From the publisher:

To help honor his work and his memory, we created limited-edition reprints of the original 1st Edition core rulebooks: the Monster Manual, Player’s Handbook, andDungeon Master’s Guide. These premium versions of the original AD&D rulebooks have been lovingly reprinted with the original art and content, but feature an attractive new cover design commemorating this re-release. Available in limited quantities as a hobby channel exclusive in North America.

We’re currently accepting preorders, as we do not yet know how limited this print run will be.

Wizards of the Coast has just announced a new edition of Dungeons & Dragons.

The New York Times broke the story early Monday morning, followed by a press release from Wizards.

The Times article does a good job of explaining the history of the game, but also their present difficulties:

“Edition wars have also wounded the game. Various rules systems have been released over Dungeons & Dragons’ 38-year history: Basic, Advanced, Advanced 2nd edition, 3.0, 3.5, 4.0. Devotion to particular rules can be fanatical. Hostilities about how to best play the game — for example, how a sorcerer casts spells — flare up among the core fan base.

A result, said David M. Ewalt, a senior editor at Forbes and the author of a forthcoming history of Dungeons & Dragons, has been a fractured fan base. The game is a group activity, he said, and playing together is tricky when players use different rules. “Imagine trying to organize a basketball team, if the point guard adheres to modern league rules, but the center only knows how to play ancient Mayan handball.”

The biggest part of the story is Wizard’s emphasis on open playtesting of the new rules. Again, from the Times article:

Greg Tito, games editor for The Escapist, an online games culture magazine, will be one of them. “The long open testing period for the next edition, if handled correctly, could be exactly what’s needed to make players feel invested in D&D again,” he said.

Read the Times story here.

Read Wizard’s press release here.

We’ve scheduled two sessions, December 3rd and December 17th. Additional sessions will be scheduled depending on demand.

Contact us to register.   ghosts@hauntedgamecafe.com  (970) 402-466

Please come into the shop to make your reservation.

New to Dungeons & Dragons Encounters? Check out our description.

What Do I Need to Play?
Just bring your dice and a copy of either Heroes of the Fallen Lands or Heroes of the Forgotten Kingdoms (or both if you’d like). Character sheets and other materials will be provided. At the store, you can pick up your copy of the Neverwinter Campaign Setting if you want additional options for your character. You’ll make a 1st-level character as a part of the D&D Game Day experience, and will be able to continue to play your character in the new D&D Encounters season, the Lost Crown of Neverwinter!

Check out the listing on our Events Page for more info.