DUNGEONS AND DRAGONS Roundup – 5.24.12

[Featured Image Moroboshi/Wikimedia Commons]

For those of you who aren’t familiar with the massively popular (and entirely revolutionary) tabletop RPG, Wizards of the Coast (the company who owns the rights to Dungeons and Dragons, affectionately referred to as D&D) is currently working on the 5th edition of the game. Of course, some of you may already have a favorite edition and those who play the game tend to have very strong opinions about the various editions throughout the years (only 2nd edition AD&D really counts, right?), this time around they’ve decided to make it about the players more than anything. WotC has officially started the playtesting for the newest edition of D&D (being referred to as D&D Next) and there’s a lot of buzz coming out as the dice start rolling!

First and foremost, if you’re not already involved in the playtest and would like to be, it’s pretty simple. Wizards has a handy news article featuring basic information about the playtest and what is expected of the players as well as an FAQ.

Aside from player input, this iteration of the game has some pretty awesome creative heads together. Unfortunately, the creators of the original game (Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson) passed away in 2008 and 2009 respectively, and Monte Cook has left the project. Regardless, the team (consisting of Bruce Cordell, Rob Schwalb, Jeremy Crawford, Rodney Thompson, Miranda Horner, and Tom LaPille) seems ready for all of the challenges ahead. [More about the Team here]

Of course, nobody is more excited for the release of the playtest than the lead designer on the game, Mike Mearls. Wired contributor Ethan Gilsdorf had the chance to sit down with Mr. Mearls and talk about the event as well as what’s going on, exactly, with D&D Next. [Article at Wired.com]

Now, of course, aside from the playtest, there’s more on the table (so to speak) for D&D fans.

[youtube=http://youtu.be/lYbA9JQrAjY]

Turbine, the company behind Dungeons and Dragons Online, is set to release their newest expansion, Menace of the Underdark, on June 25th. [View Screenshots Here]

[youtube=http://youtu.be/oeMBI9suBLc]

Cryptic Studios, the company previously behind City of Heroes and its spinoffs, is set to release Neverwinter (an MMO based off of the trilogy penned for Wizards by R.A. Salvatore) sometime in “late” 2012. The official website is already launched, Perfect World Entertainment intends to showcase the game at E3 in just two weeks, and the lead producer (Andy Velasquez) is already talking about the game (just enough to get us all hooked).

And, of course, there’s always more reasons to spend money but how about winning it? WeLoveFine.com has a design contest right now for a Dungeons and Dragons tee where top prize nets you$2500. [Details here].

Lastly, I realize it’s too late to bid on the items that were found (even I’m sad I missed out), but there’s an interesting article on what happend to co-creator Dave Arneson’s stuff after his passing over at Wired.com.

I really need to get to work on this playtest so, until next time, geek on!