Great art. No crunch whatsoever. I looked through it at the bookstore and left it there.
What I don't understand is why this entire book isn't free web material, and Dungeon and Dragon magazine are pdf's now.

This product really is a "special-features" behind-the-scenes look at the process of designing a new edition. If that interests you, this is well worth picking up. I know I intend to buy the next entry in the series.

The art is very strong. O'Connor seems to play a lead role, which I like as he was one of my 3E era favorites. A bit too much of the "Dungeon-punk" aesthetic endures, but that is more of an issue of art direction than it is of execution. There are several pieces that made me pause in admiration.

Complaints? The book is physically flimsy, being noticeably inferior to the paper/print quality of pathfinder. Also, the price is too high, given this book really does serve some marketing purposes. Given the print quality, I think $10 would have been a better idea, and probably moved the quantity demanded high enough to do a bigger run and spread the fixed cost over a larger # of copies.

Recommended for would-be designers or people interested in the design process; otherwise pass. (**---)

I sat down and read this at my local bookstore today, cover to cover. It is interesting, and worth a read, if you are interested in 4e, which I am. However, it is just a preview for Fourth Edition. Why people would pay for a $20 preview, I just can't understand.

Don't buy this. Flip through it at the bookstore, if you must, but don't spend money on this.

When i got my hands on this book, i fully expected to walk away with even bleaker expectations for the forth edition.

Surprisingly, i did not. While there are many questions left open, and i really would have appreciated a bit less shameless bragging and self-congratulation, the information is sound, and actually makes me believe some thought went into making the design choices they made.

All in all a worthwhile purchase for any would-be RPG designer out there, or any 4th edition enthusiast. Run-of-the-mill DMs or Players would probably consider it a waste of money, though.

(Without even looking at the product)

Clearly, Wizards has gone from promoting fanstasy roleplaying to living thier own little marketing fantasy. The idea of selling a preview of the real thing to come is preposterous! This new reign of marketing begs the question,"Does anyone in that deptartment even play roleplaying games?" The downfall of Wizards will surely come from the fact that they have forgotten that roleplayers are people who think for themselves. Wake up before it's too late.