WizKids Press Release - Fly Your Dragons into Battle! WizKids Launches D&D® Attack Wing ™ Tactical Miniatures Game and Expansions

From the WizKids Website

WizKids Games, the industry leader in quality pre-painted collectible miniatures, is pleased to announce the release of their much-anticipated D&D Attack Wing™  Starter Set. D&D Attack Wing is Dungeons & Dragons themed, and brings the heroes, villains, and monsters of the D&D universe to life in fierce miniatures combat. Along with the D&D Attack Wing Starter Set, seven expansions are also available at launch to help players dominate the skies in ferocious aerial duels!

WizKids Press Release - D&D Icons of the Realms: Tyranny of Dragons Miniatures Available Now!

From the WizKids Website

WizKids Games, the industry leader in quality pre-painted plastic miniatures, announced that the inaugural wave of D&D Icons of the Realms miniatures,based on the iconic Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game from Wizards of the Coast is available in select stores now!

WizKids Press Release - Icons of the Realms Starter Set Miniatures Available Now!

From the WizKids Website

Icons of the Realms Starter Set Miniatures Available Now!

After Action Report – Free RPG Day @ Comic Quest, June 21, 2014

I had heard about Free RPG Day a few weeks ago.  This is supposed to be a day that is effectively a combination of Free Comic Book Day and International Tabletop Day.  The idea behind it is to give the participants a feel for role playing games by providing them with starters to game systems and provide their first exposure to the games through introductory adventures.

I decided that I would go to this event for two reasons.  The first was that it was a weekend where I did not have another event that I would normally attend happening so I was looking for something to do with my Saturday morning/afternoon.  The other reason was that I wanted to give Pathfinder a try. 

WizKids Press Release - WizKids Announces Dungeons & Dragons Dice Masters!

From the WizKids Website

NECA/WizKids is excited to announce a new Dice Masters game set in the Dungeons & Dragons Forgotten Realms universe.

“We’re excited to expand our Dungeons & Dragons portfolio with the addition of Dungeons & Dragons Dice Masters.  Dice Masters is an all new game that utilizes WizKids Games’ proprietary Dice Building Game platform where players collect and assemble their “party” of adventurer dice and battle in head to head gameplay. Dice Masters has had huge initial success, is a very exciting platform and should fit perfectly with the world and lore of Dungeons & Dragons. You can expect to see some of the most recognizable monsters and characters, such as Kobolds, Beholders, Mindflayers, Dragons, Drow, and many more!” said Justin Ziran, president of WizKids Games.  “We’re excited to work with Mike Elliott and Eric M. Lang, who brought the original Dice Masters game to life, and we are sure they will bring Dungeons & Dragons Dice Masters to the table top in unique and immersive ways.”

WizKids Press Release - Wizards of the Coast Announces Tyranny of Dragons!

From the WizKids Website

Wizards of the Coast announced an all-new line of Dungeons & Dragons products dedicated to bringing the Tyranny of Dragons storyline to life for both the digital and tabletop arenas.  Featuring new core rulebooks for the Dungeons & Dragons TRPG, two new tabletop adventures and more(!), Tyranny of Dragons will be the Dungeons & Dragons event of the year!

WizKids Games is pleased to announce, among the many exciting Tyranny of Dragons product offerings featured in this announcement, there will be the all-new line of pre-painted plastic fantasy miniatures featuring iconic heroes and villains from the Forgotten Realms.  These miniatures, produced in partnership with Wizards of the Coast, can be used by fans for all of their Tyranny of Dragons tabletop adventure needs.

For more information about this latest Dungeons & Dragons news and the Tyranny of Dragons storyline, please see the official Wizards announcement.

Wizards of the Coast Press Release - Dungeons & Dragons Enters a Pivotal Year with Tyranny of Dragons All New Entertainment Offerings Announced

From the Wizards of the Coast Website

Today, Wizards of the Coast kicked off a pivotal year for Dungeons & Dragons, unveiling new serialized entertainment offerings that will bring the upcoming Tyranny of Dragons storyline to life as well as announcing the D&D Player’s Handbook, Monster Manual and Dungeon Master’s Guide for the highly-anticipated new rules set for the D&D tabletop roleplaying game. Together, these new offerings will command the attention of digital and tabletop RPG players alike, setting the foundation for the future of the brand and powering incredible, action-packed play experiences for fans.

First out of the gates for Tyranny of Dragons digital offerings will be a new module for the highly-acclaimed Dungeons & Dragons MMO, Neverwinter, from Cryptic Studios and Perfect World Entertainment. The new module, aptly titled Tyranny of Dragons, will be the premier digital Dungeons & Dragons experience for players and will launch on August 14, 2014.

WizKids Press Release - WizKids Partners with Wizards of the Coast for Dungeons & Dragons Miniatures!

From the WizKids Website

WIZKIDS ANNOUNCES LICENSING AGREEMENT WITH WIZARDS OF THE COAST FOR
DUNGEONS & DRAGONS PRE-PAINTED MINIATURES

This summer, WizKids will debut an all-new line of Dungeons & Dragons pre-painted miniatures that complement the recently announced Tyranny of Dragons adventure theme.

Happy 40th Anniversary to Dungeons & Dragons

On or about this date 40 years ago Dungeons and Dragons was first published by TSR.  Even though I do not play the current incarnation of the game, this is the game that launched me into the gaming hobby so many years ago.

I remember getting my Basic D & D set for Christmas in 1980 and playing Keep on the Borderlands with my friends for weeks afterwards.  I still have my original box set almost 34 years later.  It is a little worse for wear but still in usable condition.  We then started playing our own home brewed adventures whenever we could after that.  Whenever I could put together $5 - $10, I would pick up a module at the local store. (The good old days when a published module only cost $5 - $7 to purchase.

Love it or hate if it were not for Dungeons and Dragons, tabletop gaming would not be what it is today because many of the game designers that we know and love today may not have gotten involved in game design without it whether they are currently creating board, card, miniature, or even video games.  So take a moment to reflect on what Dave Arneson and Gary Gygax and the peopl in their Blackmoor and World of Greyhawk campaigns brought us and celebrate by playing your favorite game whether it is Dungeons and Dragons, Pathfinder, Magic: The Gathering, Legend of the Five Rings, Ticket to Ride or any onthe rof your favorite games and reflect on what the game that started modern tabletop gaming 40 years ago.

Wizards of the Coast Press Release - Wizards of the Coast Reveals Tyranny of Dragons

Players Take on Tiamat in Biggest Multi-platform Launch in D&D history

As announced by USA Today, Wizards of the Coast today revealed Tyranny of Dragons, a massive, action-packed storyline that will fuel Dungeons & Dragons entertainment experiences in 2014.

This year, D&D is pitting heroes everywhere against hordes of evil dragons led by the 5-headed queen of dragons, Tiamat. Through video games and mobile games, in-store play at local hobby stores, tabletop gaming and more, this year will be the biggest and most exciting in Dungeons & Dragons history.

More information about the exciting Tyranny of Dragons offerings will be available in the coming months. To learn more about D&D, visit dungeonsanddragons.com.

Wizards of the Coast Press Release - Wizards of the Coast Announces Thrilling Dungeons & Dragons Launch for Summer 2014

From the Wizards of the Coast Website

Players fight the most fearsome monster of all time

in an exciting multi-platform gaming experience

December 19, 2013 – Renton, WA – Wizards of the Coast today announced that the highly-anticipated new rules system for Dungeons & Dragons will release in summer 2014.  After nearly two years of an open public playtest and more than 175,000 playtest participants, the rules are complete. Players will be immersed in rich storytelling experiences across multiple gaming platforms as they face off against the most fearsome monster of all time.

“Just like a perfectly balanced party, Wizards has worked cohesively with fans, designers and partners to create the next generation of D&D,” said Nathan Stewart, Brand Director for Dungeons & Dragons. “We whole-heartedly thank all of the play test participants, whose feedback has proven instrumental in shaping the future of Dungeons & Dragons.”

More information about the exciting Dungeons & Dragons entertainment offerings will be available in early 2014. To learn more about D&D, visit dungeonsanddragons.com.

About Wizards of the Coast
Wizards of the Coast LLC, a subsidiary of Hasbro, Inc. (NASDAQ:HAS), is the leader in entertaining the lifestyle gamer. Wizards' players and fans are members of a global community bound together by their love of both digital gaming and in-person play. The company brings to market a range of gaming experiences under powerful brand names such as MAGIC: THE GATHERING, DUNGEONS & DRAGONS, and KAIJUDO. Wizards is also a publisher of fantasy series fiction with numerous New York Times best-sellers. For more information about our world renowned brands, visit the Wizards of the Coast Web site at www.wizards.com.

Wizards of the Coast Press Release - First Ever Dungeons & Dragons Free-to-Play Mobile Game, Arena of War, Now Available

From the Wizards of the Coast Website

DeNA and Wizards of the Coast announced today that Arena of War, the first ever free-to-play Dungeons & Dragons mobile game, is now available exclusively for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch.

Arena of War is a thrilling, turn-based, 3D, battle-RPG mobile game that sends players on perilous quests through the Forgotten Realms. As a proven fearless champion, the player is called upon to fight for the gods of good during the Sundering, a historic event in the Realms that will reshape both heaven and earth and shift the balance of good and evil.

“Arena of War is an epic and imaginative experience and we could not be more honored to be partnering with Wizards of the Coast and Hasbro to launch the first ever free-to-play mobile Dungeons & Dragons game,” said Tiburcio De la Carcova, Head of DeNA's Vancouver and Santiago studios. “Our development team worked side-by-side with Wizards of the Coast to build a game both long-time fans of the leading RPG franchise and action-adventure game players new to the brand will enjoy playing.”

Players build an adventuring party to enlist on their quests in Arena of War. By inviting friends to join a questing party, players can vanquish enemies and take on tougher challenges and bosses together. Each quest provides heroes with a variety of challenges for which some players, depending on character class, will have an advantage. The arena itself is also dynamic, filled with deadly traps that can be used against a player’s enemy or result in their own demise.

“Wizards is committed to working with the best partners to bring great digital D&D experiences to our fans,” said Nathan Stewart, brand director for Dungeons & Dragons, Wizards of the Coast. “Arena of War creates a great mobile experience in the Forgotten Realms and pits players against our legendary monsters to fight for the Realms in the current Sundering storyline.”

The Arena of War App is available for free from the App Store on iPhone, iPad and iPod touch or at www.AppStore.com

Arena of War is coming to Android mobile devices soon. Players can pre-register and receive an email alert when the game is available for Android as well as upgrade their character by obtaining the free Ultra Rare Power CAUSE FEAR if they enter their email address on the game’s website: http://www.dndarenaofwar.com

Screenshots for Arena of War are available for download via the following link: http://moba.ge/DDassets

A video trailer for the game is available for you to view and imbed on your site via this link: http://youtu.be/WoVs_AgNwX8

Hook, Line, and Sinker – Vampires, Werewolves, and Ghosts, Oh My

It is October, the month when you see horror stories everywhere.  As a Gamemaster you may feel yourself drawn in to the spirit of the season and want to run a horror story for your group.

It is tempting to just use one of the standard favorites as the main villain in your horror story, but it can be a letdown for both you and your players if they figure out what the creature is and unavoidably metagame how to kill it within fifteen minutes of the start of the adventure.

I have put together three adventure ideas that you can use to make your players believe that the monster they are chasing is one thing when it is actually something else entirely.

Idea #1 – Werewolf

Hook – A representative from a local noble contacts the party saying that the noble needs their help to hunt down a creature.

Line – The party is asked to take care of what is believed to be a problem with a large wolf.  There have been a number of peasants mauled and killed when travelling at night.  Witnesses speak of a large beast that is definitely not a bear having made the attacks.  No normal weapon seems to hurt the beast and it appears only around the full moon.

Sinker – The monster is actually a creature that is owned and trained by another local noble.  It is outfitted in a set of armor which it why normal weapons do not appear to work on it and the shape of the armor distorts it silhouette so it does not look like a normal animal.  The other noble releases it on the full moon on the other noble’s land to scare the peasants so they lose faith in their lord and ask him to step in to help.  Once he stops the attacks he plans to petition the king to be given the lands because the other noble cannot control them.

Idea # 2 – Vampire

Hook – During a night on the town the players come across a dead body.  The city guard happens by at the same time.  The players are stopped and questioned about it.

Line – While the players convince the city guard that they are not the ones who killed the person, they hear that the victim was drained of blood and the only visible wounds on the body are two puncture marks on the neck.  The head of the guard asks the party of their help to find the killer.

Sinker – The perpetrators of the crime of is a evil cult of blood drinkers.  In order to do their sacrifices they use a tool that makes marks similar to that of a vampire and drain the blood from their victim and drink it.  They believe that the blood gives them power.  It is up to the players to find the cult and put an end to their crimes.

Idea # 3 – Ghost

Hook – The party is invited to stay at the remote estate of a friendly noble to participate in a hunt.

Line – During the night after the party gets to the estate, one of the other guests is killed mysteriously.  The death has all of the hallmarks of an attack by a poltergeist.  Each night thereafter someone is killed.  Will the characters be able to find the murderer before one of them is killed?

Sinker – The cause of the death is a very powerful psionicist.  The person has a natural talent that is out of their control.  As they figure out that they murders are being cause by them, it warps their mind more and more until they become evil, twisted, and willing participants in the crimes.

This are only a few ways that you can twist what seem to be flat out signs of the participation of a specific supernatural monster in an adventure into something else.  Just remember what appears to be  obvious does not have to be.

Hook, Line & Sinker – Fun with Fantasy RPGs

Sometimes you and your gaming group need a break from the main story of the campaign you are running.  This can be especially true after a really heavy part of the story happens.  Even the darkest and gloomiest shows on television have an occasional funny episode or they wind up being the fodder for angst ridden teenagers.   This is not a successful model unless you are writing a series for the CW.

This week I will present some light hearted plot ideas for a game master to use to break up the heavier stories of their campaigns.  They can also be use as part of a campaign that is lighter in tone.  Of course just because a story starts out light does not mean it does not have a darker end as you will see.

I had framed them around a fantasy theme but with some adjustment they should be usable in other types of games.

Idea #1

Hook – A young girl approaches the party and asks them if they will help her find her dog, Fluffy.

Line – The dog ran into an abandon mansion that the girl is not allowed to go into.  The girl is a daughter of a noble that the party has been trying to get something from.  Use this to leverage the players in to the story if they are not so inclined to help the girl when she asks for their help.

Sinker – The mansion is a base for a smuggling ring. The dog is a small terrier and should be able to get itself into and around things that make it difficult for the party member follow it.  Use the dog to lead the party through the building to the smugglers den by the most precarious route.  Things like rotten floors should give way under the characters after the dog goes across the area and the characters should at times be able to hear the dog but not see the dog.  Once the party defeats the smugglers, the dog should lovingly jump into the arms of one of the characters with its tail wagging.  Give them the impression that the dog’s goal was to have them take care of the smuggling operation the entire time.

Idea # 2

 Hook – The party is hunting down a group of evil cultist that has been terrorizing the area.

Line – The party is hired by the local authorities to take out the powerful evil cult.

Sinker – The cult is not actually all that powerful.  During the party’s search portray their actions as bumbling bordering on incompetent.  The party should become skeptical that the cult is the source of the problems that are happening.  The party finds them at the end of a ritual summoning that is supposed to bring forth a demon o f unimaginable power and an imp appears and promptly flies off.  One of the councilmen that hired the party is actually an evil cleric that is trying to get rid of the competition.  His existence should be revealed when a pack of hell hound join the fight toward the end to make sure that none of the cultist survive.  To make matters worse, the imp decides he likes the party and starts to follow them.  Unfortunately he gets bored a lot and will play pranks on the party members.

Idea #3

Hook – The party is traveling through the forest to the next town when they hear what sounds like a large group of people approaching.

Line- The party is swarmed by an large group of orcs that passes by them at full speed without even stopping when they see the party.  If any of the characters understand orcish, they hear phrases like “Is it still following us?” “We’ve got to get out of here!”  A minute after the orcs pass, a young boy emerges from the woods and asks the party if they will be his friends.

Sinker – The boy is actually a polymorphed dragon that is out to have fun with the locals before killing them.  It tells the party that he got separated for his parents and believes that they are over that way, pointing in the direction he is going.  If the party decided to help search of his parents, the “boy” will lead them around the forest and eventually to his lair before revealing himself as the dragon.  If he is attacked before then he will fight the party, but would prefer to wait because he does not want to have to lug all of their cool stuff back home by himself.

Wizards of the Coast Press Release - Neverwinter Fury of the Feywild Now Live

From the Wizards of the Coast Website

Neverwinter Fury of the Feywild Now Live

Acclaimed Action MMORPG Launches First Free Module

(Redwood City, CA) August 22, 2013 -- Perfect World Entertainment Inc. and Cryptic Studios are pleased to announce that the widely-acclaimed free action MMORPG Neverwinter, set in the Dungeons & Dragons Forgotten Realms universe  from Wizards of the Coast, has launched its first free Module, Fury of the Feywild. Set in the adventure zone of Sharandar, Feywild adventurers will experience new lore, new instances, a new dungeon, and much more.

"Come see what over 2 million players have experienced and take part in our first free Module, Fury of the Feywild. We couldn't be more excited to release this new content to our players," said Cryptic Studios Executive Producer and COO, Craig Zinkievich. "It's vital for any online game to keep players engaged with fresh new content on a regular basis. With that in mind, this release, just a couple months after live launch, is the first of a series of Modules scheduled to hit Neverwinter."

Fury of the Feywild, the first Module for Neverwinter, is a free content expansion that chronicles an attempt by Fomorian Giants to seize the Elven outpost of Sharandar. This free Module allows players to explore the enchanted woods of Sharandar, play as Sun and Moon Elves, collect new weapons and items, earn new rewards, encounter new creatures, and much more.

“This new content for Neverwinter supports our goal to create fantastic digital D&D experiences,” said Nathan Stewart, Brand Director for D&D at Wizards of the Coast. “Neverwinter is one of D&D’s most iconic locations, and Fury of the Feywild is a fantastic addition to keep this exciting story going.”

Neverwinter is a free action MMORPG that features fast-paced action combat with epic dungeons. Players explore the vast city of Neverwinter and its surrounding countryside, learning the vivid history of the iconic city and battling its many enemies. In Neverwinter, players can also create their own quests and campaigns with the Foundry, a user-generated content tool. Foundry quests and stories can then be seamlessly integrated into the game world.

For more information about Fury of the Feywild, please visit the microsite at: http://nw.perfectworld.com/furyofthefeywild

For more information about Neverwinter, and to begin playing now for free, please visit the official website: http://www.PlayNeverwinter.com

To download the new trailer and screenshots, please visit:
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/o12ilsoj1ciwlx5/Q85wKoheaG

###

ABOUT PERFECT WORLD ENTERTAINMENT INC.
Perfect World Entertainment is a leading North American online games publisher specializing in immersive free-to-play MMORPGs. Founded in 2008, Perfect World Entertainment has published a number of popular titles, including Blacklight Retribution, Forsaken World, Perfect World International and Star Trek Online. The company works closely with its American development teams and partners such as Cryptic Studios, developer of the highly acclaimed MMORPG Dungeons & Dragons Neverwinter, and Runic Games, developer of the hit Torchlight series, to provide unparalleled quality of service and game experiences to its players. A subsidiary of Perfect World Co., Ltd. (NASDAQ: PWRD), Perfect World Entertainment is headquartered in Silicon Valley, California. For more information, please visit: www.perfectworld.com

ABOUT CRYPTIC STUDIOS, INC.
Cryptic Studios, Inc. is a leading developer of online games committed to delivering the next level of gameplay. Cryptic Studios, Inc. develops AAA titles for PC and is rapidly diversifying its portfolio of games to expand beyond the traditional MMORPG genre. Its successfully launched titles include "Champions Online: Free for All," "Star Trek Online" and "Dungeons & Dragons: Neverwinter." Cryptic Studios, Inc., a subsidiary of Perfect World Co., Ltd. (NASDAQ: PWRD), is located in Los Gatos, CA.

ABOUT WIZARDS OF THE COAST
Wizards of the Coast LLC, a subsidiary of Hasbro, Inc. (NASDAQ:HAS), is the leader in entertaining the lifestyle gamer. Wizards' players and fans are members of a global community bound together by their love of both digital gaming and in-person play. The company brings to market a range of gaming experiences under powerful brand names such as MAGIC: THE GATHERING, DUNGEONS & DRAGONS, and KAIJUDO. Wizards is also a publisher of fantasy series fiction with numerous New York Times best-sellers. For more information about our world renowned brands, visit the Wizards of the Coast Web site at www.wizards.com.

Dungeons & Dragons, Neverwinter, their respective logos, Forgotten Realms, Fury of the Feywild, Magic: The Gathering, and all character names are trademarks of Wizards of the Coast LLC in the U.S.A. and other countries. All rights reserved. Kaijudo is a trademark of Wizards of the Coast/Shogakukan/Mitsui-Kids.

Wizards of the Coast Press Release - Dungeons & Dragons Launches The Sundering

From the Wizards of the Coast Website

Dungeons & Dragons Launches The Sundering;

Invites Fans of Fantasy Entertainment to Make Their Stories Legend

August 6, 2013 - RENTON, WA –The most popular setting in the Dungeons & Dragons universe, The Forgotten Realms, is about to be completely reshaped by an epic event announced today by Wizards of the Coast. The Sundering is an extensive story spanning multiple expressions of the contemporary fantasy entertainment franchise that offers fans the opportunity to impact the fate of the world along the way.

Key milestones in the year-long Sundering storyline will take place in iconic locations like Baldur’s Gate, Neverwinter and Icewind Dale, to name a few.  The changes to the Forgotten Realms can be experienced through a series of novels, in-store play experiences, digital offerings, comics, accessories and tabletop RPG adventures. Through these expressions, Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) fans will be able to engage and impact the fate of the Forgotten Realms forever. 

The Sundering kicks off today with the release of The Companions, The Sundering, Book I by New York Times bestselling author R.A. Salvatore.  His novel depicts the events of the Sundering as seen through the eyes of the world’s most well-known drow ranger, Drizzt Do’ Urden.  Salvatore’s novel is part of collaboration with other New York Times bestselling authors who will each show the changes to the Realms from their heroes’ points of view.

“We are elated to begin this extremely exciting chapter in the history of D&D,” said Nathan Stewart, Dungeons & Dragons Brand Director at Wizards of the Coast. “Utilizing great digital entertainment, dramatic story-telling techniques and thrilling and immersive events, The Sundering ushers in a new era for the future of the franchise.  We invite and encourage the legions of D&D adventurers to join us on this heroic adventure to change the canon of the Realms.”
When the Sundering is complete, the results of these stunning events will have reshaped the Forgotten Realms forever, providing the landscape for future D&D stories.
The Sundering includes:

-       Play & Help Shape the Future

o    Tabletop roleplaying gamers can experience The Sundering first-hand at weekly D&D Encounters in-store play events, where they will utilize a digital tool, the Sundering Adventurer’s Chronicle, to report the outcomes of their play experiences, connect with other players, and participate in activities designed to enhance their Sundering experience. 

-       Mobile Battles

o    Arena of War, the first free-to-play D&D game on iPad, iPhone, iPod touch and Android devices, is a thrilling 3D battle roleplaying game set in the Forgotten Realms. With modern mechanics like massive in-game events and multiplayer competitions, players are enlisted to battle in a modern-day fight against good and evil to help set the balance of power before the Sundering is complete.

-       Realms-Shattering Novels

o    The most celebrated Forgotten Realms authors have collaborated on a series of six novels: R.A. Salvatore (The Companions), Paul Kemp (The Godborn), Erin Evans (The Adversary), Troy Denning (The Sentinel), Richard Lee Byers (The Reaver) and Ed Greenwood (The Herald). Each novel tells a self-contained story featuring both new and well-loved characters set against the background of the unfolding events that are reshaping the world, beginning with the New York Times bestselling author R.A. Salvatore’s The Companions, The Sundering, Book I, releasing today - August 6^th.

For more information on the Sundering, visit DungeonsandDragons.com/Sundering.

About Wizards of the Coast
Wizards of the Coast LLC, a subsidiary of Hasbro, Inc. (NASDAQ:HAS), is the leader in entertaining the lifestyle gamer. Wizards' players and fans are members of a global community bound together by their love of both digital gaming and in-person play. The company brings to market a range of gaming experiences under powerful brand names such as MAGIC: THE GATHERING, DUNGEONS & DRAGONS, and KAIJUDO. Wizards is also a publisher of fantasy series fiction with numerous New York Times best-sellers. For more information about our world renowned brands, visit the Wizards of the Coast Web site at www.wizards.com.

Wizards of the Coast Press Release - Neverwinter Announces First Expansion, Fury of the Feywild

From the Wizards of the Coast Website

NEVERWINTER FURY OF THE FEYWILD MODULE DATED

First Free Expansion Coming August 22,

Knight of the Feywild Pack Available Now

(Redwood City, CA) July 16, 2013 -- Perfect World Entertainment Inc. and Cryptic Studios are pleased to announce that the widely-acclaimed free action MMORPG Neverwinter, set in the Dungeons & Dragons Forgotten Realms universe from Wizards of the Coast, is launching its first content expansion, Fury of the Feywild, on August 22, 2013. This free Module allows players to explore the enchanted woods of Sharandar, play as Sun and Moon Elves, collect new weapons and items, earn new rewards, encounter new creatures, and much more.

"We're excited to announce the release date of our first free expansion -- what we and D&D fans call a Module -- for Neverwinter." said Cryptic Studios CEO, Jack Emmert. "Come August 22, we're releasing our first expansion. That's less than two months from launch; pretty cool. New and exciting content is at the heart of making and expanding a persistent world. Our goal is to deliver engaging and constant updates to our players so that they always have something new to discover in game. Fury of the Feywild is the first of many Modules to come in Neverwinter."

Fury of the Feywild, the first Module for Neverwinter, is a free content expansion that chronicles an attempt by Fomorian Giants to seize the Elven outpost of Sharandar. More details about Fury of the Feywild can be found on the official website: http://nw.perfectworld.com/module1

"This new content for Neverwinter continues to support our goal of creating fantastic digital D&D experiences,” said Nathan Stewart, Brand Director for D&D at Wizards of the Coast. “Neverwinter is one of D&D's most iconic settings, and Fury of the Feywild is a fantastic addition to keep this exciting story going.”

Perfect World Entertainment Inc. is also pleased to unveil first details for the Neverwinter Knight of the Feywild Pack and Feywild Starter Pack. Starting today, Neverwinter fans can get their hands on two new packs that will help them on their quests throughout Sharandar.

The two versions of the Feywild Pack available for purchase are:

Knight of the Feywild Pack
The Knight of the Feywild Pack costs $59.99 USD (valued at $149.99) and supplies adventurers with virtual goods to aid them in their quest for glory:

• Unique 'Moon Elf' Race
• Unique 'Dawn Unicorn' Mount
• Unique 'Sylph Companion'
• New Moonsilver Regalia Fashion Set
• Loamweave Enchantment
• Stone of Earth
• Unique 'Knight of the Feywild' In-game Title
• One Extra Character Slot
• Adventurer's Helper Pack, containing Six Different Types of In-game Items
• 600,000 Astral Diamonds, an In-game Currency

Feywild Starter Pack
The Feywild Starter Pack costs $19.99 USD (valued at $49.99) and supplies adventurers with virtual goods to aid them in their quest for glory:

• Unique ‘Portal Hound’ Companion
• Feywild Hunter's Ring
• Fine Elven Silk Bag
• Adventurer's Helper Pack, containing Six Different Types of In-game Items

To take advantage of these pack offers, players may visit: http://nw.perfectworld.com/feywildpack/

Neverwinter is a free action MMORPG that features fast-paced action combat with epic dungeons. Players explore the vast city of Neverwinter and surrounding countryside, learning the vivid history of the iconic city and battling its many enemies. In Neverwinter, players can also create their own quests and campaigns with the Foundry, a user-generated content tool. Foundry quests and stories can then be seamlessly integrated into the live game world.

For more information about Neverwinter, and to begin playing now for free, please visit the official website: http://www.PlayNeverwinter.com

To download the new trailer and screenshots, please visit: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/z6btpa6kbu3sa6e/DSZyxGjg4r

###

ABOUT PERFECT WORLD ENTERTAINMENT INC.
Perfect World Entertainment is a leading North American online games publisher specializing in immersive free-to-play MMORPGs. Founded in 2008, Perfect World Entertainment has published a number of popular titles, including Blacklight Retribution, Forsaken World, Perfect World International and Star Trek Online. The company works closely with its American development teams and partners such as Cryptic Studios, developer of the highly acclaimed MMORPG Dungeons & Dragons Neverwinter, and Runic Games, developer of the hit Torchlight series, to provide unparalleled quality of service and game experiences to its players. A subsidiary of Perfect World Co., Ltd. (NASDAQ: PWRD), Perfect World Entertainment is headquartered in Silicon Valley, California. For more information, please visit: www.perfectworld.com

ABOUT CRYPTIC STUDIOS, INC.
Cryptic Studios, Inc. is a leading developer of online games committed to delivering the next level of gameplay. Cryptic Studios, Inc. develops AAA titles for PC and is rapidly diversifying its portfolio of games to expand beyond the traditional MMORPG genre. Its successfully launched titles include "Champions Online: Free for All," "Star Trek Online" and "Dungeons & Dragons: Neverwinter." Cryptic Studios, Inc., a subsidiary of Perfect World Co., Ltd. (NASDAQ: PWRD), is located in Los Gatos, CA.

ABOUT WIZARDS OF THE COAST
Wizards of the Coast LLC, a subsidiary of Hasbro, Inc. (NASDAQ:HAS), is the leader in entertaining the lifestyle gamer. Wizards' players and fans are members of a global community bound together by their love of both digital gaming and in-person play. The company brings to market a range of gaming experiences under powerful brand names such as MAGIC: THE GATHERING, DUNGEONS & DRAGONS, and KAIJUDO. Wizards is also a publisher of fantasy series fiction with numerous New York Times best-sellers. For more information about our world renowned brands, visit the Wizards of the Coast Web site at www.wizards.com.

Dungeons & Dragons, Neverwinter, their respective logos, Forgotten Realms, Fury of the Feywild, Magic: The Gathering, and all character names are trademarks of Wizards of the Coast LLC in the U.S.A. and other countries. All rights reserved. Kaijudo is a trademark of Wizards of the Coast/Shogakukan/Mitsui-Kids.

Wizards of the Coast Press Release - Neverwinter Now Live

From the Wizards of the Coast website

1.5 Million Players in Free Action MMORPG from Cryptic and Perfect World

(Redwood City, CA) June 20, 2013 -- Perfect World Entertainment Inc. and Cryptic Studios today announced the launch of the highly-acclaimed free action MMORPG Neverwinter, set in the Dungeons & Dragons Forgotten Realms universe from Wizards of the Coast.

"Over 1.5 million players have explored Neverwinter during our Open Beta. That's an incredible turnout of gamers and we are humbled by the support and grateful for all the feedback that has led us to this official launch," said Cryptic Studios Executive Producer and COO, Craig Zinkievich. "Our game combines the rich setting of Neverwinter with intense action combat and engaging content. With the Foundry, our user-generated content tool, players can also create an endless amount of imaginative quests and campaigns. The exciting part is that we’ve only just begun and already our 1.5 million players, and those millions of new gamers we expect from this launch, can look forward to our first free expansion module, Fury of the Feywild, in the near future. It's been a long journey, but now the adventure can really begin."

In Neverwinter, players explore and defend one of the most beloved cities from Dungeons & Dragons as one of five different classes: Trickster Rogue, Devoted Cleric, Control Wizard, Guardian Fighter and Great Weapon Fighter. In addition, players can choose from eight different races: human, half-orc, dwarf, elf, half-elf, halfling, tiefling and drow.

Today's official launch also marks the live release of Gauntlgrym, Neverwinter's new twist on level 60 PvP and PvE content, and the profession of Alchemy.

Neverwinter's first free expansion module, Fury of the Feywild, introduces the new region of Sharandar,  three campaign areas, three instances, new enemies, new loot, and a new dungeon. This module also introduces two new professions: Weaponsmithing and Artificing.

For more information about Fury of the Feywild, please visit the microsite at: http://nw.perfectworld.com/module1

For more information about Neverwinter and to begin playing now for free, please visit the official website at: http://www.PlayNeverwinter.com/

###

ABOUT PERFECT WORLD ENTERTAINMENT INC.
Perfect World Entertainment is a leading North American online games publisher specializing in immersive free-to-play MMORPGs. Founded in 2008, Perfect World Entertainment has published 10 popular titles, including Blacklight Retribution, Forsaken World, Perfect World International and Star Trek Online. The company works closely with its American development teams and partners such as Cryptic Studios, developer of the highly anticipated MMORPG Dungeons & Dragons Neverwinter, and Runic Games, developer of the hit Torchlight series, to provide unparalleled quality of service and game experiences to its players. A subsidiary of Perfect World Co., Ltd. (NASDAQ: PWRD), Perfect World Entertainment is headquartered in Silicon Valley, California. For more information, please visit: www.perfectworld.com

ABOUT CRYPTIC STUDIOS, INC.
Cryptic Studios, Inc. is a leading developer of online games committed to delivering the next level of gameplay. Cryptic Studios, Inc. develops AAA titles for PC and is rapidly diversifying its portfolio of games to expand beyond the traditional MMORPG genre. Successfully launched titles include "Champions Online: Free for All", "Star Trek Online" and "Dungeons & Dragons: Neverwinter." Cryptic Studios, Inc., a subsidiary of Perfect World Co., Ltd. (NASDAQ: PWRD), is located in Los Gatos, CA.

ABOUT WIZARDS OF THE COAST
Wizards of the Coast LLC, a subsidiary of Hasbro, Inc. (NASDAQ:HAS), is the leader in entertaining the lifestyle gamer. Wizards' players and fans are members of a global community bound together by their love of both digital gaming and in-person play. The company brings to market a range of gaming experiences under powerful brand names such as MAGIC: THE GATHERING, DUNGEONS & DRAGONS, and KAIJUDO. Wizards is also a publisher of fantasy series fiction with numerous New York Times best-sellers. For more information about our world renowned brands, visit the Wizards of the Coast Web site at www.wizards.com.

Dungeons & Dragons, Neverwinter, their respective logos, Forgotten Realms, Fury of the Feywild, Magic: The Gathering, and all character names are trademarks of Wizards of the Coast LLC in the U.S.A. and other countries. All rights reserved. Kaijudo is a trademark of Wizards of the Coast/Shogakukan/Mitsui-Kids.

After Action Report – Strategic & Adventure Game Association @ El Toro Library, May 25, 2013

The Strategic & Adventure Game Association had good turn out this time.  There were 19 people in attendance throughout the day with a number of new people in the mix.  Many people were surprised that the turnout was so large with it being a holiday weekend with a convention going locally in Los Angeles.

I told them that generally the Strategicon events do not interfere with SAGA because they do not have events that most of the people that go to SAGA would be interested in and that they would prefer to go to an event that was free and had the games they wanted to play versus pay to go to an event that did not have the games they were looking to play.

This time it was all about crayon rail games for me.  For those that are not familiar with the term crayon rail games refer to Empire Builder and all of the various editions of the game.  As you may already know from my previous entries, the unique feature of the Empire Builder family of games is the free form building of track that it allows.  The player uses special crayons that are included with the game to draw their track on the board.  Between games the marking from the previous game are erased from the game so that in the next play of the game the players start with a fresh board.

The first crayon rail I played was Lunar Rails.  This edition of the game takes place on the moon in the future when there are sprawling cities that need a way to get cargos from point to point so the players come in to help them with that.

Lunar Rails is the most unforgiving of the crayon rail games.  You have to be careful to keep enough money on had because there are disasters that can knock out a chunk of your track between you and where your next delivery.  Generally it will hit you when you do not have enough money to rebuild the track to be able to reach your destination.  We had this happen to someone in our game even though we warned them repeatedly.

I had a good start to the game.  I was able to build a solid set of track to start with.  I did not upgrade my train as quickly as I normally do in these games, which had me worried that I would fall behind, even though I my track building would not have been able to keep ahead of the speed of my train if I had spent the money upgrading.

It did not matter though.  I was able to keep myself in cards that I was able to deliver for decent amounts of money and manage to win the game.

The next game we played was Iron Dragon, which is my least favorite of the crayon rail games.  The setting for the game is a fantasy world in which the players run magical trains around the world.  I think that the creator of the Dungeons & Dragons campaign setting, Eberron took the idea of mystical trains for that setting from this game.

What I do not like about this game extra features that it adds.  The first one of these is the Conductors, which allow the players discounts when building on the terrain they have an affinity for.  The other feature is ships, which allow you to ferry your train across bodies of water.  To me these features clutter the game and add to the length of it.

I had a horrible time of it in the game.  I started with a set of cards that were marginal enough that I probably should have pitched them and gotten a new set and the game went downhill from there.  I had not completed building to all of my cities by the time the game was won and came in last place.

The results for this event are below.

Game	No. of Plays	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	5th	6th	7th	Avg.
Lunar Rails	1	1	-	-	-	-	-		1.00
Iron Dragon	1	-	-	-	1	-	-		4.00
Totals	2	1	-	-	1	-	-	-	2.50