The Special Edition Monster Manual and Limited Edition Chess Set are the top Dungeons and Dragons holiday releases from Wizards of the Coast, with five hardcovers and three softcovers completing the lineup for the quarter.
October 10th releases:
The embossed leather-bound Special Edition Monster Manual completes the special edition set of three D&D core rulebooks along with the previously released Special Edition Dungeon Master's Guide and Special Edition Player's Handbook. The manual (320 pages, $75 MSRP) incorporates 'official errata' previously available only on the WotC Web site.
The D&D Limited-Edition Chess Set is a premium quality chess set with the King of the Good Dragons and his children (white pieces) facing off against the Queen of Evil and her spawn (black pieces) ($199.95 MSRP.)
The Complete Mage supplement focuses on arcane magic with all new material by Ari Marmell and Skip Williams. This 'Arcane Spellcaster's Campanion' provides new feats, spells, warlock invocations, prestige classes, magic items for characters that cast arcane spells, and advice for atypical arcane magic users and DMs, too (224-page hardcover with a $29.95 MSRP).
Expedition to Castle Ravenloft, by Bruce Cordell and James Wyatt, expands on the original adventure with new threats and a new encounter format that makes it easier on the DM (224-page hardcover with a $34.95 MSRP).
November 7th releases:
Cityscape is a new supplement with city-building rules, new options and encounters for city-based characters, and rules for urban terrain, by Ari Marmell and C.A. Suleiman (160-page hardcover with a $29.95 MSRP).
Scourge of the Howling Horde, a new D&D adventure for first-level characters by Gwendolyn F.M. Ketrel. The book features a new encounter format and incorporates advice to DMs on how to run the game smoothly for both new and experienced players (32-page softcover with a $14.95 MSRP).
Dragonmarked is a new Eberron supplement by Keith Baker, Michelle Lyons and C.A. Suleiman. Dragonmarked explores the power of dragonmarks, the thirteen dragonmarked houses of the Eberron world, and offers new feats, spells, and prestige classes (160-page hardcover with a $39.95 MSRP).
December 12th releases:
Fiendish Codex II: Tyrants of Nine Hells, by Robin D. Laws and Robert J Schwalb, is a follow-up supplement to Fiendish Codex I: Hordes of the Abyss and focuses on devils and the Nine Hells of the D&D world. The book is 160-page hardcover and sells for $29.95 MSRP.
Fantastic Locations: The Frostfell Rift, includes two double-sided, full-color poster maps of Frostfell Rift for miniatures or RPG play, with three of the maps approved for competitive miniature play, plus a 16-page RPG encounter booklet ($14.95 MSRP).
The Shattered Gates of Slaughtergarde, is a new adventure for second- to fifth-level characters written by David Noonan. A companion to Scourge of the Howling Horde (see above), it features a new format for combat encounters and includes two DM books, a players books, an 8-page illustration book, and a double-sided battle map ($24.95 MSRP).
