Quote from: WotC_TulachD&D Encounters: Keep on the Borderlands spotlights the new Essentials products. Going forward, we'd like to be able to tell folks that character creation will include Essentials+, meaning that D&D Encounters will allow use of the Essentials books, plus whatever else is current. For Keep on the Borderlands, we'll be showcasing Heroes of the Fallen Lands and (later) Heroes of the Forgotten Kingdoms, so those products (along with the new Starter Set) will constitute the character creation options for this season.
We will always have pregenerated characters available for those that can't or won't pick up one of the books.
We have programs that let folks drink from the fire hose when it comes to character creation - Living Forgotten Realms is one of them, and we'll be launching another, store-based one in 2011. D&D Encounters is being refined to make it both clear and easy for the players to jump in, and easy to DM, while still letting folks have the ownership of creating their own character.
It has little to do with "compatibility" and more to do with creating a clear on-ramp for playing and DMing in a store. We know what books are positioned as evergreen, and what's going to be new and shiny, and we want D&D Encounters to take advantage of those resources for character creation. Different programs are designed for different groups of players... Experienced players who like the breadth of the 4E rules options have other outlets.
From the horse's mouth, for reference.
Quote from: Benoist;401352From the horse's mouth, for reference.
"we'll be showcasing Heroes of the Fallen Lands and (later) Heroes of the Forgotten Kingdoms, so those products (along with the new Starter Set) will constitute the character creation options for
this season."
So..yes. For this season, they are saying "play an Essentials build". Which does not represent the entirelty of options available.
(By the way, is anyone still willing to take my bet?)
And last season was Dark Sun, because that was what had just come out.
And in the future, when they release new stuff? That will probably be featured.
...
So... they want to segregate players in hopes of more sales based on the player's level of interest/intent/ability to learn/play the game?
Its almost like they're trying to make D&D into two or three related but different games. Or am I just misreading it?
Can I have Misleading Thread Titles for $400, Alex?
Quote from: Werekoala;401354...
So... they want to segregate players in hopes of more sales based on the player's level of interest/intent/ability to learn/play the game?
Its almost like they're trying to make D&D into two or three related but different games. Or am I just misreading it?
Well, what you just said made no sense, and I understood the original post, so I assume you are misreading it.
All of this is D&D4e.
You understand house rules, right? Like in one campaign, they allow psionics, and in another campaign they say "only dwarves, elves, and humans and you can play a cleric, but only with one of the gods of the flaeness.." or something.
D&D Encounters is an-store marketing program. It is a program where you get to play in short term demos in a shop. You can't play it at home. It's real aim is to get D&D players (new, old, etc) to meet each other in a social setting and form real groups and sell lots of whatever D&D is out right then. It's a "try it out and meet people" kind of program.
Other Organized Play programs are similar, but LFR for example, is really focused on conventions and campaign groups. There's other programs too. For example, Worldwide D&D Gameday adventures, the D&D Championship, The Delve, the Dark Sun Arena.
All of these have house rules.
The house rules for the next season of D&D Encounters is "Essentials characters only"
So if I didn't buy any of the Essentials Heroes of..., I can't play Encounters unless I play a pregen?
Quote from: Abyssal Maw;401358...
The house rules for the next season of D&D Encounters is "Essentials characters only"
Ok, that makes sense. So THIS season, you made your own characters from the regular 4e rules, NEXT season it is Essentials only.
Quote from: Werekoala;401365Ok, that makes sense. So THIS season, you made your own characters from the regular 4e rules, NEXT season it is Essentials only.
This Season is Dark Sun only, actually.
Quote from: areola;401362So if I didn't buy any of the Essentials Heroes of..., I can't play Encounters unless I play a pregen?
The red box is allowed as well. But in general, yes.
You also can't play Eberron characters in the Realms, or Dark Sun characters in Eberron..
Quote from: Abyssal Maw;401353And in the future, when they release new stuff? That will probably be featured.
That's exactly what the guy says, btw.
Quote from: Fifth Element;401356Can I have Misleading Thread Titles for $400, Alex?
Followed by protestations of innocence. "No, I didn't mean to stir things up. I'm just reporting on the news. How am I supposed to know it's inaccurate..."
Seanchai
Come on guys. A thread titled "D&D Encounters this season Essentials only" would have died within hours for lack of clicks.
Who's taking on my bet? The stakes are: whoever loses is NOT to touch a chocolate Mars bar ever again in his life. Not even when given one freely, not on Sundays, and certainly not when there's nothing else left in your fridge and you've got 5 starving puppies in your closet.
Come on you SISSIES!
Quote from: areola;401362So if I didn't buy any of the Essentials Heroes of..., I can't play Encounters unless I play a pregen?
Maybe. Most of this season was pre-gens only...
Seanchai
Quote from: Windjammer;401372Come on guys. A thread titled "D&D Encounters this season Essentials only" would have died within hours for lack of clicks.
Who's taking on my bet? The stakes are: whoever loses is NOT to touch a chocolate Mars bar ever again in his life. Not even when given one freely, not on Sundays, and certainly not when there's nothing else left in your fridge and you've got 5 starving puppies in your closet.
Come on you SISSIES!
You can't give chocolate to puppies. Plus I have a lot of respect for sissies.
Quote from: Abyssal Maw;401376Plus I have a lot of respect for sissies.
We knew that already, "Nixie Queen"-man. ;) :D
Quote from: Benoist;401369That's exactly what the guy says, btw.
well, it's going to be a long time before we hear of next season. This season is 20 encounters long- that's 20 weeks.
Er.. almost 5 months. So I guess wait and see.
Quote from: Benoist;401377We knew that already, "Nixie Queen"-man. ;) :D
Here's my Nixie Queen character
(http://27.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_l75widRk221qzdd9fo1_500.png)
Tiefling swordmage who uses shurikens. His shurikens all happen to be shaped like playing cards. Currently level 2.
And here's his "IC" love interest (played by RL love interest): Korrel, waterborn genasi sorceress. Yes, she's wearing an octopus.
(http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs297.snc3/28498_396150409411_593439411_4227365_6847723_n.jpg)
Cool. Is there something "Alice in Wonderland" going on here with the character's appearance?
Quote from: Abyssal Maw;401379Here's my Nixie Queen character
(http://27.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_l75widRk221qzdd9fo1_500.png)
D&D Gambit!
You can't get away from that blasted bet can you? ;) :rotfl:
Quote from: Benoist;401381Cool. Is there something "Alice in Wonderland" going on here with the character's appearance?
(Acknowledging off topicness, sorry)
The original plan was a "wild west" aesthetic- the entire campaign centers around a revolving cast of characters that travels as passengers or crew on a gigantic paddlewheel riverboat that happens to be a partially damaged spelljammer. So the Nixie Queen itself has an onboard Dance-hall, brothel, and casino. Some of the PCs are passengers, one girl is playing the ships mechanic, one character is the bouncer at the casino, another PC is the "Miss Kitty" of the brothel... early plans centered on getting people to translate wild west character types into fantasy. Gambler here is a gambler. Korrel the sorceress is a southern belle type. Although she has an extremely complex back story involving being raised by a river dragon. Her player will tell you all about it if you ever ask.
It's a bit like the Love Boat (remember that show) in that both the crew and the passengers feature in the adventures.
Nixies, Love Boat, ... sissies, see? It all makes sense, now. :D j/k
Quote from: One Horse Town;401383D&D Gambit!
You can't get away from that blasted bet can you? ;) :rotfl:
Well, that's my sense of humor for you...
I have a goofy backstory for Gambler too- I have never written it down, but in my mind, he's a bad guy who is suffering from a karma curse that causes him to have only bad luck when he does bad deeds,... so he does good deeds, which are a new experience to him.
Stole it from "My Name is Earl"
Quote from: Abyssal Maw;401379And here's his "IC" love interest (played by RL love interest): Korrel, waterborn genasi sorceress. Yes, she's wearing an octopus.
(http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs297.snc3/28498_396150409411_593439411_4227365_6847723_n.jpg)
Zak Smith of all people did it first: linky (http://www.fredericksfreisergallery.com/zaxart/octopus_girls/index.html). :D