What's Up With D&D? for Monday, 6 February 2012

[Gaming Tonic]

It would seem that Wizards of the Coast are using Haste spells on their workers because not only are they working on the new edition but still loading us up on options for our current games. A new theme, more than a word or two about the Forgotten Realms, and some new magic items, not to mention a giant adventure all await you.

• Elemental Rewards, a Heroes of Elemental Chaos Excerpt by Bart Carroll unleashes a few new magical options for your players. Take a look at a new suit of armor, weapon, and two other magical rewards. The Gift of Chaos is the sort of magical reward that I prefer to use in my games because it never requires being traded out at a later level and the randomness of the item keeps things interesting.
  
  
• Jeff LaSala talks epic tales in History Check: Corellon and Gruumsh. This level of detail is an excellent read and the plot hooks are spot on. This is the second installment in the History Check series and so far I have not been disappointed.
  
  
• Monte Cook elaborates further on the new edition in Uniting the Editions, Part 2 for Legends and Lore. I agree with Monte when it comes to the feel of the new edition having an OD&D feel with some excellent twists. The poll responses from last week are surprising. The fans here at EN World are letting their opinions be heard here.
  
  
• Bart Carroll shows you what is to be expected soon in February: In the Works. Details of a new column we can look forward to reading as well as some upcoming products and DDNext are included.
  
  
• A new theme, the Sentinel Marshall by Jeff LaSala allows your players to become more like the long arm of the law (even if they are halflings). It was a relief to see that the starting feature benefit wasn’t only a situational benefit and the Marshal’s Interdiction power is an intriguing mechanic.
  
  
• Warrens of the Stone Giant Thanes by Christopher Perkins is part two of a four part series although you can always play the 14-16th level adventure as a stand-alone. I loved Against the Giants when I was a kid and this adventure series has me more excited than any other adventures I have seen from Wizards of the Coast for 4th Edition. The gamers are talking about the adventure here.
  
  
• Dating In D&D: No One Parties Alone by Jared von Hindman is an amusing look at affairs of the heart and the obligations, complications, and rewards. With Valentine's Day on the horizon it is a perfect topic to introduce a little reality to your fantasy game.
  
  
• The Dungeon Master Experience by Chris Perkins examines that Shiny New Thing, and how it kills campaigns prematurely. This is very common and I as a DM have been guilty of this sort of behavior and perhaps some of these tips will help us all to avoid abrupt endings to campaigns.
  
  
• Joining the Party by Tracy Hurley looks Beyond Maps and Minis. She discusses briefly using props, sounds, and 3-D terrain in your game. She also collects some links of other blogs and resources to use in your game and draw inspiration from.
  
  
• The +5 Crossword of Slaying –Part 4 by Chris Perkins give you something to occupy your mind and see if you are in fact a sage with D&D as a major area of study. Sages don’t use Google.
  
  
• Rule of Three by Rodney Thompson is the one regular article that I absolutely can’t wait to read every week. The in-depth answers that Rodney gives on subjects such as the influence of skills and powers in the new edition, as well as where the miniature game is right now, and where it is going are excellent. Read over the last few weeks again and you will see what I mean.
  
  
• Christopher Perkins talks Forgotten Realms in his Editioral:FR’eak. I believe I told you the day the big news broke that the Forgotten Realms would be the supported world out of the gate when we broke the news here at EN World. Seems to me like Wizards of the Coast is getting started early and I am glad.

[Klaus]

Quick correction: Corellon & Gruumsh is the *third* History Check article, preceded by "Vecna & Kas" and "Rary the Traitor".

[CAFRedblade]

RA Salvatore just did a IAmA on Reddit, he mentions a few things related to his book writing, and some cryptic mentions for Forgotten Realms regarding things coming later this year.

Also mentions a novel The Stone of Tymora, which I haven't heard about, but I haven't been following FR novels for a bit.

Primary reason was to promote Kingdoms of Amalur which he wrote the backstory for, and I think much of the main game story, if not all.

I am R.A. Salvatore, first-time Reddit visitor. I've been writing fantasy novels for 25 years now, and have leaped into video game development with both feet. What a ride! : IAmA

[Jeff LaSala]

Thanks for the shout-out and kind words, EN World.

Incidentally, I wrote up a brief about-the-writing-of-this post about my Corellon and Gruumsh article on my website.

And yes, quite right, that's the third installment of History Check. (Here's the three so far.) I pointed this out to the editors, and I'm hoping they'll be able to fix that soon.

- Jeff LaSala