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Is Wizards of the Coast insane? Publishing a Compendium of its rules system less than a year before they implement an entirely new rules system.
It's bad enough that they had to publish non-sense complicating rules system in 3.5. Now they are admitting that they screwed up the works AND CHARGING YOU FOR IT.
Nimrods.
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Since I'm running Age of Worms, I expect to run a 3.5 game till late 2008. Having all the rules compiled into one book will be useful and hopefully less time will be wasted looking up obscure rules. For $25 US, this comes to about $0.40 per session. That's a better deal than most books. Looking forward to having this one.
I'm planning on continuing with 3,5 for many years to come. This book (and the Grand History of the Realms) will be in my next order.
In my situation I'm looking at running 3.5 well into 2009, and none of the players care which edition I use, so I'll be using it.
I have to agree. This is the right thing to do. I have no intention of following WOTC into future editions and this supplement seals the deal. I'll obtain a copy as well and it will probably be my last purchase from them.
Actually, after looking over the previews on the WotC site, I may have to break my self imposed "No New WotC Products" vow long enough to pick this up. One of the worst things for me is the pre-session packing of my bag, and the decision process involved in figuring out which books will be necessary for the session vs. the carrying capacity of my shoulder/back.
Seems like a good idea to me. They're finishing up with 3.5, so they'll release this compendium that gathers together what, after a lot of experience with the system and a lot of supplements, seems like the best information to put together for running the game. Kind of a going-away present, really.
I didn't see it as a "bilk people out of their money while we still can" thing, but rather a "here's what we've learned about running 3.5 with the benefit of hindsight" thing. I'm not planning on making the move to 4th Edition, so this may be my last Wizards purchase for a while, but the price is pretty good, and it seems a useful product.
Seems like a good idea to me. They're finishing up with 3.5, so they'll release this compendium that gathers together what, after a lot of experience with the system and a lot of supplements, seems like the best information to put together for running the game. Kind of a going-away present, really.
I agree. While it seems popular right now to direct a lot of hate to "evil management" at WOTC, the group handling the D&D brand is not large, they're all gamers, and for most of them 3e has been there life. I think the Rules Compendium is a nice gift for those customers they know they're going to lose. I'm gonna pick one up.
Do they give all the non-PHB races, classes, and gear? If they did I could definitely see buying it. If it's all just how much cover bonus for hiding behind a big rock on a foggy day than forget it.
If you want to compile all the 3.x stuff together in one place, then what I'd like to see is a humongoid anthology of all the spells, feats, classes, pres. classes, and most of all races that have been produced so far. Heck throw in the extra gods and domains too and they'd get a wet Grimcleavery kiss on the cheek.
On the other hand I have a sick feeling this book is just going to be how to use bluff in strange and obscure ways in combat. Yuck. If you're going to put together a book of clippings from books you've already written files, then darn you--give me the parts I want!
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Do they give all the non-PHB races, classes, and gear? If they did I could definitely see buying it. If it's all just how much cover bonus for hiding behind a big rock on a foggy day than forget it.
You can preview its contents on Wizard's site.
It has rules for grappling, cover, special handlings for invisibility, some special Skill discussion, etc. It doesn't have exotic races, prestige classes or feats, sadly.
There are already complaints that the grapple rules in the book are just a basic rehash of what is in the PHB and don't include special circumstances like what you can do while grappling with natural weapons, etc. As such, I'll give the book a serious thumbing through before deciding if I'll get it.
As such, I'll give the book a serious thumbing through before deciding if I'll get it.
I was thinking the same thing as I don't really need to keep piling on D&D rulebooks but I went ahead and pre-ordered it from Amazon anyway (for a mere $17.79) since I was already pre-ordering the Transformers DVD.
- Chris Shadowens
I would much rather prefer that it was a list of rules and rules clarification than rehashed feats and prestige classes. It doesn't help me as a DM that I have _one_ book with player choices, now does it?
As long as it doesn't rehash too much PHB-stuff, I'm cool. Heck, even re-hashed PHB-material put together in a fashion that makes it easy to find is a big plus for me.
Signs that you're rules system stinks or you've released too many extra books with crunch (stats/rules)... YOU RELEASE A BOOK TO EXPLAIN THE RULES!
I only own the three core books, plan on playing 3.5 until 1009, and will gladly drop the 25 for an extra reference around my table (I'm the only guy with books).
This was made for me.
All of the "game day" rules in one place. That's great!
I wasn't playing it at the time but isn't this book similar to what they put out in the D&D Rules Cyclopedia?
And no, I don't work for WOTC (Blast! How dare you even think it!)
Hmmm...bit defensive, are we? WotC propagandist! GET HIM!!! ;)
- Chris Shadowens
Is Wizards of the Coast insane? Publishing a Compendium of its rules system less than a year before they implement an entirely new rules system.
It's bad enough that they had to publish non-sense complicating rules system in 3.5. Now they are admitting that they screwed up the works AND CHARGING YOU FOR IT.
Oh stop being such a Troll.
As I see above, plenty of people are going to buy this book. Myself, I plan to buy it as well, as I will be playing 3.5 until at least two more years (my current campaign is just over half over, and it took just over two years to get there!)
Non-sense complicating rule system? Man, if you don't like rules, why do you play RPG games?
As for Nimrods, have you checked a mirror lately?
end-of-line.
As far as the whole rules system changing for the better - well as many of us have proven to ourselves with the change from 3 to 3.5 ( or even 2.5 to 3 to 3.5...sigh..) no one likes change- but how many of us are going to jump into 4.0 with only 3 core books? I know that their is enough 3.5 material to play for a long long long time...Having the Rules Compendium will only further games still running with the current rules..and everyone loves a faster-less time screaming about the rules- session...I know I do...
Already have my copy in hand and it's well worth it. Even if I do eventually move to 4th Edition, I still have one location to use for 3rd Edition rules for any remaining campaigns.
I too would like one book for all the rules. However, seeing as WOTC has other priorities right now (getting 4E out the door), I'm leery of the quality in regards to editing. How is the book stacking up, mispelling/error/errata-wise?
Owner - Johnny Scott Comics and Games
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This book is a godsend. I got it in the mail yesterday, and it's a great reference. It's arranged alphabetically by topic, and gives you a one stop reference for a lot of the hard to find/interpret material from the core rule books.
The Grapple section alone is worth the money, as it provides much more detail about what actions can be performed while grappled, while pinned, and while pinning someone.
The Concentration section also helps us out, as it clears up my game group's ongoing debate about whether a spell is actually lost or just doesn't go off if a concentration check is failed.
Then there are references that explain the difference between ability drains and ability damage, a complete section on spell casting, modifiers for underwater combat, and goodies like Etherealness and Incorporeality that I'm always digging for while DMing.
This book is going to save me a lot of time around the game table, and since we're probably not switching to 4e anytime soon, I think this book is well worth the money.
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Wayfinder, PaizoCon Founder
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This book is a godsend. I got it in the mail yesterday, and it's a great reference. It's arranged alphabetically by topic, and gives you a one stop reference for a lot of the hard to find/interpret material from the core rule books.
The Grapple section alone is worth the money, as it provides much more detail about what actions can be performed while grappled, while pinned, and while pinning someone.
The Concentration section also helps us out, as it clears up my game group's ongoing debate about whether a spell is actually lost or just doesn't go off if a concentration check is failed.
Then there are references that explain the difference between ability drains and ability damage, a complete section on spell casting, modifiers for underwater combat, and goodies like Etherealness and Incorporeality that I'm always digging for while DMing.
This book is going to save me a lot of time around the game table, and since we're probably not switching to 4e anytime soon, I think this book is well worth the money.
Thanks for the review, Larry. I was hoping it would be worth getting...sounds like it is.
Question for those that have the book: Does it include psionics?
Is Wizards of the Coast insane? Publishing a Compendium of its rules system less than a year before they implement an entirely new rules system.
It's bad enough that they had to publish non-sense complicating rules system in 3.5. Now they are admitting that they screwed up the works AND CHARGING YOU FOR IT.
Nimrods.
It makes perfect sense to me. Since they are not doing any more supplements for 3.5 (or almost none), the rules are now final - there will be no more additions. So this sums up the rules in their final incarnation. Nice.
I also fail to see how Wizards are admitting anything or how they "screwed" up things. You are seeing things through your own little warped spyglass there...
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Owner - Johnny Scott Comics and Games
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Question for those that have the book: Does it include psionics?
It does not have psionics in it. I think the logic was that since psionics isn't part of the core rules, it wasn't included in the Rules Compendium. Which is a shame, because I'd love to see a similar book with all the errata and updates for psionics in one place.
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RPG Superstar 2009 Top 32, 2010 Top 8
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Question for those that have the book: Does it include psionics?It does not have psionics in it. I think the logic was that since psionics isn't part of the core rules, it wasn't included in the Rules Compendium. Which is a shame, because I'd love to see a similar book with all the errata and updates for psionics in one place.
So say we all...
I'm frustrated that it wasn't included, simply for the fact that it is part of the SRD. If you're pulling in rules from other books, the least you could do is fix these.
That and the full page essays stank of "Yup, rules are a changin', deal with it."
Hmmm. Well poop. That would have upgraded it to "definite buy" for me. Now I'm not so sure. Much obliged.
Psionics, the bastard child of D&D. :(
Psionics, the bastard child of D&D. :(
Red-headed stepchild and all-around whipping post. :(
I haven't seen the book itself, but checked out the preview section and index on the wizards site.
What is in it looks to be pretty good, but at only 160 pages, it certainly doesn't live up to the legacy of the original.
I'll have to look at it in person, but I think I will be getting it. Maybe I can get my players to finally learn a few of the rules...
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It's a good book for people to grab if they plan on sticking with 3/3.5 and refuse to go to 4th.
It's a good book who'll play in both editions and plan on keeping their 3/3.5 stuff.
It's a terrible book for anyone planning to play 4th edition. If you understand the rules, you don't need this book. It's a good reference for people that have to look something up every turn to see how some rules works, but with 4th on the horizon, I see it as a waste of money for people that know the rules they need or use.
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I agree - while i"m only about 50 pages in - it is very well organized and put together -having rules from both DMG and PHB easier to reference is great - if only they could afford a real art budget instead of using the 'whatever published in Dragon and dungeon is WOTC property' clause and used covers from Dungeon 138 and art from one of the AOW issues in it I would be happier though
Well, I ordered it, and Spell COmpendium.
Which makes my 3.5 collection: PHB, DMG, MM, SC, and RC.
The rest is all my old AD&D Greyhawk stuff, homebrew, scan and scam maps, minis, and PAthfinder.
I'm good for another year or two: next purchase is 4th ed.
4.0, being the marketing scam that it is, won't replace 3.5 for me. I've spent too long and too much money on 3.5 to start over again. The Star Wars RPG complex is still a bitter memory to me, and this only sours my interest in WotC products. Nevertheless I feel if this contains all the tiny minor rules scattered across the hundreds of sources from vague references in background books like the Drow book, to articles from Dungeon and Dragon (RiP) I'll be happy. As the description reads, it will be give me a lot less to carry and GM's more access to the crazy rules their players keep tauting as law.
Signs that you're rules system stinks or you've released too many extra books with crunch (stats/rules)... YOU RELEASE A BOOK TO EXPLAIN THE RULES!
What's up Brad? Long time no speak! Glad to see you still into the RPGs.
I think this book is a great idea i hope my local store got in the order today
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I think, this supplement makes perfect sense.
I am going to play 3.5e for some more time anyway. I don't accuse WotC of bad timing: when should they publish any such book but now? WotC spends their ressources on 4e, so any rules compendium published now should be a pretty final look on 3.5e rules.
In comparision to 2e times I just feel sorry that WotC seems to be unable to publish digital version of the core rules like TSR did with the core rule cds for 2e.
If the lay out and rules clarifications are well made, I'll buy this book.