I was just thinking, in late 2021 or mid 2022, maybe a new book could come out called "Character Compendium" or something, combining all the character races, classes, and subclasses published until the date of publication that are universally accepted for the d&d multiverse, as another 192 page book. If there is room, all the multiversal backgrounds, feats, and spells from all the books after PHB could be included as well. Maybe even the racial modification/creation section from Tasha's could be an optional section in the preface of the racial chapter...
I thought of this because PHB+1 gets more difficult/selective with each book, so a compendium including, consolidating, and even modifying earlier versions of *most* player options could really open things up. Older Beyond users could just cherry-pick any revisions, if they didn't want to buy the whole online book. Newer players would need to buy less books to be more up to speed with veteran gamers, and therefore more likely to readily buy in, and, as a player myself who likes being completionist, I'd buy the book because of being happier to use PHB+1, as well as updating some of the classes that have been power crept.
I will say I am openly bias and pushing for a book including revisions because I like Sorcerers, and after Tasha's, find all the other subclasses severely lacking. Also, I really like the idea of using the proficiency bonus as an ability cap for a lot of powers and abilities, rather than the attribute bonus, and that could be more fully revisited in an "update" consolidation.
Thanks for reading. Just wanted a general posting place to air my idea. Have a great day.
I would think it would be around the same price as the older versions (30?). If you tell a new player it is going to cost 100 (lowball) to buy all the books they need to have all the options available to them, they may just walk away. And veteran players probably have all the books they were going to buy already.
The only place where I potentially see less generated revenue would be the online sales, but that could be negligible too - I know if I ever bite the online bullet, I will likely do a lot of cherry-picking, rather than buying whole books, as there is a ton of stuff I will not be playing/using.
They could also make a lot of books sitting in a distributor's or retailer's inventory worthless. Looking at what they've published so far, I doubt WotC has any plans for something as specific as what you have in mind.
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Want to start playing but don't have anyone to play with? You can try these options: [link].
Oh, I doubt they will also. I'll probably have to wait and see what 6th edition brings for corrections, most likely.
But if a distributor is sitting on SCAG at this point, he overbought.
As is though, I have little need to buy another 5th ed book, aside from my completionist compulsion. Between Xanathar's and Tasha's, I already have too many choices for PHB+1
Going to put a devil's advocate question out here. Isn't the AL PHB+1 rule precisely to prevent, for reasons that make sense to the AL, a player bringing "all the options" to the game? I mean if you print one book that's basically "all the books" that's an end-run around PHB+1.
I'd recommend dropping this what if into the AL forum here and see how they react to the prospect.
Of course, AL is certainly not the be all end all of the D&D playing community (nor is the DDB user base); but you invoke the PHB+1 rule a few times so it might make sense to take it up with the community who stand by or play by the rule.
Other thoughts: this would be a BIG book or a big set of books because I don't see it happening with an integrated spell compendium or a companion spell compendium.
I also think this "master player's options" book or set of book might lean a little too completist for WotC to see a main market. That said, I could see some sort of Golden Anniversary set in time for the 50th anniversary (2024?) that does this either as a WotC limited run or a Beadles and Grim special. Sometime after that you'd probably see whatever the next iteration of the game is either a new edition or revised total product line (a sort of 5.5).
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Jander Sunstar is the thinking person's Drizzt, fight me.
A book? Nah- it’d be outdated in 4 months. That’s the beauty of the internet. How much does that cost on DDB to just unlock all the classes/subclasses?
A book? Nah- it’d be outdated in 4 months. That’s the beauty of the internet. How much does that cost on DDB to just unlock all the classes/subclasses?
Not to mention they think this type of book would only be 192 pages.....
There is no way they are going to print PHB + Xanathar + TCOE + random race/class/BG from other books into one book and 1) Have it be 192 pages without size 5 font and 2) Be the same price as a standard book.
I would think it would be around the same price as the older versions (30?). If you tell a new player it is going to cost 100 (lowball) to buy all the books they need to have all the options available to them, they may just walk away. And veteran players probably have all the books they were going to buy already.
That's not how it works.
A new player buys PHB.
They have fun with it and next paycheck/birthday/visit to the game store they buy another book.
repeat step 2
Yeah you will have people that buy all at once because they know enough to know they want to go all-in on an edition. But I think the vast majority of sales are incremental like this. Making a product that end-runs around that and obsoletes many existing books is just bad business.
i honestly don't see a need for this for new players. I've never brought in players with. "This is what you have to buy to get every single option". All the options are too much. Most new players want to know what they need to create an interesting fun to play character. Also the new options are the biggest draw for new books especially for DnD there isn't really any price they could charge to removes the desire to buy books and would be bad for new players, old players and for WOTC. New books would fade away which means the adventures and books of overall options wouldn't sell as well. For new players it will get rid of the strength of DnD which is the gradual phase in to complexity.
Good morning.
I was just thinking, in late 2021 or mid 2022, maybe a new book could come out called "Character Compendium" or something, combining all the character races, classes, and subclasses published until the date of publication that are universally accepted for the d&d multiverse, as another 192 page book. If there is room, all the multiversal backgrounds, feats, and spells from all the books after PHB could be included as well. Maybe even the racial modification/creation section from Tasha's could be an optional section in the preface of the racial chapter...
I thought of this because PHB+1 gets more difficult/selective with each book, so a compendium including, consolidating, and even modifying earlier versions of *most* player options could really open things up. Older Beyond users could just cherry-pick any revisions, if they didn't want to buy the whole online book. Newer players would need to buy less books to be more up to speed with veteran gamers, and therefore more likely to readily buy in, and, as a player myself who likes being completionist, I'd buy the book because of being happier to use PHB+1, as well as updating some of the classes that have been power crept.
I will say I am openly bias and pushing for a book including revisions because I like Sorcerers, and after Tasha's, find all the other subclasses severely lacking. Also, I really like the idea of using the proficiency bonus as an ability cap for a lot of powers and abilities, rather than the attribute bonus, and that could be more fully revisited in an "update" consolidation.
Thanks for reading. Just wanted a general posting place to air my idea. Have a great day.
This would be great! Of course since Wizards wants to make money it might cost around $100...
When players get creative.
I would think it would be around the same price as the older versions (30?). If you tell a new player it is going to cost 100 (lowball) to buy all the books they need to have all the options available to them, they may just walk away. And veteran players probably have all the books they were going to buy already.
The only place where I potentially see less generated revenue would be the online sales, but that could be negligible too - I know if I ever bite the online bullet, I will likely do a lot of cherry-picking, rather than buying whole books, as there is a ton of stuff I will not be playing/using.
They could also theoretically not make *any* money from a new player, if they buy used books...
They could also make a lot of books sitting in a distributor's or retailer's inventory worthless. Looking at what they've published so far, I doubt WotC has any plans for something as specific as what you have in mind.
Want to start playing but don't have anyone to play with? You can try these options: [link].
Oh, I doubt they will also. I'll probably have to wait and see what 6th edition brings for corrections, most likely.
But if a distributor is sitting on SCAG at this point, he overbought.
As is though, I have little need to buy another 5th ed book, aside from my completionist compulsion. Between Xanathar's and Tasha's, I already have too many choices for PHB+1
Going to put a devil's advocate question out here. Isn't the AL PHB+1 rule precisely to prevent, for reasons that make sense to the AL, a player bringing "all the options" to the game? I mean if you print one book that's basically "all the books" that's an end-run around PHB+1.
I'd recommend dropping this what if into the AL forum here and see how they react to the prospect.
Of course, AL is certainly not the be all end all of the D&D playing community (nor is the DDB user base); but you invoke the PHB+1 rule a few times so it might make sense to take it up with the community who stand by or play by the rule.
Other thoughts: this would be a BIG book or a big set of books because I don't see it happening with an integrated spell compendium or a companion spell compendium.
I also think this "master player's options" book or set of book might lean a little too completist for WotC to see a main market. That said, I could see some sort of Golden Anniversary set in time for the 50th anniversary (2024?) that does this either as a WotC limited run or a Beadles and Grim special. Sometime after that you'd probably see whatever the next iteration of the game is either a new edition or revised total product line (a sort of 5.5).
Jander Sunstar is the thinking person's Drizzt, fight me.
A book? Nah- it’d be outdated in 4 months. That’s the beauty of the internet. How much does that cost on DDB to just unlock all the classes/subclasses?
Guide to the Five Factions (PWYW)
Deck of Decks
Not to mention they think this type of book would only be 192 pages.....
There is no way they are going to print PHB + Xanathar + TCOE + random race/class/BG from other books into one book and 1) Have it be 192 pages without size 5 font and 2) Be the same price as a standard book.
That's not how it works.
Yeah you will have people that buy all at once because they know enough to know they want to go all-in on an edition. But I think the vast majority of sales are incremental like this. Making a product that end-runs around that and obsoletes many existing books is just bad business.
My homebrew subclasses (full list here)
(Artificer) Swordmage | Glasswright | (Barbarian) Path of the Savage Embrace
(Bard) College of Dance | (Fighter) Warlord | Cannoneer
(Monk) Way of the Elements | (Ranger) Blade Dancer
(Rogue) DaggerMaster | Inquisitor | (Sorcerer) Riftwalker | Spellfist
(Warlock) The Swarm
i honestly don't see a need for this for new players. I've never brought in players with. "This is what you have to buy to get every single option". All the options are too much. Most new players want to know what they need to create an interesting fun to play character. Also the new options are the biggest draw for new books especially for DnD there isn't really any price they could charge to removes the desire to buy books and would be bad for new players, old players and for WOTC. New books would fade away which means the adventures and books of overall options wouldn't sell as well. For new players it will get rid of the strength of DnD which is the gradual phase in to complexity.
just 'cause i was curious:
Subclasses on DDB:
So $51 for all subclasses....excludes races, backgrounds, and feats of course. Coincidentally, 100 sublasses.
Guide to the Five Factions (PWYW)
Deck of Decks