[UPDATED] WotC & Goodman Games Partner To Reprint Classic Modules for 5E

At Gary Con, Goodman Games and WotC announced a partnership, as reported by Brett B over on Google+. They'll be reprinting classic modules, including B1 In Search of the Unknown and B2 The Keep on the Borderlands in a hardcover with both the original adventures and 5th Edition information. More information if and when I hear it!

Photo by Brett B

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UPDATE! There's now a press release from Goodman Games.

Classic D&D Module Collector’s Editions!

Very exciting news from the “What’s New With Goodman Games?” seminar at Gary Con this weekend: Goodman Games has partnered with Wizards of the Coast to produce hardcover Collector’s Editions of classic D&D modules! These editions will include the adventures as orginally printed, complete conversions of the modules to the 5E ruleset, new 5E content, and behind-the-scenes historical content!

Present at the announcement were B1 author and industry legend Mike Carr, D&D lead designer Mike Mearls, and Chris Doyle who will be doing the 5E conversion.

Here is the full press release:

Jump into Classic Dungeons & Dragons Adventure Modules with Collector’s Editions from Goodman Games

First Volume Contains B1 and B2 Converted to Fifth Edition, Plus Insider Commentary, and Original Art

Goodman Games is pleased to announce a partnership with Dungeons & Dragons to publish deluxe collector’s editions of classic D&D adventure modules! These commemorative editions will appeal to fans of Dungeons & Dragons across multiple editions. Each volume will include digitally restored, high-quality scans of the original 1970’s-era adventure modules, presented in their original published form. In addition, each volume will include a conversion of that original adventure to the fifth edition rules set. This format allows nostalgic gamers to re-live the adventures of their youth, and play those adventures again in a modern rules set! For gamers with families and children ready to receive the torch of gaming, this volume is the perfect format to share fond adventures with the next generation playing the Dungeon & Dragons fifth edition rules.

The first hardcover collector’s edition will include B1: In Search of the Unknown and B2: The Keep on the Borderlands. These classic adventure modules were played by millions of gamers in their original editions. Among other things, the book includes:

• Commentary by gaming luminaries on the history and development of these modules, including gaming legends such as Frank Mentzer and Luke Gygax who were “on the inside” when these modules exploded in popularity.
• A new interview with gaming legend Mike Carr, author of B1: In Search of the Unknown and early gaming pioneer.
• Digitally restored scans of both B1 and B2, including multiple printings of B2: The Keep on the Borderlands. B2 went through nine printings in its original form, and there are material differences between the first three printings and subsequent editions. These include changes in monster stats and significant differences in interior art. Two printings are presented in their entirety to highlight these differences. The historical material also includes the true story behind the cover art of B1, which was the only cover image TSR ever published that featured the signatures of both David Trampier and David Sutherland.
• A thorough and complete conversion of both B1 and B2 to the 5E rules set, fully playable with the original maps.
• New 5E content providing additional detail on the areas surrounding the Caves of Chaos, including, at long last, the Cave of the Unknown.
• Additional material for playing B1: In Search of the Unknown, including several completed monster and treasure assortments ready for play.
• A variety of additional essays, commentary, and other material for play.

The deluxe hardcover volume is anticipated to be available at Gen Con with general release in September 2017. For additional information, visit Goodman Games online at www.goodman-games.com.

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[flametitan]

Now that I've read how Goodman Games intends to expand the adventure beyond the available material, I'm curious to see how it'll look. What's in the Cave of the Unknown? Will there be other locales than just those two? Is the Caves of Chaos still going to be the centrepiece, or will it just be one of several different places to go?

 

[LordEntrails]

... Every time I pitched it, I got fobbed off with form-letter responses. Maybe i just didn't know the right people.

I think to get past the gate keepers you have to know someone. Sucks, but from the WotC perspective, I'm sure they get inundated with such requests every day and there is no practical way to actually have someone coordinating and reviewing such requests with a critical eye.

 

[Sacrosanct]

Agreed, in fact B4 was by far the best of the B series imho.

I'm not overly fussed by B2, but I can see how it worked for a group/DM new to the game - it's T1 with less charm and more humanoids

B1 was weak by comparison.

I think B1 was one of the best modules, because it was the one that sent the message and was the springboard of what makes D&D so great: YOU. I.e., B1 gave the new DM practice how to stock and create their own dungeons, and told you, "Hey, this is a game where you're not limited by what stuff we put out, the best stuff is what you create on your own. Here's a basic dungeon template and some guidelines, but the best parts are what you put in, and after playing this module, you should be able to have the skills to create your own dungeons."

 

[Kabouter Games]

I think to get past the gate keepers you have to know someone. Sucks, but from the WotC perspective, I'm sure they get inundated with such requests every day and there is no practical way to actually have someone coordinating and reviewing such requests with a critical eye.

Of course you're right. I'm just jelly AF, that's all.

Cheers,

Bob

 

[mach1.9pants]

Thanks for that press release, I'm really excited by this - should be amazing

 

[RevTurkey]

I'll get these. Goodman will do it right.

 

[werecorpse]

B1 & B2 both are great choices IMO for different reasons.
B5 would be be my next choice for a conversion of the B series. For B4 I'd prefer an expansion rather than a direct conversion.

 

[Lord Rasputin]

"New 5E content providing additional detail on the areas surrounding the Caves of Chaos, including, at long last, the Cave of the Unknown."

Uh, why? That defeats the point of the Cave of the Unknown, which was a place the DM could develop for his own scenarios.

 

[smbakeresq]

Really should be all 4 modules. I played the first 2 in 1980, still have them on shelf if anyone wants to see the old ones

 

[Barantor]

This will be a buy from me, both for the fact that I like the originals and the fact that Goodman Games makes really good stuff.

Now we just need to have Greyhawk open up for the DMsGuild....