Updated Info on the Players Handbook?

[Julian Grimm]

Last night I could not sleep and checked something that was itching at the back of my brain. I pulled out my multiple copies of my 2e books and checked them. Before the 'black book' revision I have books from different print runs. After a check I found that there were only minimal changes to the books between printings. And, that was only in the effect of fixing typos or misprints. After the revision of the books to the Black Book format the content was changed minimally and only to reflect the changes brought on by Planescape.

The core game remained the same with each successive print with no changes to classes, spells or rules. The only real change to the game after the big revision was to fluff areas such as the planes. You could use first print PHB's with the revised PHB's and the rules were exactly the same.

In my not so humble opinion this is how new printings should be. The fourth print of something should fundamentally be the same as the first print with only changes to typos and misprints. Each printing should be fully compatible with prior printings and no changes to the rules should be found in them unless it truly is a misprint or editing error. In fact this is how I personally define a 'printing'.

By that definition TLG is not making new printings but new revisions to the game. Since the first print of the PHB the rules have changed culminating with the major changes discussed above. No, these are not changes to the SIEGE Engine but the changes do disallow for cohesion between a first and fourth print PHB being used at the table with one class having been almost fully rewritten.

Also, each successive revision has moved the game away from the baseline (First printing). So, when you compare the first printing to the fourth printing what remains is similar but has changed enough to begin looking like a different edition of the game. If the trend continues each successive revision will move the game farther away from the baseline and will look more and more like a new edition of the game.

If this is what TLG is wanting to do that is their business. However, I will take issue with the fact that this does break from their promise of no revisions or new editions (This being sidestepped by using the 'printing' term) and that TLG itself has yet to make errata and updates available from them and relying on the fanbase to do so*.

I will make one concession here; I think that the term milking was a bit too harsh. I let emotion get the best of me and did not think the term through. However, I do still think that it is not a 'best practice' to constantly revise the books and make no updates available to those that have already bought their core books. Even software companies make sure patches go out to all buyers of a product when they revise the program.

In the end all I want addressed is why TLG will not make the updates and errata available themselves.




*Right before I hit 'submit' I found Rigon's post. If this is the case then I have to ask why this document disappeared from the site.

[Julian Grimm]

In addendum to the above:

I received the document Rigon spoke of and it does cover the barbarian changes quite nicely. As well it fixes an issue with the Fighter that many of us house-ruled. There are two interesting things here: 1) This document was promised to be updated and never has been (In fact it has disappeared) and 2) While the new Illusionist spells are listed there are no descriptions with only a line stating that we are left to fill in the details. This document is exactly what I was talking about being needed and I am glad that TLG did make the attempt.


That said, I would ask that TLG would pick this project back up and finish what they started. If they cannot do it then pass on the changes to someone and let them create the document and allow it to be distributed on the main site.

[Lord Dynel]

I remember seeing that errata, JG, but for some reason I don't have it on my PC. Having the latest printing, though, I guess I don't need it.

I agree that the Trolls should put out an errata that covers all the changes in the newest printing. I think that would go a long way to appease those who have various printings. I think a comprehensive errata/revision sheet would be the way to go (one that starts with "changes in 2nd printing," then "changes in 3rd printing," etc.) but that might be a large undertaking.

[Traveller]

Especially since the only major changes are the barbarian and illusionist healing.

Perhaps Rigon would be willing to use the attachment feature here on the boards and host the document that way? Then people don't have to email him and whomever wants it can get it.

[serleran]

The document can be found here:

http://www.adnd3egame.com/cnc.htm

Not a TLG site, but an easy to get to one.

[Rigon]

Especially since the only major changes are the barbarian and illusionist healing.

Perhaps Rigon would be willing to use the attachment feature here on the boards and host the document that way? Then people don't have to email him and whomever wants it can get it.

I've put it in the "public" section of my Dropbox account. Anyone that wants it can go there via my sig.

R-