The first published 4th Edition adventure, Keep on the Shadowfell, can now be downloaded for free from WotC's website. There are reportedly a number of changes to the downloadable copy from the original adventure, including reworked skill challenges and combat encounters.
The Quick Start rules that came with the adventure are also available for free download, so you don't even need to own the books!
If you've been considering giving 4th Edition a shot but wanted to give it a try before buying, this is your chance to experience it for free!
Oh, and the Character Builder free demo now supports the Player's Handbook 2. You can create characters of 1st-3rd level without a subscription to D&D Insider, which should get you most or all of the way through Keep on the Shadowfell.
|
That's actually not a bad idea at all. KotS wasn't exactly my all-time favorite adventure, but it is full of old-school classic monsters (kobolds, goblins, undead), and lets people try out the system free. I encourage people to give it a shot if they're curious. Think of it as a free test-drive. :D
Thanks for the link, sir!
RPG Superstar 2010 Top 16, 2011 Top 32
|
This is a great idea, but I wonder how they're planning on getting out the word to people who haven't already made up their minds, namely people who don't roleplay at all now. That seems like the holy grail of recruiting efforts and I for one have no good ideas how they'd go about it... Still, best of luck!
This is a great idea, but I wonder how they're planning on getting out the word to people who haven't already made up their minds, namely people who don't roleplay at all now. That seems like the holy grail of recruiting efforts and I for one have no good ideas how they'd go about it... Still, best of luck!
Scott Rouse said last week that their marketing plan through 2010, I believe, is to keep focusing on the "core market" of people who already have experience with the D&D brand. Moving forward into 2011, the plan is to shift to a broader marketing goal of attracting people who have not previously interacted with the game or its off-shoots.
|
|
The first published 4th Edition adventure, Keep on the Shadowfell, can now be downloaded for free from WotC's website. There are reportedly a number of changes to the downloadable copy from the original adventure, including reworked skill challenges and combat encounters.
Sweet. Thanks!
Director of Brand Strategy
|
Thanks for the heads up. Will download and distribute.
Really good move, well done WotC!
:)
So what happened to their "new options for digital distribution?" Weren't we just told a few weeks ago that WotC would never support pdfs in the future? How does this strengthen their case against piracy? Do they really think we forgot what happened at the beginning of the month? Could they be so transparent?
Strong in the Force, Yoda is.
Additional tom foolery and subterfuge, we must devise.
More Smoke and Mirrors, we will release.
|
So what happened to their "new options for digital distribution?" Weren't we just told a few weeks ago that WotC would never support pdfs in the future? How does this strengthen their case against piracy? Do they really think we forgot what happened at the beginning of the month? Could they be so transparent?
Confusing to the max, indeed. Of course it begs the question "Was this done to counteract the general feeling of ill-will the 'Day of Downloadable Infamy' sparked, and was this done to throw us a bone while they try to figure out their plans, format, etc.?"
What I find amusing is that this module has been generally perceived as one of their weakest products. I haven't had a chance to review the updates, as I already own the product and, while I love 4E was generally unimpressed myself with the original package. To release one of their weakest products in order to garner favor, exposure and spark interest seems to me to be kind of self-defeating. I do hope the changes have made for a more positive gaming experience.
So what happened to their "new options for digital distribution?" Weren't we just told a few weeks ago that WotC would never support pdfs in the future? How does this strengthen their case against piracy? Do they really think we forgot what happened at the beginning of the month? Could they be so transparent?
They did not say they weren't going to support pdfs in the future because DDI is still using pdfs. They said they were going for a new way of digital distribution so they could make it pirate-proof. This could be a completely new pdf anti-piracy technique or it could be a offered only though a website and not be downloadable, or there are about a million other possible ways we can spectulate but won't know until we see what they come up with and then we can complain about their protection methods only hurting retail customers much like the consumers of every single other market that has had "anti-piracy" methods enforced on them.
|
|
Well, I don't think releasing higher level adventures would be nearly as helpful for new players and DMs. As it is, though, they seem to have addressed many of the concerns with it, at least from my initial glance over it.
It is hardly a perfect adventure, by any means, but should make for a good intro and has some good guidance for DMs on customizing the story to fit their table. Even with the changes, I'm not expecting it to stand out as a true masterpiece, but as a simple and competent product to introduce the game, I think it may be successful.
Anyway, mileage may vary! While the original wasn't the strongest adventure, I know my group enjoyed playing it, and I think many others have as well. Time will tell whether this will work out or not, but I suspect it would be hard for it to do anything other than help the game.
That's all good. I wasn't really addressing the level issues or anything, but when I say it wasn't received as one of their stronger products I am being kind. Most comments I have reviewed concerning it were quite unflattering, and in that light alone and no other I find it interesting to release that product as a "flagship" introduction. As always with that old universal standard, personal tastes vary (Case in point - I rather enjoyed the PHB2 Games Day adventure, whereas a lot of others were rather critical.)
|
What I find amusing is that this module has been generally perceived as one of their weakest products. I haven't had a chance to review the updates, as I already own the product and, while I love 4E was generally unimpressed myself with the original package. To release one of their weakest products in order to garner favor, exposure and spark interest seems to me to be kind of self-defeating. I do hope the changes have made for a more positive gaming experience.
Apparently it has undergone quite significant changes (I have read neither teh original nor the PDF, I am going on reviews in other forums) to make it more balanced for a starting party. So it might actually be a good starter scenario now.
That's all good. I wasn't really addressing the level issues or anything, but when I say it wasn't received as one of their stronger products I am being kind. Most comments I have reviewed concerning it were quite unflattering, and in that light alone and no other I find it interesting to release that product as a "flagship" introduction. As always with that old universal standard, personal tastes vary (Case in point - I rather enjoyed the PHB2 Games Day adventure, whereas a lot of others were rather critical.)
Off the top of my head, I can't think of what other adventure/module they might have released that would serve as an introduction (flagship or otherwise) to the new edition. Perhaps they could have repackaged something from Dungeon magazine, but this would contain less play content than KotS.
I do think that some of the motivation for doing this is aimed at counteracting recent negative perceptions arising from the pdf "debacle", but the linked page seems to me to be more aimed at trying to draw new players into the game/edition. Personally, I appreciate that they are offering enough material for people to try out the game without having to invest anything other than time, and this has helped to ameliorate some of my negativity towards the company's recent actions. YMMV.
At least they released KotS instead of the first few portions of their Scales of War AP... :P
|
|
Apparently it has undergone quite significant changes (I have read neither teh original nor the PDF, I am going on reviews in other forums) to make it more balanced for a starting party. So it might actually be a good starter scenario now.
Outstanding! I look forward to reading it then - perhaps tonight!
At least they released KotS instead of the first few portions of their Scales of War AP... :P
Those are already available for free:
Rescue at RivenroarSiege of Bordrin's Watch
The Shadow Rift of Umbraforge
#3 is pretty darned good, although #1 does nothing for me at all.
At least they released KotS instead of the first few portions of their Scales of War AP... :PThose are already available for free:
Rescue at Rivenroar
Siege of Bordrin's Watch
The Shadow Rift of Umbraforge#3 is pretty darned good, although #1 does nothing for me at all.
I know those are available for free, it was more a throwaway comment about some of the issues people have had with the quality of editing for the AP... at least with the early part of it, I haven't kept up with discussion about the later parts.
I know those are available for free, it was more a throwaway comment about some of the issues people have had with the quality of editing for the AP... at least with the early part of it, I haven't kept up with discussion about the later parts.
So: just a random insertion of a 4e dig.
I must be on the Paizo boards again.
FWIW, the series has been uneven to my eye - but then, the last couple of Paizo AP's have been hit-or-miss in my eye as well, so I could just be getting jaded. However, there've been some great 4e adventures in WOTC's adventure path. I'd recommend Ari Marmell's "The Temple Between" most highly.
The first published 4th Edition adventure, Keep on the Shadowfell, can now be downloaded for free from WotC's website. There are reportedly a number of changes to the downloadable copy from the original adventure, including reworked skill challenges and combat encounters.
The Quick Start rules that came with the adventure are also available for free download, so you don't even need to own the books!
If you've been considering giving 4th Edition a shot but wanted to give it a try before buying, this is your chance to experience it for free!
By now people already tried the game or didn't. This small change late in the game aint really going to net them much. Guess it helps them seem like less money grubbing but well they ruined that a while ago too.
By now people already tried the game or didn't. This small change late in the game aint really going to net them much. Guess it helps them seem like less money grubbing but well they ruined that a while ago too.The first published 4th Edition adventure, Keep on the Shadowfell, can now be downloaded for free from WotC's website. There are reportedly a number of changes to the downloadable copy from the original adventure, including reworked skill challenges and combat encounters.
The Quick Start rules that came with the adventure are also available for free download, so you don't even need to own the books!
If you've been considering giving 4th Edition a shot but wanted to give it a try before buying, this is your chance to experience it for free!
The new buzz on the Wizards' forum about KotS and the ability to, with the quick start rules and Character Builder demo, essentially allow anyone to play 4th Edition for free for the first 3 levels both disagree pretty strongly with your opinion.
But yeah, totally, stick it to the man! Riley's right, where else could you find a place where allowing anyone to play your game for free for the first three levels is met with people calling you money grubbing?
So: just a random insertion of a 4e dig.I must be on the Paizo boards again.
FWIW, the series has been uneven to my eye - but then, the last couple of Paizo AP's have been hit-or-miss in my eye as well, so I could just be getting jaded. However, there've been some great 4e adventures in WOTC's adventure path. I'd recommend Ari Marmell's "The Temple Between" most highly.
Nope, it wasn't a dig at 4E, just the Scales of War AP, particularly the suitability of using it as an introduction to 4E...
I will however take some time to look at the more recent parts of it given your recommendation, but the AP didn't start out strong enough to tempt me to choose it over RotRL for my 4E group (I did consider running KotS though).
The new buzz on the Wizards' forum about KotS and the ability to, with the quick start rules and Character Builder demo, essentially allow anyone to play 4th Edition for free for the first 3 levels both disagree pretty strongly with your opinion.
But yeah, totally, stick it to the man! Riley's right, where else could you find a place where allowing anyone to play your game for free for the first three levels is met with people calling you money grubbing?
Their reputation was earned before this move, deny it, obsure it, whatever it takes to make yourself happy, this move doesn't change their long earned rep. And I would put little value in the word of those already playing 4e, they are after all not attracted to the game because of this change, they were already there. You are looking for those not playing 4e, not those already playing it.
I bought the 4e books, too much blank space, too many worthless pages, too much incompleteness to force you buy more books just to have a finished product. The fact they held bards back to the second PHB just to give it a class they knew people wanted...that's pretty underhanded. Like I said, their reputation is well earned, a small meaningless move this late will not expunge their other deeds, never mind the whole PDF thing.
Ah not worth the time. 4e is 4e, some people like it. Fine, best of luck with it. But make mine Pathfinder.
The first published 4th Edition adventure, Keep on the Shadowfell, can now be downloaded for free from WotC's website. There are reportedly a number of changes to the downloadable copy from the original adventure, including reworked skill challenges and combat encounters.
The Quick Start rules that came with the adventure are also available for free download, so you don't even need to own the books!
If you've been considering giving 4th Edition a shot but wanted to give it a try before buying, this is your chance to experience it for free!
Based on the free module and the free quickstart rules, I will create my own RPG for free! Also, at the bookshop I hang out in, they let you look at the D&D books as long as you want. If you wanted, you could actually get one of the books and play a D&D game using that book in their coffee shop for free! You might say that the $1.49 I spend on the coffee is a rental fee.
This is just a sign that Hasbro/WOTC is getting desparate for new customers, and they are getting scared. They should be scared. The End is Near!
From what I gather, this action is aimed more at those that did not take the plunge for whatever reason into 4E, but are aware of it. This is a chance for them to draw in those players by giving them the chance to try the game for free. It can also be seen as a goodwill gesture for those that felt slighted by the pdf issue, even if a small gesture. I certainly see nothing wrong with that.
One of things I find very humorous are the disgruntled comments from those that purchased the module and the fact they feel put out. They feel they wasted their money buying it now that is being given out for free. This after all the comments to the fact that the legitimate buyers of pdfs also buy the dead tree versions. Some are now upset they bought and now have free access to it. Too funny sometimes.
The fact they held bards back to the second PHB just to give it a class they knew people wanted...that's pretty underhanded.
This was a big deal? I have to say that the bard was one of the least played classes in my gaming history. I can not recall anyone who actually wanted to play one. That being said, this version (especially with Arcane Power out now) has raised a few eyebrows, mine included. The only classes that I felt needed to be in the first book were the cleric, fighter, rogue, and wizard. After those four everything else was just a bonus.
I bought the 4e books, too much blank space, too many worthless pages, too much incompleteness to force you buy more books just to have a finished product. The fact they held bards back to the second PHB just to give it a class they knew people wanted...that's pretty underhanded. Like I said, their reputation is well earned, a small meaningless move this late will not expunge their other deeds, never mind the whole PDF thing.
Ah not worth the time. 4e is 4e, some people like it. Fine, best of luck with it. But make mine Pathfinder.
So why in the world are you wasting time hanging out in the 4e section of....
Oh, never mind.
I'm building up a set of free quickstart/demo RPG products for a project, and this is a great addition.
I work on the theory that the heart of the game is what can be summarized in the quickstart - it'll be interesting to see what WotC considers the heart of 4e...and then to compare the quickstart rules here with those in the Starter Set (who knows, maybe they're identical).
|
|
I work on the theory that the heart of the game is what can be summarized in the quickstart - it'll be interesting to see what WotC considers the heart of 4e...and then to compare the quickstart rules here with those in the Starter Set (who knows, maybe they're identical).
I'm curious about that, too.
So here are some other free fan resources to soup up H1:
Sebastian's 'Chop Shop': click here
Maps! Winterhaven improved:
click here for D&D Doodles
Breathing life into the Nentir Vale:
Sandboxing in the Nentir Vale (was: Emergent Features in KotS)
4E The Nentir Vale: A Sandbox
The new buzz on the Wizards' forum about KotS and the ability to, with the quick start rules and Character Builder demo, essentially allow anyone to play 4th Edition for free for the first 3 levels both disagree pretty strongly with your opinion.
But yeah, totally, stick it to the man! Riley's right, where else could you find a place where allowing anyone to play your game for free for the first three levels is met with people calling you money grubbing?
Their reputation was earned before this move, deny it, obsure it, whatever it takes to make yourself happy, this move doesn't change their long earned rep. And I would put little value in the word of those already playing 4e, they are after all not attracted to the game because of this change, they were already there. You are looking for those not playing 4e, not those already playing it.
I bought the 4e books, too much blank space, too many worthless pages, too much incompleteness to force you buy more books just to have a finished product. The fact they held bards back to the second PHB just to give it a class they knew people wanted...that's pretty underhanded. Like I said, their reputation is well earned, a small meaningless move this late will not expunge their other deeds, never mind the whole PDF thing.
Ah not worth the time. 4e is 4e, some people like it. Fine, best of luck with it. But make mine Pathfinder.
I hear that there are some boards elsewhere in this forum that are - quite conveniently! - dedicated to your game of choice! Enjoy your game!
This is just a sign that Hasbro/WOTC is getting desparate for new customers, and they are getting scared. They should be scared. The End is Near!
Just like it was ten years ago.
The degree to which a number of people here seem to wish nothing but bad things upon a company that makes (or, at a minimum, made) their beloved hobby possible for the last decade is just astonishing.
The tabletop role-playing fanbase is just repugnant, sometimes.
|
|
So here are some other free fan resources to soup up H1:
Sebastian's 'Chop Shop': click here
Maps! Winterhaven improved:
click here for D&D DoodlesBreathing life into the Nentir Vale:
Sandboxing in the Nentir Vale (was: Emergent Features in KotS)
4E The Nentir Vale: A Sandbox
Ooooooh! These were really nice! I especially enjoyed the maps!!
So why in the world are you wasting time hanging out in the 4e section of....
Wait a minute... I'm in the???
Well, would you look at that. When you follow an (unlabeled) link from the Recent Messages box from the main page, you can end up in a forum you don't intend to enter.
Now if only this forum had kind guides to point out when we fell into it, rather than posters who expect people to pay attention to what forum they are in.
The degree to which a number of people here seem to wish nothing but bad things upon a company that makes (or, at a minimum, made) their beloved hobby possible for the last decade is just astonishing.
That is going a bit far...
That is akin to saying we all owe a debt of gratitude to Microsoft for keeping the computer industry afloat...
That is akin to saying we all owe a debt of gratitude to Microsoft for keeping the computer industry afloat...
Whether that balances out the rest of their policies is a matter of debate, but I don't think it's unreasonable to say that the success of the computing industry is something to be thankful for, and that success was made possible largely by Microsoft.
...I don't think it's unreasonable to say that the success of the computing industry is something to be thankful for, and that success was made possible largely by Microsoft.
As someone in the computer industry, I can say that I think you're off your rocker. ;-)
P.S. That's twice in one day...I hope you don't think I have it in for you!
|
I think that giving KotS away as a free download is a great idea but one they need to build on.
I'd produce a different adventure quarterly specifically aimed at new roleplayers, including hints and tips for running the game, playing NPC's and other stuff ;-).
I like that WotC are working on their core fan base first but really want them to wean people from computer games to a more imaginative hobby.
***I like computer games but I've yet to come across one that has the flexibility or creative potential of a well run RPG***
|
|
Give WotC a break, if people remember we use to call TSR --> T$R!
These people at WotC need to make money, at the end of the day it's not some hippy commune or non-profit organisation after all.
Nice that they are releasing some stuff for free, are they doing it because they like you? Hello, wake up real World calling - they are after MORE conversions from v3.x and MORE of your money! But this isn't new, it's called business.
They have given all the tools you need to start playing 4E so you can decide free of charge if 4E is for you or not. Take the opportunity if you haven't tried 4E. I while still seeing 4E as a thinly veiled skirmish table top wargame (don't beat me Scott it's what I think - up to WotC to prove me wrong in the DMG2) I do play and enjoy the game "for what it is".
S.
Wait a minute... I'm in the???
Well, would you look at that. When you follow an (unlabeled) link from the Recent Messages box from the main page, you can end up in a forum you don't intend to enter.
Now if only this forum had kind guides to point out when we fell into it, rather than posters who expect people to pay attention to what forum they are in.
Go to the main forums page. Go to the little down arrow next to the 4E threads. If you mouse over it it'll say Hide. Click on that. Voila, you'll not ever see anything in the 4E threads show up in Recent Messages again.