Double News:PHBII in May, Tracy and Margaret

[Truth Seeker]

Forgive me for dropping this bombshell .

I am not doing it to shame anyone

But people must know.

Okay, here it is:'D&D PHB II' in May/ New Fiction Trilogy Gets Author Tour.

Discuss.

 

[BiggusGeekus]

Wizards of the Coast will release Dungeons & Dragons Players Handbook II in May at a $34.95 MSRP. It will be a follow-up to Players Handbook I in the same way that the Dungeon Masters Guide II was a follow-up to the DMG I. It will include new character options, new rules, new races, new character classes, and some additional teamwork benefits. WotC expects sales at least as good as those on Dungeon Masters Guide II.

Nothing wrong with this. Teamwork is always nice.

In June, WotC will release the Dungeons and Dragons Players Kit, a transition product between the Dungeons and Dragons Basic Game (see "WotC Seeks Old, New D&D Customers") and full-blown Dungeons and Dragons roleplaying. Like the Basic Game, the Players Kit will be a boxed set of products. It will include a trade paperback version of the D&D Players Handbook, dice, and a supplementary book that gradually introduces the player to the character creation process, all at a $29.95 MSRP.

YES! YES! YES! Awesome!

There's also big news on the WotC fiction front. In July, WotC will release Dragons of the Dwarven Depths, volume one in the new Dark Chronicles Trilogy (see "WotC To Publish New Dragonlance Novels"), by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman, in a $25.95 hardcover format. The new trilogy will be supported with a New York City launch party to welcome back Hickman and Weis (their last collaboration ended in 2002), and with a multi-city author tour.

I'm a little stunned and I don't really know what to make of this. I thought DL wasn't owned by WotC?

 

[MrFilthyIke]

I'm meh about DL stories...don't follow them.

The Player's Kit look sweet.

 

[Alzrius]

I'm a little stunned and I don't really know what to make of this. I thought DL wasn't owned by WotC?

Of course WotC owns DL. It's just that they've allowed Sovereign Press (or is it Margaret Weis Publishing now?) to use the brand name and make RPG books under it. Novels, however, are retained by WotC.

 

[D'karr]

I'm a little stunned and I don't really know what to make of this. I thought DL wasn't owned by WotC?

DL is owned my WotC, for RPG publication it is licensed to Sovereign Press.

 

[Rykion]

The Player's Kit is the thing that has me most interested. The WotC D&D Basic Game was a neat boxed set, but it really didn't give new players enough stuff for more than a game or 2. I think a set that builds on that is a very good idea to try to help draw in new players.