I started previewing the Wizards of the Coast 2011 spring catalog with the Player’s Option: Heroes of Shadow preview I posted last week, which introduces more content for the shadow power source including the Necromancer and Hexblade classes. Next I’ll be talking about some of the other products listed in the Roleplaying Games section of the catalog.
The first product listed for January 2011 is a Dungeon Tiles set called Caverns of Icewind Dale. It will include “tiles with which to build icy caves, winter backdrops, and other exciting encounter locations.” This Dungeon Tiles product is actually thematically tied to the Forgotten Realms campaign setting, much like the Desert of Athas dungeon tiles set from this year. The next product is set for February release and is a Deluxe Dungeon Master’s Screen for 4th Edition. The screen will supposedly have artwork by the one and only Wayne Reynolds, but other than that it sounds like it is similar in construction and quality to the original 4E DM screen though it will almost certainly have updated rules and information on the inside of the screen. The retail price listed is $9.95.
February will also see the release of a book titled Gazetteer: The Nentir Vale which is described as a paperback 6″ x 9″ book much like Player’s Option: Heroes of Shadow. This will be the first in a new series of supplements that spotlights specific regions in the 4E D&D core world.
Gazetteer: The Nentir Vale provides the definitive guide to the Nentir Vale region, introduced in the Dungeons & Dragons Fantasy Roleplaying Game Starter and the Dungeon Master’s Kit. Herein you’ll find adventure hooks, NPCs, maps, and detailed information about specific locations within the Vale. The material in this book can also be adapted to any campaign setting.
The overview of the series indicates that future Gazetteer supplements will detail regions beyond the Nentir Vale, further expanding the core world setting of the base 4th Edition products such as the “H”-series of adventures (Keep on the Shadowfell, etc).
An expansion for Gamma World called Legion of Gold is also in the catalog for February, but it looks like this product is already up on the Wizard’s website for December of this year. Nonetheless, the product will supposedly include more mutants, monsters, and technology gone awry for your Gamma World adventures along with creature tokens and 15 exclusive game cards with new mutations, technology, and alliance options.
The last new product that is featured in the catalog is set for April 2011 release and it is a hardcover book titled Mordenkainen’s Magnificent Emporium. This 160 page book will be the next book in the line of the two Adventurer’s Vault books, but this time it will supposedly have more history and fluff provided for each magic item that is presented.
Welcome to Mordenkainen’s Magnificent Emporium, a wondrous collection of magic items – each one with a story to tell. This tome provides Dungeon Masters with a ready assortment of treasures to tempt greedy players, along with historical nuggets and alluring adventure hooks that set these items apart from your run-of-the-mill flaming sword or bag of holding. This book adds rich flavor to the treasures and trinkets presented within, and a dash of inspiration for Dungeon Masters looking to liven up a monster’s trove. Hold on to your magic hats – everything must go!
That’s it for the new products in the 2011 spring catalog aside from a few pages on the full Essentials line. I hope this has given you some more things to look forward to and speculate about! I’ve also updated the image for the Player’s Option: Heroes of Shadow with a scan from the catalog rather than the fuzzy picture I had up before.
So much to wait for 2011 WoTC publishing, I’m thrilled for the new approach to fluff they are having, its a long time come, i already called the Necromancer in any upcoming campaign my group and i will be having later when the supplement comes out and has a DM i couldn’t be more exited they are expanding on PoL setting with the Nentir Vale book, and finally added my wishlist the Mordenkainen’s, I’m sure there will be a few hours of entertainment there. Thanks for the really great info bro 🙂
Whats up with the dudes armor on the “Nentir Vale” cover? thats a very interesting location for a spike to be jutting out.
I like the fact wizards has a lady in a cage, that getting back to the less PG more Sword and Sorcery art style i enjoy , but that dudes armour is just hillarious.
I don’t know really – I’m confused by the overlap between Essentials and regular 4e D&D. And why is Mordenkainen running a magic shoppe?
I second Richard’s question. Why is Mordenkainen selling magic items? Ye gods, people . . .
@ Papabaloo
I, too, have called dibs on the necromancer. Looking forward to it!
Ack! It should be Wizards’, or Wizards of the Coast’s, or WotC’s — not Wizard’s, which implies a singular wizard, nor Wizard’s of the Coast, which implies a mage-owned eatery with a sunset view. Speaking of mage-owned businesses, was Mordenkainen hard up for cash, or is the titular Emporium run by his commercially-minded squib of a younger brother? “Mordie’s dead, and all he left us was a warehouse of strange stuff… and now Everything! Must! GOOOOO!”
Anyway… I love the idea of a shadow power source, but let’s hope that they don’t boost those classes’ damage in order to let those characters keep pace with MM3.
I’m happy for more Points of Light stuff. Now if only they had done those earlier. 🙁
“Mordie’s dead, and all he left us was a warehouse of strange stuff… and now Everything! Must! GOOOOO!”
bwahahaha! I’m sure there’s a wacky waving inflatable arm flailing tube man out front of the store too.