New D&D In-Store Play Program

[Camelot]

I think the are searching for an replacement. They want a profitable way to milk the D&D brand and the classic RPG isn't (compared to the profit margin of their other venues).

They need to turn it easier, faster and much more beer and pretzels.

If I were a Hasbro bean counter I would name the need for an DM as one of the largest barriers to entry for new players and pressure them for ways to eliminate the DM role.

I won't be surprised if these "tougher encounters" will eventually be played by the players alone, directing the monsters through special "take a monster turn" rules without needing a DM at all.

It wouldn't make sense to advertise a "hardcore encounters" and then tell you, "but you have to control the monsters themselves."

Player:...Okay, the monster turns around and twiddles its thumbs. Anyone object?

Other players: Nope, sounds good. We win!

Wouldn't be a very good move.

 

[Mirtek]

It wouldn't make sense to advertise a "hardcore encounters" and then tell you, "but you have to control the monsters themselves."

The boardgames already do this (well, Castle Ravenloft does, so it's safe to assume that the upcoming one will also do it this way)

After the player is done with his hero he has to play a monster according the monster card (which tells the tactic of the monster)

 

[Cyronax]

It is a dungeon delve for optimised characters only bring every bonus you can find to the game or die.
Thats the way I read it anyway.

This.

Its funny that WotC is planning to be in the D&D business as late as next September. From what I have been reading, I thought WotC was in a death-spiral.

Oh well, I really hope WotC will also post their 'challenging adventures' online as well. I think this whole thing is a great idea, even if it seems to require Fortune Cards (meh).

C.I.D.

 

[Pour]

My one hope is that they design some new, uniquely 4th edition meat-grinders akin to ToH to mutilate these doomed PCs with. And while I tend to doubt they'll share these hardcore crawls, just for the fact they want people in seats at sponsored events, I'm sure the blogs will share with us at least a little bit of the suffering.

I'm pretty pumped to hear the stories about this, truthfully. And if that's how Fortune Cards see their most play, so be it, scrounging for every last advantage possible.

 

[Dragonblade]

This is awesome news! I was a member of a winning Ultimate Dungeon Delve team at PAX two years ago before WotC discontinued the UDD.

It was one of the best gaming experiences of my life. My teammates actually had practices led by another friend who DMed for us because he wasn't planning on playing. We all optimized our characters for the experience as well.

4e really lends itself well to competitive delves and its a fun way to earn some bragging rights and geek cred.

I'm not interested in Encounters, but I am interested in this. This also could actually get me to buy Fortune Cards, which previously I had no interest in.

 

[ProfessorCirno]

Nope, it's oldschool: tournament modules. The winning team is that one whose bloodied, shredded bodies fell farthest away from the entrance.

But thanks for contributing to the fact that my cup runneth over with doom, fellow Kraut.

This is what I got out of it - instant memories of the super old school "See how long you last" style tournament game. This is less "wargame," more "amazingly old school"

Count me in as also being curious as to what a "very hard" dungeon might be like in 4e. I doubt it'll be the same arbitrariness of Tomb of Horrors, so I'm wondering how they'll do it.

 

[Jhaelen]

If the encounters are anything like those in the 3e tournament modules from Goodman Games, this should be fun.

 

[Nebten]

Just so people know, this tourny style of play OR the new Encounters does not required Fortune cards. They are options. Of course, to get the optimal effects for any encounter, the cards are a nice bonus. If somebody has a link from Wizards that says otherwise, please post it. Everything I've seen so far from WotC though states that these cards are an option that is allowed at WPN events in the future.

 

[Scribble]

I think the current regime is really trying to channel some old school ideas.

This is kind of like the tournament modules of old (Tomb of Horrors was one right?) just on a larger scale.

I think it would be pretty awesome if this took off. Could you imagine like national teams of dungeon delvers all fighting for some sort of awesome prize?

 

[OnlineDM]

Just so people know, this tourny style of play OR the new Encounters does not required Fortune cards. They are options. Of course, to get the optimal effects for any encounter, the cards are a nice bonus. If somebody has a link from Wizards that says otherwise, please post it. Everything I've seen so far from WotC though states that these cards are an option that is allowed at WPN events in the future.

I believe you are incorrect. Yes, it's true that Encounters will not require Fortune Cards (though it will allow them). However, this page specifically states:

For some Wizards Play Network programs aimed at experienced players, Fortune Card purchase will be a requirement to participate, but our broadly-appealing programs like D&D Encounters will feature their use without such a requirement.

(emphasis added)

Now, WotC hasn't definitively said that this new program will require the Fortune Cards, but I think it's a pretty fair conclusion to draw. This new program seems to be exactly what the quoted sentence is talking about (aimed at experienced players). And the new program announcement also said "Bring your Fortune Cards."

I don't think they're trying to be circumspect here - the new program will require Fortune Cards.