Zachary's Gen Con Report Thread

[Hackmaster]

I'm such a sucker for this stuff. Awesome job Zach!

[Zachary The First]

Hey!  They want to make high level play as fun as low level play!

(Translator Matt: Low level play was fun?)

Simplified stat blocks!!  *Crowd goes wild*

They are cutting out all the crap that makes the game grind down (Translator Matt: Roleplay) but it will still be D20.

Core rules now go up to level 30! Woot!

[beeber]

go zach go!

this is kind of like listening to an old radio drama, but different :keke:

[Zachary The First]

DMing will be easier!  They are "defining the roles" of the characters.  There will be new power sources for characters, and more options for everyone!  They will be using new rules from the Book of Nine Swords. (Translator Matt: Groan)

They are talking about encounter design now.  

There will be four parts to Fourth Edition:
1. Physical Product (Translator Matt: More expensive books)
2. Organized play (Translator Matt: Moving the RPGA to an online chat room)
3. Community Events..this includes more online stuff...
4. Digital Offerings (Translator Matt: Subscriptions...wait for it)

[James McMurray]

You stopped posting? For the love of God man, why!!!!???

[Zachary The First]

Now they're talking about extended digital content...including designer comments, e-versions of products, etc.

It will give you a virtual electronic version of the product when you buy it!

Now they're pimping the new website again...

New online content three times a week!

Online DM tools will be offered. Encounters, dungeon builders, etc. (Translator Matt: All retail stores must die.)

They are making a new digital gaming table! No longer will you need to hassle with actually seeing your friends!

[Zachary The First]

...new dice roller, looks good.  (Translator Matt: Rolling Dice is hard work. I'm so glad that's over.)

You can draw on the digital maps with your drawing tool.  You can pull up images and props...

"It's not an online game, it's an online tool!" (Translator Matt: Someone is a tool.)

It's got a character illustrator. Not great, but not bad. It's got custom weapons and armor. You can basically make your own minis for the online tools.

[RedFox]

"Defining the roles of the characters"?  Manwhat?  Is that corpspeak for "we'll have classes, but won't call them that anymore"?

[Zachary The First]

They are thanking all the people responsible for Fourth Edition.  Credits on the screen. No mention of OGL at all.

(It's real quiet now...Zach is telling me to hold on...)

[Erik Boielle]

"Defining the roles of the characters"?  Manwhat?  Is that corpspeak for "we'll have classes, but won't call them that anymore"?

DPS, Tank, Healer...

[Sosthenes]

It will give you a virtual electronic version of the product when you buy it!

A _virtual_ electronic version? So it's not actually electronic?

[Zachary The First]

Now we have a mass pimping of D&D events.  They are encouraging people to keep playing D&D and offering sign-ups for D&D insider right now. It goes live tonight.

(Translator Matt: Encouraging us to keep playing? Is that admitting we won't want to?)

Zach just shouted OGL. He is currently being put on the ignore list.

They are going to be reaching out to playtesters and asking D&D insiders to help play test.

[Pseudoephedrine]

Have they said who the designers are?

[Zachary The First]

They dismissed everyone. No questions and answer session.  Lots of attendees yelled out questions about whether it would still be open license. They were ignored. Zach is trying to track someone down now to ask point blank.

[Werekoala]

If its NOT OGL will that spell the end of d20? Can third-parties continue to produce stuff for the 3.0/3.5 d20 rules or not?