago.

Dungeons & Dragons Roleplaying Game Official Home Page - Product (D&D Player's Strategy Guide)

The excerpt suggests that this is an optimization guide of sorts.

Seriously? Wotc trying to tell us how to build better characters? Their track record hasn't been quite stellar, IIRC.

This book probably would have been better if it was released shortly after 4E was first released (ie. during the summer of 2008), or shortly after the 4E PHB2 was released.

Not entirely sure who the audience would be for this title, released almost two years after the original release of the 4E D&D core books.

 

[Wormwood]

Too bad it wont be out by Festivus, but I'll be buying three copies for my group nonetheless.

Thanks!

 

[Kurtomatic]

Is the Penny Arcade artwork the actual cover?

It appears so:

Penny Arcade - Intro To Subterfuge

I was really surprised that they asked me to do this. All the D&D book covers have such a strong and classic aesthetic. I was nervous about doing the cover because my style doesn't really match up with the rest of the books, but they assured me they wanted this particular book to have a different/distinctive look.

Which seems like a good idea to me; I would personally like to see more variation in the art style for D&D.

 

[ProfessorCirno]

I think the optimization views of WOTC and the CO board has always been different, but this book makes me wonder.

The best side of the CO board is a mental expercise, with characters existing in a vaccum, or at best against equal level challenges. At wrst, (well saying that would get me banned)

WOTC has been more about party optimization, at least thus far.

Huh?

CO Board handbooks is the best side, and the optimization there is based on making your character a well churned machine to better benefit your group.

WotC optimization hasn't been about the party, it's been non-existent.

I think this really is intended to be a sort of throw away, "Let's see who bites" book.

 

[Destil]

Yeah, but this is book is triple the cost, triple the page count, and was given a green light during an economic slump when the entire print gaming industry is suffering. At time point in history, I don't think printing a throw away is not a best move (especially when you want maximum profits and your investors are skeptical).

So, at some point one of the WotC people posted something that pretty much addresses this. They were, when 3E came out, publishing books that looked and were priced like anyone else could have made them, softbound and black and white interior art (sword and fist and the other first round splatbooks). They felt this was a mistake and that they should instead be using their position as a market leader to make books, specifically supplements, that looked better than everyone else. Hardbound, full color. So these days that's just what WotC does, by my understanding.

The only issue I really have with this is WAR's black and white art in those early books is fantastic, easily his best stuff. His work seems to loose something with color, and that's a shame.

 

[Shemeska]

They felt this was a mistake and that they should instead be using their position as a market leader to make books, specifically supplements, that looked better than everyone else. Hardbound, full color. So these days that's just what WotC does, by my understanding.

A bit late though, because Paizo, White Wolf, and Catalyst are producing hardbound, full color books on par with or well above the production quality of WotCs offerings.