What's Happening In D&D At PAX Prime?

PAX Prime is coming. It's a gaming convention in Seattle, and the one that WotC currently uses for panels or announcements rather than Gen Con (which is used for gaming). The convention takes place August 28-31. Here's what you can expect to see from Wizards of the Coast (who will also have a booth in the Exhibitors Hall from Friday through Monday).

• Acquisitions, Inc (Fri 8.30pm; Benaroya Hall) -- Armed with the latest monster-slaying technology, the heroes of Acquisitions Incorporated undertake a perilous journey into a demon-infested Underdark. Dare to descend with Jim Darkmagic, Omin Dran, Binwin Bronzebottom, and Viari as they search for a legendary dark elf swordsman who, in his quest to put an end to the machinations of the demon lords, has lost his mind. Can the dual wands of Jim Darkmagic overcome the twin scimitars of Drizzt Do’Urden and rescue him from the brink of madness?
• Sword Coast Legends (Sat 1pm, Wyvern Theater) -- You’ve played the Sword Coast Legends demo but there’s still more to see! The SCL team will show off the campaign building tools and share what they’ve got coming in the Rage of Demons DLC later this year.
• Building the Best Worlds in Game (Sunday 11.30am, Seagate Theater) -- Between Magic: the Gathering and Dungeons and Dragons, Wizards of the Coast has built world after world, year after year. What are the secrets to the process? How can you build your own worlds? Our panel of experts bridging the two games offer advice, and then answer your questions.
• Ask a Dungeon Master (Monday 10.30am; Sasquatch Theatre) -- Dungeon Mastering is an art and the skills and perspective are as unique as the story being told. Join Dungeon Master extraordinaire, Chris Perkins, to discuss tips, tricks, rules and whether it's kosher to kill a halfling in the first session. All levels of Dungeon Masters welcome from seasoned grognards to those interested in taking up the mantle.
• Design-a-Dungeon (Monday, 3pm; Wyvern Theatre) -- There are a lot of elements that go into making a satisfying dungeon adventure. We're going to throw all that out the window and crowdsource the whole shebang. After an hour, we'll have created an outline for an awesome adventure - or a complete farce.
• There's also a bunch of gaming going on. Harried in Hillsfar runs every hour, and Shackles of Blood runs every 4 hours.

Harried in Hillsfar

In the village of Elventree, near the oppressive city of Hillsfar, a recent string of strange occurrences has the locals on edge. The factions have gathered here on the borders of the forest of Cormanthor to determine what’s happening. Is this the machinations of Hillsfar, or something more?

This is an introductory adventure given in 1 hour mini-missions. Perfect for playing your first game of D&D.

Shackles of Blood

The Red Plumes have increased patrols in the region surrounding Hillsfar, and a string of disappearances has followed in their wake. Naturally, this has roused the suspicion of the factions. Join your factions and find out the truth behind the missing farmers.

Be among the first to play this 4-hour adventure in its regional preview!

[video=youtube;KipPMgbpKzk]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KipPMgbpKzk[/video]
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[Zaran]

Underwhelmed. Not even something about the new splat book?

 

[TarionzCousin]

If Acquisitions Incorporated slays Drizz't does it become canon? Jim Darkmagic is a loose cannon and anything could happen.

 

[Hollow Man]

Granted there's not as much gaming going on as at Gen Con, but there's still two adventures being showcased very regularly. So this whole "WotC will use Gen Con exclusively for gaming, while PAX will be exclusively seminars" has already crumbled.

 

[Morrus]

Granted there's not as much gaming going on as at Gen Con, but there's still two adventures being showcased very regularly. So this whole "WotC will use Gen Con exclusively for gaming, while PAX will be exclusively seminars" has already crumbled.

I think you sneakily added your own "exclusively" in there.

 

[Trickster Spirit]

Underwhelmed. Not even something about the new splat book?

What are you expecting, a panel focusing on just the one book?

Anyone who stops by the booth could ask the Wizard crew whatever questions about the book they want. If they decide to release previews of the book, those'll be online, same way as they did previews for the PHB, MM and DMG. Heck, if they decide to give away the book early to convention goers, that'll be a surprise for folks who stop by the booth or sign-up for their other events, not something they announce right now.

 

[Mistwell]

Granted there's not as much gaming going on as at Gen Con, but there's still two adventures being showcased very regularly. So this whole "WotC will use Gen Con exclusively for gaming, while PAX will be exclusively seminars" has already crumbled.

Hollow Man kills Straw Man. Where is Particle Man when you need him?

 

[Weird Dave]

Definitely can't make it this year, but maybe next year I'll try to get out to PAX Prime - especially if WotC is planning on serving as a platform for panels and previews (or at least more than they're currently using GenCon). Nice excuse to visit Seattle as well.

 

[Zaran]

What are you expecting, a panel focusing on just the one book?

Anyone who stops by the booth could ask the Wizard crew whatever questions about the book they want. If they decide to release previews of the book, those'll be online, same way as they did previews for the PHB, MM and DMG. Heck, if they decide to give away the book early to convention goers, that'll be a surprise for folks who stop by the booth or sign-up for their other events, not something they announce right now.

I was expecting the same as what other game companies did at Gen Con: Let us know what WotC is working on for the year. More videos of how a GM can put monsters in front of players in Sword Coast doesn't interest me.

 

[Mistwell]

I was expecting the same as what other game companies did at Gen Con: Let us know what WotC is working on for the year.

They've said they are adopting (for the most part) the video game type scheduling announcements, where they only announce the next project once the last one is out. They feel this results in a lot more buzz for each new project than announcing multiple projects at once. So, given that, you should not be expecting a year of announcements...ever, at any convention.