Wizards of the Coast has created quite a stir with the 4th edition of the Dungeons and Dragons rules. Detractors complain that the rules are “dumbed down” and borrow too heavily from the worlds of miniature and online gaming while defenders praise its ease of play and dramatic style. In episode #6 we discuss our experience playing the introductory 4E adventure and our thoughts on the differences between the 3.5 and 4 rules.

Also a review of our geek week, news and geek events in the northwest!

Our Geek Week

♦ Rumors of a massively multiplayer on-line version of Fallout 3

♦ Episodic podcast novel FETIDUS (also available through iTunes). We are working on scheduling an interview with FETIDUS author James Durham for our Zombie Culture episode coming in late April. Stay tuned!

♦ Alien Trespass will be showing at one of the Landmark Theaters in Seattle starting April 3.

4th Edition Madness

Also really wanted to thank our friend Laura who played with us during our 4th Edition session. She played the Half-Elf Cleric and we totally forgot to mention her in the podcast. Thanks Laura!

Wizards of the Coast main Dungeons and Dragons site and D&D faq

Download the sample characters from The Keep on the Shadowfell

4E Character Builder

D&D Podcast featuring Will Wheaton, Gabe and Tycho from Penny Arcade and Scott Kurtz from PvP
Episode 1
Episode 2
Episode 3
Episode 4
Episode 5

Geek News

♦ Big Bang Theory was picked up through 2010-2011 season

♦ Jericho movie in development and Devil’s Due Publishing just announced a “season three” Jericho comic.

♦ Masamune Shirow Working with Lucent on Squad Project.

♦ The Behemoth (creators of Alien Hominid and Castle Crashers) have a new game trailer.

♦ Arthur C. Clarke Award Short List

♦ Weird news: Hippo Sweat is being made into sunscreen.

♦ BSG finale! March 20th. If you are having a finale party, or are one of the lucky 200 people who will be attending the event at EMP|SFM, send us any pictures or stories you want to share! You can e-mail them or we’ll be creating a post for people to comment on later this weekend.

Seattle Geek Events

♦ March 20, 2009 8pm Neptune Coffee Seattle – Star Wars trivia contest. We are also planning a Seattle Geekly meet up at either the 3/27 trivia Star Trek TNG or 4/17 Buffy / Angel trivia. We may just end up showing up for both.

♦ March 20 – 21, 2009 The Egyptian Theater Seattle – Midnight movie: Fight Club

♦ March 20 – 26, 2009 Grand Illusion Seattle – H.P. Lovecraft Film Festival. Opening Night Gala on Saturday. Director David Prior (AM 1200) will be on hand for a Q&A. Doors at 6pm, films at 7pm.

Showing at 7pm – Casting Call of Cthulhu, Late Bloomer, The Book Dealers, Eel Girl, Legend of the Seven Bloody Torturers, The Canal, Maxwell’s Mind, Experiment 18, Between the Stars, Call of Cthulhu

Showing at 9pm – The Outsider, Cool Air, AM 1200

♦ Saturday March 21 – NWSFS Phillip K. Dick Awards social

♦ March 21, 2009 Magic The Gathering Pro Tour Qualifier Registration: 9:00 AM – 9: 45 AM, Entry Fee: $25.00

♦ March 21st, Saturday 10 am – 5 pm Experience Music Project/Science Fiction Museum Seattle – Family Day at the EMPSFM

♦ March 21, 2009 Seattle Mystery Bookshop 117 Cherry St Seattle – Caitlin Kittredge reads from her book Second Skin. In her 3rd book, Nocturn City’s homicide Det. Luna Wilder tracks a killer who is targeting werewolves.

♦ March 22, 2009 9am – 7pm Sunset Hill Community Center 3003 NW 66th Street, Seattle – Steampunk University a one day workshop focusing on helping people understand steampunk and beginning to “gear up” for Steamcon, the Seattle steampunk convention happening later this year. $15 pre-reg tickets or $20 at door. Separate vendor’s room for $2 donation

♦ March 22, 2009 1 pm – Games Workshop at Carkeek 10031B Holman Rd NW, Seattle – A huge re-enactment of The Battle For Finuval Plains, an “historical” battle in the world of Warhammer Fantasy between the Dark Elves and the High Elves. There will be over 20,000 points of elves on our tables for people to play, including a giant super-hydra and a whole phalanx of Dragon Knights actually riding dragons. No knowledge of Warhammer Fantasy or models of your own required! Plenty of side events for those who might be late or unable to stay for the full duration of the main battle.

♦ GameStorm 11 in Vancouver, Washington (not Portland Oregon as previously reported). Seattle Geekly may be attending either Friday or Saturday!

Special thanks to the Warcraft Outsiders co-host Kyle who mentioned us on their most recent episode! If you like WoW, check out their podcast!

Music today was Drown Radio’s Gygax. You can find them on iTunes!

Next Week’s Show: Nerdcore or geek music including a special interview with a local band and our very first first listener giveaway!