Auric
Warrior
219 Posts
    
Baltimore, MD
 | | 10/22/2008 8:34 PM |
| I just received the 4E RPG Starter Kit, having pre-ordered it from Amazon and it just arrived today. I haven't actually played it yet, but I will give my review based on first observations and presentations. That way anyone considering it to learn the new edition or to teach it to someone else can get some idea what it's like and then decide from there.
For the contents, it comes with two booklets, the Quick Start Rules and the Dungeon Master's Book. This is similar to the way that the 3rd edition set was done. The Quick Start Rules explain the core mechanic of the game, the basics about encounters and the sequence of combat. There are five pre-gen character sheets at the end, with archetypal builds, but I think that's useful to show the basics of the game. They are Dwarf Fighter, Eladrin Wizard, Halfling Rogue, Human Cleric and Dragonborn Paladin.
In The DM's Book, the first part is similar to that of the Quick Start Rules, but gives the DM more explanation as to how those concepts are run, like with DC tables, suggestions for how certain skill checks are used, all the various conditions and effects (dazed, prone, slowed, etc.), and how to read monster tables. Next is a 3 encounter adventure, all combat encounters, but it looks pretty easy in terms of getting the players (and a DM, if the DM is new too) to running them. It leaves the adventure open-ended so that, if desired, the DM can create more of the dungeon, which leads to the next part of the book...
The next section, called "Creating Adventures," is like the encounter builder chapter of the DMG. It explains each of the monster roles and how go about building each encounter, from XP totals to encounter levels, how to create and run skill challenges, and adding traps. Following is a mini-"Monster Manual" with stat blocks for several monsters up to level 5.
In another thread a question was asked about the use of minis vs. tokens in the kit. The tokens, which are the same thickness as Dungeon Tiles, are double-sided. For the character tokens, the reverse side has a reddish tint to it to signify being bloodied, while the monsters have different ones on the reverse. The level of the monster is printed on each. There are a few larger tokens for the big creatures like dragons. The dungeon tiles included in the kit are pretty generic, like the ones from DT1, but there are a few that I think were used in later sets, but more of the decorative stuff. There are 3 sheets of these tiles.
I look forward to using this to teach the game to some new potential platyers, and when I do, I will post my experiences and reflections here. My opinion as it stands right now is that it is a great tool for total newbies to pick up and learn the game, whether used to previous editions or not. | |
Trade references: http://www.maxminis.com/Forums/tabid/104/forumid/53/postid/801085/view/topic/Default.aspx
Trades on WotC: vandyfry, hothie. Cyriss | |
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