Published vs. Encounters version of Murder in Baldur's Gate - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Published vs. Encounters version of Murder in Baldur's Gate

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
anarion66
Oct 17, 2013 15:40:47
I haven't played D&D in 30 years, but I'm getting back into it to help out a family who's kids are interested. So I'm new to dealing with Wizards of the Coast and the Encounters program, etc. Here's my question: Is it only me who is pissed off that the published version of 'Murder in Baldur's Gate', i.e. the one for home use, lacks so much of the useful detail that is included in the Encounters version of MiBG? I feel the retail available version is gutted, and I find that extremely annoying. Is this the way they always do Encounters? And who out there will send me their now probably useless copies of week 2+ Encounters material, so I can prepare decent sessions to introduce this family to D&D? I know, I know, I can wing it with the published version, but it would help me TREMENDOUSLY to be able to read the whole thing.

#2
Hutchimus
Oct 17, 2013 15:55:57
I don't think anything extra is included for the Encounters version. The only thing I can think of is the Game Day material and WOTC has put that online here:

http://www.wizards.com/dnd/Article.aspx?x=dnd/4news/MIBGlaunch

#3
anarion66
Oct 17, 2013 16:01:16
Btw, I'm not talking about the dice or pictures included with the Encounters packet. It's the missing text that is so annoying. If you will compare the retail version text to the now released encounters version text (for launch day), you'll see what I'm talking about. They have similarities, but have quite different details.

#4
anarion66
Oct 17, 2013 15:59:49
However if the ONLY difference is in fact the game day material, that would be good to know. It doesn't seem that way from reading session reports though.

#5
Hutchimus
Oct 18, 2013 5:46:17
I've been reading a lot of the session reports too and I think a lot of the "missing text" you're talking about is stuff those DMs came up with ahead of time,ad-libbed, etc. The adventure itself is pretty details-lite, requiring a lot of prep work.

#6
anarion66
Oct 19, 2013 9:01:52
You are right about the prep work. I never spent this much time on it back in the day. For me now it's something like 8:1 prep time vs. game time, but I'm hoping that will come down soon.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 anarion66 Oct 17, 2013 15:40:47	I haven't played D&D in 30 years, but I'm getting back into it to help out a family who's kids are interested. So I'm new to dealing with Wizards of the Coast and the Encounters program, etc. Here's my question: Is it only me who is pissed off that the published version of 'Murder in Baldur's Gate', i.e. the one for home use, lacks so much of the useful detail that is included in the Encounters version of MiBG? I feel the retail available version is gutted, and I find that extremely annoying. Is this the way they always do Encounters? And who out there will send me their now probably useless copies of week 2+ Encounters material, so I can prepare decent sessions to introduce this family to D&D? I know, I know, I can wing it with the published version, but it would help me TREMENDOUSLY to be able to read the whole thing.
#2 Hutchimus Oct 17, 2013 15:55:57	I don't think anything extra is included for the Encounters version. The only thing I can think of is the Game Day material and WOTC has put that online here: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/Article.aspx?x=dnd/4news/MIBGlaunch
#3 anarion66 Oct 17, 2013 16:01:16	Btw, I'm not talking about the dice or pictures included with the Encounters packet. It's the missing text that is so annoying. If you will compare the retail version text to the now released encounters version text (for launch day), you'll see what I'm talking about. They have similarities, but have quite different details.
#4 anarion66 Oct 17, 2013 15:59:49	However if the ONLY difference is in fact the game day material, that would be good to know. It doesn't seem that way from reading session reports though.
#5 Hutchimus Oct 18, 2013 5:46:17	I've been reading a lot of the session reports too and I think a lot of the "missing text" you're talking about is stuff those DMs came up with ahead of time,ad-libbed, etc. The adventure itself is pretty details-lite, requiring a lot of prep work.
#6 anarion66 Oct 19, 2013 9:01:52	You are right about the prep work. I never spent this much time on it back in the day. For me now it's something like 8:1 prep time vs. game time, but I'm hoping that will come down soon.