Dungeons & Dragons 4th Edition Table Top Games - The 3rd Set of Core Rule Books

The initial Dungeon & Dragon 3 Core Rule Books laid down the foundation for the major revision to all things related to playing the game - Dungeons & Dragons. Some classes and races were removed that were in the previous 3rd edition rules. Other aspects, rules and portions of play were reclassified or removed from all books, the Players Handbook, the Monster Manual (where did all my monsters go?) and the Dungeon Masters Guide.

The second set of books laid down further foundation and apprised more information on Paragon levels of play (levels 11-20), to help and assist especially with new races, classes and the return of some old favorites races, class types and monsters or NPC's, not just in the Players Handbook but also within the Monster Manual 2 as well.

2010 sees the release of the third set of books, with more character and class types, new and extended rules and the return of the use of psionics!!!! The main theme you will also see is a revised and much appreciated update from those components taken out of the initial books, that were in 3rd edition, yet have been improved, expanded and placed.....in the three 3rd set of manuals.

Apart from the fantastic cover of a Minotaur (sorry, "more cowbell" would be a totally lost concept to that creature) and a female githzerai??? there are an outstanding set of further exploration as well as more classes, races and paragon paths & epic destinies.

One of these I certainly have been looking forward to, is the return of the much loved and now iconic monk class. An interesting concept is also the 'hybrid class' a multi-class variant where you essentially from the start of your career, assume half of one class and half of a second class and utilize both classes as you progress. This differs from the original multi-classing where one would decide to switch to a new class from a certain level (say for example, at level 9) and could no longer use the former class until they were at the same progression level with the current second chosen class.

Also there's an update to utilizing skills powers, where one at any level may be able to use a utility power, you can know use a skill power instead. This will really bring some flexibilty to more role play elements of the game for your character. Don't get silly with it though, you still have to be trained and adept at that skill to use.

My personal favorite aspect of the game makes a triumphant return. Psionics - using the powers of the mind. Nothing has more potential to be a game changer than you being the most powerful knight of many worlds holding untold strength of might, or a magic user of heinous and insidious powers or the most skilled thief in the known realms awaiting to do some major damage with a back stab and your sent to sleep via a simple mental command from an enemy and you lose your saving throw, right in the middle of a battle.

Is the 3rd book worth the buy? I recommend it absolutely, this is really geared towards the more experienced and long term players of the game. At this level of play, from level 20+ plus players seriously need to be challenged and still have a broad and exciting game experience at this level.

Are you liking the stats layout still? Don't know what I am referring to? Easy, the Monster Manuals have gone through a redesign with the stats layout, so it is easier to find and locate and disseminate that vital information you need for that monster or group of monsters for an encounter. It is a small part easier for new DM's to realize that you can essentially have 'scripted' type events that will occur as each creature is unique and will react differently during player encounters.

That beautiful smiling spider like girly girl on the front cover? Thats Lolth, patron god of the Evil kine of under dwellers, the Dark elves. She's a piece of work too, a real nasty piece of work. She's the type of evil immortal kind your adventuring party will come up against when you start to hit 25+ experience levels. These are creatures that affect not just worlds but differing realms of existence and potentially, trillions upon trillions of lives across the mutiiverse.

There is 200 new beasties to entice all three heroic, paragon and epic levels of play.

This is being included here as the proforma DM Guide III until we hear about an official Guide coming from Wizards. With news quite thin on the ground about this third book in the 3rd set, we do have one other alternative until we know more. If and when it is released into the wild, I shall return here and update accordingly.

Available come October 2010. This 'kit' is a book of 'essential' rules and also includes alot more.

The main guide is a 256 page book of rules and sage advice.

Also has

• Two - 32 page adventures
• Two sheets of die cut monster tokens
• Two double sided battle maps
• Fold Out Dungeon Masters Screen
  

Now with even more .... tools and resources. If there is one aspect certainly cool about role play games, it's the depth and myriad items available for us the players, for our enjoyment and pleasure. There is usually something here for everyone of every type of experience.