You can watch this stream on Twitch here.
Lots of rumors running around about what the new story is! There's the whole #NoStoneUnturned story going on social media... one major clue is "Plane Shift". Waterdeep seems to be a major locale, and obviously there's one or more beholders involved.
Matt Mercer was a creative consultant on the new adventure.
In a little bit, four members of the D&D team will spill the beans on the new products:
- Mike Mearls
- Kate Welch
- Chris Perkins
- Jeremy Crawford
- Joe Mangiello
- Ashley Johnson
- Matthew Lillard
- Deborah Ann Woll
- Kate Welch
Tomorrow, a new group will debut. Rivals of Waterdeep. It's a group from Chicago. This will be their first time playing together.
Sunday will have more games, including Jox Machina - bodybuilders playing D&D.
Players include:
- Joe Managiello: Arkhan still has the Hand of Vecna, apparently.
- Travis Willingham
- The BIG SHOW from the WWE.
- Mike Mearls is DMing. Holy crap.
Promotion for the Art & Arcana: History of the Art of D&D. Then we go into a room that has what looks like original paintings by Jeff Easley! The 1e DMG cover, Unearthed Arcana.. There's a dude in a hood. It's Sam Witwer! Murdy Gurdy!
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This book will be out on October 23rd.
We talk with the Girls, Guts, Glory players for a moment, and then we jump over to meet the Roll20 people.
Spoilers are rolling out on other sites. I don't want to read them, but if you're interested, here's what is about to be announced for D&D!
We talk with a company that is making props for sale on the mass market - coins, maps, and more. The company is called Beadle and Grymm's. This box of stuff is $450!
Then we talk with Minsc, who discusses a new Neverwinter Nights game.
There will be a new dice set. This one includes two d20's and a lifetracker - it's a dial, similar to the tracker from Magic: The Gathering.
Then there's a band. We get a graphic: Up Next, Waterdeep: Dragon Heist. So.. that's the new adventure! It's popping up all over the internet. I'm trying to avoid reading about
it.
OK. Anna sits down with the D&D team.
- Mike Mearls - Right now he's trying to figure out 5e psionics
- Kate Welch - She's co-hosting the Spoiler Swag how once per month
- Chris Perkins - the STORY ARCHITECT
- Jeremy Crawford - The Editor-in-Chief
It's going to be out in game stores on September 6th, everywhere else on September 18th.
What levels is it for? Chris Perkins says that will be revealed over the course of the weekend.
Chris says that this is different from the past adventures. This adventure takes the game back to civilization, in an environment that encourages a lot of roleplaying.
It's a toolbox - you get toys as a DM for an urban romp. It's meant to be like Ocean's Eleven - steal treasure and keep it out of the hands of villains so they can't use it for nefarious purposes.
There's no ticking clock - the DM can make it last as long as they want. Chris likes this one because it is not a world-shattering event. It is grounded. You can lose yourself in the city. Waterdeep is a character, it has a personality all its own.
The people of Waterdeep aren't phased by adventuring types. They are used to it. The city is welcoming. If your party is smart, you'll get on the city's good side. If you do bad things, the city will turn on you.
Seasons: Jeremy says that this is meant to be a re- playable adventure. The original Ravenloft adventure changed every time you played it. At the outset of this adventure, the DM picks the villain!
There are 4 villains. The choice of villain determines what season it takes place in.
You can complete an intro quest for a prominent NPC. If you succeed, you are given a "home base".
They built downtime into the adventure!
The Xanathar has a role in this story. The adventure uses some of the mechanics from Xanathar's Guide to Everything. If you start a tavern, you get a rival, that kind of thing.
They are using a lot of NPCs from old products. Laeral Silverhand is the ruler, and was an adventurer herself. Jarlaxle is in it - what's his interest in Waterdeep? Anyone who's read the Drizzt novels - he can be your best friend or your worst enemy.
In addition to downtime being incorporated, they also make use of the chase rules. They expand them to add urban components. There are going to be chases in the city.
There are new magic items in the book. The blackstaff itself is in the book. There are stats for some famous NPCs. Stats for the giant, animated statues.
Volo gives a "walking tour" in the book - the chapter is separated from the rest of the book.
This is not an adventure where you can fight through everything. You will be arrested!
They wanted this adventure to be one that you can play through in just a couple of months if that's what the group wants.
Mike looks forward to seeing what the DMs Guild does with it. To him, success means that the book inspires lots of cool DMs Guild products. Kate wants to see a Cheers-style game, which is the drama between people in a bar (who never leave the bar).
Chris says there were things they couldn't fit. One was a character that they wanted to put in, but couldn't fit. He is now the central focus of the other campaign that is going to run parallel to Dragon Heist (???).
Jeremy wants to see Waterdeep fan art - art of the city itself. What each group's tavern looks like.
There's a Lantanese submarine in this one.
Mike talks about a campaign he was in. The group was struggling against a noble family that nobody knew was evil.
Sidequests for factions - you can get special favors. There are long lists of all the major guilds in the city, how a character can be linked to them, and gain renown with them.
Waterdeep is big - random encounters feel organic.
The book rewards creative problem-solving.
Chris talks about the talent involved: Ed Greenwood, James Haeck, James Introcaso, Charlie Sanders, and Matt Mercer.
Force Grey
(Joe Mangiello) Torogar Steelfist
(Deborah Ann Woll) Jamilah
(Matthew Lillard) Beetle
(Ashley Johnson) Dagney
(Kate Welch) Rosie Beestinger
6 months have passed since Acererak was thwarted. The Open Lord resurrected who they could. The weeks passed in Waterdeep. Jamilah has had a hard time adapting to the environment.
Someone slips each of them a message in their hand. Green Mask Lodge, card's room, within the hour. It has the symbol of Blackstaff's tower.
The group assembles there. Torogar needs some baby oil - he's a bit ashy. Beetle, a dwarf, does a spectacular leap onto a stool.
The group is told by Vajra that someone named Adinus has arrived in town and wants business with the Order of Mages. She asks the group to go there in her stead, to serve as her proxies. She does not trust this man, and his ulterior motives must be uncovered.
Scour the location without raising suspicion and gain proof in his dealings. Reward: gold, influence, and access to the more dubious elements of Waterdeep.
The group isn't so sure if they're right for a stealth mission.
Ut oh... stream died. It's down for about 5 minutes. Technical difficulties.... no sound.
The group sits down with the dude in question. Toro says he has no friends and that he's a wealthy landowner. Can you recommend a new realtor? Deception check: 10. The guy politely humors him.
Jamilah tries to tell the guy that she's from Cormyr,, but clearly she grew up in the jungle of Chult.
Dagney wants to go to the bathroom (to snoop). Beetle loudly shouts that he has to go too.
They're drinking Lathander's Red, a very valuable wine.
A golem serves their food. Rosie is attracted to constructs. She starts criticizing the meal and Adinus politely accepts it. He asks Rosie what her background is. She says she's just a grandma with hundreds of grandkids. Adinus smiles and seems genuinely charmed. He says he hopes to have kids one day. Rosie says, "They're over rated".
Meanwhile, Dagney and Beetle are snooping around. Dagney really needs to her wash her hands. After some snooping, Beetle finds a chest. It's trapped.
Dice, Camera, Action
Episode 95 - Specter of the Zhentarim
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