D&D 5E Street date for D&D Next Starter Game is July 15

[GravyFingerz]

I'm late to the party and haven't read the entire thread so let me get this straight.

July - starter set.
August - PHB
September - MM
November - DMG

Did I miss anything?

Warder

DID YOU COME FROM THE FUTURE TO GIVE US SPOILERS?!?!?!?!

 

[delericho]

I'm late to the party and haven't read the entire thread so let me get this straight.

July - starter set.
August - PHB
September - MM
November - DMG

Did I miss anything?

Warder

As mentioned, the MM date hasn't been mentioned previously.

Note also that none of these are confirmed by WotC. The information has been provided by multiple somewhat-reliable sources which is enough for some confidence, but it's not 100% certain.

(It's possible, for instance, that the stores are getting their info from the distributors, that both B&N and the distributors got the same data from WotC at the same time, and that WotC have had to push back the release.)

 

[M.L. Martin]

However, one of the very first pages for the Player's books is a little blurb stating that if you are coming from the Redbox, you now have to scrap the character you just made there and COMPLETELY recreate the character using the Player's Books as the two are not compatible and will not work with the rest of the game.

If that wasn't a slap to new players... I don't know what is...

It was sad... And I just hope beyond hope that WoTC doesn't continue the trend...

But it's Tradition!

From all the evidence I've gathered, the 83 Red Box fed a lot more players into AD&D than it did into Expert and beyond, and AD&D didn't even have the decency to warn you how different a game it was in the core rulebooks. (2nd Edition did, but not very clearly until the 1995 reprint.)

Making the 'core game' different from the Red Box is a misstep, but history shows it's not necessarily a crippling one.

 

[delericho]

But it's Tradition!

From all the evidence I've gathered, the 83 Red Box fed a lot more players into AD&D than it did into Expert and beyond...

I wouldn't be at all surprised. However, for legal reasons D&D and AD&D were completely different games and completely separate lines, and never the twain shall meet (any superficial resemblances being purely coincidental... or something).

The bottom line being that the incompatibilities between the B/X and BECMI Red Boxes vs AD&D were something forced on TSR, rather than... whatever was the case with Essentials.

Making the 'core game' different from the Red Box is a misstep, but history shows it's not necessarily a crippling one.

Indeed. I agree on both counts.

 

[Blackwarder]

DID YOU COME FROM THE FUTURE TO GIVE US SPOILERS?!?!?!?!

YES!

Not sure where you got September for the MM, but otherwise that looks right.

As mentioned, the MM date hasn't been mentioned previously.


Note also that none of these are confirmed by WotC. The information has been provided by multiple somewhat-reliable sources which is enough for some confidence, but it's not 100% certain.


(It's possible, for instance, that the stores are getting their info from the distributors, that both B&N and the distributors got the same data from WotC at the same time, and that WotC have had to push back the release.)

It seems right for a staggared launch, one month between each launch.
First the starter set - the most basic product to play.
Second the PHB - it expand on the starter set on the player side, you can play every adventure in the starter set with PC from he PHB or the starter set.
Third the MM - again, it's a book that merely expand on the beastiary in the starter set and can be used with it.
Fourth the DMG - a book that contain a lot of DM advice and optional systems.


If I were aiming for a staggared launch that's how I'd do it.


Warder

 

[Iosue]

It seems right for a staggared launch, one month between each launch.
First the starter set - the most basic product to play.
Second the PHB - it expand on the starter set on the player side, you can play every adventure in the starter set with PC from he PHB or the starter set.
Third the MM - again, it's a book that merely expand on the beastiary in the starter set and can be used with it.
Fourth the DMG - a book that contain a lot of DM advice and optional systems.

If I were aiming for a staggared launch that's how I'd do it.

It's certainly plausible. But I still think the MM will be released at roughly the same time as the PHB. I think we'll see:

Starter Set in July - Basic core game.
PHB, MM in August - Standard game (Core game plus character customization options) in the PHB, plus expanded beastiary with the MM.
DMG in November - Campaign customization.

Basically, I think that the PHB will cover a lot of the rules that used to be in the DMG, so that the DMG is not required to play. But there needs to be monsters, otherwise you'll require DMs to buy the starter set. So I think PHB and MM will go together to allow people to get into the Standard game without having to buy the Starter Set. That leaves September and October. Perhaps a Forgotten Realms campaign guide? And a campaign length adventure a la Ghosts of Dragonspear Castle?

 

[pedr]

I wouldn't be at all surprised. However, for legal reasons D&D and AD&D were completely different games and completely separate lines, and never the twain shall meet (any superficial resemblances being purely coincidental... or something).

The bottom line being that the incompatibilities between the B/X and BECMI Red Boxes vs AD&D were something forced on TSR, rather than... whatever was the case with Essentials.

I think I've heard this suggested before, but do you know of a source that discusses this? It doesn't make a great deal of sense as both lines existed before the various personality/legal problems within TSR.

 

[delericho]

I think I've heard this suggested before, but do you know of a source that discusses this? It doesn't make a great deal of sense as both lines existed before the various personality/legal problems within TSR.

It goes back to the publication of AD&D in 1977 (?) - Gygax and Arneson had shared credit on D&D, but Gygax had sole credit on AD&D. This precipitated a fallout, legal challenges, etc. Some information can be found here.

 

[exile]

I have a theory that both the PHB and MM will be available at GenCon. The D&D All-Access Pass costs $150. It is good for two four hour slots that cost $8 each and one three hour special slot that costs $12. That makes for $28 worth of gaming. That $150 has to get you something more-- my guess, the PHB and DMG (and maybe the starter as well).

 

[Cybit]

I have a theory that both the PHB and MM will be available at GenCon. The D&D All-Access Pass costs $150. It is good for two four hour slots that cost $8 each and one three hour special slot that costs $12. That makes for $28 worth of gaming. That $150 has to get you something more-- my guess, the PHB and DMG (and maybe the starter as well).

I also think this is the case; I am guessing the MM and PH will be released at the same time.