[UPDATED] WotC & Goodman Games Partner To Reprint Classic Modules for 5E

At Gary Con, Goodman Games and WotC announced a partnership, as reported by Brett B over on Google+. They'll be reprinting classic modules, including B1 In Search of the Unknown and B2 The Keep on the Borderlands in a hardcover with both the original adventures and 5th Edition information. More information if and when I hear it!

Photo by Brett B

​

UPDATE! There's now a press release from Goodman Games.

Classic D&D Module Collector’s Editions!

Very exciting news from the “What’s New With Goodman Games?” seminar at Gary Con this weekend: Goodman Games has partnered with Wizards of the Coast to produce hardcover Collector’s Editions of classic D&D modules! These editions will include the adventures as orginally printed, complete conversions of the modules to the 5E ruleset, new 5E content, and behind-the-scenes historical content!

Present at the announcement were B1 author and industry legend Mike Carr, D&D lead designer Mike Mearls, and Chris Doyle who will be doing the 5E conversion.

Here is the full press release:

Jump into Classic Dungeons & Dragons Adventure Modules with Collector’s Editions from Goodman Games

First Volume Contains B1 and B2 Converted to Fifth Edition, Plus Insider Commentary, and Original Art

Goodman Games is pleased to announce a partnership with Dungeons & Dragons to publish deluxe collector’s editions of classic D&D adventure modules! These commemorative editions will appeal to fans of Dungeons & Dragons across multiple editions. Each volume will include digitally restored, high-quality scans of the original 1970’s-era adventure modules, presented in their original published form. In addition, each volume will include a conversion of that original adventure to the fifth edition rules set. This format allows nostalgic gamers to re-live the adventures of their youth, and play those adventures again in a modern rules set! For gamers with families and children ready to receive the torch of gaming, this volume is the perfect format to share fond adventures with the next generation playing the Dungeon & Dragons fifth edition rules.

The first hardcover collector’s edition will include B1: In Search of the Unknown and B2: The Keep on the Borderlands. These classic adventure modules were played by millions of gamers in their original editions. Among other things, the book includes:

• Commentary by gaming luminaries on the history and development of these modules, including gaming legends such as Frank Mentzer and Luke Gygax who were “on the inside” when these modules exploded in popularity.
• A new interview with gaming legend Mike Carr, author of B1: In Search of the Unknown and early gaming pioneer.
• Digitally restored scans of both B1 and B2, including multiple printings of B2: The Keep on the Borderlands. B2 went through nine printings in its original form, and there are material differences between the first three printings and subsequent editions. These include changes in monster stats and significant differences in interior art. Two printings are presented in their entirety to highlight these differences. The historical material also includes the true story behind the cover art of B1, which was the only cover image TSR ever published that featured the signatures of both David Trampier and David Sutherland.
• A thorough and complete conversion of both B1 and B2 to the 5E rules set, fully playable with the original maps.
• New 5E content providing additional detail on the areas surrounding the Caves of Chaos, including, at long last, the Cave of the Unknown.
• Additional material for playing B1: In Search of the Unknown, including several completed monster and treasure assortments ready for play.
• A variety of additional essays, commentary, and other material for play.

The deluxe hardcover volume is anticipated to be available at Gen Con with general release in September 2017. For additional information, visit Goodman Games online at www.goodman-games.com.

SaveSave
SaveSave
SaveSave
SaveSave​

 

[darjr]

They'll get it done. AFAIK the content is all but done and now the negotiating about the cover and what not is going on. But that's just pure speculation.

See at about 3:02 in the video.

[video=youtube;BiUBG5PZ4I4]https://youtu.be/BiUBG5PZ4I4?t=3m2s[/video]
https://youtu.be/BiUBG5PZ4I4?t=3m2s

 

[mach1.9pants]

In a related note, Frog God Games are going to publish the classic Tegal Manor - which is very cool!

From there Quests of Doom 4 Kickstarter update:

Frog God has a number of excellent products coming soon…VTT maps for Rappan Athuk, Rappan Athuk for 5e (with several new levels in SW and PF too), Tome of Horrors for 5e, Tegel Manor (yes, its official, and I am doing the writing myself) with full miniature scale maps at higher tiers (like 24’ x 16’ on cloth). If you are not as old and groggy as this froggy, do a google search for Tegel—it was my first adventure and one of the hallmark’s of the early game. Then there are rabbits at Easter…(news and free starter material coming soon).

 

[Azzy]

In a related note, Frog God Games are going to publish the classic Tegal Manor - which is very cool!

From there Quests of Doom 4 Kickstarter update:

Heh, I just played through Tegal Manor.

 

[JeffB]

In a related note, Frog God Games are going to publish the classic Tegal Manor - which is very cool!

From there Quests of Doom 4 Kickstarter update:

Wow. I'm guessing Bob Jr. And Bill kissed and made up. There was some serious bad blood there from the Necromancer Games fallout.

I know that Tegel had already seen some great work in conversion/re-write by the awesome Gabor Lux (of OSR "fame") prior to the the falling out. I'd much rather see him tackle it than Bill.

Edit-And here is Gabor's original Tegel design page/notes

http://fomalhaut.lfg.hu/2010/11/06/tegel-manor/

 

[Jester David]

They'll get it done. AFAIK the content is all but done and now the negotiating about the cover and what not is going on. But that's just pure speculation.

Getting the content written is a third of the work.
You need to edit it, which takes a lot of time. Especially when reprinting, since you don't want to add new typos to classic works.
Then you need to layout. Which is likely a bitch for a product like this, where you want this took look similar, but the space content is taking up is changing dramatically.

 

[PyroArrow]

Wow! No one mentioned this recent update from 9/07/2017!

http://goodman-games.com/blog/2017/09/17/an-update-on-into-the-borderlands/

 

[BookBarbarian]

Wow! No one mentioned this recent update from 9/07/2017!

http://goodman-games.com/blog/2017/09/17/an-update-on-into-the-borderlands/

Nice!

 

[EthanSental]

The update says late 2017, almost there seems no one on the gg forum are getting new info either.

 

[PyroArrow]

I saw someone post on a Facebook AD&D group that Goodman games is looking at a first quarter 2018 release for it now.

I will guess maybe they will get it out before Easter Time, so maybe in March 2018.