Will WotC release Keys from the Golden Vault with zero promotion due to OGL firestorm?

[Jolly Ruby]

Predictions for Monday:
WotC announces that has never been an OGL 1.1/2.0, it was all an ARG to promote their next adventure: The Red Wizards of Thay are on Sword Coast, and they have the Keys to the Golden Vault, an arcane device they intend to use to sever the access to the Weave for everyone else. You need to steal the Keys back. Maybe with the help of some Orc and Kobold faction? Anyway, the book will delay several months because somehow it's not written yet.

 

[Velderan]

And have we still not heard anything more from WotC since the book was announced last year when they provided a general window for this year's books to be released? I know Amazon has a release date and I'm sure they based it on info they got from WotC, I'm just wondering if WotC ever mentioned the book's release date beyond saying 1st quarter 2023 or w/e.

 

[Ralif Redhammer]

I don't think that it's going to be delayed because of the OGL mess. Chances are they already arranged printing and shipping a while ago and have commitments. If there is a delay in schedule, it'd be due to slippage earlier in the pipeline.

 

[Haplo781]

Shh, you're spoiling their big surprise for Friday!

I heard he'll be in a hadozee costume.

 

[Haplo781]

And have we still not heard anything more from WotC since the book was announced last year when they provided a general window for this year's books to be released? I know Amazon has a release date and I'm sure they based it on info they got from WotC, I'm just wondering if WotC ever mentioned the book's release date beyond saying 1st quarter 2023 or w/e.

We know literally nothing about it beyond what's in the product page.

 

[Ibrandul]

This is definitely a movie tie-in book. Its press push may have been postponed due to the OGL fiasco, or it may always have been planned to begin a little later than usual due to the movie promotion timetable (especially after the movie itself was pushed back until late March).

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

I find it very interesting that it is not available for pre-purchase on D&D Beyond. Normally, they are available for pre-purchase months before release. Strange times.

Yeah, it feels like there's something different about this book, which is why, even before all the OGL stuff, it was being slow-rolled.

 

[darjr]

Maybe not zero. Funny this telegraphs a couple things, maybe.
I honestly don’t know if this is a joke or not.

 

[Parmandur]

Maybe not zero. Funny this telegraphs a couple things, maybe.
I honestly don’t know if this is a joke or not.
View attachment 273572

Probably just some DMsGuild folks enterprising off of what they knew was coming from public information.

 

[darjr]

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Good for them. The more content that supports rogues and heists, the better.

There was a time, back when dinosaurs ruled the earth and no one had yet heard of a book called Unearthed Arcana, when all-thief games were super-common, with player characters robbing every setting blind. (Look, Len Lafolka, you put a detailed freaking dungeon and treasure vault under the friendly lord's castle. What did you think the PCs were going to do?)

It's a great playstyle that deserves to come into fashion, and not just in the gritty Blades in the Dark way.

 

[darjr]

Good for them. The more content that supports rogues and heists, the better.

There was a time, back when dinosaurs ruled the earth and no one had yet heard of a book called Unearthed Arcana, when all-thief games were super-common, with player characters robbing every setting blind. (Look, Len Lafolka, you put a detailed freaking dungeon and treasure vault under the friendly lord's castle. What did you think the PCs were going to do?)

It's a great playstyle that deserves to come into fashion, and not just in the gritty Blades in the Dark way.

Don’t forget the five copper the laundry has.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Don’t forget the five copper the laundry has.

I remember DMing in vague horror as my player characters stole every bit of coin under the floorboards in Homlett and found every stash of treasure or weapons in hay lofts.

"You don't want to go to the moathouse, instead?"

"No, we're good."

 

[Lanefan]

I remember DMing in vague horror as my player characters stole every bit of coin under the floorboards in Homlett and found every stash of treasure or weapons in hay lofts.

Doesn't need an all-Thief or all-Rogue party to take that approach.

IME almost any party in existence, regardless of class makeup, can and will do this at any opportunity that arises.

"You don't want to go to the moathouse, instead?"

"No, we're good."

"Is there loot there?"

 

[Dreamscape]

There was a time, back when dinosaurs ruled the earth and no one had yet heard of a book called Unearthed Arcana, when all-thief games were super-common, with player characters robbing every setting blind.

Thieves' Guild!

 

[Nikosandros]

Further proof that rouge is almost as old as the game itself...

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Doesn't need an all-Thief or all-Rogue party to take that approach.

IME almost any party in existence, regardless of class makeup, can and will do this at any opportunity that arises.

True, but when you are trying to evade notice from the way too powerful NPCs present in Homlett, thief skills made a big difference back in the day.