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1 year ago ::
Jan 12, 2012 - 10:59PM
#1
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Date Joined:
Jan 13, 2012
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What I would want to see is an even more modular structure. Take the PHB and break it down to: (a) core rules booklet (movement, combat, etc..) (b) booklet per race (c) booklet per class (d) .. Each booklet should be in smaller format (A5?), hard cover. This way if I want to play my human wizard I should buy 3-4 booklets instead of the entire PHB. Pricing should be refactored naturally. I can then bundle these smaller (both in size and thickness) booklets to my game. I'm thinking on a nice looking special edition leather binder/bag  I've been playing D&D for 25 years, WoTC: make my dream core true 
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1 year ago ::
Jan 12, 2012 - 11:54PM
#2
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Date Joined:
Sep 26, 2001
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Modular is one thing, but you're going to have to have /something/ in the core book. If you break out races, you'll at least have to have humans. If you break out classes...?
Love 4e? Concerned about its future? Join the Old Guard of 4e"You want The Tooth? You can't handle The Tooth!" - Dahlver-Nar. "If magic is unrestrained in the campaign, D&D quickly degenerates into a weird wizard show where players get bored quickly" - E. Gary Gygax
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1 year ago ::
Jan 13, 2012 - 1:05AM
#3
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Date Joined:
Jan 13, 2012
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Not necessarily. The core booklet will be just the framework. If you choose to play a human, buy the core booklet and the human booklet. If you choose to play a human wizard, add the wizard booklet and you'll end-up with three booklets that together form your own custom rule-set. Well.. that's my vision, for what its worth
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1 year ago ::
Jan 13, 2012 - 1:39AM
#4
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Why not have the core races in one booklet, and add more as are necessary? After all, the PHBs didn't have more than a page or two on each race, and a page on each paragon path.
I can see each class having it's own booklet, what with spells and stances and all, but there should also be a core rulebook that has the centralized stuff (movement, actions, feats, skills, etc). Sure, the class booklets could have more feats in them that are class specific, but races would probably have to be grouped into a booklet of it's own, or as part of the core rulebook.
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1 year ago ::
Jan 13, 2012 - 3:13AM
#5
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- Senior Volunteer Community Lead
- Sesquipedalian
Date Joined:
May 20, 2001
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I had that same idea but... eh.. I'm a completionist. I'd want to own every combination.
What happens if I want to get the dwarf book, but it's so popular, it's always sold out? And the shelf at the store is filled with hundreds of elf books?
I have here the Players Handbook Races: Dragonborn. It's 32 pages. Should all books be that big? 8 races would give you 256 pages, and the PHB with ALL the character info is about 320 pages.
Now consider the cost. That 32 pages is $9.99. To get 8 races, you're looking at $79.92! That's without class info! Or rules!
The other issue is wait time for everything to come out. They all can't come out on day one.
Spoiler:
Show
Of the two approaches to hobby games today, one is best defined as the realism-simulation school and the other as the game school. AD&D is assuredly an adherent of the latter school. It does not stress any realism (in the author's opinon an absurd effort at best considering the topic!).
It does little to attempt to simulate anything either. (AD&D) is first and foremost a game for the fun and enjoyment of those who seek the use of imagination and creativity....
In all cases, however, the reader should understand that AD&D is designed to be an amusing and diverting pastime, something which an fill a few hours or consume endless days, as the participants desire, but in no case something to be taken too seriously.
For fun, excitement and captivating fantasy, AD&D is unsurpassed.As a realistic simulation of things from the realm of make-believe or even as a reflection of midieval or ancient warfare or culture or society, it can be deemed only a dismal failure. Readers who seek the later must search elsewhere. - Gary Gygax. 1e DMG.
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1 year ago ::
Jan 13, 2012 - 3:35AM
#6
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Date Joined:
Mar 26, 2007
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the class booklets could have more feats in them that are class specific.
If there will even be Feats, they still haven't nailed that puppy down.
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1 year ago ::
Jan 13, 2012 - 3:53AM
#7
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I think this idea spilts the hairs too finely.
Firstly, I don't want a booklet to tell me how to play a human, unless its going to have some insights on how to improve my real life. I've been playing human for near 40 years and doing an okay job.
The core book should be just that, the core. I've always liked the idea that all you need for DnD is the core three. So for the phb I would put your core elf, dwarf, etc etc. Then the elf book should include the other flavors of elf, plus elf centric weapons, elfland centric monsters, maybe an elf centric class or build. Similar to something we saw in 2nd. (if going this route)
But you do not want to essentially hold a few starting classes and races hostage either by requiring extra cash or even waiting for their turn in the printing schedule.
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1 year ago ::
Jan 13, 2012 - 5:53AM
#8
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Date Joined:
Jun 17, 2005
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How about this:
Men & Magic (Vol. 1) details what characters can be played, potentials, limitations, and various magical spells.
Monsters & Treasure (Vol. II) describes the beasts and creatures which will be encountered, as well as the kind and amount of treasure they are likely to guard, including magical items.
Finally, The Underworld & Wilderness Adventures (Vol. Ill) tells how to set up and actually play the campaign. It is presented last in order to allow the reader to gain the perspective necessary — the understanding of the two preceeding booklets. Read through the entire work in the order presented before you attempt to play.
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1 year ago ::
Jan 13, 2012 - 5:57AM
#9
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Date Joined:
Jan 13, 2012
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@Austinwulf, @iqwinn, @Webster - Makes sense, but I'm a minimalist so having a bunch of races and classes I don't relate to is just a waste of pages and flipping time.. the notion building my own custom phb is very appealing. Now I do agree that the release should be synchronized. Again, this is not saying we get that much more content. Just breaking it down to smaller booklets. Also, pricing should be well thought-of to allow good cost/value balance for the average player. Also, I would appreciate a smaller-form-factor. I always found the books a bit over-sized. I want something I can hold more comfortably and that spares some desk real-estate. @imperialus - What about the women? Nice concept though, but not modular enough for me..
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1 year ago ::
Jan 13, 2012 - 6:05AM
#10
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Date Joined:
Jun 17, 2005
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@imperialus - What about the women? Nice concept though, but not modular enough for me...
My post was a little tounge and cheek, that is actually a quote from the book Men and Magic from the 1974 edition of OD&D.
That said I do agree with your premice. the OD&D format wouldn't work in a 'modern' edition of D&D simply due to system bloat. I mean Monsters and Treasure is what became the Monsterous Manual but in OD&D it was right around 40 pages with between 4 and 7 monsters on a page. Their stat blocks fit on a single line.
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