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Ayrik
Great Reader
Canada
7989 Posts |
 Posted - 28 Dec 2010 : 07:40:05
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Thus far I only have the core 4E books DMG1/2/3, PHB1/2/3, MM1/2/3; plus Manual of the Planes, Forgotten Realms Campaign Guide, and Forgotten Realms Player's Guide. I plan to purchase the two Wizards Presents books shortly.
I'm not particularly interested in any 4E Essentials stuff since it doesn't seem to add much the other 4E books don't already cover well enough. I'm also entirely disinterested in DDI, it's all about physical books for me (even though I realize that I'm probably missing out on tons of stuff).
I already have all (or almost all) of the official 1E and 2E publications, plus a small mountain of 3E and 3.5E stuff. I'm not starting this scroll to argue about the merits of (unpopular) 4E vs other editions, but only to get some basic info on how to best proceed from here.
I know this is a broad question and the answer depends a lot on the specifics of my D&D gaming - but which books should I add next to my 4E collection? Which 4E books do people consider vital, and which are better avoided?
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[/Ayrik] |
Edited by - Ayrik on 28 Dec 2010 09:50:18
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Matt James
Forgotten Realms Game Designer
USA
918 Posts |
Posted - 28 Dec 2010 : 07:47:24
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Dude, you need to pick up Open Grave. That is an amazing 4e sourcebook that goes into amazing depth in regards to undead, their culture (if you can call it that), and the intricacies of how they are created.
Oh, and Brian R. James is one of the designers ;) |
Edited by - Matt James on 28 Dec 2010 07:47:56 |
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Ayrik
Great Reader
Canada
7989 Posts |
Posted - 28 Dec 2010 : 08:00:10
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Thanx Matt - my initial focus was on the core and setting 4E stuff, and my Van Richten's Guides have served me well for many years, but I was already kind of thinking about Open Grave because, well, I'm a bastard who likes tormenting players with undead. 
My Dungeon and Dragon magazines stopped entirely with the last physical prints (although a couple of my players do the DDI thing, so I still have some access to new/cool stuff). Are those Best Of ... Annuals (or any other releases of these mags) available in print? Are there any other mags which concentrate on 4E? |
[/Ayrik] |
Edited by - Ayrik on 28 Dec 2010 08:01:26 |
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Arioch
Learned Scribe
Italy
222 Posts |
Posted - 28 Dec 2010 : 10:14:23
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Even if from another setting, you should buy the Dark Sun Campaign Setting!
There are some option (strongly related to the setting) for adding a little more deep background to the PCs, not like those ridiculous FR4ed regional bonuses! (The lack of real PC definition and characterization is one of the things I really dislike about 4ed)
Edit: correcting typos |
Edited by - Arioch on 28 Dec 2010 10:14:55 |
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Matt James
Forgotten Realms Game Designer
USA
918 Posts |
Posted - 28 Dec 2010 : 15:00:27
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| Yeah, the DSCS is a great book too. Arioch is right. |
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Brimstone
Great Reader
USA
3290 Posts |
Posted - 28 Dec 2010 : 20:35:53
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| I found the Manual of the Planes (all of them) to be really good... |
"These things also I have observed: that knowledge of our world is
to be nurtured like a precious flower, for it is the most precious
thing we have. Wherefore guard the word written and heed
words unwritten and set them down ere they fade . . . Learn
then, well, the arts of reading, writing, and listening true, and they
will lead you to the greatest art of all: understanding."
Alaundo of Candlekeep |
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Diffan
Great Reader
USA
4469 Posts |
Posted - 28 Dec 2010 : 22:41:16
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quote:
Originally posted by Arik
Thanx Matt - my initial focus was on the core and setting 4E stuff, and my Van Richten's Guides have served me well for many years, but I was already kind of thinking about Open Grave because, well, I'm a bastard who likes tormenting players with undead.
My Dungeon and Dragon magazines stopped entirely with the last physical prints (although a couple of my players do the DDI thing, so I still have some access to new/cool stuff). Are those Best Of ... Annuals (or any other releases of these mags) available in print? Are there any other mags which concentrate on 4E?
Well the Dragon Annuals are in Print, so you can pick those up. As for Essentials producets, I'd still highly recommend Monster Vault, if anything for great monster tokens they come with (and the mini adventure looks interesting too). I'd say the Heroes of the Fallen Lands and Heroes of the Forgotten Kingdoms are only useful if you want additional class content in your games. Really nothing significant there rule-wise that isn't covered in the Rules Compendium (something I haven't seen, but I think DMs should get).
As for other supplements, I heard Underdark was pretty well done, much like the Drow of the Underdark sourcebook for v3.5 though it lists all sorts of Underdark things, not just exclusively Drow.
I've also come to like the Eberron Player's Guide. The Artificer class is pretty interesting and easily adapted to the Forgotten Realms as are Warforged. In addition, there's some good content for Shifters and Changelings that also apply to the Realms as well.
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Diffan's NPG Generator: FR NPC Generator |
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Marc
Senior Scribe
662 Posts |
Posted - 29 Dec 2010 : 13:07:58
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I had a lot of 4e books, but eventually sold most of them, the ones that are worth keeping IMHO are
Wizards Presents books, they have ideas easily adaptable to the 2nd edition or third, was disappointing that Wizards didn't implement them in the 4th. The Eberron Campaign Guide is much more interesting than the Dark Sun which I returned. And recently the Demonomicon is great read, and I'm looking forward to the Shadowfell book. My friend has the Manual of the Planes, from where only the Gloomwrought part worth your while. |
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Ayrik
Great Reader
Canada
7989 Posts |
Posted - 29 Dec 2010 : 19:55:28
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Thanx for your input everybody. 
Open Grave, Dark Sun Campaign Setting (4E), Demonomicon, and the Dragon Annuals all look good. I'll probably avoid 4E Eberron since I never used any of that stuff (in older editions) anyways. The Adventurer's Vault books received a lot of positive reviews online, the Arcane/Divine/Martial/Primal Power books not so much, the Draconomicons have been criticized a lot (at the sites I've found, anyways).
Is the Rules Compendium only available in DDI format? |
[/Ayrik] |
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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31799 Posts |
Posted - 30 Dec 2010 : 00:26:16
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quote:
Originally posted by Matt James
Yeah, the DSCS is a great book too. Arioch is right.
I'll third this. The companion Creature Catalog is useful, too.
quote:
Originally posted by Brimstone
I found the Manual of the Planes (all of them) to be really good...
Heh. I've long considered each and every edition of the Manual of the Planes to be the unofficial "fourth" core rulebook. It truly is an indispensable resource -- and the 4e version is the best yet. |
Candlekeep Forums Moderator
Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
http://www.candlekeep.com -- Candlekeep Forum Code of Conduct
Scribe for the Candlekeep Compendium -- Volume IX now available (Oct 2007)
"So Saith Ed" -- the collected Candlekeep replies of Ed Greenwood
Zhoth'ilam Folio -- The Electronic Misadventures of a Rambling Sage |
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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31799 Posts |
Posted - 30 Dec 2010 : 00:31:15
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I'll also doubly recommend the Demonomicon as well. Since you're also a fan of all-things-planar Arik, I've a feeling you'll really like this book too.
quote:
Originally posted by Arik
I'll probably avoid 4E Eberron since I never used any of that stuff (in older editions) anyways.
I wouldn't totally dismiss the 4e EBERRON books. Though they're setting-specific, like the 4e DSCS, they still present options that can be easily incorporated into any setting through the simple effort of a little creative DMing. |
Candlekeep Forums Moderator
Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
http://www.candlekeep.com -- Candlekeep Forum Code of Conduct
Scribe for the Candlekeep Compendium -- Volume IX now available (Oct 2007)
"So Saith Ed" -- the collected Candlekeep replies of Ed Greenwood
Zhoth'ilam Folio -- The Electronic Misadventures of a Rambling Sage |
Edited by - The Sage on 30 Dec 2010 00:31:55 |
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Ayrik
Great Reader
Canada
7989 Posts |
Posted - 30 Dec 2010 : 03:17:02
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| Well ... it might be more accurate to say that I don't disregard Eberron entirely. It's just really, really low on my list of D&D priorities - 0) Core and expansion rulebooks, 1) Realms (and Zakhara/Kara-Tur/Maztica/etc), 2) Spelljammer/planes/cosmos, 3) Krynn/Oerth/etc, 4) Athas, 5) Mystara/Eberron, 6) whatever's left. |
[/Ayrik] |
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Diffan
Great Reader
USA
4469 Posts |
Posted - 30 Dec 2010 : 04:18:54
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As far as the Power books go:
- Arcane Power Not a bad purchase of there are a lot of arcane characters. Gives the Sorcerer some good benefits and brings in Familiars. Also, Illusionist and Conjurer wizard's are pretty amazing. The Bard, Swordsage, and Warlock...meh I don't think anything in this book really brings power to these classes IMO.
- Divine Power is a really, really good idea if you have Strength-based Paladins in your group. I pretty much bought the book for the additional Paladin content and the feats there-in are amazing for many other Divine classes. Espically the Epic Destinies like the Saint and Chosen (yea, lets not go into the Chosen thing here plz).
- Psionic Power nothing to see here, though I haven't looked in it at all. I don't play Psionic classes and neither does anyone in my group. Maybe we'll see a Monk every once in a while. Better pass.
- Primal Power has some good stuff for Druids and a new Barbarian feature that allows two-weapon fighting. I'm a semi-fan of this book.
- Martial Power 1 & 2 are a must, MUST for Martial classes. The fighter benefits alone allow all sorts of interesting play styles from Two-Weapon fighters, Brawlers, and Battle-ragers. Some great content for the Rogue and Warlord as well. The Ranger needs little, If any, help out of Core. They're still rated top DPR-King on most Optimization Forums.
I think that covers the Power books, just a rough estimation on what I found useful from these supplements.
I know you said you don't want anything really to do with DDi, but a simple 1-month subscription would give you ALL the Eye on the Realms articles from Ed plus additional content you can easily download. And then let your subscription expire!! You'll even get the new and exciting Assassin class and it's Essential's counterpart, the Executioner. |
Diffan's NPG Generator: FR NPC Generator |
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Silverblade The Enchanter
Seeker
United Kingdom
61 Posts |
Posted - 22 Jan 2011 : 02:43:51
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Since they brought out Dark Sun again, and did a very good job of it...I keep hoping they'll do Spelljammer!!
though mentioned in Manual of the Planes as uber high level item, just would love to Spelljammer done well as 4th ed rules vast;y improve ship board combat
ie ships AND crew in unsion as "creatures"
minions for combat squads etc |
www.silverblades-suitcase.com
Spelljammer & Dark Sun art, and much more! |
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4E recommendations?
