2 out of 5 rating for Pathfinder Roleplaying Game: Beginner Box
You have to be impressed with Paizo. This set is huge, heavy and loaded with all sorts of good stuff. Well constructed box, awesome artwork, slick books, very colorful and well played out. I found both books, the GM and Player's handbooks to be helpful and enjoyable even just o look at. The dice, maps, and extra goodies all made this an impressive package. I bought this to introduce my kids and spouse to the game as well as to better acquaint myself with the game. The Core Rulebook which I bought first was just too dense and complicated for me to figure the game out. I bought this three days later and hoped it would help. Turns out it did and it didn't. In fact the idea of this even being needed should have been a clue to me that Pathfinder and I would have a troubled relationship. IF a beginner's/intro game/box is required I might have to say that your game is probably too complex for most people or too expensive. Now for what I got in this box I feel the price was good, I actually got mine for $17 brand new! What a steal.The information in the guides came out confusing and incomplete to me. They certainly streamlined the game compared to the Core Rulebook, yet they too still did not translate to the actual game itself. What!?! The game abruptly leaves you and I felt like I just barely scratched the surface. It has almost no replay value beyond that initial use. So after all much it feels pretty worthless. For this to be complete you have to download the extra PDFs from the Paizo website. You can get a few extra adventures, a kids friendly guide (called a Kids Track), a Beginner's Guide Transition and Core Rulebook Translation Guide are also obtainable. Someone told me that these actually come in the new edition of the Box Set? I cannot say for sure, as I had to download mine.So there is extra stuff out there to make it a better box set, but it is incomplete and the rules require translation and more transition guidance. Ouch! I would give this a 2 stars, but it is still average if not better than average in comparison to what is out there. My kids liked the game, but I even had to make house rules for this one to work and be enjoyable. My spouse unfortunately was completely turned off to the game, due to the complexity and uncertainty of the rules. Even with the system simplified down it just stinks. I judge this not just on the content (because they produce a gorgeous product), but on the game system, which I believe this product is designed to introduce us to. So despite wanting to give this an average rating I am going to give it a poor rating.