Newsgroup: it.hobby.giochi.gdr.dnd
Titolo: [LINK]: Recensione del D&D Basic Game

http://www.rpg.net/reviews/archive/10/10749.phtml
la rece e' entusiastica, l'unico dispiacere e' che non e' un gioco
completo, ma come set introduttivo credo faccia ampiamente il suo
dovere
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PRODUCT SUMMARY  
Publisher: Wizards of the Coast
Line: Dungeons & Dragons
Author: Jonathan Tweet
Category: RPG
Cost: $24.95
Year: 2004
ISBN: 0-7869-3409-3
 
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REVIEW SUMMARY  
Capsule Review
Robert J. Grady
October 22, 2004
Style: 5 (Excellent!)
Substance: 5 (Excellent!)
An introduction to the D&D game. The booklets are well-written enough
not only to instruct players in the rules, but to avoid creating
misconceptions. This set is an excellent buy for someone who is
already an experienced D&D player and would simply like the cool minis
and tiles. 
Robert J. Grady has written 19 reviews, with average style of 3.68 and
average substance of 3.74. 
 
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REVIEW OF DUNGEONS & DRAGONS BASIC GAME  
Why Would I Buy a D&D Basic Game? 
One probably does not grasp, instantly, what would motivate a
roleplayer with two decades of experience and a shelf-full of RPG
materials, including a sizeable D&D 3rd edition selection, to purchase
an introductory D&D product aimed at novices. You probably do not find
it difficult to believe I would be motivated at least partially by
nostalgia. This product essentially is the Red Box (or Blue) for the
current edition. Let me add to that, secondly, curiosity. What are
they teaching these kids these days? Might this product be of use to
me in introducing a young friend to D&D? Does the game have possible
play value to a veteran gamer? Third, as a roleplayer, let me add
aesthetics. The game just looked keen, and I was curious to see what
kind of work went into it and how the final product turned out.
Fourth, I happened to notice the cool game accessories. This set
includes sixteen attractive re-paints of D&D Miniatures line figures
as well as a number of sturdy square-grid dungeon tiles. 
"Everything You Need to Start Playing the Dungeons & Dragons
Roleplaying Game! 
So boasts the box. The eye-catching oversized box contains "Read This
First," the Quick Start Rules, the First Adventure Book, four
character sheets for the pregens, the Advanced Rule Book, sixteen
pre-painted plastic miniature figures, dungeon tiles, and six
polyhedral dice. 
Perusing the materials, it appears this box is exactly what it claims
to be. "Read This First" contains these instructions: 
Step 1: Pick a Dungeon Master 
Step 2: Players Choose Characters 
Step 3: Miniatures and Tiles 
Step 4: Get Ready 
Reading these instructions for a simple RPG scenario, with two decades
of experience between me and my first game, amused me. Nonetheless, I
felt a deep appreciation for their clarity and accuracy. What this box
essentially contains is a distilled version of the D&D game that
allows you to play from 1st to 2nd level, using four classes (Fighter,
Rogue, Cleric, Sorcerer) and the core races (human, elf, dwarf,
halfling, half-orc). A very limited selection of Feats is included,
along with a simplified and brief version of the skills system. 
The Quick Start Rules explain how the game is played. Dice formulae
are always written out. Thus, a fighter's longsword attack reads "1d20
+ 3, damage 1d8 +2," and so forth. The First Adventure Book is
essentially a module, with an explanation of how to place the
monsters, randomly or by design, using the dungeon tiles. Each room
has a description, as well as a description of what you can hear in
nearby rooms if you Listen successfully. The character sheets are of
four iconic D&D characters, Eberk (dwarf cleric), Regdar (human
fighter), Lidda (halfling rogue), and Aramil (elf sorcerer). The
Advanced Rule Book includes a complete description of the monsters in
this set, more spells, rules for advancing to second level, and costs
for mundane equipment and minor magic items. It is entirely possible
to run a D&D campaign, of sorts, using this set, until you hit that
second level barrier. Interestingly enough, the sorcerer, an add-on to
the 3rd edition's D&D world, is the primary arcane caster in this
basic game. I wonder what an initiate of the Basic Game will make of
the Wizard once he moves on. 
The materials are well-written. Obviously, the game is written down to
be accessible to complete beginners, some of whom may be average
12-year-olds. I particularly enjoyed the explanation under Magic
Missile that a missile is anything thrown or hurled, and that the
spell does not create a rocket. 
Artifacts 
The dungeon tiles are superior to anything currently available for the
D&D Miniatures line itself. They are sturdy and two-sided. The
booklets themselves are none too sturdy, but should survive long
enough to get the players to second level. The dice included are
nondescript dice in the primary and secondary colors, plus black. They
are all numbered in white and are easily legible. Interestingly, they
included only one six-sider, in contrast to the official D&D dice
packs, which include four (for rolling ability scores). 
The miniatures included are: the four player characters, two Skeleton
Warriors, one Wolf Skeleton, two Kobold Warriors, two Kobold
skirmishers, two Orc Warriors, one Troglodyte, one Huge-sized Gold
Dragon, and a small Black Dragon. Just kidding about the Huge mini.
All are repaints from the official D&D line, and all seem to be
markedly improved over the original. Particularly, the Black Dragon
was well-painted and formed, to an exactness seen in only the best
figures of the miniatures line. Also included are reference cards,
including both D&D Basic Game type sheets and, on the reverse, D&D
Miniatures game ratings. For the minis gamer, this means useful 3rd
level versions of the four iconic characters. 
What to Do With This Set 
Obviously, this product is intended to introduce young game-players,
possibly living in isolation from fellow gamers, into the fold. On the
level, I must say it completely succeeds. The booklets are
well-written enough not only to instruct players in the rules, but to
avoid creating misconceptions. There is not, at this time, any better
introduction to roleplaying for young gamers than this set. The
Advanced Rule Book notes that if you buy D&D Miniatures, you can use
the quick reference side of the card to include other monsters, making
reasonable guesses as to how some abilities work. Now that's gaming! 
Getting past second level means buying the core rulebooks. Wizards of
the Coast has wisely decided not to gouge their young initiates. Even
when they move past the Basic Game to the full D&D game, they will
still have sixteen above-average and useful D&D miniatures, the
otherwise unavailable dungeon tile sets, and a pack of dice. Not too
shabby. In fact, if you look at the price, the whole set costs less
than two boosters packs of minis and a set of cheap dice. It seems to
me that this set is an excellent buy for someone who is already an
experienced D&D player and would simply like the cool minis and tiles.
Although I can hardly recommend a product on its meditative value, let
me note what I most got out of this product. Seeing the game stripped
down to its bare essentials, I saw that, at its heart, D&D is the same
game now it always has been. "I want to be a dwarf, with a big axe,"
is, in many ways, a clearer picture of a character than some jumble of
BAB, multiclassing, Prestige Classes, and obscure feats. The full game
should be enabling, not a trap. I think what has turned a lot of
people off the current edition of D&D is a failure to understand two
principles. First, gaming references are always additive, not
prescriptive. Simply because some book has a Dwarven Bladed Dire
Greatquarterstaff Flail doesn't mean you have to retire your axe and
your beard. Rules supplements are intended to enrich your experience,
not crush your mind. Second, beneath all the apparent complexity of
D&D, or any game, is the same basic approach to storytelling and
tactical gaming that has informed every generation of roleplayers,
whatever their flavor or stripe. It is not hard for me to imagine some
gamers declaring this Basic Game is superior to the full game. I think
that is quite beside the point. As I noted above, the game encourages
you to expand on the game by what amounts to guessing at how
unfamiliar creatures work in Basic Game terms by looking at the D&D
quick reference side of a miniatures card. The point is that the game
is a lens for gaming itself. If D&D 3rd edition did not exist, it
would have been necessary to create it. It made me smile to start with
my feet placed firmly on a 3rd edition product, and by seeing the game
stripped down to its most essential mechanics, a small spell list, and
two character levels, perceive something wholly and faithfully like my
old beloved Red Box. Neither simplicity nor complexity is D&D. D&D is
roleplaying gaming, two words with staggering possibilities for
elaboration. 
Regardless of one's philosophic viewpoint, it is worth stating simply
and factually that the dungeon drawl is alive and well. 
Evaluation 
This game must be called successful on every level: an attractive
physical presentation, a complete game in a box, excellent booklets
geared toward a step-by-step understanding of the game, useful figures
and materials (even for an upgraded user), and pure dollar value. The
only possible improvement I can imagine would be including Bargle the
Magic-user. I believe that five young teenagers, trapped on a desert
island, armed with a reasonable knowledge of the English language and
pencils and paper, could easily learn to play and love D&D from owning
this set. Any game collector would do well to acquire this aesthetic
product.
 
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ciao, fabio

 
ottimo
lo vedremo mai in Italiano?

Il 24 Oct 2004 14:03:03 -0700 Era Volgare nel it.hobby.giochi.gdr.dnd,
gal...@libero.it
 (Galoc) wrote:


non lo so, ma il punto e' che lo dovrebbe prendere una grossa
distribuzione (insomma la cosa ha senso se lo trovi nel negozio di
giocattoli dietro l'angolo e non nella solita fumetteria)
speriamo
-- 
ciao, fabio