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

[Sword of Spirit]

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).

Dang it! I want to go to GenCon even more now.

 

[Callahan09]

Actually, the 1991 Black Box was pretty good--it went all the way up to level 5, IIRC, and was full of neat stuff and ways to teach the game. It got a good chunk of support from TSR, too, with 3 big add-on boxes and numerous smaller modules. (And it apparently sold about half a million copies over the course of 3-5 years.)

I wanted to mention the black box as well. This is how I learned D&D. The box was great and had both an introductory learning experience as well as a more traditional reference rulebook. This made for a great starter set because you got a tailor-made learning tool as well as the actual game rules which you could take the Rules Cyclopedia and move on to the "full" game very easily and with no "delearning" or "relearning" of rules that weren't compatible between the intro set and the full game. The Dragon Cards learning/teaching method of that box is to this day the most clear, easy to follow, quick to learn method of introducing someone to D&D.

 

[Majoru Oakheart]

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).

Wait. Do we know that the All-Access Pass will cost $150? They haven't released any of the pricing details for this year's pass because none of the events are in the event catalog.

 

[pedr]

There's a thread at community.GenCon.com with a bit more info:
http://community.gencon.com/forums/t/33402.aspx

 

[TillForPie]

I'm excited. I ran a session with the last playtest packet and based on what I saw it's poised to be my favorite edition of the game.

 

[Majoru Oakheart]

There's a thread at community.GenCon.com with a bit more info:
http://community.gencon.com/forums/t/33402.aspx

Yeah, I'm beginning to think that you get at least two books as bonus for the All-Access Pass. But they are going to hide that fact until after registration...again.

Because last year they got one book for $100 dollars and it was almost twice as many slots. It sounds like you get 2 fairly expensive books and the opportunity to get them signed.

Though, it might not be the PHB and MM. It might be the PHB and the first Tyranny of Dragons adventure(which I expect to be a mega adventure and about the size of Ghosts of Dragonspear Castle). Therefore, they can delay the MM until whenever it is ready while simultaneously giving you something to run that already has the monsters for that adventure written in it.

 

[DMZ2112]

There's a thread at community.GenCon.com with a bit more info:
http://community.gencon.com/forums/t/33402.aspx

Holy crap, is Gen Con becoming a far more expensive proposal than I had originally anticipated.

It might be moot, though, as I don't think I can do this and judge my D&D Next slot. Kind of disappointing? Not really?

 

[PinkRose]

For those volunteering for a badge or a room, you can't do the All-Access, because you are required to judge the Saturday 6-9pm.
Here's more info from Baldman Games, the Organizer for WotC.

A: The D&D All Access Pass consists of 16 hours of gaming with one of our best and most experienced judges. That 16 hours will consist of running through each of the 4 hour adventures (Secrets of Sokol Keep and Shadow on the Moonsea), 4 of the 5 parts of the Delve event (Defiance in Phlan), and the special Saturday night event (Corruption in Kryptgarden). So no trying to wiggle tickets into all the various events. One ticket and done. "But Dave - if I bought them all separate it would only come to $44 - what is the other $106 for?". Glad you asked. Your play area is carpeted and set off to the side a bit to try and reduce noise as well as the tables are spaced a little farther apart. Still really that is not woth $106. Did we mention you get stuff? Lots of stuff. REALLY cool and valuable stuff. Last year we gave out signed limited edition books. Not just signed but personalized by each member of the R&D staff. Did we mention people like Ed Greenwood and Bob Salvatore wandered through the area at times and sat down to chat and sign things while you played? Did we mention that when people had rules questions there was usually an actual member of R&D standing around waiting to answer it? As we go along some of what you will get will be spoiled in articles and in this thread but for now you have to just trust me when I say it will be awesome.

 

[exile]

I'm no longer anticipating that the "all-access pass" will net its buyers two books; now I suspect that it will be an autographed PHB.

 

[DMZ2112]

For those volunteering for a badge or a room, you can't do the All-Access, because you are required to judge the Saturday 6-9pm.

*snaps fingers* Of course! Well, not disappointed anymore. Would much rather be involved with running the big event.

Also suddenly $150 richer! Woo!