Previews for July and Beyond

[Jhaelen]

I'm cool with the inclusion of Star Wars, d20 Modern or anything else that is not a D&D core supplement. If something doesn't interest me, I use my browser's scrollbar (like I do with everything connected with the Forgotten Realms setting...).

I'm very interested in 'Exemplars of Evil'. Especially since it only includes 9 sample villains. I'll probably never use a villain right from the book, anyway. I am much more interested in good advice on creating memorable villains myself that fit to my campaign. If found the villain article series pretty encouring in that regard. I hope/believe the 9 sample villains will be more like fully developed examples of certain 'villain archetypes'.

As much as I'd like to like MMV from what I've read on this board, I wasn't really thrilled by the three sample creatures we've seen so far. The Thoon section definitely piqued by interest, though, because mind flayers play an important part in my campaign. It's a pity they're not employing psionics, though. Imho, mind-flayers simply aren't the real thing if they're not using actual telepathic powers.

 

[Dire Bare]

I'm saying they've never previewed Star Wars in a D&D previews article before, why suddenly start now? That'd be like you trying to purchase, say, a new plasma TV and need some information on what's coming out for the plasma TV line, yet the retailers are shoving ads for new bathroom tiles in your face....instead of the more logical blu-ray players and surround sound stereo systems for example.

A lot of people think True20 should be the new D&D, but you don't see WotC shoving loads of True20 in our faces? I just think that WotC is telling me "Get Saga, even though we want you to buy our D&D products, we really want you to check out Saga...for reasons we can't discuss, of course."

What else could they be saying really? Most D&D gamers play or like Star Wars, so let's throw Star Wars ads on the D&D website?

Have you seen D&D books previewed on their Star Wars page? No. Why not?

It's just rather ominous to me.

Dude, your arguments just make no sense. Paranoid much?

Advertising a new ROLEPLAYING GAME in an article about upcoming ROLEPLAYING GAMES is perfectly reasonable. It's EXACTLY like purchasing a new plasma and getting ads for other electronic products (like a blu-ray player) from the same company.

And as others have pointed out, yes WotC has previewed their non-D&D d20 rpgs in their previews section before . . . . . there just hasn't been a non-D&D rpg to preview in a long time!

So a lot of people (who?) think True20 should be the next D&D and WotC isn't "shoving" that down our throats? Maybe because True20 is a Green Ronin product and not a WotC one? Just maybe.

What WotC is "saying" is really quite simple, "Hey, if you like D&D roleplaying products we'd love for you to take a look at our other roleplaying products, such as this nifty new Star Wars game here. Why? Well, duh, because we want to sell as many of them as possible, being as we're a business and all that silly stuff! Plus we're rather proud of it and think you just might like it if you are a roleplayer and a Star Wars fan!"

Sheesh. I gotta stop reading this thread! All this RPG hobby conspiracy crap just makes my head spin!

 

[Arkhandus]

I don't mind the Saga late-preview in the column. I understand the point of it, and think it's quite fine, though late to mention it in that particular column.

I agree with others that what works for Star Wars does not necessarily work for D&D, though, and Saga is a pretty radical change from the earlier version of SW d20 that was based on D&D 3E and D20 Modern (to an extent anyway, I think D20M was finished and printed shortly after the first printing of SW d20?).

Anyway, main point is that none of the previews look very encouraging or interesting except, possibly, MMV. And they're too scarce, too limited in scope, and not what I'd expect from a still-going-strong edition of D&D. Thus my pessimism, as fueled primarily by earlier signs and ruminations.

 

[Eytan Bernstein]

Exemplars of Evil looks good? Come on, the darn thing only has NINE villains. That doesn't sound like a Rogues Gallery to me.

Having said that, the hint about attending GenCon, coupled with all the changes they've been making on the Amazon board, would seem to herald 4e's arrival.

RIP 3.5

Without revealing much because of NDAs, I can say that EoE contains more in it than just nine villains. Villains have underlings (who have backgrounds as well), lairs, encounters, and quite a bit more.

 

[Glyfair]

Anyway, main point is that none of the previews look very encouraging or interesting except, possibly, MMV. And they're too scarce, too limited in scope, and not what I'd expect from a still-going-strong edition of D&D. Thus my pessimism, as fueled primarily by earlier signs and ruminations.

I do think a large part of the issue is that a high percentage of the products are adventures, They are very wary of giving out sneak peeks of adventures. Personally, I prefer when they aren't quite so secretive about them, but I know they hear complaints even when they release useful tools. I remember an uproar when they released the statblocks for Red Hand of Doom (IIRC), and I would think that was a great DM tool. I'm still waiting for the Eyes of the Lich Queen map gallery.

Look at what we have:

Star Wars Sage Edition: Already discussed above.

Night Below: Pretty standard peek at two figures (limited description is probably because the set has been discussed quite a bit, and is just now out).

Monster Manual V: Long preview with 2 monsters and list.

FR2 Shadowdale: Adventure.

Expedition to the Ruins of Greyhawk: Adventure

Exemplars of Evil: Not a lot of detail, but it is 2 months away

Fortress of the Yuan-Ti: Adventure

Dungeon Tiles V: Best peek we've had for the Dungeon Tiles, IIRC.

Rat City Rollergirls Safety Bumper: OK, I know they are excited about this. It would be pretty cool if it eventually gets into some sort of nation wide sport sponsorship (even professional wrestling).