The Slayer is my favorite class in 4E. I remember back when Essentials was new, the online chatter was all that Essentials classes couldn't keep up with PHB classes. My Slayer outshone every other class in combat and in exploration. My Slayer was half-orc with a noble background. He had a 14 charisma. He was great in all three pillars. Simple class. Lol. He carried a great ace axe and knocked everything prone when he used Power Strike. He also furious assault, to do even more damage. Total beast.
@@rokkkrinn2793 Oh dang, Well, I guess that makes sense then Was thinking there was a period of misunderstanding early on, but I guess people figured it out quick
The slayer was one with a fast strong start and fades at higher levels that is what is meant by not keeping up(fewer choices mean less optimizing). Note since even in 4e most people only play heroic tier and most do not play too optimized this is a limit that is not a limit for many many people. I found slayer boring with few real choices but then I am kind of that way with many strikers.(admitting my own bias here)
Really have enjoyed your look at 4th Edition. I enjoyed playing 4e and really believe the Nentir Vale was a great starting point for any adventure. A great setting for any campaign. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Thank you! The Nentir Vale is great! I have used it in a 5th and 2nd Edition campaign. I really hope they finally give it a full dedicated setting book.
Would love to see videos on a) lesser known 4e books like those later “heroes” books you mentioned and b) the nentir vale setting. So many other cool 4e things to discuss but those came to mind.
There was unfortunately never an official nentir vale setting, but the Monster Vault threats of nentir vale has parts in it. Also when you google it, a fan made a really really good overvie of the nentir vale (using all material existing including books boardgames etc.) Zeromaru is the name if I dont misremember.
@@DravenSwiftbow Just someone highlighting the good things of the heroes books would be great, I feel "essentials" god so much bad things written about it even thought it has great stuff.
I love the Essentials line, but I also love B/X. Reavers of Harkenwold is a great addition to any campaign. "While you've been dealing with one threat, other bad guys have attacked the home town".
I would recommend the "Heroes of the Forgotten Kingdom" over the heroes of the fallen lands. It is also an essentials book, has the same rules and DM stuff in it (there is repetition) and it just has overall better classes. (Like the Wizard in Essentials is more complex thant the original wizzard. While the Fighter is tooo much reduced.) I totally agree that for beginners having simplyfied classes is a good thing, but the "simple martial, complex caster" (and also more powerful caster) in the Fallen lands is too extreme and really does not show where 4E shines, since what really makes 4E good is that martials are finally fun. I totally get why the Essentials were made simpler classes were needed(but they were badly marketed), and I just think they really did improve starting from the 2nd book. And I really did not like how many people just disregarded whole essentials (because of the simple martial parts), especially since later examples even brought a really cool simplified caster (Elementalist), which is in general lacking in D&D (and D&D likes). Another good starting point is the dungeon masters kit. It has a choose your own adventure for choosing your class (and level 1) and then one of the best beginner adventurers (starting at level 2).
Mostly agree, but it’s worth mentioning that the Arcane Warlock Hexblade and the Primal Druid Sentinel are simplified classes the same way the Essential Martials are.
@joelpartee594 They are simplified classes. Thats what makes them easier to understand for beginners. However, they and the paladin have, unlike the essential fighter and rogue (and ranger) daily powers. This makes them keep up with the other classes even if the adventure day is short. In addition the ranger and the druid have some nice non combat utility. Also my problem is especially with the too high complexity wizard (and to less degree cleric), which are nlt simplified at all.
I would have to agree Essentials would be the easiest for beginners. Now if they could get their hands on a PDF or the red box itself... i really loved that vox set... the solo character build was great!
Not the red box, but the "dungeon masters kit" can still be bought as PDF and from all I heard (never seen the redbox myself) its a better starter adventure in it (people really love it).
This choice is always so frustrating. The Essentials books have pretty great class flavor, approachable but not overwhelming feat lists, everything you need. But most of the Essentials classes have limited utility and are denied the power options that make 4e so good. “Love the Slayer but hate the Power Strike” I say.
I dont love the slayer but yes powerstrike is underwhelming although I find it a lot more underwelming for the knight. It adds damage to a good basic attack for the slayer which for a striker is ok, for a defender its just boring. The later essential classes like just in the 2nd book have in my opoinions better flavour even and have for sure more utility (ranger and druid at least). Having no rituals hurts a bit, but well you can still get them with the feats. Its all fully compatible and for beginner rituals might be a bit too complicated.
As much as I appreciate Essentials have some people an easier transition I am not a fan of the lack of choice they created I like the options the regular classes provide
4th edition is the best (for me), really enjoy the powers system.
The Slayer is my favorite class in 4E. I remember back when Essentials was new, the online chatter was all that Essentials classes couldn't keep up with PHB classes. My Slayer outshone every other class in combat and in exploration. My Slayer was half-orc with a noble background. He had a 14 charisma. He was great in all three pillars. Simple class. Lol.
He carried a great ace axe and knocked everything prone when he used Power Strike. He also furious assault, to do even more damage. Total beast.
> I remember back when Essentials was new, the online chatter was all that Essentials classes could keep up with PHB classes.
Oof
@appleseed8282 fixed it.
@@rokkkrinn2793 Oh dang,
Well, I guess that makes sense then
Was thinking there was a period of misunderstanding early on, but I guess people figured it out quick
The slayer was one with a fast strong start and fades at higher levels that is what is meant by not keeping up(fewer choices mean less optimizing). Note since even in 4e most people only play heroic tier and most do not play too optimized this is a limit that is not a limit for many many people. I found slayer boring with few real choices but then I am kind of that way with many strikers.(admitting my own bias here)
Really have enjoyed your look at 4th Edition. I enjoyed playing 4e and really believe the Nentir Vale was a great starting point for any adventure. A great setting for any campaign. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Thank you! The Nentir Vale is great! I have used it in a 5th and 2nd Edition campaign.
I really hope they finally give it a full dedicated setting book.
Nentir vale was so good.
Would love to see videos on a) lesser known 4e books like those later “heroes” books you mentioned and b) the nentir vale setting. So many other cool 4e things to discuss but those came to mind.
That can be arranged!
There was unfortunately never an official nentir vale setting, but the Monster Vault threats of nentir vale has parts in it. Also when you google it, a fan made a really really good overvie of the nentir vale (using all material existing including books boardgames etc.) Zeromaru is the name if I dont misremember.
@@DravenSwiftbow Just someone highlighting the good things of the heroes books would be great, I feel "essentials" god so much bad things written about it even thought it has great stuff.
I love the Essentials line, but I also love B/X. Reavers of Harkenwold is a great addition to any campaign. "While you've been dealing with one threat, other bad guys have attacked the home town".
I would recommend the "Heroes of the Forgotten Kingdom" over the heroes of the fallen lands. It is also an essentials book, has the same rules and DM stuff in it (there is repetition) and it just has overall better classes. (Like the Wizard in Essentials is more complex thant the original wizzard. While the Fighter is tooo much reduced.)
I totally agree that for beginners having simplyfied classes is a good thing, but the "simple martial, complex caster" (and also more powerful caster) in the Fallen lands is too extreme and really does not show where 4E shines, since what really makes 4E good is that martials are finally fun. I totally get why the Essentials were made simpler classes were needed(but they were badly marketed), and I just think they really did improve starting from the 2nd book. And I really did not like how many people just disregarded whole essentials (because of the simple martial parts), especially since later examples even brought a really cool simplified caster (Elementalist), which is in general lacking in D&D (and D&D likes).
Another good starting point is the dungeon masters kit. It has a choose your own adventure for choosing your class (and level 1) and then one of the best beginner adventurers (starting at level 2).
Mostly agree, but it’s worth mentioning that the Arcane Warlock Hexblade and the Primal Druid Sentinel are simplified classes the same way the Essential Martials are.
@joelpartee594 They are simplified classes. Thats what makes them easier to understand for beginners. However, they and the paladin have, unlike the essential fighter and rogue (and ranger) daily powers. This makes them keep up with the other classes even if the adventure day is short.
In addition the ranger and the druid have some nice non combat utility.
Also my problem is especially with the too high complexity wizard (and to less degree cleric), which are nlt simplified at all.
I’d suggest just going with getting the 3 basic, core books (PHB, MM and DMG). Probably the easiest to get too.
@@davidwasilewski i would use the monster vault instead of the MM. It has the better latet monster math and overall improved monster design
I would have to agree Essentials would be the easiest for beginners. Now if they could get their hands on a PDF or the red box itself... i really loved that vox set... the solo character build was great!
Not the red box, but the "dungeon masters kit" can still be bought as PDF and from all I heard (never seen the redbox myself) its a better starter adventure in it (people really love it).
This choice is always so frustrating. The Essentials books have pretty great class flavor, approachable but not overwhelming feat lists, everything you need. But most of the Essentials classes have limited utility and are denied the power options that make 4e so good. “Love the Slayer but hate the Power Strike” I say.
I dont love the slayer but yes powerstrike is underwhelming although I find it a lot more underwelming for the knight. It adds damage to a good basic attack for the slayer which for a striker is ok, for a defender its just boring.
The later essential classes like just in the 2nd book have in my opoinions better flavour even and have for sure more utility (ranger and druid at least).
Having no rituals hurts a bit, but well you can still get them with the feats. Its all fully compatible and for beginner rituals might be a bit too complicated.
Look forward to 2025 at your table
As much as I appreciate Essentials have some people an easier transition I am not a fan of the lack of choice they created
I like the options the regular classes provide
have you ever visited oldegreybeard channel? he talks alot about 4th edition
I subscribed to him but haven't watched many of his videos. I think he's great, but I always try to avoid videos on subjects I may be discussing.