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Dungeons & Dragons 4th Edition Announced!

Reported by Sylvus Moonbow on February 18, 2004


Do you really care anymore? 3rd Edition brought a lot of change to the table and a good one too. 3.5 Edition made you wonder what in the world WotC were doing.

Well, here's one for you to really get your teeth around. Do you think the 3.5 Edition rule changes could have been held back until 4th Edition? A question many are asking themselves with this D&D Announcement.

HASBRO TO RELEASE FOURTH EDITION OF POPULAR D&D GAME IN FALL 2006

Associated Press -- In a move designed to cement their already formidable presence in the role-playing game market, Hasbro subsidiary
Wizards of the Coast is planning to release a fourth edition of its popular Dungeons & Dragons (TM) game in fall 2006. The move is seen as somewhat controversial by industry insiders since Wizards of the Coast (WotC) has just released a revision to the third edition of the D&D game, commonly referred to as "version 3.5".

"It comes as a bit of surprise to some of our fans, perhaps," said D&D
designer Jonathan Tweet, "but a fourth edition of D&D is the logical progression of the game's evolution. To help support our fans who have bought the 3.5 core books we're going to be offering a 15% trade-in deal for the new fourth edition core books. We're excited about the work being done for the fourth edition and now that 3.5 is out it's time to start planning for the future. We're going to be doing things in this new game that no one has ever dared do in an RPG."

Tweet offered no further comment, but stressed that the fourth edition--officially titled "Dungeons & Dragons Millenium Edition"--would be a "substantial rethinking" of the D&D brand. Hasbro's stock jumped five points after the exciting announcement.

1. Release date has been set at Fall 2006, though some reports have
(incorrectly) reported Fall 2005.

2. D&D 4th edition will mark the return of the boxed set. The game wll be sold in both "Starter Set" and "Master Set" editions. The "Starter Set" will be a boxed set which will include the 4th edition Player's Handbook (hardcover), several maps and counters (WotC
insiders are refusing to give details about these, but claim that they will be an integrated part of gameplay, not just used for combat
resolution), and 10 miniatures. The "Master Set" ("master" referring to Dungeon Master) includes all of the above plus the Dungeon Master's Guide and the Monster Manual. Dice will not be included in either set.

3. A report in the Los Angeles Times stating that the new game will be officially called "Dungeons & Dragons Millenium Edition" has proven
unfounded. At this time the game is simply being referred to by WotC as "D&D 4th Edition".

4. The game will make extensive use of miniatures and counters; unlike
previous editions their use will not be optional. Interestingly, the game will also use various systems for task resolution in addition to die rolls. No details on what kind of systems, but some are speculating a tarot card deck will be included with the Master Set. This is, however, unfounded at this point in time.

5. New core classes [not prestige classes] include Alchemist, Sage, and Magician. No word on which, if any, classes from 3/3.5 will be dropped. When asked how "Magician" differs from Wizard/Sorcerer, WotC insiders smiled slyly but had no reply.

6. The game will use a 1.5" scale for its combat grid and all miniatures released for the game will use this new scale.

Get a sense of humor or rent one if you don't have one.

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