Info from the 2006 May to August WotC Catalog

[DaveMage]

This is listed as retailing for $19.99 with a selling price of $13.59 on Amazon. If we pre-order it now (before they fix it) do you think they'll have to sell it to us at that price?

They don't *have* to do anything, but usually, if you pre-order, you will get it at the lower price (in other words, buy now ).

 

[ColonelHardisson]

They don't *have* to do anything, but usually, if you pre-order, you will get it at the lower price (in other words, buy now ).

I dunno about that. I've had such preorders cancelled by Amazon more than once, with an email asking if I'd like to continue the order at the higher purchase price. Then, a new twist - the Castle Yggsburgh book by Troll Lord was offered at an incorrectly low preorder price, and the book was eventually listed as simply unavailable, after a lot of people reported preordering. Still isn't showing as available, even after I've seen it at shops.

Anyway, I'll chime in and say I like the new stat block format also, especially for more complex NPCs or critters. For stock, low-level NPCs, it takes up too much space.

 

[DaveStebbins]

The Huge set boxes seem to have 8 minis *including* the huge, where GoL had 8 minis PLUS the Huge. I wonder if that means it's a 60-piece set instead of a 72-piece one. Also, does this mean that each Huge is a "Rare" and that there is no chance of a regular-size rare in there as well?

I noticed this as well. From dealer promo stuff others have seen, yes, it will be a 60-figure set and, yes, they are selling 7-plus-huge for the same price as they sold eight-plus-huge for last year. The speculation is that there will still be uncommon and rare huges, like before, but this time they will just take up an uncommon or rare slot in the box. So, if you get an uncommon huge, you'll get a different rare figure in the booster, but if the huge is rare, it's the only rare that'll be in the box.

-Dave

 

[tylerthehobo]

Who wants to bet that the trade paperback Player's Handbook in the starter set has dramatically less spell content (maybe levels 1-4 or something?) and trimmed equipment to account for the 160 pp. page count?

 

[Vanye]

#2) I thought the gargantuan and colossal figs were supposed to come with a second (regular-sized) mini in them as well, but I see no mention of this in the promo materials.

*shrug* Things change. Maybe the price point wasn't working for them, or maybe there was a shortage of the figures and rather than shortchange the entire line by having to juggle the box sizes, they just decided to package the big guys by themselves.

 

[BOZ]

Fiendish Codex I: Hordes of the Abyss The comprehensive sourcebook of demons in the D&D world.
Fiendish Codex I: Hordes of the Abyss is a comprehensive sourcebook covering the most dangerous (and popular) fiends in the Dungeons & Dragons cosmology: demons. It provides detailed information about the powers, tactics, and organization of the forces of the Abyss - both those covered in the Monster Manual and entirely new foes. In addition, this book provides new rules, feats, tactics, spells, and equipment for characters who battle fiends. Extensive story and campaign elements add dimension to playing or fighting creatures of this type. Included is extensive information on the layers of the Abyss and the ruling demon lords, demonic possession, and how to use demons in a campaign.
by James Jacobs, Erik Mona, Ed Stark; 160 pages, $29.95

woohoo! the number one item on the list, in my book. i especially like that last sentence.

 

[RichGreen]

Hi,

This is a fairly decent line up of books -- I'm looking forward to the Fiendish Codex, the Moonsea book and Secrets of Xen'drik in particular.

Could someone please point me in the direction of the thread for January to April's stuff?

Cheers



Richard

 

[coyote6]

I love the new NPC statblock format.

It's okay for NPCs, but it would be a pain in the ass for monsters. IMHO, it's harder* to deconstruct than the former Monster Manual entry style, and that makes it harder to add templates, class levels, etc.

*(It could be lack of familiarity on my part, but it seems harder than I remember the old styles being.)

I'm hoping they use the new format for the sample NPCs (advanced, etc.), and use the old style for the actual monsters. That, or tweak the new format.

 

[Twiggly the Gnome]

Actually, they only have trademark co-ownership of "super hero" and "super heroes."

Unless you can prove to me that David & Goliath, Inc. is a front for DC and Marvel (this company got the claim on "superhero"), or perhaps Dove Lewis Emergency Animal Hospital, Inc. (got the claim on "superheroes").

Don't believe me? Do a search on www.uspto.gov (and make sure you select live trademarks).

If you check the list of products their trade marks cover, comic books and games are not included.

IIRC, DC and Marvel's claim is on the term super hero and all of it's derivatives for a wide range of published goods, including books and games.

I doubt it would stand up in a court of law, but most companies who might challenge it either don't have the resources or have their own specious trade marks to worry about.

 

[the Jester]

I love the new NPC statblock format. What I absolutely hate is the new magic item format, i.e. "let's take up quarter of a page with useless filler text."

As my puppy likes to say (with his behavior), "Me too! Me too!"