*** For immediate release ***
Wizards of the Coast Announces Future releases of D&D
With the overwhelming popularity of the Open Gaming License (OGL), d20 products, and especially Wizards of the Coast (WOTC) own d20 product, Dungeons and Dragons, WOTC proudly announces the future of D&D and the OGL. WOTC has been very pleased with the newest release of the most famous roll playing game in history, Dungeons and Dragons, “third edition” has been very well received by the marketplace. WOTC has an aggressive strategy for publishing new products to expand the capabilities of D&D.
On April 1, 2003, we will be releasing Dungeons and Dragons 3.1 , Unearthed Arcana (fourth edition). This new version will be much more intuitive to use and have the same familiar underlying d20 engine that players have come to expect.
In May 2003 we are going to follow up with D&D 3.11 Unearthed Arcana for Workgroups. This will look the same as D&D 3.1 UA but have new features to allow users communicate more efficiently. All 3.1 users will be expected to upgrade to 3.11 to access these features.
In August 2003 WOTC will unveil its first real improvement to the d20 product line. This New Technology will use a 2d10 engine. This new version will be so advanced and forward looking that it only be backward compatible with WOTC products. Because of the lack of compatibility it is unfortunate that the 2d10 mechanic will not be included in the OGL. We are calling this improved game mechanic Dungeons and Dragons New Technology 3.1, or simply D&D NT 3.1. We will expect to maintain NT in parallel with UA. Our crack research staff has concluded that although the names of the products are similar we expect users not to be confused.
In the even that the players do find some confusion WOTC will illeviate that in a mere 35 months in September 2005 with the release of Dungeons and Dragons ’05. This will be a fully functional 2d10 engine that will be backward combatable with d20 products. Also, we should have all the promised features of D&D 3.1 fully functional by this release. D&D ’05 will support multiple players. Designers have assured us the game breakages will only occur on average 3.2 times per gaming session. We are happy to announce that when this happens most of the time all the players have to do is stop play entirely, close all the books, reopen the books and resume play. Character will only lose experience if they are silly enough not to record it every 20 minutes or so. Preliminary research shows that players will accept this as normal and adapt accordingly.
In April 2006 our most ambitious product ever, Dungeons and Dragons NT 4.0 will be published. This will expand the multiple players into their own play space and compartmentalize their actions. In the worst case situations, DMs will be able to kill one player entirely and restart them in the game without disturbing any of the other players. Designers have built a benchmark test, an Heirophant casting a ranged harm followed by a quickened magic missile against a 42 HD Cloud Giant Barbarian. Our results have shown that the cleric can be killed off, then restarted either with different spells (an eratted Harm for example) or with different tactics. In every case we have been able to prevent the cleric from any sort of instant kill spells while allowing the sorcerer to cast a heightened Disintegrate or Charm Monster. Once again, our research shows us that this is in line with player expectations.
In July 2008 we hope to release D&D ’08. It will be the last version of D&D compatible with the d20 license.
On April 1, 2010 we will unveil Dungeons and Dragons 2010. This will be a completely redesigned 2d10 product. Users will be expected to repurchase newer versions of all supporting texts.
Our final version of Dungeons and Dragons will be D&D XP. The license will only cost $5, with the texts being a nominal $95. We will expect players to “re-up” the license every 12 months for a small fee. With the licensing scheme we will be able to continue to upgraded D&D into the future.
On a final note, WOTC would like to welcome Bill Gates as our new CEO. Mr. Gates, of Microsoft fame, has come out of retirement because in his own words, he “wanted a new challenge.” He continued to add that he thought he had some really good ideas on where to take the OGL, the gaming industry and Wizards of the Coast. We welcome Bill with open arms.
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