White Wolf plans to re-launch its World of Darkness on August 21st (Saturday at Gencon), when it will release the first two books in the new World.  A new World of Darkness Rulebook, a 200-page b/w hardcover at $19.99, will be the basic book for all World of Darkness games going forward.  The Storytelling System, as laid out in the Rulebook, will incorporate 'vast and all-encompassing' changes to the old WoD system. 

 

Vampire: The Requiem, designed to be used in tandem with the Rulebook, will be released simultaneously with it.  The cover image of Vampire will not be revealed until the street date to build anticipation.

 

Eight additional World of Darkness SKUs are planned between the initial releases and the end of the year, including Werewolf: The Forsaken in November.  Mage: The Awakening will be released in March of 2005.    

Marketing support will include major advertising; a 32-page intro game inserted into Dragon and sent out through distribution; conventions; Web support and more.   

 

White Wolf has created a Vampire: The Requiem floor display, which will be sold in three different pre-packs (basic, intermediate, and advanced) with the Rulebook and Vampire: The Requiem.  Depending on the number of copies  of each ordered (6, 12, or 24), the retailer gets varying amounts of schwag, including t-shirts, posters, autographed books, bags, and more (all in addition to the display).

 

The relaunch will get a strong sendoff from White Wolf's successful world-ending Time of Judgment publishing and marketing event (see 'White Wolf Sells out First Time of Judgment Title').  It seems likely that a good percentage of current active World of Darkness players will convert to the new games, and the noisy launch also has a good chance of attracting new players to the system.  White Wolf is calling the relaunch 'the event of the summer gaming season,' and the support it's getting it gives it a great chance for success.