The Official D&D Experience Speculation Thread

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Except that the randomisation is the factor that allows WotC to justify making the 'odd' miniatures. If they made them non-random, they would see massive sales for the most common monster types (orcs, zombies, dragons), and very low sales of anything more offbeat (the various types of demon, constructs, any good-aligned creatures). Hence, they would not be able to justify producing those poor sellers.

Combine that with the fact that only WotC can produce miniatures of the majority of creatures (beholders, mind flayers, anything from MMII, MMIII, MMIV, FF...) and we quickly get to a point where most monsters cannot be represented accurately on the battlemat at all - you have to use substitutions. (And, in fact, you don't have to go very far from the beaten track to get to that point - how many DMs use gnolls often enough to justify buying a mob of them?)

Random packaging is the price we pay for having a wide range of creatures available.

Weeeeeell, yes and no.

Reaper Minis does quite well with player miniatures and they create miniatures that look just like beholders, mind flayers and other D&D staples but just call them different things.

If WotC wanted to, they could certainly create a few sets of non-random staple units (goblins, orcs, adventurers, etc.) and then have randomized sets with the cool fun stuff still.

 

[CharlesRyan]

What IS Winter Fantasy/D&D Experience? I mean, I though it was an RPGA thing, not a convention. Just a big gathering of RPGA players doing tournaments. My wife and I are seriousl;y looking for a new con rather than GenCon, with D&D focus moving elsewhere and it's overlittering with computer and video games there. W don't play in tournaments, but like dealer's rooms, art shows, and seminars. Does this thing have these?

The short answer: No.

Winter Fantasy/D&D Experience is pretty much a playing-only con. WotC typically invites one or two dealers to provide a supply of books/minis/battlemats/dice that players may need on short notice. And there are a couple of seminars, mostly about what's going on at WotC and with the RPGA--clearly these are going to get increased focus. Other than that, though, it's all gaming.

That said, it isn't all tournaments. There are major RPGA campaign events, but you could probably fill your whole weekend with gaming without getting involved in those.

 

[JVisgaitis]

Other than that, though, it's all gaming.

A gaming convention that focuses on gaming... Brilliant! Sounds like its up my alley. Not sure if the GF or anyone else would be interested though. I wonder if they'll have Dreamblade there? Thanks Charles!

 

[Olaf the Stout]

So, let's say I need a bunch of Troglodytes, or whatever for an adventure... you're saying that I can't find them on eBay for a reasonable price? I think you're mistaken. You may want to check eBay again before making comments like this. It's not that hard to find a bunch of minis at a decent price.

--sam

I'd have to agree with you there Lalato

Olaf the Stout

 

[Olaf the Stout]

I think that a 4E is a possible announcement for Winter Fantasy. WotC seem to be making quite a few comments lately that Winter Fantasy will be where all the big announcements will be made. You don't get much bigger than that.

Of course, even if they do announce 4E, I imagine that there would be a fair amount of lead in time to it being released. Gen Con 2008 would be my guess at a release date if they do announce 4E at Winter Fantasy. I wouldn't bet my life savings on it though.

On a side note, I noticed that I keep mis-spelling 4E as $E. Very apt in some people's opinions I imagine. I predict now that this is what it will become known as on these boards. Mark my words!

Olaf the Stout

 

[Umbran]

A metric boat-load of WotC products have hit the liqudation distributors

Right after the holidays, should this be a surprise, in and of itself? It would seem reasonable to make sure you had stock on hand for holiday demand, and then shed it right afterwards....

 

[teitan]

Ever since 3e was released people have speculated that the next big con will be the fourth edition announcement. Makes me sick to my stomach it does. D&D4 isn't coming anytime soon. If they do anything they might change the layout of the books, the artwork and cover, maybe include some new sidebars on altering the game to suit your needs and magic stuff but with little to no changes in the rules with a concentration on clarification. I think they will wait and see how the changes in Star Wars will take and go from there with a release of 2009.

 

[teitan]

I hope that some kind of character generator is announced or revealed. Perhaps that explains the silence regarding the issue up to now.

Fingers crossed!

Hopefully simpler than E-tools...

 

[kenobi65]

A gaming convention that focuses on gaming... Brilliant! Sounds like its up my alley. Not sure if the GF or anyone else would be interested though. I wonder if they'll have Dreamblade there? Thanks Charles!

Well, it *was* an RPGA-only con until recently, and it's still largely focused on the RPGA.

The minis schedule is here -- only DDM and SWM, no Dreamblade.

The RPG schedule (which is pretty much only RPGA events) is here.

One thing that might get announced there is a new RPGA campaign. There's been some speculation that they'd do a new Star Wars campaign (replacing the now-concluded Living Force), especially with Star Wars Saga Edition coming out in March. There's also some speculation on a new horror-themed campaign, since Living Death's finale premieres at DDXP.

 

[kenobi65]

Right after the holidays, should this be a surprise, in and of itself? It would seem reasonable to make sure you had stock on hand for holiday demand, and then shed it right afterwards....

Or, more likely, right at the end of the fiscal year for Hasbro and the distributors. May just be wanting to get the stuff off the books.