Dungeons & Dragons Basic Game
Encyclopedia
Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons is a fantasy role-playing game originally designed by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson, and first published in 1974 by Tactical Studies Rules, Inc. . The game has been published by Wizards of the Coast since 1997...
role-playing game
Role-playing game
A role-playing game is a game in which players assume the roles of characters in a fictional setting. Players take responsibility for acting out these roles within a narrative, either through literal acting, or through a process of structured decision-making or character development...
packaged in the form of a board game
Board game
A board game is a game which involves counters or pieces being moved on a pre-marked surface or "board", according to a set of rules. Games may be based on pure strategy, chance or a mixture of the two, and usually have a goal which a player aims to achieve...
. The current version of this game was released in September 2006. The original game was released in 2004 by Wizards of the Coast
Wizards of the Coast
Wizards of the Coast is an American publisher of games, primarily based on fantasy and science fiction themes, and formerly an operator of retail stores for games...
and was designed by Jonathan Tweet
Jonathan Tweet
Jonathan Tweet is a game designer who has been involved in the development of the role-playing games Ars Magica, Everway, Over the Edge, Talislanta and the third edition of Dungeons & Dragons, as well as the Collectible Miniatures Game Dreamblade.-Early life:Jonathan Tweet started playing D&D in...
, one of the Dungeons and Dragons 3rd edition designers.
It is a cut down, simplified version that is still fully compatible with the current v3.5 full Dungeons & Dragons game. Characters used in this game can be easily expanded for use in the full game, if players so desire. The game is designed to be able to be played with minimal preparation. Players choose one of the already designed character booklets and corresponding miniature
Miniature figure
A miniature figure is a small-scale representation of a historical or mythological entity used in miniature wargames, role-playing games, and dioramas. Miniature figures are commonly made of metal, plastic, or paper...
, these booklets cover all the basic rules and abilities of their characters. The Dungeon Master
Dungeon Master
In the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, the Dungeon Master is the game organizer and participant in charge of creating the details and challenges of a given adventure, while maintaining a realistic continuity of events...
has his own booklet which covers the encounters and monsters and rules he needs to play the game.
The Advanced Rulebook covers advancing characters to second level and the final encounter with the black dragon.
2004 Edition
Like the current edition the game is designed to be able to be played with minimal preparation, but with a slightly different design approach to doing this. Players choose one of the already designed character sheets and corresponding miniatureMiniature figure
A miniature figure is a small-scale representation of a historical or mythological entity used in miniature wargames, role-playing games, and dioramas. Miniature figures are commonly made of metal, plastic, or paper...
, and need only read the Quick Start rules to start play. The Dungeon Master
Dungeon Master
In the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, the Dungeon Master is the game organizer and participant in charge of creating the details and challenges of a given adventure, while maintaining a realistic continuity of events...
needs only to read the First Adventure book in addition the Quick Start Rules.
Once the First Adventure has been played the Advanced rules contains everything need to create and equip new characters and play adventures with them at first and second level. This book contains 4 classes, 4 races, some equipment, and spells, while hinting at the fuller selection of each available in the full game. It also contains an extension of the First Adventure that should allow players to reach at least second level and monsters and suggested maps so the Dungeon master can start designing his own further adventures.
While the set is compatible with the 3.5 edition rules, there are some minor differences implemented here for simplicity's sake. For instance, the basic rules state that a diagonal movement step counts as two squares instead of one, whereas the more complex (and official) rule is that it counts as 1.5 squares (you count 1 on the first diagonal step, then 2 more on the next step, then 1, then 2, and so forth). In other areas, many 3.5 rules are simply left out, such as critical hits (there are none in the basic game) and inventory weight management.
The game includes:
- 16 fully painted plastic miniatures:
- 4 heroes (Aramil/Sorcerer, Eberk/Cleric, Lidda/Rogue and Regdar/Fighter)
- 4 kobolds (2 Skirmishers, 2 Warriors)
- 2 orc warriors
- 2 skeletons
- 1 wolf skeleton
- 1 dire rat
- 1 troglodyte
- 1 young black dragon
- 4 double-sided dungeon map tiles
- 4 character sheets
- 7 dice (one of each: black d4, red d6, blue d8, green d10 & purple d10%, yellow d12, orange d20)
- Quick Start Rules
- First Adventure Book
- Advanced Rulebook
The Advanced Rulebook contains 16 black and white "stat cards" (pre-cut cardstock from the back fold of the book) corresponding to the 16 miniatures. These cards are in the format of the Dungeons & Dragons Miniatures Game
Dungeons & Dragons Miniatures Game
The Dungeons & Dragons Miniatures Game is a collectible miniatures game played with pre-painted, plastic miniature figures based on characters and monsters from the Dungeons & Dragons game. The figures are 30mm in scale...
and allow use of the miniatures with that game.
2006 Edition
The 2006 edition follows a similar format to the 2004 Edition, but contains the following:- 12 fully painted plastic miniatures:
- 4 heroes (Lanin/Wizard, Dothal/Cleric, Carn/Rogue, Regdar/Fighter)
- 2 goblins (1 archer, 1 warrior)
- 1 orc
- 1 skeleton
- 1 harpy
- 1 minotaur
- 1 gargoyle
- 1 small blue dragon
- 4 double-sided dungeon map tiles (all different from 2004)
- 1 double-sided token sheet (for doors, chests, etc.)
- 4 character booklets
- 6 dice (one of each: black d4, red d6, orange d8, green d10, yellow d12, blue d20)
- 1 Dungeon Masters booklet
- 1 Setup sheet (first encounter, which is also in the Advanced Rulebook)
- 1 Advanced Rulebook
Almost all of the content is different from the 2004 edition; only Regdar the Fighter made it into the 2006 edition. The sorcerer (Aramil) was replaced with a wizard (Lanin), and the young black dragon was replaced with a young blue dragon.
The Dungeon Master's book in the 2006 edition shows a purple d10% die pictured, yet there was not one included in the box.
The tilesets are all different, as are the monsters and encounters. The 2004 set did not have the small token pieces (printed on thinner stock than the map tiles). While the 2004 edition included four extra monster miniatures, many of the miniatures included in the 2006 edition are larger (minotaur, gargoyle, harpie, and blue dragon) than most of the miniatures included in the earlier edition.
The Dungeons and Dragons Player's Kit is promoted as the sequel to the 2006 Basic game. It features a larger set of dice (1 d4, 4 d6, 1 d8, 2 d10, 1 d12, 1 d20 - all of which are a darker, marbled colored), an introduction to character creation booklet, a rules summary booklet, a solo adventure and a softcover version of the v.3.5 Player's Handbook
Player's Handbook
The Player's Handbook is a book of rules for the fantasy role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons . It does not contain the complete set of rules, but only those for use by players of the game...
. There is also included an Aberrations booster pack of eight random miniatures. The booster pack is in its own booster pack box (exactly like one would find on a store shelf when they were issued).
Similarly Named Products
The Dungeons & Dragons Basic Game is not to be confused with the Dungeons & Dragons Fantasy Adventure BoardgameDungeons & Dragons Fantasy Adventure Boardgame
Dungeons & Dragons: The Fantasy Adventure Boardgame, released in 2002 by Parker Brothers, a division of Hasbro, is based on the role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons by Wizards of the Coast. The game is distributed in the European market only.-Gameplay:...
, which is not a game compatible with this one, but a true familiar type board game based on Dungeons & Dragons.
A number of versions of Dungeons & Dragons in the 1970s and 80s also used the word 'Basic' in their titles (see Editions of Dungeons & Dragons
Editions of Dungeons & Dragons
Several different editions of the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game have been produced since 1974. The current publisher of Dungeons & Dragons , Wizards of the Coast, produces new materials only for the most current edition of the game...
), such as the Basic Set
Dungeons & Dragons Basic Set
The original Dungeons & Dragons Basic Set boxed set was first published by TSR, Inc. in 1977, and comprised a separate edition of the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, distinct from the first edition of the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons game, which was initially published in the same...
.