Has anyone purchased the Starter Set yet? How does it differ from the core books? Is it a better match for children then the core rules are?
Been wondering about that myself so much so i read a thread on enworld about it and they summed it up as having the equivalent of the starter rules from the Keep on the Shadowfell and stock characters with some double sided tiles and maps for some encounters.
They did say it was a shame they couldn't have stocked up on just having the first three levels summed up so they could play, learn the rules and level up so they would be interested in picking up the three core books, but it was viewed as being good as a start up for new players, still undecided myself since I've bought the kots and have enough minatures and paizo tiles along with the 4e phb.
Will look back later at this thread see if anyone else has posted their views on it.
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Okay, this ended up being a disapointment. There were some bright spots but I was expecting the old red box and ended up with quick play rules instead.
Good:
Dungeonmasters book cantains a variety of monsters
Dungeon tiles are always useful
The creature and character tokens mean I don't have to use Star Wars minis for D&D anymore
Bad
The included adventure was just three encounters long
There are no character generation rules or options. You get five pregens that have all the options picked up to level three.
The set includes just enough material to make you realize that there is not enough material to actually run a game "out of the box" so to speak.
The art depicts creatures and characters that don't come with the set.
Still it looks like with what the starter set comes with, and the PHB I already have I can sit down with my kids and run a simple game, which is all they can really handle at this point.
One of the things that bugs me about the last few "Basic Sets" have been that they don't teach you how to really play the game, but just how to run a few predetermined encounters, which doesn't let you see how to build encounters, or make characters, or whatever.
I loved the old Basic Set (I started with the old purplish red one, and my friend got the newer Red one a few years later), and you would actually run complete low level campaigns with these.
So does the starter set include something that feels or reads like 'D&D for dummies?'.
I'm kind of wondering what makes it a starter set really?
How is owning this product going to make learning to play (and have fun with) the game easier for a clueless dad and his flighty preteen daughter?
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The quick play rules is good at explaining the basic concepts in a "Dummies" style. My biggest complaint was that there were no character generation rules, so unless you have the PHB you are stuck with the five pregen characters that the game comes with. The Dungeonmasters book does describe things like encounter design and contains a good selection of monsters. It's an alright introductory product, it just doesn't provide long term staying power like the old red box did. I would suggest starting out with this if you aren't sure if your kids are going to get into the game so you don't shell out a lot of money on it.
So does the starter set include something that feels or reads like 'D&D for dummies?'.
I'm kind of wondering what makes it a starter set really?
How is owning this product going to make learning to play (and have fun with) the game easier for a clueless dad and his flighty preteen daughter?
Yup! The quickstart rules are clear and consistent, and there's more enough material to create multiple adventures - although you will always have to use the same pregen characters, which, as others have pointed out, is kind of a downer.
I have to say that I'm impressed with the mini-Monster Manual at the back of the DM booklet. Reading up on the monsters was what got me hooked on the game, way way back in the day.
Yup! The quickstart rules are clear and consistent, and there's more enough material to create multiple adventures - although you will always have to use the same pregen characters, which, as others have pointed out, is kind of a downer.
I have to say that I'm impressed with the mini-Monster Manual at the back of the DM booklet. Reading up on the monsters was what got me hooked on the game, way way back in the day.
So from your point of view is it worth it if say they already own the 4e phb but aren't able to afford the other 2 core books at this time?