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Why I Feel Betrayed
Thanks to Yax at DungeonMastering.com for the original alert.
In 1974, TSR released the initial set of Dungeons and Dragons. This original version featured four races and three classes, and was in many ways crippled if you were not a Chainmail player.
In 1979 the rules were revised, and ADnD was released in it’s first incarnation, and closely resembled the later released Second Edition ADnD, and contained play very similar to later d20 versions of the game.
In 1985, the boxed set was released. This contained rules which were in many ways different from that of previous editions, and while somewhat simpler, also covered a far greater range of rules, including play beyond Level 36, and Godhood/Immortality.
In 1989, Second Edition Advanced Dungeons and Dragons was released. This game featured a set of rules which would see refinement and additions over the years, but remain largely unchanged until 1995 when a series of Players Options books were released, greatly increasing the capabilities and possibilities of the game.
In 2000, Third Edition Dungeons and Dragons was released. This game feature a completely new set of rules, and used the d20 system. In many ways the feel and style of play greatly mirrored that of previous editions, despite the new simplified and unified mechanics.
In 2003, 3.5 Edition Dungeons and Dragons was released. This game was largely an update and replacement for the previous edition, fixing many problems with the previous edition, but making no substantive change in the flow or style of play.
Now, just months before Fourth Edition Dungeons and Dragons will be released, featuring a slightly less linear approach to character advancement and simplified rule structure, it has been announced that a modification and collection of rules and content from the current edition, 3.5, is being released in a Rules Compendium.
In 1997, just two years after the Players Options books had been released, TSR did the smartest thing I think they did before they were bought by Wizards of the Coast: They released a Wizard’s Spell Compendium, available in four thick volumes, which contained EVERY Wizard spell from every edition of Dragon, Dungeon, and Polyhedron magazine, as well as all official TSR publications, modules, and releases. The spells were all updated slightly to be congruent with the modern editions, but most survived with few changes. Simultaneously, they released a four volume version for Priests. Both these editions were cross-referenced and index thoroughly. Around the same time, boxed sets were released with a card based version of these books, each card containing the complete information regarding a spell, all categorized by spell level and put into alphabetical order.
They made it easy for players of their game to get the collection they needed, and they did this at the height of the game. In releasing this product now, Wizards of the Coast has managed to do the opposite to its consumers, who still clamor for an official Spell Compendium to be released.
I feel betrayed because, supplements aside, this Rules Compendium is the book I’ve wanted since the game was released. Where are the other compendiums? And why is this one being released only months before it becomes obsolete?
I feel betrayed because when I want to run a game of 3.5, I don’t want to have to carry a bookcase with me to feel like I can run a relatively complete game.
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8 Responses to “Why I Feel Betrayed”
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Hi there!
What ticked me off with this is that they could have released this when it would have been useful to all players - not just the ones who’ll keep player 3.X.
If the compendium at least contained information that would be useful to the 4e players, i.e. conversion charts, I think it would be a lot less of a slap in the face to DnD players.
“I feel betrayed because, supplements aside, this is the Rules Compendium is the book I’ve wanted since the game was released. Where are the other compendiums?”
Are you dense? Did you not know that the Rules Compendium is the third in the Compendium series? Following Spell Compendium (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=products/dndacc/885987200) and Magic Item Compendium (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=products/dndacc/107627200)???
You did some marvelous research on the history of D&D editions… why then did you completely fall down on the Compendium series? Or are you just looking for rant fodder?
“You did some marvelous research on the history of D&D editions… why then did you completely fall down on the Compendium series? Or are you just looking for rant fodder?”
To be honest, I had forgotten about the existing Spell Compendium. I still feel, however, that it’s useless, especially if you compare it to older editions of DnD and how they handled matters.
TSR was brilliant when they released the Monstrous Compendium in binder format, allowing players to collect entries from modules and sourcebooks, ensuring that they had all the information in one easy to access place.
Instead, WotC releases these products late in the production cycle, often simply re-releasing and content right before they become obsolete. Lords Of Madness, for instance, is an excellent resource with nothing new in it other than maps and fluff material - the first MMs cover everything that is included in the Lords of Madness supplement.
[…] I had to mention along with my other Monday morning goodies. On that website you’ll find a complimentary article on that article about the rules compendium I […]
“TSR was brilliant when they released the Monstrous Compendium in binder format, allowing players to collect entries from modules and sourcebooks, ensuring that they had all the information in one easy to access place.”
Except that the Monstrous Compendium introduced its own set of problems. It was fine as long as you didn’t try to sort the pages in anything other than published order, but if you tried to alphabetize (a logical assumption) then you got hosed. For instance, where do you put the page for a creature starting with ‘A’ on one side and ‘D’ on the reverse? If you stick it with the other ‘A’s, the ‘D’ will be out of sequence….
It was a nice idea, but a terrible execution.
“Except that the Monstrous Compendium introduced its own set of problems. It was fine as long as you didn’t try to sort the pages in anything other than published order, but if you tried to alphabetize (a logical assumption) then you got hosed. For instance, where do you put the page for a creature starting with ‘A’ on one side and ‘D’ on the reverse? If you stick it with the other ‘A’s, the ‘D’ will be out of sequence….”
Flipping through my copy of the Monstrous Compendium, I’m unable to find an example near as extreme as the one you describe. Creatures are printed on both the front and back of pages, usually resulting in nothing being able to come between two items like “Jackal” and “Jackalwere” or “Lycanthrope, Weretiger” and “Lycanthrope, Werewolf.” (Granted, I did not spend more than five minutes looking through the binder for examples of this.)
It is true that there are some problems with the binder idea, but I think TSR did a good job of implementing it - in the worst case of a scenario like the one you described, a new page protector and a Xerox machine would save the day.
At least TSR gave us the option…
This is my first time on the site, and I’m really enjoying it. However, I totally disagree with this post. Here are some important points to remember:
-4th edition is still nearly a year away, and it’ll take months after that for us to get the level of content D&D has amassed these past seven years. 3rd edition is not yet obsolete, nor will it be for some time. Therefore, Rules Compendium is still extremely relevant.
-Wizards has already stated that there won’t be a conversion from third to fourth edition, that the editions are different enough that a by-the-book conversion will be impossible. Reinterpreting characters is possible, but the two editions are separate.
-Wizards HAS released a Spell Compendium, as well as a Magic Item compendium. D&D has put out a lot of not-quite-up-to-par content, and so they’ve only included the very best in these books. Also (and more importantly) these books feature REVISED rules, both in flavor and mechanics. Compare the spell Summon Undead in the SC to older versions of the spell if you don’t believe me. The older versions of the spell broke the game, when a 3rd-level necromancer could summon a 10HD ettin skeleton.
-For those that are still not satisfied (especially since the Spell Compendium does not contain spells from the newer books, including the Complete Mage), there are PDF indexes available online of all the spells.
If you’ve read the previews for the Rules Compendium on the WOTC website, you’ll notice what an awesome publication it’ll be. Just read the grapple section… I’ve been playing the game all this time without realizing you can make a grapple attempt for EVERY attack you can make in a round! Simple rewording can make such a difference.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m really excited for 4th edition, and I plan to buy the preview material and everything, but the reality is that a 4th edition of the size and flavor of our 3.5 is still a long time away, and that makes the Rules Compendium a stupendous buy.