What you need to know about Dungeons & Dragons Encounters - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

What you need to know about Dungeons & Dragons Encounters

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
WolfStar76
Feb 02, 2010 10:53:27
Following is the information that was handed out at DDXP about the new Dungeons and Dragons Encounters system coming in March.
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An ongoing mini-campaign.
D&D Encounters is set up with an ongoing narrative element, played as a mini-campaign lasting a few months. Each mini-campaign is also known as a season of play; after one season finishes, the next one begins the very next week, without interruption. The season is divided up into 3 chapters; each chapter is composed of a few sessions of play.

One encounter per week.
Fitting D&D Encounters into a busy schedule is made much easier with its one encounter per week sessions. You can get the encounter done within 1-2 hours, making it easy to finish at a reasonable hour and keeping the DM's prep time minimal each week.

Earn Renown Points for accomplishments.
At the conclusion of each session, you earn Renown Points for different types of accomplishments made in game -defeating encounters, hitting milestones, doing something spectacular during a game session, etc. As you accumulate those points, you'll earn rewards cards that can be used in-game for your current and future D&D Encounters characters. Some rewards are easy to get, and can be obtained after only a few sessions of play; others might take a while to qualify for. The first reward is the Delver reward, and it's given to you on the session you've earned it. The other two rewards (Explorer and Adventurer) are awarded at the end of the season based on those that qualify for them by earning a certain higher total of points.

DMs get rewards too!
In addition to the player rewards in the D&D Encounters kit, there are also special rewards for the DMs, consisting of valuable game aides and other cool specially-made, not-available-for-sale items. Each new season will bring a different DM reward in the kit.

Each season takes you to new D&D worlds.
Every D&D Encounters season is a self-contained mini-campaign, giving you an ongoing story in a different D&D setting each time. Short enough to keep you from making a long-term campaign commitment but long enough to give you a sense of growth and accomplishment, the length of each season will last approximately 3-4 months. The seasonal nature of D&D Encounters also means you'll be able to sample new game content and different worlds a few times every year. The first season of D&D Encounters is set in the FORGOTTEN REALMS, where you'll be uncovering the secrets of Halaster's Lost Apprentice in one of the most infamous dungeons of all, Undermountain! And in season two, journey to the blasted lands of Athas as you play in a mini-campaign preview of the Dark Sun campaign setting!

Get social by following us and sharing.
The D&D Encounters play experience goes beyond the store as Wizards uses social networking tools like Twitter and Facebook to communicate messages each week, sometimes offering special in-game benefits or events that affect your current play session. In addition, you can share your stories, post photos, and join the discussion at the official D&D Encounters Community Group on the Wizards site.

D&D Encounters: Undermountain
Halaster's Lost Apprentice: A lost passageway on the upper level of the most infamous dungeon in Faerun has recently been uncovered. When a patron hires a band of adventurers to brave the dangers of Undermountain, a search is on to uncover secrets of an apprentice of the dungeon's lost creator - Halaster. Bring a lst-level character or use a pre-generated character. Characters this season can be exported to the Living Forgotten Realms campaign at the conclusion of the mini-campaign!

Season Length: 12 sessions (3 chapters of 4 sessions each)
Season Dates: March 17 -June 2 (Wednesdays)

Make sure your local store signs up for D&D Encounters through the Wizards Play Network. Signups begin on February 8th. Make sure they sign up early, because kit quantities are limited!
#2
Mind_Flayer_Monk
Feb 02, 2010 17:44:44 Thank you Wolfstar!
Sounds like a great series of games.
#3
dan_lynch
Feb 03, 2010 6:51:42 Will there be any officially suggestion way to extend the experience to 4ish hours for people who have that much time available? For example, hooks, RP encounters, skill challenges, other combat encounters, etc? I worry it might be difficult to get players to come out for a single-encounter event.
#4
WolfStar76
Feb 03, 2010 12:14:13 I suspect, though I haven't seen anything more than you all have, that since this is slated for Wednesdays (primarily - you CAN play on other days) that its unlikely to have any built-in extensions.

The goal of this program is to replace the Delve Nights - to attract semi-casual players, or people who (on a work/school night) only have a couple hours to spare but still want to get a "quick fix".

The goal, if I'm not mistaken, is to get these "casual" players hooked and to then steer them toward LFR.

If you wanted to run LFR on Wednesday nights in conjunction with these Encounters events - I don't think anyone would object. ^_^
#5
WolfStar76
Feb 03, 2010 12:15:09
Community Leadership has asked that discussion of D&D Encounters be concentrated over here: community.wizards.com/dungeonsanddragons...

I'll be locking this thread and keeping an eye out over there accordingly.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 WolfStar76 Feb 02, 2010 10:53:27	Following is the information that was handed out at DDXP about the new Dungeons and Dragons Encounters system coming in March. --------------------------------------- An ongoing mini-campaign. D&D Encounters is set up with an ongoing narrative element, played as a mini-campaign lasting a few months. Each mini-campaign is also known as a season of play; after one season finishes, the next one begins the very next week, without interruption. The season is divided up into 3 chapters; each chapter is composed of a few sessions of play. One encounter per week. Fitting D&D Encounters into a busy schedule is made much easier with its one encounter per week sessions. You can get the encounter done within 1-2 hours, making it easy to finish at a reasonable hour and keeping the DM's prep time minimal each week. Earn Renown Points for accomplishments. At the conclusion of each session, you earn Renown Points for different types of accomplishments made in game -defeating encounters, hitting milestones, doing something spectacular during a game session, etc. As you accumulate those points, you'll earn rewards cards that can be used in-game for your current and future D&D Encounters characters. Some rewards are easy to get, and can be obtained after only a few sessions of play; others might take a while to qualify for. The first reward is the Delver reward, and it's given to you on the session you've earned it. The other two rewards (Explorer and Adventurer) are awarded at the end of the season based on those that qualify for them by earning a certain higher total of points. DMs get rewards too! In addition to the player rewards in the D&D Encounters kit, there are also special rewards for the DMs, consisting of valuable game aides and other cool specially-made, not-available-for-sale items. Each new season will bring a different DM reward in the kit. Each season takes you to new D&D worlds. Every D&D Encounters season is a self-contained mini-campaign, giving you an ongoing story in a different D&D setting each time. Short enough to keep you from making a long-term campaign commitment but long enough to give you a sense of growth and accomplishment, the length of each season will last approximately 3-4 months. The seasonal nature of D&D Encounters also means you'll be able to sample new game content and different worlds a few times every year. The first season of D&D Encounters is set in the FORGOTTEN REALMS, where you'll be uncovering the secrets of Halaster's Lost Apprentice in one of the most infamous dungeons of all, Undermountain! And in season two, journey to the blasted lands of Athas as you play in a mini-campaign preview of the Dark Sun campaign setting! Get social by following us and sharing. The D&D Encounters play experience goes beyond the store as Wizards uses social networking tools like Twitter and Facebook to communicate messages each week, sometimes offering special in-game benefits or events that affect your current play session. In addition, you can share your stories, post photos, and join the discussion at the official D&D Encounters Community Group on the Wizards site. D&D Encounters: Undermountain Halaster's Lost Apprentice: A lost passageway on the upper level of the most infamous dungeon in Faerun has recently been uncovered. When a patron hires a band of adventurers to brave the dangers of Undermountain, a search is on to uncover secrets of an apprentice of the dungeon's lost creator - Halaster. Bring a lst-level character or use a pre-generated character. Characters this season can be exported to the Living Forgotten Realms campaign at the conclusion of the mini-campaign! Season Length: 12 sessions (3 chapters of 4 sessions each) Season Dates: March 17 -June 2 (Wednesdays) Make sure your local store signs up for D&D Encounters through the Wizards Play Network. Signups begin on February 8th. Make sure they sign up early, because kit quantities are limited!
#2 Mind_Flayer_Monk Feb 02, 2010 17:44:44	Thank you Wolfstar! Sounds like a great series of games.
#3 dan_lynch Feb 03, 2010 6:51:42	Will there be any officially suggestion way to extend the experience to 4ish hours for people who have that much time available? For example, hooks, RP encounters, skill challenges, other combat encounters, etc? I worry it might be difficult to get players to come out for a single-encounter event.
#4 WolfStar76 Feb 03, 2010 12:14:13	I suspect, though I haven't seen anything more than you all have, that since this is slated for Wednesdays (primarily - you CAN play on other days) that its unlikely to have any built-in extensions. The goal of this program is to replace the Delve Nights - to attract semi-casual players, or people who (on a work/school night) only have a couple hours to spare but still want to get a "quick fix". The goal, if I'm not mistaken, is to get these "casual" players hooked and to then steer them toward LFR. If you wanted to run LFR on Wednesday nights in conjunction with these Encounters events - I don't think anyone would object. ^_^
#5 WolfStar76 Feb 03, 2010 12:15:09	Community Leadership has asked that discussion of D&D Encounters be concentrated over here: community.wizards.com/dungeonsanddragons... I'll be locking this thread and keeping an eye out over there accordingly.