Y'all had better start printing out everything you want from the D&D website (once it goes back up, that is).
Word is it will be replaced with a D&D Insider page requiring a monthly subscription (to replace Dragon and Dungeon magazines, plus about 75% of their web stuff.
When 3.5 came along, a lot of the 3e stuff vanished fairly quickly, and any 2E stuff remaining was just "gone" (except for some free downloads of old modules).
Crank up the printers, boys, and stock up on 3 ring binders.
4th Edition now announced!
Moderator: Boric Glanduum
22 posts
• Page 1 of 2 • 1, 2
4th Edition now announced!
by Boric Glanduum » Thu Aug 16, 2007 3:12 pm
Last edited by Boric Glanduum on Wed Sep 05, 2007 5:47 pm, edited 3 times in total.
"Ah, the life of an adventuring cleric. I remember it well. A perpetual struggle to maintain the hit point totals of four or five nigh-suicidal tomb robbers determined to deplete them at all costs."
-
Boric Glanduum - Moderator
- Posts: 626
- Joined: Thu Sep 14, 2006 12:11 pm
- Location: "Hammer of Justice!!!"
by Boric Glanduum » Thu Aug 16, 2007 3:22 pm
"Ah, the life of an adventuring cleric. I remember it well. A perpetual struggle to maintain the hit point totals of four or five nigh-suicidal tomb robbers determined to deplete them at all costs."
-
Boric Glanduum - Moderator
- Posts: 626
- Joined: Thu Sep 14, 2006 12:11 pm
- Location: "Hammer of Justice!!!"
MORE INFO
by Boric Glanduum » Fri Aug 17, 2007 8:59 am
Wizards of the Coast is announcing at GenCon today that it will release the 4th Edition of its category-leading Dungeons and Dragon roleplaying game in 2008, the first full new edition in eight years. The three core books will be released next summer on a monthly schedule: Player's Handbook in May, Monster Manual in June, and Dungeon Master's Guide in July. Pricing and page counts of the new products will be consistent with current packaging. Graphics have been updated, art will be used on the covers, and interior design has been opened up to make the books less intimidating to new players.
Lead-in products, Wizards Presents: Classes and Races and Wizards Presents: Worlds and Monsters, will be released in December. An April release, Keep of the Shadowfell, will include a set of quickstart rules for 4E.
While there are changes in play (such as incorporating "epic-level play," with 30 levels instead of 20), they are described as "evolutionary" rather than "revolutionary." Other changes include new power sources, changes in resource management, and new encounter design, and more clearly defined monster roles . Changes will speed play, make the game easier to learn, and make DM-ing easier. Concepts for 4th Edition gameplay were tested in the new Star Wars RPG, and the Book of 9 Swords.
What the company does describe as revolutionary is the method of product delivery, which will incorporate online play for the first time. WotC is incorporating online components into the game through a new Website, DnDInsider.com. Each paper product will include codes to unlock digital versions on the site for a "nominal" activation fee. Players will also be able to use DnDInsider tools and access regular new content similar to the material that was previously released in Dragon and Dungeon magazines (see "Interview with Liz Schuh") for a monthly fee (as yet undetermined) greater than the old subscription price, but less than a MMORPG subscription. Magazine-style content will be added to the site three times a week and compiled into digital "issues" monthly.
Gameplay features on the Web will include a digital D&D game table, and voice chat and text messaging, to allow online players to communicate with each other. The online play is designed to "supplement, not replace" meatspace play.
The Open Gaming License will continue as it has in the past, allowing the use of the rules in other publishers' games.
Work on the new edition began in 2005, with the major work all accomplished in the last year.
D&D products released between now and the launch of 4th Edition will fall into three groups. Edition-proof products (which are mostly story) will not include mechanics that are edition-specific. Some products will be "enhanced" to 4th Edition mechanics after release through DnDInsider, and a couple of series will end as 3.5 products.
The setting for the core books are campaign neutral. Forgotten Realms will be the first campaign setting to be updated (in August 2008). Other campaign settings will be updated at a rate of one per year.
Marketing support will initially focus on migrating the existing player base, and then move to an acquisition strategy to re-activate lapsed players and acquire new ones. Midnight launch parties will be used to kick off sales of the first new release in May.
Lead-in products, Wizards Presents: Classes and Races and Wizards Presents: Worlds and Monsters, will be released in December. An April release, Keep of the Shadowfell, will include a set of quickstart rules for 4E.
While there are changes in play (such as incorporating "epic-level play," with 30 levels instead of 20), they are described as "evolutionary" rather than "revolutionary." Other changes include new power sources, changes in resource management, and new encounter design, and more clearly defined monster roles . Changes will speed play, make the game easier to learn, and make DM-ing easier. Concepts for 4th Edition gameplay were tested in the new Star Wars RPG, and the Book of 9 Swords.
What the company does describe as revolutionary is the method of product delivery, which will incorporate online play for the first time. WotC is incorporating online components into the game through a new Website, DnDInsider.com. Each paper product will include codes to unlock digital versions on the site for a "nominal" activation fee. Players will also be able to use DnDInsider tools and access regular new content similar to the material that was previously released in Dragon and Dungeon magazines (see "Interview with Liz Schuh") for a monthly fee (as yet undetermined) greater than the old subscription price, but less than a MMORPG subscription. Magazine-style content will be added to the site three times a week and compiled into digital "issues" monthly.
Gameplay features on the Web will include a digital D&D game table, and voice chat and text messaging, to allow online players to communicate with each other. The online play is designed to "supplement, not replace" meatspace play.
The Open Gaming License will continue as it has in the past, allowing the use of the rules in other publishers' games.
Work on the new edition began in 2005, with the major work all accomplished in the last year.
D&D products released between now and the launch of 4th Edition will fall into three groups. Edition-proof products (which are mostly story) will not include mechanics that are edition-specific. Some products will be "enhanced" to 4th Edition mechanics after release through DnDInsider, and a couple of series will end as 3.5 products.
The setting for the core books are campaign neutral. Forgotten Realms will be the first campaign setting to be updated (in August 2008). Other campaign settings will be updated at a rate of one per year.
Marketing support will initially focus on migrating the existing player base, and then move to an acquisition strategy to re-activate lapsed players and acquire new ones. Midnight launch parties will be used to kick off sales of the first new release in May.
"Ah, the life of an adventuring cleric. I remember it well. A perpetual struggle to maintain the hit point totals of four or five nigh-suicidal tomb robbers determined to deplete them at all costs."
-
Boric Glanduum - Moderator
- Posts: 626
- Joined: Thu Sep 14, 2006 12:11 pm
- Location: "Hammer of Justice!!!"
AAAAAAND....I threw up again.
by Boric Glanduum » Fri Aug 17, 2007 9:04 am
Here's the video they showed at GenCon for the announcement:
.
What kind of marketing is this?!?! "Look at how badly we screwed up before, but this time we got it right! Trust us!" What the ...?!?!?
.
What kind of marketing is this?!?! "Look at how badly we screwed up before, but this time we got it right! Trust us!" What the ...?!?!?
"Ah, the life of an adventuring cleric. I remember it well. A perpetual struggle to maintain the hit point totals of four or five nigh-suicidal tomb robbers determined to deplete them at all costs."
-
Boric Glanduum - Moderator
- Posts: 626
- Joined: Thu Sep 14, 2006 12:11 pm
- Location: "Hammer of Justice!!!"
by Boric Glanduum » Mon Aug 20, 2007 8:06 pm
Another few blurbs:
[quote][size=200]April 2008 sees the release of the new miniatures starter pack and the Dungeons of Dread series of monster minis. I think this could potentially bring in a lot of new roleplayers via the more traditional games, although I suspect that well-marketed hypothetical boxed set would do even better with all-new players who can treat it like a traditional board game, and DMs who can kick-start their miniatures collection and want to know up-front what they’re getting. We’ll see. What we can already see is that the third edition monster appearances are no longer canon in 4e, giving collectors a reason to buy the new minis - that said, there’s nothing stopping you using your old troll mini.
The gametable software will use a true 3D engine and in all likelihood will be able to offer the full range of D&D miniatures, although whether the miniatures will have an additional cost remains to be annouced. We can fully expect that it will tie into the character sheet software, allowing you to create your own miniature in an MMO-style character visualizer. This isn’t Neverwinter Nights: rule adjudicating is still the Dungeon Master’s job, while the software will simply recreate the benefits of a real-world gaming table.
As I mentioned before, “Vancianâ€
[quote][size=200]April 2008 sees the release of the new miniatures starter pack and the Dungeons of Dread series of monster minis. I think this could potentially bring in a lot of new roleplayers via the more traditional games, although I suspect that well-marketed hypothetical boxed set would do even better with all-new players who can treat it like a traditional board game, and DMs who can kick-start their miniatures collection and want to know up-front what they’re getting. We’ll see. What we can already see is that the third edition monster appearances are no longer canon in 4e, giving collectors a reason to buy the new minis - that said, there’s nothing stopping you using your old troll mini.
The gametable software will use a true 3D engine and in all likelihood will be able to offer the full range of D&D miniatures, although whether the miniatures will have an additional cost remains to be annouced. We can fully expect that it will tie into the character sheet software, allowing you to create your own miniature in an MMO-style character visualizer. This isn’t Neverwinter Nights: rule adjudicating is still the Dungeon Master’s job, while the software will simply recreate the benefits of a real-world gaming table.
As I mentioned before, “Vancianâ€
Last edited by Boric Glanduum on Wed Sep 05, 2007 5:48 pm, edited 2 times in total.
"Ah, the life of an adventuring cleric. I remember it well. A perpetual struggle to maintain the hit point totals of four or five nigh-suicidal tomb robbers determined to deplete them at all costs."
-
Boric Glanduum - Moderator
- Posts: 626
- Joined: Thu Sep 14, 2006 12:11 pm
- Location: "Hammer of Justice!!!"
by Boric Glanduum » Tue Aug 28, 2007 3:17 pm
Came across an article today which strongly implied that 4e would be incompatible with 3.5 or 3e. I've seen differing statements on this; this one came from someone who should be "in the know" however.
This suggests that there will be no "conversion guide" for converting older campaigns to 4e as there was for 3e.
Same article suggested that while difficult rule sets such as "grapple" will be vastly simplified, there are other "useful" common rules (such as DR and AO) that are either done away with or nerfed.
Also:
Levels run from 1-30; these levels attempt to capture the feel of the "sweet range" of 3E, which is levels 7-14.
1-10 Heroic: foes are orcs and ogres, some giants, small dragons. Adventures tend to be local.
11 - 20 Paragon: on par with the current low to mid teens right now. Bigger threats are faced that might threaten a kingdom.
21 - 30 Epic: world or planar threats.
Fewer than 11 core classes -- Although two PCs may serve the same role, they may do it in different ways. (Like fighters with different styles.) The roles are geared towards combat; a PC's non-combat aspects can differentiate him further. He also said that they are still considering the possibility of there being a class or two that doesn't quite fit the four "roles". The four "roles":
Defender: fighter & paladin classes
Leader: cleric & warlord classes
Controller: wizard class
Striker: rogue & ranger classes
Fighter, Cleric, Rogue and Wizard definitely stay (multiple mentions and examples). Also mentioned Barbarian, Paladin and Ranger. Mentioned that wizard and sorcerer won't merge. Sorcerer will be different from wizards in more ways than just resource management. Monk and Bard are likely to be discarded completely.
Character Powers are to be sorted into at will, per encounter and per day abilities.
Spellcasting has been munchkinned: less focus on "prepared spells"--from an interview, a wizard who uses all his prepared spells will be at 80% power. Also: "A wizard will never completely run out of spells. They can run out of their 'mordenkainen’s sword, however'."
"Buff" spells will be of drastically changed duration.
Fireball will no longer do 1d6/level.
It will not cost XP to create magic items, and will be much easier for a caster to do.
There will likely be no "Fort save or die" from massive damage, unless it reduces you to -10 HP.
Confirmation rolls for critical hits possibly will go away.
And then this: "Social encounters. For those who don't just want to RP such things without some mechanical impact, the game has rules for non-combat encounters. The example given was social interaction. Unlike 3E, where negotiation amounts to a single Diplomacy check, it's treated almost like a combat in 4E. I make a skill check, but I also tell the DM what/how I'm doing. The opponent responds with behavior (and a check) of his own. I counter with a new check, and new words. And so forth."
This suggests that there will be no "conversion guide" for converting older campaigns to 4e as there was for 3e.
Same article suggested that while difficult rule sets such as "grapple" will be vastly simplified, there are other "useful" common rules (such as DR and AO) that are either done away with or nerfed.
Also:
Levels run from 1-30; these levels attempt to capture the feel of the "sweet range" of 3E, which is levels 7-14.
1-10 Heroic: foes are orcs and ogres, some giants, small dragons. Adventures tend to be local.
11 - 20 Paragon: on par with the current low to mid teens right now. Bigger threats are faced that might threaten a kingdom.
21 - 30 Epic: world or planar threats.
Fewer than 11 core classes -- Although two PCs may serve the same role, they may do it in different ways. (Like fighters with different styles.) The roles are geared towards combat; a PC's non-combat aspects can differentiate him further. He also said that they are still considering the possibility of there being a class or two that doesn't quite fit the four "roles". The four "roles":
Defender: fighter & paladin classes
Leader: cleric & warlord classes
Controller: wizard class
Striker: rogue & ranger classes
Fighter, Cleric, Rogue and Wizard definitely stay (multiple mentions and examples). Also mentioned Barbarian, Paladin and Ranger. Mentioned that wizard and sorcerer won't merge. Sorcerer will be different from wizards in more ways than just resource management. Monk and Bard are likely to be discarded completely.
Character Powers are to be sorted into at will, per encounter and per day abilities.
Spellcasting has been munchkinned: less focus on "prepared spells"--from an interview, a wizard who uses all his prepared spells will be at 80% power. Also: "A wizard will never completely run out of spells. They can run out of their 'mordenkainen’s sword, however'."
"Buff" spells will be of drastically changed duration.
Fireball will no longer do 1d6/level.
It will not cost XP to create magic items, and will be much easier for a caster to do.
There will likely be no "Fort save or die" from massive damage, unless it reduces you to -10 HP.
Confirmation rolls for critical hits possibly will go away.
And then this: "Social encounters. For those who don't just want to RP such things without some mechanical impact, the game has rules for non-combat encounters. The example given was social interaction. Unlike 3E, where negotiation amounts to a single Diplomacy check, it's treated almost like a combat in 4E. I make a skill check, but I also tell the DM what/how I'm doing. The opponent responds with behavior (and a check) of his own. I counter with a new check, and new words. And so forth."
"Ah, the life of an adventuring cleric. I remember it well. A perpetual struggle to maintain the hit point totals of four or five nigh-suicidal tomb robbers determined to deplete them at all costs."
-
Boric Glanduum - Moderator
- Posts: 626
- Joined: Thu Sep 14, 2006 12:11 pm
- Location: "Hammer of Justice!!!"
by Boric Glanduum » Thu Aug 30, 2007 4:25 pm
Found this circulating from the ARC's of Salvatore's Book The Orc King. Rumor has it that the book contains "hints" at the future of the Forgotten Realms as the transition to 4e occurs.
WARNING! Possible Spoilers!!!
Both the prologue and the epilogue are sett 100 years in the future and they mention that the "world went mad" during the "Spellplague" but that Mithral Hall survived the madness. The founding of the Empire of Netheril is also mentioned.
WARNING! Possible Spoilers!!!
Both the prologue and the epilogue are sett 100 years in the future and they mention that the "world went mad" during the "Spellplague" but that Mithral Hall survived the madness. The founding of the Empire of Netheril is also mentioned.
"Ah, the life of an adventuring cleric. I remember it well. A perpetual struggle to maintain the hit point totals of four or five nigh-suicidal tomb robbers determined to deplete them at all costs."
-
Boric Glanduum - Moderator
- Posts: 626
- Joined: Thu Sep 14, 2006 12:11 pm
- Location: "Hammer of Justice!!!"
by Boric Glanduum » Thu Aug 30, 2007 4:26 pm
From the WotC website:
[quote][size=200]
Points of Light
by Rich Baker
08/29/2007
The Design & Development article series premiered on the D&D website back in September 2005, and has been a staple ever since. With the approach of 4th Edition, and our designers and developers focused on the new edition, this column will be the primary vehicle for 4th Edition coverage. We’ll not only give you peeks at what’s forthcoming, but also the “howâ€
[quote][size=200]
Points of Light
by Rich Baker
08/29/2007
The Design & Development article series premiered on the D&D website back in September 2005, and has been a staple ever since. With the approach of 4th Edition, and our designers and developers focused on the new edition, this column will be the primary vehicle for 4th Edition coverage. We’ll not only give you peeks at what’s forthcoming, but also the “howâ€
Last edited by Boric Glanduum on Wed Sep 05, 2007 5:48 pm, edited 1 time in total.
"Ah, the life of an adventuring cleric. I remember it well. A perpetual struggle to maintain the hit point totals of four or five nigh-suicidal tomb robbers determined to deplete them at all costs."
-
Boric Glanduum - Moderator
- Posts: 626
- Joined: Thu Sep 14, 2006 12:11 pm
- Location: "Hammer of Justice!!!"
so I'll just reserve judgement for now...
by Boric Glanduum » Wed Sep 05, 2007 5:50 pm
Just for Lorin... I've "edited" the "little words."
"Ah, the life of an adventuring cleric. I remember it well. A perpetual struggle to maintain the hit point totals of four or five nigh-suicidal tomb robbers determined to deplete them at all costs."
-
Boric Glanduum - Moderator
- Posts: 626
- Joined: Thu Sep 14, 2006 12:11 pm
- Location: "Hammer of Justice!!!"
22 posts
• Page 1 of 2 • 1, 2
Who is online
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 1 guest