|
5 months ago ::
Dec 20, 2012 - 1:51AM
#11
|
Date Joined:
Dec 19, 2012
|
Good idea. The monster vault is pretty much agreed upon to be the best monster book of the edition. The DM Kit is nice to have as well.
You may not want to get the essentials player options though. They have...balance issues.
i heard the essentials fixed the balancing but dumbed down the characters (from what ive heard on the internet)
what kind of balancing issues are we talkinh about?
|
|
|
|
5 months ago ::
Dec 20, 2012 - 1:55AM
#12
|
Date Joined:
Jun 19, 2004
|
They didn't. The essentials characters were just very streamlined classes added into the mix.
Most of the balancing issues in 4e are either non existant, not relevant, or handled by easy houserules (like imp defenses and expertise for free). The few that actually do need to have their wings clipped are errataed or very narrow (Revenants)
Currently working on making a Dex based defender. Check it out hereSpoiler:
Show
Need a few pre-generated characters for a one-shot you are running? Want to get a baseline for what an effective build for a class you aren't familiar with? Check out the Pregen thread here
If ever you are interested what it sounds like to be at my table check out my blog and podcast here
Also, I've recently done an episode on "Refluffing". You can check that out here
|
|
|
|
5 months ago ::
Dec 20, 2012 - 5:45AM
#13
|
|
|
Good idea. The monster vault is pretty much agreed upon to be the best monster book of the edition. The DM Kit is nice to have as well.
You may not want to get the essentials player options though. They have...balance issues.
i heard the essentials fixed the balancing but dumbed down the characters (from what ive heard on the internet)
what kind of balancing issues are we talkinh about?
There aren't any significant balancing issues. There are individual powers in all books that have had errata to tweak them. Some things were a little too good, at least in some combinations. There is a lot of errata for the PHBs that you can use, though it is certainly not necessary. The Rules Compendium has the most updated versions of the core rules compared to the PHB. You can also download updated versions of many of the PHB1 classes for free.
That is not dead which may eternal lie
|
|
|
|
5 months ago ::
Dec 20, 2012 - 6:36AM
#14
|
|
|
ive decided that will be going for the DM kit and monster Vault
in terms of player books (which i will get at some point, but not right now) you guys seem to be encouraging the original PHBs
while i also love the original phbs, i want you to be clear that you cannot easily convert your red box pcs to original phb characters. you will have to start new ones. thats the only reason i suggested essentials. do what you want, but dont be surprised when nothing in the phbs even remotely resembles your pcs
|
|
|
|
5 months ago ::
Dec 20, 2012 - 10:12AM
#15
|
Date Joined:
Jun 30, 2008
|
You can also find all the updated PHB1 classes in PDF form for free on WOTC's website with the class compendium articles. Here is the cleric for example. You will either need a copy of heroes of the fallen lands or PHB1 to get things like stats for equipment, races, feats, and epic destinies. Heroes of the forgotten kingdom has that too, but fallen lands is a better book. And essentials didn't fix the balance issues unfortunately. Most of the essentials classes and builds are roughly the same level of power as the PHB classes, but several of them are far behind the curve, especially once you hit higher levels.
my handbooks & builds
Show
|
|
|
|
5 months ago ::
Dec 20, 2012 - 10:34AM
#16
|
Date Joined:
Dec 19, 2012
|
while im still undecided on the player books (we might do both, some buy one book, and il get another)
but in terms of monsters and DM books, after i get the DM Kit and Monster Vault would i still need to buy the other books?
|
|
|
|
5 months ago ::
Dec 20, 2012 - 10:41AM
#17
|
Date Joined:
May 17, 2009
|
No. You might want to, some of them are great, but you don't actually need very many of the printed books to play.
Seriously, though, you should check out the PbP Haven. You might also like Real Adventures, IF you're cool. | Knights of W.T.F.- Silver Spur Winner | |
4enclave, a place where 4e fans can talk 4e in peace.
|
|
|
|
5 months ago ::
Dec 20, 2012 - 2:35PM
#18
|
Date Joined:
Jun 19, 2004
|
Personally I think MV1 and MV2 are the best buys for DMs. The sheer number of tokens you get to represent your monsters is mind-boggling.
Currently working on making a Dex based defender. Check it out hereSpoiler:
Show
Need a few pre-generated characters for a one-shot you are running? Want to get a baseline for what an effective build for a class you aren't familiar with? Check out the Pregen thread here
If ever you are interested what it sounds like to be at my table check out my blog and podcast here
Also, I've recently done an episode on "Refluffing". You can check that out here
|
|
|
|
5 months ago ::
Dec 20, 2012 - 6:33PM
#19
|
|
|
Dumbed Down or Streamlined character development? You decide.
Essentials: you get _____ to start and _____ when you level up.
PHB: Choose 1 of these 2 builds (other options in other books). choose 2 of these 4 at-wills (2 work better for each build, and more choices in further books). Choose 1 of these 3-5 encounter powers (2 work better for each build, and yes, more choices in further books). Choose 1 of these 4 daily powers (same note). that's first level. Which each level up, you have your choice of one of at least 4 options.
If making decisions is too hard, or you don't have time to look at them all and compare, play Essentials.
Sorry if that seems patronizing, insulting, or over-simplified, but believe it or not, I am trying to achieve clarity without (yet again) kickstarting the argument.
Colors
Show
Bow down, my subjects, for I am your master! Yesss.....
Show
For some reason, none of my friends were surprised by this...
|
|
|
|
5 months ago ::
Dec 21, 2012 - 3:30AM
#20
|
Date Joined:
Dec 19, 2012
|
while obviously i would prefer no argument, i really dont minds having the differences spelled out for me, heck that was the first post which actually explained how they were different and i thank you for it
still undecided what i will get but im telling the players to buy those books, im not going to buy everything for them
|
|
|
