That is not dead which can eternal lie, and with strange aeons bring us some web forums whereupon we can gather
http://garbi.online/forum/
I think someone from WotC put it on dropbox...that's how I got it...but of course I can't find the link nowZurai wrote:Screw that; they can't even bother to make their account creation page compatible with Chrome. I wasn't that interested anyway.
I agree. This was a great addition. The healing kits are a kindred idea, but I'm not pleased with the idea of a random roll determining how much you can get back.Turtle wrote:Strange, the whole healing surge thing was a very positive thing for D&D in my opinion. It reduced, although never replaced, the need for a dedicated healer in some groups, where the combination of surges and less healing could work, thus enabling more interesting party configurations.
New Character sheet:Several sessions into 4e, I came to a painful realization: if it took 10 encounters to gain a level for a PC, and if our combat encounters continued to span two to four hours of play time each, it would be a very long while before we reached level 10, where great boons were granted and characters truly evolved. To make matters worse, our play space had become a riot of status indicators, books, character sheets, and decks of custom-printed power cards that made setup and teardown a chore. Four years later, we still have yet to reach level 11.
Favorite part:The character sheet for my Halfling rogue, Larry, looked a lot like the one I cribbed form the back of my old Players Handbook when I was 12 years old. Character, class, race, and vital statistics sat at the top. Strength, dexterity, constitution, armor class (sorry, no THAC0)… check-check-check, and check. What were missing were 4e’s characteristic powers, and the seemingly endless modifications and exceptions they added to the rules.
Also missing was an endless list of minor skills I was not strong in, like dungeoneering and insight. The D&D Next sheet felt very streamlined, and on two short pages I was able to list not only these simple stats but the story of my character. Raised in a working family, a cook by trade and a tinkerer by necessity, my character was born into a hard-bitten world and had turned to pickpocketing and backstabbing to survive. I easily curled a contemptible sneer for the foppish PC, a nobleman’s son, seated to my left.
The most impressive part of WoTC’s presentation, to me, was the admission that they were somewhat behind the times in not offering digital copies of their properties, both past and present. They promised that, in the coming years, they would finally release searchable PDF copies of books from every system, all the way back to the original 1970s classic. Gamers will, as the keynote’s moderator Kevin Kulp politely put it politely, finally be able to play D&D from their tablets like they can with competing properties from Paizo and countless independent RPG makers.
Honestly, after my current 4E campaign finishes, a campaign that has lasted since 4E was first released and which just hit Paragon level, I'm going to be done with D&D for a while. I'll probably GM a little Warhammer Fantasy next, alongside my current Rogue Trader campaign.IceBear wrote:Well, I don't think the combat was as bad as they make it, but really D&D Next looks to be D&D Old with some tweaks (which I'm fine with though I am going to miss some of the stuff that made the DM's life easier...like not having to track conditions and time). Unfortunately, I suspect this is just going to fracture the D&D base even more as there are some people that don't want to move from 4E or Pathfinder
but still won't solve the issue with getting everyone together on a consistent basis The Starter Set, at $20, looks like a great intro product. You get the basic rules, some premade characters, an adventure, character creation rules up to 5th level, and even a set of dice. But the three core books are $50 each, making even one of those a serious stack of clams for a middle schooler who wants to play D&D (and pity the poor kid who wants to be the DM).
Maybe not 17, but you nailed the price point.hepcat on Mon Jan 16, 2012 wrote:Wouldn't it be great if they released the game as 17 books costing around 50 bucks each?
hentzau wrote:it is kind of surprising that they aren't releasing all three at the same time.
I still don't see how that is an issue as I wouldn't expect them to release the Players Handbook in August, realize there are issues for the upcoming November release of the DM guide and have them corrected. Maybe printing and shipping happens much faster than I realize but it seems to me that it's more of a "leave them wanting more" strategy.Head of D&D R&D Mike Mearls reported on Twitter that this is intended to maintain quality control. When they released everything at once with fourth edition, it was too much to handle, and a lot of errors crept in (resulting in post-facto erratta and a lot of derision).
Honestly don't know... I have lost interest in fantasy RPG (rarely get time to play table top anymore and when I do it is Shadowrun or Star Wars Edge of the Empire) . I think they want it to feel more like 2nd Edition so it might attract players that want an old school feel, but I don't think people that are enjoying Pathfinder are going to be attracted to it. Pathfinder pretty much is D&D they just don't have the rights to the name... If 3.x Edition was your perfect D&D then stick with Pathfinder. Hopefully soon they will get the rights to the name, but I doubt they would rebrand to D&D nosTurtle wrote:That's way better than power point art, however, you can tell they're deliberately going for a graphic design and art style closer to the very old D&D 2nd edition books.
Anyone know how the game is now? I have a feeling my group will want to try this, but to be frank, Pathfinder seems to fill a lot of what D&D used to do. How do they compare?
This is the price point for when the 3.5 books came out. They had a package of all three for around 100 bucks if I remember right, but they were like 50 bucks if bought separately.baelthazar wrote:Each core book will be $50!? Geez, for $50 you get all you need for Star Wars: Edge of the Empire. Since I don't roleplay much anymore, $50 is too high for my "just buy RPG rules to read the system but never play" obsession.
Basic D&D is a PDF that covers the core of the game. It’s the equivalent of the old D&D Rules Cyclopedia, though it doesn’t have quite the same scope (for example, it won’t go into detail on a setting). It runs from levels 1 to 20 and covers the cleric, fighter, rogue, and wizard, presenting what we view as the essential subclass for each. It also provides the dwarf, elf, halfling, and human as race options.
But the best part? Basic D&D is a free PDF. Anyone can download it from our website. We want to put D&D in as many hands as possible, and a free, digital file is the best way to do that.
If Basic D&D is the equivalent of the classic Rules Cyclopedia, then the three core rulebooks are analogous to Advanced Dungeons & Dragons. Want more character options? Pick up a Player’s Handbook. Looking for more critters for your campaign? The Monster Manual has you covered. Want to sculpt a unique campaign? Pick up the Dungeon Master’s Guide. Still, Basic D&D is the true heart of the game and could easily provide a lifetime of gaming.
At the launch of the D&D Starter Set, Basic D&D will include the material needed to create characters and advance to 20th level. In August, with the release of the Player’s Handbook, Basic D&D will expand to include the essential monsters, magic items, and DM rules needed to run the game, along with the rules for wilderness, dungeon, and urban adventuring. (The Starter Set already covers the aspects of these rules that you need to run the included campaign.)
As we introduce new storylines like Tyranny of Dragons, we’ll also make available free PDFs that provide all the rules and stats missing from Basic D&D needed to run the adventures tied into the story. The adventures released as part of Tyranny of Dragons are playable without requiring any of the core rulebooks or the Starter Set. With just the Basic Dungeons & Dragons rules, you can play D&D for years.
Basic D&D makes it easier than ever for new players and DMs to jump into tabletop RPG play. We’re involved in the greatest gaming hobby ever invented. It’s time to bring that hobby to everyone who wants to take part.
That's strange. From how they described the basic rules earlier, they were supposed to be like a D&D Cyclopedia thing with a bit of everything in it, including monsters and treasure. This PDF however, contains only stuff that would be considered part of a player's handbook. You can't use this to play the game, as you have no opposition and no rewards to provide.IceBear wrote:The free, basic rules are online here:
http://www.wizards.com/DnD/Article.aspx ... basicrules
Your kids are going to be disappointed. AFAIK, the Starter Set does not release until July 12.hentzau wrote:Going to go pick up the Starter Set from my FLGS after work. I promised my kids a 4th of July weekend filled with D&D.
This.IceBear wrote:Not exactly true. My FLGS had it today but they are one of those that are affiliated with WotC so they get it earlier. Not sure why I picked it up other than I have picked up every edition since the red box. Not really interested in it and my group is pretty much on hiatus for all pnp games just because we're having trouble getting together
Huh, so it pays to go to FLGS then!hentzau wrote:This.IceBear wrote:Not exactly true. My FLGS had it today but they are one of those that are affiliated with WotC so they get it earlier. Not sure why I picked it up other than I have picked up every edition since the red box. Not really interested in it and my group is pretty much on hiatus for all pnp games just because we're having trouble getting together
I opened up the box and took a quick peek at the contents an was kind of underwhelmed. Comparing the starter set to the Pathfinder beginner box and Pathfinder comes out head and shoulders above the D&D box. All you're getting are 5 pregen characters on plain paper, the beginners rule book, and an adventure. The adventure is about twice the size of the rule book. The art on the books is taken from the same art as the box. No maps, no counters. Oh, and a set of dice.
Once I get back from fireworks I'll give it a closer look, concentrating on the contents of the books.
