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Post by rickno7 on May 19, 2014 8:36:06 GMT -8
Official Wizards PageHere is the official page that is outlining everything to come. It looks like they are staggering the release like they did with 3rd instead of releasing them all at once. My 3rd books for example have extra pages at the backs of the books that give you information to allow you to play the game without the books that haven't been released yet. Cover is what I expect for this day and age, but I can't help but want the "old tome" look to come back. Escapist Article summing things upThat is probably the article to read if you just want some information about everything revealed this week. It looks like WOTC has passed on the module writing to Kobold Press instead of hiring their own internal group to produce modules. WOTC has been trying to push the idea of modules being more important, as Pathfinder has somehow made them liked again, and even be popular. It was not long ago that people like Mearles was downplaying modules and showing them very little respect, and I see the "success" of WOTC's modules in the past as being a trickle down effect. If the head of the dev just doesn't give 2 shits about modules, then its going to filter itself down to the bottom and you end up with "whatever I don't care, just get it done quick and cheap" modules. I think if they want to fight Pathfinder, this needs to change. I wonder how much change farming it out to someone else is going to bring. I want to know what is inside the Player's Handbook the most. I want to know if they are leaving out any classes for future books like the bullshit they pulled with 4th. I would also like to see what the "modular" rules in the Game-master book are like, and if they are really just a tacked on gimmick. Lots of questions without as many answers, but at least we know how long we gotta wait now.
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Post by HourEleven on May 19, 2014 12:38:13 GMT -8
Four months without the DM corebook is the biggest turn off I can imagine as a GM. I'm not buying any other books until I've given it a solid walk around and peer under the hood - and I can't do that until I have more than the basic rules.
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Post by greatwyrm on May 19, 2014 16:19:48 GMT -8
As much as I like D&D and want to see it succeed, this time may just not be for me. I'm just at the point where if I'm gonna spend $150 on game stuff, I'd rather try 10 Kickstarter or indie games and find two or three gems. I've got three fairly comprehensive versions of D&D already and there's just not really anything new to see here.
And there may be a good reason for spreading the core books across three or four months. I find it hard to believe, but there may be one.
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argoyle
Apprentice Douchebag
Posts: 53
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Post by argoyle on May 19, 2014 16:49:55 GMT -8
Preordered the Players handbook this afternoon. Quite excited to see the final product.
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Post by The Northman on May 19, 2014 17:31:01 GMT -8
I'm 100% in the 'I'll buy it when I can buy it all," camp. So dumb.
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argoyle
Apprentice Douchebag
Posts: 53
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Post by argoyle on May 19, 2014 18:22:54 GMT -8
Mearls has confirmed that the DM's Guide isn't necessary to run the game. All the relevant rules will be in the Players Handbook.
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Post by HourEleven on May 19, 2014 18:43:48 GMT -8
Mearls has confirmed that the DM's Guide isn't necessary to run the game. All the relevant rules will be in the Players Handbook. I'm curious the distinction between relevant rules and not relevant rules. Gurps lite is a playable game, but it's pretty far from the experience as intended. It's possible the DMs guide is just basic "here's how to write an adventure" or "here's handy DM tips." And if so, awesome, I won't be buying it. But if it has the details for encounter planning (whatever they will call CR, etc.) or expanded wilderness rules, or class options like 3.5 archetypes, or the like... Then it's missing some pretty important parts. I will definitely want to thumb through some things pretty hard before I'm ponying up that level of cash. 150 is much too steep for my blood. As somebody on the rpg subreddit said: "for 150 bucks I'd rather buy a copy of savage worlds for every player in my group and then donate the other 8 copies to curious gamers at my local game store."
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pjs37
Supporter
Posts: 43
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Post by pjs37 on May 19, 2014 19:56:58 GMT -8
In this day and age of alternative systems that cost far less then $20 to try out I see little reason to jump. I feel like this is more because they are basically at this point trying to mirror Pathfinder more then anything.
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Post by Kainguru on May 19, 2014 23:09:56 GMT -8
Preordered the Players handbook this afternoon. Quite excited to see the final product. Where? I tried The Amazons (UK and US) last night and no listings? Aaron
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argoyle
Apprentice Douchebag
Posts: 53
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Post by argoyle on May 20, 2014 5:49:42 GMT -8
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Post by squeatus on May 20, 2014 7:01:39 GMT -8
4E Rollout was a disaster and I expect nothing less from the 5E rollout.
Actually, I do.
I think Hasbro had a vague understanding that 4E was an iteration of a game they published. Mostly, though, it was about finding a way to turn D&D into a monthly consumable while ostensibly bringing the live-action excitement of modern MMO's and video games to...pen and paper?
5E seems to be about being Paizo.
I think the release schedule is just designed to cover a few months of sales figures so they can point to a half a year section and go "See? We're #1!" for a while. I guess they're probably hoping nobody asks the question "How the fuck do you own Dungeons and Dragons and have to fight to be the top brand in a market some people actually CALL D&D?"
It doesn't matter how cool the game winds up being. Hasbro will find a way to ruin it, much to the frustration of their customers, their business partners, and their employees.
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D.T. Pints
Instigator
JACKERCON 2018: WITH GREAT POWER COMES GREAT RESPONSIBILITY June 22-July 1st
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Currently Playing: D&D 5e, Pathfinder, DUNGEONWORLD, Star Wars Edge of the Empire
Currently Running: DUNGEONWORLD, PATHFINDER
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Post by D.T. Pints on May 20, 2014 7:35:36 GMT -8
According to that escapist article.
Seems a bit bizarre to go four months without a comprehensive loot list for D&D. But I do like Kobold Press, they put out some interesting stuff. Having a nice epic campaign focusing on an iconic figure seems a nice go to idea. Like 4E Orcus stuff.
I don't think we ever actually got to fight Tiamat in old 1e, our GM was too much of a stingy douche to ever let us get much beyond 5 or 6th level and die a horrible death crawling out of the Temple of Elemental Evil.
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Post by ayslyn on May 20, 2014 10:53:44 GMT -8
Let me be the one to point out that this is not the first time D&D has had a staggered release. Second and Third edition both rolled out this way.
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Post by HourEleven on May 20, 2014 11:36:41 GMT -8
It's true, they were staggered - and if you adjust for inflation (someone did all the math over on enworld) the release price is the same as 1st ed all the way up.
But, I contend, this is a very unique time in RPGs. The self published, indie published, small company published - selections have never been so solid in quality. The prices have never been so low. In the 90s I would have been shocked to pick up a source book for less than 19.99. These days, I think hard about PDFs that cost more than 12 bucks.
As long as the quality merits the price tag, I'm ok with it. I just worry that the price for casual entry is too high. Whether we like it or not, DND has a responsibility. They are (pretty much) the only gaming company with a legit marketing budget, and definitely the only one with a marketing budget that isn't completely focused on converting current gamers.
They are our most important ambassador to people outside the community and I will always scrutinize them with that lens. That's why I did (and still do) judge 4e harsher than any other game at the time - because I don't think it did a good enough job bringing in new gamers and teaching them how to game (however; at least in my community, it produced dozens of new war gamers). In my opinion, It's priorities were wrong.
As long as DND is our ambassador to the young teen walking through Barnes and Nobles, or the curious kid who like the Neverwinter MMO and wonders about the other game, they have big responsibilities. Whether they like it or not, they are gamer primary school, and teaching "character last" gaming and designing a game around stealing their lunch money is not good pedagogy.
That's what I will be look for while reading the players guide: as the potential first step for the next generation of our hobby.
Just my two or three cents (I'm a teacher, and I see the world that way).
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argoyle
Apprentice Douchebag
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Post by argoyle on May 20, 2014 14:44:32 GMT -8
@mikemearls To clear up the Starter Set - it's aimed at DMs, so no PC creation in the box. But players will be able to make characters without it. Sorry, we're still finalizing things, but I think we have a pretty nifty plan. Sounds like DDI for whatever the 5e version will be up in July. edit: from enworld.org front page Why the staggered release? Mike Mearls says "PH/MM/DMG releases were split because stacking them causes big quality issues, a la the 4e errata. Too much work at once." Liz Schuh (head of publishing/licensing) told ICv2 it was because "This will give retailers something new each month and allows players time to enjoy each release separately. Retailers will likely remember the staggered release of third edition and the traffic that kept coming into stores, month after month." Mike Mearls also adds "You will not need the MM or DMG to run a campaign. Or the PH or Starter Set to make a character" and "You will be able to run a complete campaign starting in August, with the release of the PH." He also adds "To clear up the Starter Set - it's aimed at DMs, so no PC creation in the box. But players will be able to make characters without it. For a DM running the starter set, there will be pregens to hand out. Players who want to make characters will be able to do so." My complete wild guess? "You will not need PH or Starter Set to make a character" means simply that there will be an online character builder from launch. That's only a guess, though. On digital stuff in general (including PDFs), Mike said "Sorry, can't talk about that yet - still some issues to iron out on the digital front." Very secretive, but it sounds hopeful. Read more: www.enworld.org/#ixzz32IzAnZWF
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