[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

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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as orginally printed, complete conversions of the modules to the 5E ruleset, new 5E content, and behind-the-scenes historical content!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.

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[ddaley]

Hopefully, they will. I think they are pretty busy with Lankhmar, HTWAMTDS, and MCC (not to mention these conversions). They have had a number of very successful kickstarters.

I'm actually surprised Goodman doesn't revisit some of their excellent 3.x DCC line of materials and convert them over to 5e.

 

[redrick]

Does anybody know: is the plan to release these as standard WoTC 5e hardbacks (like the other adventure paths, monster manuals, etc), or are they planning a different route?

D&D books have been great for being relatively cheap to purchase on Amazon, but the quality of the bindings hasn't blown me away. For a product I'd like to have as part of my collection, I hope they hold up a little better than my other 5e books. (At the end of the day, I don't mind buying a new PHB or Monster Manual if I wear mine out, but my hope with a product like this is to have something I can pull off the shelf 10 or 20 years from now and not need to worry about it falling apart.)

 

[Zaukrie]

I am happy for those that want these, but I am no longer a collector type. I can't see spending this much money for only a part of the book being useful. I just want some new, small, modules. I bought tales, and it will be useful, but I really wish the stats were in there. Not a deal breaker, but also not as convenient as I want.

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

 

[jaycrockett]

So excited for this. B2 is one of my favorites. As much as I like Sunless Citadel, I think I'd replace it with Keep as the first module in the Yawning portal campaign.

 

[darjr]

I would be surprised if WotC is publishing them. And it does read to me that Goodman games is printing them with their deluxe collector style.

 

[Sacrosanct]

Who am I kidding. Let's be real. I'm gonna buy every single one just for nostalgia alone. How they actually play out, or if they are balanced doesn't matter. You hear that GG? Take my money.

 

[darjr]

Take my money!

 

[Zhern]

Does anybody know: is the plan to release these as standard WoTC 5e hardbacks (like the other adventure paths, monster manuals, etc), or are they planning a different route?

D&D books have been great for being relatively cheap to purchase on Amazon, but the quality of the bindings hasn't blown me away. For a product I'd like to have as part of my collection, I hope they hold up a little better than my other 5e books. (At the end of the day, I don't mind buying a new PHB or Monster Manual if I wear mine out, but my hope with a product like this is to have something I can pull off the shelf 10 or 20 years from now and not need to worry about it falling apart.)

Pretty sure Goodman Games is publishing them. If so, the books will be much higher quality than the WotC-glued-together-with-Elmer's books.

 

[Zhern]

Hopefully, they will. I think they are pretty busy with Lankhmar, HTWAMTDS, and MCC (not to mention these conversions). They have had a number of very successful kickstarters.

Don't forget Dying Earth. Add me to the list of people who would love to see the DCC 3.x redone for 5e. I've been planning on converting DCC 51 & 51.5 (Castle Whiterock) to 5e but haven't had time yet.

 

[Azzy]

What's the price point on these puppies?