D&D 4E GenCon - 4e News.

[A'koss]

Dan Sivils Reports: We got a chance to talk to D&D Associate Brand Manager, Kevin Wilson and other WotC officials today on the show floor about the future of D&D and the rampant rumors on a 4th edition.

He did confirm that there is no work being done in the development of a 4th edition that would force players to use miniatures to play the game. *

We also confirmed that at this time no 4th edition product will be in any Wizards of the Coast's product catalogs through 2007. *

This would seemingly put an actual product release sometime in 2008. Wizards of the Coast is working on all sorts of new 3.5 products that are not even on the current schedule yet so expect more 3.5 goodness for the next year and half. One such release is the Monster Gift Set which will feature all the current Monster Manuals in a gift pack at a reduced price. Another release which WotC would not confirm or deny is Monster Manual V. I have it from a good source to expect this next year. Kevin also mentioned that Wizards intends to utilize the history of the Brand more in future releases in both content and graphic treatment.

Concerning yet unannounced products, tomorrow's Sneak Peek seminar will reveal a few new details. We'll be covering it live with updates via our mobile hookup.

- from the Gaming Report.

*Emphasis mine.

 

[A'koss]

Purely My Speculation (Dan Sivils):

We did not get any specifics on when an announcement would be made on 4th edition, nor did I expect to, but I have some suspicions on how this will unfold based on this discussion with Kevin and the discussions in the Miniatures Seminar yesterday. Two days straight I have heard that Wizards of the Coast wants to make Winter Fantasy the premier event for all things D&D. Kevin stated today; "..the show currently known as Winter Fantasy will be the primary place to push D&D and 2007 will reveal a lot". Wizards has stated that Winter Fantasy is where they plan to reward D&D fans who attend with special sneak peeks (like this past year's preview of the Red Dragon Figure), insider concept pieces to get feedback on, and news on the D&D brand.

I suspect based on this and numerous hints over the past few days that 4th Edition will be announced at Winter Fantasy. The release will most likely be in 2008 based on the current catalog details we have probably at Winter Fantasy, again.

 

[thundershot]

Hopefully 4th Edition is to 3rd Edition as 2nd Edition was to 1st Edition (at least as far as the core books go). I really don't want to relearn the rules again again (2nd Edition to 3rd Edition). And this time, just make monsters playable from day one. Much simpler that way.



Chris

 

[heirodule]

Kevin stated today; "..the show currently known as Winter Fantasy will be the primary place to push D&D and 2007 will reveal a lot".

currently known?

Interesting. Maybe WF will go from being a RPGA con to being a general D&D festival. Putting the minis finals at it might be a step that direction.

WF 2006 was more "hey you guys are our core, tell us if theres anything you'd like to see"

I tried to push more 'rules' (a la Atlas Games dynasties an demagogues) a way of scaling and rating role-playing challanges (debates, diplomacy, etc) to make them have non arbitrary ELs.

What else could they do?

1) playtests of unreleased rules.

 

[catsclaw227]

He did confirm that there is no work being done in the development of a 4th edition that would force players to use miniatures to play the game. *

We also confirmed that at this time no 4th edition product will be in any Wizards of the Coast's product catalogs through 2007. *

Hmmm... OK -- so if this has some legitimacy, why don't they just come out and say this officially?

 

[A'koss]

currently known?

Saw that too, did you. I imagine with a renewed emphasis on that con will come a new name for it.... The official "Dungeons and Dragons Con" ?

Interesting. Maybe WF will go from being a RPGA con to being a general D&D festival.

That sounds like exactly what will happen.

Definitely any sneak peeks, playtests into future releases should draw huge crowds just on that basis. More insights on design and development... what else?

 

[A'koss]

Hmmm... OK -- so if this has some legitimacy, why don't they just come out and say this officially?

Because they're obviously saving the official announcement for whatever Winter Fantasy is becoming. Then they can have their big, splashy unveiling replete with sneak peeks, media in place, seminars, etc, etc...

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

All of the products that would otherwise fracture the fan base -- i.e. more campaign settings -- would be perfectly safe to unleash right before 4E. So when they leverage the game's history, I'd take that to mean more Expedition mega-modules and, in the run-up to The End of 3E, I'd expect to see Ghostwalk-style treatments of Spelljammer, Sigil, Al-Qadim, Birthright, a new Oriental Adventures, etc.

Now, if 4E is as backwards-compatible as 3.5 is with 3E, then that's really good news for everyone.

 

[A'koss]

Didn't Monte recently touch upon some of the "watch products" that would likely preceed 4e?

 

[Vigilance]

Now, if 4E is as backwards-compatible as 3.5 is with 3E, then that's really good news for everyone.

I suppose. Given the way most gamers treated 3.0 products as hot, leprous rocks the day 3.5 was released, I doubt 4e compatibility one way or another will matter much at all.

Chuck