World Famous Comics: Dungeons and Dragons Core Rulebook Gift Set, 4th Edition
Dungeons and Dragons Core Rulebook Gift Set, 4th Edition
By: Wizards RPG Team Publisher: Wizards of the Coast Average Rating: Binding: Hardcover Format: Box set Label: Wizards of the Coast Number of Items: 1 Number of Pages: 832 Publication Date: June 06, 2008 Release Date: June 06, 2008
Product Description: All three 4th Edition core rulebooks in one handsome slipcase. The Dungeons & Dragons Roleplaying Game has defined the medieval fantasy genre and the tabletop RPG industry for more than 30 years. In the D&D game, players create characters that band together to explore dungeons, slay monsters, and find treasure. The 4th Edition D&D rules offer the best possible play experience by presenting exciting character options, an elegant and robust rules system, and handy storytelling tools for the Dungeon Master.This gift set features a handsome slipcase containing all three of the 4th Edition D&D Roleplaying Game core rulebooks: the Players Handbook rulebook (320 pages), the Monster Manual rulebook (288 pages), and the Dungeon Masters Guide rulebook (224 pages).
Back into the Dungeon First of all, a short introduction: 1. I'm not a native English speaker. Sorry for any mistakes. 2. I have been playing D&D since its 1st Edition. I have also played many other RPG games, including Warhammer 2nd Edition, Rolemaster, Paranoia, Runequest, Call of Ctulhu,... 3. Usually I was the Master/Director of the game, but other times I've played as player. I'd say the balance is somewhat in the 60% Master / 40% Player. 4. After many disappointments with previous editions of D&D and their business methods, I was cautious to try 4th Edition. Actually, I decided not to try it at all, and went on playing other games. Then, a friend came and said he had bought the gift set, and that we should give it a try:
Advantages: - The combat system is really streamlined. The only times the rules of the game have to be "broken" is because of special powers. As you can have them in cards in front of you, you'll need to check the book during the game very few times. - The flow of combat is very smooth. Any time you want to do something, the rules are intuitive, and no rule seems to be "strange". - Because of the above, you are able to simulate battles with incredibly complex terrain (I'm now remembering a memorable one with some Kobolds in our last session). - As every class has the same number of special powers/tricks at each level, everybody has something important to think about almost at any time; nobody feels completely out or doing repetitive things. Nobody has "just to roll dice" or to do the same trick over and over. - No unfair hit point system. In previous editions you felt crippled when your character rolled low on his/her hit points. - Skill system much better. Still, I don't find it as nice as in d100 games such as Warhammer, Call of Ctulhu,... but it's not the ridiculous system of previous editions... anyone remembers the "blind" Fighter?
Disadvantage I have seen none yet (though I must say I have not played this game as much as previous editions). Maybe that you'll need to use miniatures if you want to make use of the nice new combat rules (I love miniatures anyway, but I guess for some people this can be a bad thing).
Advantage or Disadvantage? (this will depend on your style) - The rules are there to make combat interesting and streamlined but, will that detract from the roleplaying experience? - Well, the role aspect of the game is still clearly there. I always thought that this aspect does not depend so much on the basic rules but on the scenario the DM decides to direct (and D&D had always a huge selection of scenarios), and on how interested are the players on the role aspects of the game. - The game can be clearly played as a normal boardgame, and in this sense it will attract a lot of computer players out there. In my opinion, this is a good thing, as I think it will attract more gamers to the pen-and-paper RPGS and maybe some of them will also discover the joy of the roleplaying aspect. Others are angry that Hasbro-Wizards tried this out, but I think that's just an elitist opinion.
Well, all in all, I'm quite pleased with the game so far, and I've even decided to buy it myself and direct an scenario or two with my friends. I wish Hasbro good luck with it, and hope that they'll try to keep with this edition more time...no 4.5 edition at least in 4-5 years, please!
amazing The new edition of D&D are amazing. I like the new art concept and the new modular system used to that new version.
I think that is the definitive rules book to my D&D group.
Much easier than ed. 3.5, but still retains the D&D fun
My only criticism is of Amazon's handling of the product. I actually preordered this set from Amazon.com two months before the release. It was annoying that Amazon pushed my delivery date back a month and a half because they ran out of supplies. Don't pre-order on Amazon.com unless you want to take a chance and not get your item till much later.
The game itself is great because it is simplified down from 3.5 rules. I learned DMing on my own in 3.5 editon and played with people that were newbies as well. The game was very hard to DM in 3.5 and DMing it in 4th is a lot easier due to encounter xp tables, treasure being standardized, and classes working in a similar fashion(i.e. daily, encounter, and at-will powers). I love it, and my players like it better than 3.5 as well.
Very Nice Very nice books and case with excellent artwork and easy reading. For the old players I don't know if this edition will be a huge upgrade as it seems like it limits players who like to be very creative in their characters. Although the simplicity of the system may make up for that.
The End of D&D I will not send 1 dime on 4th ed. It is not a ROLL playing system, but a computer transition. Hasbro can take it and take a flying leap (the godless fatherless get(bastards)). Do not be seduced by the darkside.
Anything Goes Trivia
Megaton Man
Trevor
