DMs to pay for D&D Encounter materials?

[Weather Report]

I would like to purchase that 5th Ed semi-finalised book they're releasing at Gencon.

 

[Neonchameleon]

If I've understood what's going on properly (it's entirely likely I haven't), the product is being taken entirely too seriously; DMs aren't intended to pay for Encounters adventures to run as part of Encounters. But because they are metaplot adventures (like the Time of Troubles) you can choose to buy them separately. That's the hardback release for people who want to follow the metaplot rather than the format that will be sent to gaming stores.

 

[Timothy Rascher]

I actually run the Wednesday night Encounter at my local shop, and I can't see paying $35 for them. Hopefully what Neonchameleon said is correct; that tie in products are what's going to cost money. For the most part the encounters are very basic one fight scenarios that link together to form a sort of meta-plot. I've enjoyed running it, and it's good for new players to get their feet wet, but they aren't really useful outside of encounters (other than the maps, the maps are nice).

 

[darjr]

In the document from WotC the only adventure material for free in the kit is the first intro adventure. The rest are from the hardbound book that must be purchased.

This D&D Encounters season uses the Murder in Baldur's Gateadventure product that is sold through your store. Instead of providing an adventure in the kit, Dungeon Masters now use the for-sale product as the play experience! The quality and breadth of the adventure experience is greatly improved, and as the group plays along, they'll have the ability to go wherever they want, and act upon whatever motivates them to aid the city!

[h=2]Kit Contents[/h]This season, the kit contains the following contents. One kit has enough materials for 2 Dungeon Masters. As a reminder, the kit does not contain the adventure – it is the Murder in Baldur's Gate adventure that's purchasable at your store!

• A poster promoting Murder in Baldur's Gate, Launch Weekend, and D&D Next
• 2 packs of non-player character cards for the DM
• 20 exclusive player maps
• 20 exclusive Murder in Baldur's Gate d20s
• Instructions document

from http://www.wizards.com/wpn/News/Article.aspx?x=2013_06_10_DDEBaldur

also see http://www.wizards.com/ContentResou...ns/2013_06_08_DDBaldur_Solicitation_en_US.pdf

I might pay for Encounters adventures if the quality goes up and is consistently up.

 

[GX.Sigma]

Do we have official word that DMs are meant to pay for it? It would make a bit more sense if stores were meant to give a free copy to the DM as a reward for advertising the game, bringing people into the store, etc.

 

[Obryn]

Do we have official word that DMs are meant to pay for it? It would make a bit more sense if stores were meant to give a free copy to the DM as a reward for advertising the game, bringing people into the store, etc.

I think they want someone to pay for it.

I'm actually happy that it will be available for sale, though a lack of poster maps is a down-side for me. Encounters happens to be on my standing D&D night, so I don't go.

 

[GX.Sigma]

I think they want someone to pay for it.

I'm actually happy that it will be available for sale, though a lack of poster maps is a down-side for me. Encounters happens to be on my standing D&D night, so I don't go.

Same here.

If they're offering me some nice bonuses to take home (maps, NPC cards, etc.), I'd love to run Encounters. But if they want me to pay for it, I might as well just buy it and run it for my group. And, honestly, I'd rather pay an extra $5 to get the maps and cards in the box.

 

[MerricB]

How many sessions are encounters? They are supposed to be two hours vs the four so it would need to be about 18 sessions? I think mine have run about 8 or 9?

It varies. The last few seasons have been 8 sessions each. 12-13 is more of a standard. As I recall, they did one that was 20, which was probably a bit too long.

 

[MerricB]

I don't know much about D&D encounters but Pathfinder Society Scenarios are $3.99 each and there are 2 released a month. If this is a one shot adventure that you are supposed to play in one sitting, I would thing this too high.

The Encounters season this supports will run for 13 weeks. Sessions are typically 1-2 hours each.

Note that it's a 32-page adventure book and 64-pages of setting material.

 

[MerricB]

Same here.

If they're offering me some nice bonuses to take home (maps, NPC cards, etc.), I'd love to run Encounters. But if they want me to pay for it, I might as well just buy it and run it for my group. And, honestly, I'd rather pay an extra $5 to get the maps and cards in the box.

Everyone can buy the adventure/setting. They don't need to run Encounters with it.

However, if you run it as part of Encounters, although you have to buy the adventure... you'll get bonus stuff in addition (20 promo dice, 20 player maps, 2 packs of NPC cards). The Encounters kit is meant to be split between two groups.

What is significant about this adventure is that there are 64 pages of setting material. This is not standard for Encounters adventures. The closest to it was the brilliant Against the Cult of Chaos, which had four-five pages of setting material and a significantly non-railroaded plot.

Cheers!