Critical Bits: 2009 GenCon

• Press Release by the Diana Jones Award Committee explaining why they nominated as they did
• DDI Monster Builder Contest. (via @WolfStar76)
• The official Gen Con Tell me About Your PC contest! Go ahead, it time to talk #aboutmypc and win prizes! (via @ChattyDM)

GenCon Coverage

• Just got done interviewing Bruce Cordell and Andy Collins. Also have a sample 4e assassin in my hands, details to come later #gencon #dnd #
• Not much news from today. We’ll be at the 4e extravanganza for setting announcement at noon, and do some exhibit hall stuff. #
• And tonight, the mini-True Dungeon with @davethegame @bartoneus @geeksdreamgirl @chattydm @ve4grm RPG bloggers superstar team! #gencon #
• http://twitpic.com/dr9lx – Sign or renew ddi at #gencon and get the assassin preview! (via @geeksdreamgirl) #
• WotC room packed. Pathfinder Society room packed. $5 PHBs sold out in an hour or so. Big line to buy Pathfinder. D&D is doing great. #dnd #

4e Extravaganza Tweets

• @betterwithmayo is having to regulate traffic into the too small ballroom #
• There was some joking up front about the setting but couldn’t hear what they were saying #
• Bill Slaviscek MCing, Andy Collins, Jeremy Crawford, art director (?), Kirin Chase in attendance #
• Talking about the year of the 2′s, DMG2 has chapter on adding story, skill challenges, paragon tier, Sigil #
• D&D Insider. PHB3 content will be 1/2 debuted before the book. New races in addition to Revenant #
• Dungeon Magazine Annual next May #
• Revenge of the Giants next month, super adventure inspired by (not remake) of Against the Giants #
• Savage Encounters minis set coming later this year, more player minis coming for later books #
• Sinister Woods tile set in Oct, Harrowing Halls in March will have 3d elements, staircases for your minis, Master Set in June (reprints) #
• Dungeon Tiles Master Set will stay in print and be primary for adventures, Oct Primal Power, Draconomicon in Nov #
• Dec Plane Below, secrets of elemental chaos, Jan Underdark (regions, sample encounters) both focused on DM tools #
• April Plane Above, Secrets of the Astral Sea. Feb stand alone expansion for 3 Dragon Ante: Emperor’s Gambit #
• Feb: Heroscape Dungeons & Dragons, sample is here at #gencon. Dragonborn book in Jan, tieflings in June. 32 softcover. $10 #
• Next year, PHB3 in March w/ Game Day, June next year MM3 with Lolth, DMG3 in Sept. Epic level play focus #
• Hammerfast in Apr, Vor Rukroth (tiefling ruins), 32 PGs poster map, quests. Player’s Strategy Guide in June with cover by Gabe of Penny Arcade
• July Demonomicon by Mike Mearls, July 2010 Tomb of Horrors mega adventure. Levels 10-22 #
• Dungeons & Dragons Board Game focused on Ravenloft coming Aug. Cooperative game. Big box filled with dice and plastic 1-5 players #
• Campaign setting is: Dark Sun #
• Cover looks awesome. Releases #gencon 2010. Images coming later. Andy promises heavy roll out previews starting soon #
• Q&A starting now. Will try to post some answers #
• No answer whether Dark Sun will follow the same model as previous settings. There will be novel for sure #
• PDFs: working on that, but no announcements yet.
• Brom is very busy but will try to do some for Dark Sun. #
• Dark Sun: “We’re going back to the original box set” as far as timeline goes.” #
• Going to try not to dissipation those who want desert tiles dungeon tiles for Dark Sun #
• Minis sets will alternate large/huge during the year #
• Sounds more like Online Map tools are pushed behind other tools #
• Just because a plane hasn’t been covered yet doesn’t mean it won’t get a book #
• “We are going to try very hard not to shoehorn 4e conceits into Dark Sun” -Bill #
• Andy Collins says they’re examining how d&d things would evolve in Dark Sun compared to elsewhere #
• Will Heroic and Epic be in plane books too? Yes, they want to let players go where they want, but “not over red line” #
• Supposed D&D videogame from Atari announcement within a year, no details yet. #gencon (via @bartoneus) #
• Lots of discussion of adventures for children & DDI submissions #dnd #gencon #

Ennie Awards

• Kobold Quarterly (@koboldquaterly) wins the silver, Obsidian Portal (@obsidianportal) wins the Gold for best website. Congrats to them both! #
• Best rules Ennie: Silver goes to Song of Ice and Fire, Gold goes to D&D 4e #
• Congrats to Swords & Wizardry for the silver ennie for best free product (accepted by @chgowiz) #
• Congrats to @Motg for being elected judge for 2010 @Ennies ! #
• Gold Ennie for Best Aid or Accessory goes to D&D Insider, silver to @monkeyking ‘s open design #
• Best Monster: 4e MM wins gold, Dark Heresy wins silver #
• Best Game: Silver goes to Dark Heresy, Gold goes to D&D 4e #
• Product of the Year: Silver goes to Mouse Guard, Gold goes to D&D 4e #
• Fan’s Choice Best Publisher: Silver goes to Paizo, Gold goes to WotC. Hooray for #dnd in all its forms! #
• Kevin “Piratecat” Kulp did a fantastic job MCing again this year. He reminds us all to think of all the friendships we’ve made from gaming #