EN World - D&D / Dungeons & Dragons / RPGs

News for Friday, 10 October

Open D&D design position at Wizards of the Coast "Wizards of the Coast is looking for an Associate Game Designer to join our in-house staff of full-time designers. Please follow this link to read the position description and submit a resume through our jobs site."
DRAGON: Items of Legend In 4th Edition, artifacts are more accessible than ever before. Drop any one of these new artifacts into your game, and you’ll immediately grab your players' attention. Described in full, each artifact has a life of its own and can readily supplement those found in the Dungeon Master's Guide.
D RAGON: Death Matters Heroes are defined by the challenges they overcome. Take away a plausible threat of death, and heroes become boring automatons. That calls for dying rules that are fun and scary but not too punishing.
Excerpts: King of the Trollhaunt Warrens For the first time in centuries, the trolls of the Trollhaunt have a leader with the will and the wits to forge his lesser fellows into a conquering army. Following are select excerpts, including the introduction, a new monster, and a sampling of encounters.
Pathfinder Society Scenario Open Call Paizo has just posted the guidelines for our Pathfinder Society scenario open call.
YSDC DVD: Last Few Hours - Now with added Green Ronin 'Freeport'
Interview with Todd Stewart on Pathfinder Planar Cosmology Part 2.
Review: "Forgotten Heroes: Fang, Fist, and Song" "Forgotten Heroes: Fang, Fist, and Song" is another option for adding Barbarians, Druids, Bards, and Monks into your 4e game before the official versions are fully released. Many of the classes feel a bit complex, but do a good job of capturing a particular aspect of each of these classes, and the book comes with a very inspiring "hook" to introduce the characters into your game and to shape your campaign world.
New group:

Towards 5E - An Advanced Ruleset
A group for reimagining the D&D rules - where magic is once again mysterious and dark, characters are defined by their skills and adventuring is deadly.

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New reviews:

Against the Darkness An exciting game of modern Vatican horror, conspiracy and investigation in which demons, ghosts and vampires exist to torment and feed upon an unprepared humanity. The only defense is a small and steadily shrinking cadre of holy defenders. The heroes can be Modern Templars, Treasure Seekers,...
It's Superman! A somewhat dry, but detailed reinterpretation of the Superman story set in 1930s America.

New download:

Flamekin race and Brightsoul class This pdf includes the flamekin race (as seen in Magic: the Gathering's Lorwyn block), along with the Brightsoul class.

News for Thursday, 9 October

NEW EN World Blog Features! EN World Blogs has just been upgraded! Some of the new features include:

Blog Customization - users may customize their blogs in the same manner that they can customize their user profiles.
Group Blogs - users may allow other users to post to their blog.
Sidebar Blocks - users may create custom blocks to display in their sidebar. These blocks can be rearranged by drag and drop.
Custom Pages - users may create custom pages to be displayed in their blog.
Tags - tag support has been included.
Featured Entry Manager - multiple entries can be featured on the blog home page now.
Private Entries - users may set specific entries to be private while leaving their blog open.
And many more upgrades and features!

4E 3rd Party Publishers Wiki Page Updated again with yet more information on 3rd-party 4E releases. You may need to login. Feel free to edit or add content! Also, check out these wiki pages:

Excerpts: DU2 Streets of Shadow Interested in walking the streets of shadow? Or creeping through the sewers beneath? DU2: Streets of Shadow releases this month, and we’re offering a look at several pages of the tiles you’ll find within...
DDM: Demonweb Preview 5 What has four legs, six arms, two hands, and three eyes? A cyclops and a mezzoloth! No, it was not a trick question -- we honestly expect you to be that knowledgeable. If we can think up these riddles, the least you can do is answer 'em.
D&D Podcast Mailbag "We’re planning another D&D Podcast: Mailbag session, and we need your questions! Any topic, any query, any musings or inquiries—send them our way, at dndinsider@wizards.com."
Unrecognized Class Abilites in D&D Compendium? "While looking at the D&DI Compendium this morning I found the following excerpts in the Class descriptions of the Marital Classes. I couldn't find these sections in my dead tree copies, or the Errata released in September. I also couldn't find any similarly unrecognizable content in any of the Arcane or Divine Class descriptions. Along with the mention of some new power keywords in the Fighter and Rogue sections this leads me to believe this is Martial Power content. So I thought I'd share it and see if people think it is from there and what they think of it."
Inside One Bad Egg: An Interview with Fred Hicks
[AGP]: Revised Player's Guide to the Wilderlands Revised Player's Guide to the Wilderlands Chapter 3: Skills, Feats, and Languages, the first chapter of the Revised PGW released in PDF format, which includes more than 40 new feats for OGL ver.3.5 play, is now available.
Fantasy Craft Art Preview, Spycraft 2.0: Pocket Edition, and More
4e Forgotten Realms Campaign Guide Index As with the 4e PHB, The Gamer Dome has provided a free comprehensive index to the Forgotten Realms campaign guide.
One Bad Egg Releases Witch Doctor Heroic Tier Playtest Doc The heroic tier of the new witch doctor class is available as a free download. The witch doctor is a new take on the controller by Rob Donoghue.
New blog entry:

2008/10/9 Tabletop RPG Podcasts

News for Wednesday, 8 October

DUNGEON: Let Players Manage Themselves, Part 3 Our examination of player management concludes with a look at a difficult topic -- psychology. Managing diverse personalities around a table can be tough, but when done properly, it strengthens the group.
D&D Compendium Updated Including Monster Manual, Forgotten Realms and Adventurer's Vault.
Feudal Characters: Noble Available for 4th Edition Will you expand your ancestral land, stave off rebellion, win favor of your king or queen, or scheme to take their place? As a noble, you must contend with your rivals while keeping a close eye on discontent peasants. Are you ready for the challenge?
Interview with Todd Stewart on Pathfinder Planar Cosmology Planewalker.com has interviewed Todd Stewart, the primary writer for Paizo's Pathfinder planar cosmology.
Gygax Games & Mongoose Publishing Trigee Enterprises Co. DBA Gygax Games and Mongoose Publishing announce their agreement for the publication of Lejendary Adventure, a multi-genre role playing game system by Gary Gygax.
New review:

Behind the Spells Compendium Behind the Spells: Compendium brings together the first 36 volumes of the "Behind the Spells" series. Not only has the original material been corrected for errata but this book also includes brand new material for select spells and behind the scenes commentary by the author for each...

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News for Tuesday, 7 October

4E 3rd Party Publishers Wiki Page Recently updated with the latest news. You may need to login. Feel free to add content!
New War of the Burning Sky hardcover preview images
Free Preview of the Druid class from Forgotten Heroes: Fang, Fist, and Song Forgotten Heroes presents an apocalyptic backdrop for the inclusion of the barbarian, bard, druid, and monk classes into your 4e game. The free preview presents one of the four classes, druid, up to level 5.
KOBOLD QUARTERLY Spring-Heeled Jack The KQ Monday Monsters series continues with this legend from the UK, for modern or fantasy games.
WotC's 3.5 errata page updated... Complete Champion, Complete Scoundrel, Magic Item Compendium and (finally! sort of...) Tome of Battle have updated entries. However, the errata for Tome of Battle at least looks to include mostly changes from Complete Mage, so your milage may vary.
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News for Monday, 6 October

Playtest: The Barbarian - Take a Walk On the Wild Side Exclusive to D&D Insider, the barbarian! This Player's Handbook 2 class won't see print until 2009, but you can get a first look at one of the builds for the class here, from levels 1 to 30. So roll up a barbarian and send us your feedback today!
D&D Podcast Episode 25 (October 2008) In this episode, we discuss highlights of higher-level play. Dave Noonan just happens to be running an Epic Tier campaign with several folks here in R&D, and dragged three of his players into the podcast studio to discuss their experiences.
Revenge of the Giants Boxed Set - August 2009
Adventurer's Vault 2 - August 2009
Wayne Reynold's cover for Heroes of the Jade Oath is now online Rite Publishing currently only needs 11 more patrons to meet their production goal for this fan-favorite project for Monte Cook's Arcana Evolved, the Sign-up deadline for the production goal is Oct 22nd.
AGP Economic Stabilization Sale In order to help stave off (and prepare for) the coming Financiapocalypse, AGP has decided to do its part by offering our PDF products on sale for a limited time.
(Mongoose) Baron Munchausen - Out This Week! Players compete to outdo each other's feats of mad heroism and surreal derring-do in this unique and hilarious RPG, written by Baron Munchausen himself. With simple rules, fantastic artwork and more than 200 ready-to-use adventures, this game has been a cult classic since its release in 1998, but has been unavailable for six years.
New review:

Character Codex Record your rise from apprentice to archmage with this character codex! Extremely useful for characters of any class, this book provides a record of your character that can expand as your character does. It includes plenty of room for all your hero's statistics, equipment, cohorts, and magic items,...

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News for Friday, 3 October

D&D Experience 2009 We are pleased to announce the locations and dates for D&D Experience 2009. D&D XP is the place to be for sneak peeks of new product offerings, face-to-face chats with R&D staff, and premiere RPGA adventures.
DRAGON: What Happens in Vegas ... Take a look at the Level 32 Solo Controller mostrosity that is Graz'zt!
DRAGON: Good, Primal Fun! This month, we preview the barbarian, and anticipation is high. Folks have been clamoring for the barbarian since the Player's Handbook released. It was one of Chris's favorite 3rd Edition classes -- especially for that sweet, one-level dip!
Read a sample chapter of RA Salvatore's The Stowaway
Coming Soon: Open Call for Pathfinder Society Scenarios
Aendryth's Eldritch Compendium Inside this PDF you will find 12 spells powerful and arcane from 1st to 9th level, as well as 12 Uses for a Dead Prysmal Eye. Designed and apprived for use with Castles & Crusades and the Wilderlands of High Adventure.
Review: "Advanced Player's Guide" by Ari Marmell
New group:

Twin Cities Gamers Gamers in the Minneapolis/St Paul area.

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News for Thursday, 2 October

Demonweb Preview 4 Rub-a-dub-dub, three miniatures in a tub. One's common, one's uncommon, and one's rare; one's human, one's humanoid, and one's undead. Can you figure out which is which? We'll tell you; we're not taking any chances.
War of the Burning Sky Hardcover Preview Images
Races of the Shroud: The Apelord Inside this PDF you’ll find a complete player race for Dungeons & Dragons Fourth Edition, along with six racial feats you can use to go ape.
The "complete" list of announced 4e 3rd party products
[Goodman Games] Monster List for Blackdirge's Dungeon Denizens
(Final Redoubt Press) Critical Matters for 4th Edition!
[APG] 4E Medieval Bestiary: Anthropophagi is Here
[Charke Publishing] Chronomancer: Time Travel For Everyone
4th Edition Noble Multiclass
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New review:

Master Dungeons M1:Dragora's Dungeon If you don’t like standard dungeon crawls and have been looking for something that has a lot of customibility to it, Dragora's Dungeon is for you.

News for Wednesday, 1 October

1-inch scale battlemaps for War of the Burning Sky #9 and #10 now available for download (FREE)
Map previews for WotBS #12
Digital Insider #9: Updates and Improvements "Later this month we will begin selling subscriptions to D&D Insider and as we get ready for the big day we’ve changed a few things around the website. Here’s a run-down of the improvements we’ve implemented as of October 1st:"
October Editorial Calendar As announced in Digital Insider #9, we’re publishing our current editorial calendar to offer a forthcoming look at the Dragon, Dungeon and free content you can expect throughout the month.
October and Beyond Halloween is just around the corner, which means that it's time to preview the products that are coming out in October and November. Come take a look at the latest adventure, the starter set for D&D, and more.
DRAGON: Intelligent Weapons Adventurer's Vault introduced a number of new concepts for magic items in your game. Now Dragon adds another -- introducing intelligent items, new to 4th Edition.
DRAGON: The Evolution of Magic Items Here's an excerpt from a magic item system design draft dated September 30, 2005 -- the earliest substantial treatment of magic items for 4th Edition (back when it was still known simply by its code-name, "Orcus").
DRAGON: Backdrop: Graywall Droaam is one of the strangest places on Khorvaire. Gargoyles and wyverns circle in the skies, and goblins and werewolves lurk in the forests. One of the towns rising in the wastelands is Graywall. It is both home to monsters and a gateway from Breland to Droaam.
DUNGEON: Tariff of Relkingham Erathis has never demanded human sacrifice to preserve the safety of trade routes before. Mysteries abound as the leader of a small trading nation debates whether to risk the wrath of her people or the goddess. For 3rd-level characters.
Phoenix Lore #1 Now Available Phoenix Lore, an online community magazine, has released its premiere issue.
APG Releases Medieval Bestiary: Anthropophagi Enter the world of dark horror and prepare your heroes to combat against authentic medieval creatures of myth and fantasy. The Medieval Bestiary line of products empowers 4th Edition Game Masters to enliven any adventure or encounter by bringing truly ghastly monsters to life.
Rite Publishing releases Items Evolved: Rituals for Monte Cook's Arcana Evolved 10 new theme specific magic items in a simple reference format that includes read-aloud text descriptions, object loresight, and Lore DCs for each specific item.
One Bad Egg Site Launch for New 4e Venture "Evil Hat Productions and Blue Devil Games join forces to release new 4e material, focusing on innovative concepts, transparent design, and the highest quality products."
Issue #39 of 1001 + 1 Nights Free PDF 'zine available now
Signs & Portents 61 - Ready for Download
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News for Tuesday, 30 September

War of the Burning Sky - Now at Paizo!
4E product covers up on official site for:

DRAGON: Children of Darkness With this article, explore renegade drow in greater detail, with new character options that include new racial feats, magic items, and even an epic destiny, among others.
DRAGON: Master Mind (Confessions of a full-time Wizard)
KOBOLD QUARTERLY: the Jersey Devil
DRAGON: Class Acts - Primordial Swordmage
Heroes of the Jade Oath Patronage Project Preview: The Demon Hunter
OPEN DESIGN: Ed Greenwood Adventure Ed Greenwood has contributed to the Tales of Zobeck adventure anthology.
Wraith Recon 4e - In Stores Tomorrow
[Øone Games] Gruesome Mysteries in the Great City
Campaign Builders Guild The Creative Communities Alliance has released its Summer/Fall issue of Fantaseum.
DM Software Tools: Encounter Manager An Encounter Manager for 4e including tracking initiative, round, ongoing damage, alive/bloodied/dead. Also has all the stats for the 4e Monster Manual monsters ready to import! This is a beta release, looking for testers to give feedback for improvement.
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News for Monday, 29 September

News for Friday, 26 September

Draconomicon I: Chromatic Dragons appears on Amazon! Draconomicon I: Chromatic Dragons describes several varieties of dragons, including red, blue, green, black, and white dragons, as well as three completely new chromatic dragons. This sourcebook gives details of each dragon's powers, tactics, myths, lairs, servitors, and more. In addition, this book provides new information about draconic nations (such as Arkhosia) and organizations, and how chromatic dragons fit into the D&D game. Wide-ranging story and campaign elements in the book give DMs ready-to-play material that is easily incorporated into a gane, including adventure hooks, quests, and pregenerated treasure hoards.
Digital Insider #8: Feedback D&D Insider starts charging in October, Character Builder Beta coming, Barbarian, Tiny Adventures.
DRAGON: Hall of the Frostmaiden Beyond the ken of most mortals exists an other-worldly, untamed wilderness of feral beasts and faerie folk. The Deep Wilds epitomizes the raw, unfettered force of nature -- a savage expanse that liberates the spirit of the beast.
Blood War Stat Cards It's stat card time. Here are the Blood War cards for skirmish play, ready to be downloaded and printed out. These are the DRAFT versions of the cards, so register your reactions and comments before the stats are finalized.
Demonweb Preview 3 Elementals are loose in the R&D department! Peter is extremely busy trying to round them up with a butterfly net, cattle prod, and vacuum cleaner, but he still managed to find enough time to put together a short preview.
DUNGEON: Episode 7 "The Idea File" We’ve been discussing the magazines quite a bit in recent days, so we wanted to have a conversation with Chris regarding upcoming features, submissions, and what’s happening with both the barbarian playtest and the Adventure Path.
DRAGON: Playing Gnolls Most gnolls are fierce and feral predators dedicated to the wanton destruction favored by Yeenoghu, their dread demon prince. But some gnolls reject their heritage and the demonic heritage that is their legacy to become adventurers. As shunned as other such renegades by most civilized lands, these gnoll heroes nevertheless pursue more noble causes and seek to push back the tide of darkness that constantly threatens to consume all in its path.
RPGA Reward Card Update Those of you that are part of the RPGA Rewards program may have noticed that you did not receive any cards from our summer mailing. We have identified the reason for the delay and will ship summer rewards with the fall mailing.
Deluxe Editions - Now With Errata! The deluxe editions incorporate material from the update documents, including the stealth rules. They also feature embossed foil covers, ribbon bookmarks, premium gilt-edged pages—even a set of sticker strips to use as page markers to quickly reference the pages you flip to most (page 277 of the Player’s Handbook, we’re looking at you!).
Columbia Games Releases pdf Titles
KenzerCo releases House of Madness (HackMaster PDF adventure)
Morbidgames Drops Prices on PDFs Morbidgames is dropping the price on their campaign setting to $10 and their Journal series is now only $1 each or all five volumes for $4. Their products are available wherever you shop, RPGNow, DrivethruRPG, YGN or E23.
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News for Wednesday, 24 September