Eberron: Forge of the Artificer Delayed Until December

Eberron: Forge of the Artificer will now launch in December 2025 due to a cover defect. Wizards of the Coast announced that the upcoming Eberron: Forge of the Artificer rulebook is being delayed for several months after warping was discovered on the covers of published books. The entire original print run of the book is being recalled and reprinted ahead of its release, which means that the production process will be extended by several months.

As a result of the production delay, the book will now be released on December 9, 2025, with early access happening two weeks prior. To make up for the delay, both digital and physical customers who pre-ordered their books as a WPN store will receive an Eberron mini-adventure when they receive their book.

A similar delay took place in October 2023 when the Deck of Many Things product was recalled due to faulty product just two weeks before its initial release. That was re-released in January 2024.

 

[Nord Ronnoc]

I am bummed out but I completely understand. I was planning on continuing my Eberron campaign with the 2024 rules for my stream. I'll have to come up with a short campaign in the meantime.

It's astounding how so many people didn't take the news of them ensuring that local gaming stores aren't screwed over with the delay.

 

[Micah Sweet]

I am bummed out but I completely understand. I was planning on continuing my Eberron campaign with the 2024 rules for my stream. I'll have to come up with a short campaign in the meantime.

It's astounding how so many people didn't take the news of them ensuring that local gaming stores aren't screwed over with the delay.

Many people don't use local gaming stores anymore, and buy everything online, physical or digital. If digital, from their perspective this delays their product for reasons that have nothing to do with them or the product they intended to purchase.

 

[Nord Ronnoc]

Many people don't use local gaming stores anymore, and buy everything online, physical or digital. If digital, from their perspective this delays their product for reasons that have nothing to do with them or the product they intended to purchase.

Delaying the physical release but not the digital release would only make things worse for stores that sell physical copies.

 

[Mistwell]

Delaying the physical release but not the digital release would only make things worse for stores that sell physical copies.

Yes, he's saying some people don't care about that big picture reason, don't care that game stores are a gateway to new players and critical to the health of the industry, and just want their digital access because that's all they care about.

 

[Mistwell]

This is literal anti-consumer behavior. The consumer was promised the digital edition in August. There is no reason to delay the digital edition; there is nothing wrong with it. The only reason to delay something promised to the consumer, many of whom already paid for it, is because they want to prop up an industry

Game store health is crucial to the long term health of the industry. Game stores are a primary gateway for new players, primary gateway for new DMs, and their success in the long term helps all game consumers. So yes, it's in WOTCs best interest and the best interests of gamers in general to support game stores, even if an individual doesn't use them.

That's why game stores get books earlier than big box stores, and why they often get unique covers which can only be purchased at game stores.

Just because the reason doesn't benefit you personally, that doesn't mean there is no reason. There is a very good reason for WOTC to support game stores in this way.

 

[Remathilis]

This is literal anti-consumer behavior. The consumer was promised the digital edition in August. There is no reason to delay the digital edition; there is nothing wrong with it. The only reason to delay something promised to the consumer, many of whom already paid for it, is because they want to prop up an industry

Let's look at the scenarios:

1. WotC releases FotA as promised, with the defective cover.
Reaction: "WotC has zero quality control. They are cutting corners to pump out cheap products. The books are defective as a way to lead people to digital purchases."

2. WotC releases FotA digital, delays the physical release.
"This is proof that WotC is abandoning physical for digital releases. This is going to kill LGS. This is being used to prop up D&D Beyond sales. WotC is forcing me to buy it twice."

3. WotC delays both physical and digital.
" WotC is making me wait 5 months for a product I was going to buy anyway! WotC delayed the start of my new Eberron game."

Which of those do you think is the worst backlash? The first two options are PR seppuku. The latter is a bunch of grousing fans grumpy they have to wait longer.

The book is already a trial balloon to see if smaller books will sell. There is no need to pollute the results by finding out if a 5 month digital exclusivity window changes things.

And if you think this is bad, I'm going to assume you haven't bought a video game or collector memorabilia in the last 30 years.

 

[Remathilis]

As an addendum: WotC has been fighting the idea that they are abandoning physical books for digital only since before 2024 was released. Kobold Press even tried to sell TotV on the idea WotC was going to stop selling books in favor of dlc micro transactions and online only access. And the first supplement (non adventure) for 2024 is sold digital-only for 5 months?! WotC would never escape the accusations.

 

[Micah Sweet]

Delaying the physical release but not the digital release would only make things worse for stores that sell physical copies.

Sure, absolutely. What I'm saying is that if you don't use gaming stores you might not care about that.

 

[Micah Sweet]

Let's look at the scenarios:

1. WotC releases FotA as promised, with the defective cover.
Reaction: "WotC has zero quality control. They are cutting corners to pump out cheap products. The books are defective as a way to lead people to digital purchases."

2. WotC releases FotA digital, delays the physical release.
"This is proof that WotC is abandoning physical for digital releases. This is going to kill LGS. This is being used to prop up D&D Beyond sales. WotC is forcing me to buy it twice."

3. WotC delays both physical and digital.
" WotC is making me wait 5 months for a product I was going to buy anyway! WotC delayed the start of my new Eberron game."

Which of those do you think is the worst backlash? The first two options are PR seppuku. The latter is a bunch of grousing fans grumpy they have to wait longer.

The book is already a trial balloon to see if smaller books will sell. There is no need to pollute the results by finding out if a 5 month digital exclusivity window changes things.

And if you think this is bad, I'm going to assume you haven't bought a video game or collector memorabilia in the last 30 years.

How much are they charging for this thing, out of curiosity?

 

[Nord Ronnoc]

How much are they charging for this thing, out of curiosity?

$30 for physical, $20 for digital, barring taxes. About $40 for the bundle (including digital maps and dice), also barring taxes.