Is the new Basic Game the "rules lite" D&D we've been waiting for?

So I've seen it sitting there on the shelf, calling to me.

The new D&D "Basic Game".

Can anyone comment on it? Anyone have it? Is this the new "rules lite" D&D I've been longing for?

Please, don't speak to me of Castles & Crusades! I want the *real thing*, baby.

Some specific questions about the Basic Game:
1. Does it have chargen?
2. What levels do the PCs advance to?
3. What about production values? Are the rulebooks simply photocopied and stapled, or are they nice quality?
4. How does it compare to the "Adventure Game" they released for 3.0?

Thanks in advance.

You might want to check out this review from RPG.net, it answers most of those questions.

The answer would be no. It is certainly a paired down version of 3.5. It has less options for characters and less classes to play and it will make a great introduction to DnD, but you cannot play past 2nd level. It can only be called d20 lite if you only intend to play up to level 2.

Honestly, Castles and Crusades or Blue Rose will probably be better in the d20 lite arena. Do not expect WOTC to ever come out with a real basic version of the core rules.

A "lite" game will just not sell all those new "kewl" feats and classes.

Davelozzi said:

You might want to check out this review from RPG.net, it answers most of those questions.

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It did indeed. Thanks for the link, brother. The answer to my question seems to be NO. :\ I like to *start* games at 2nd or 3rd level...this set won't do.

One thing that hasn't been addressed by that review, though, is character generation. The review *implies* that the basic game has no chargen, but never states this. What's the verdict on that?

Sebastian Francis said:

It did indeed. Thanks for the link, brother. The answer to my question seems to be NO. :\ I like to *start* games at 2nd or 3rd level...this set won't do.

One thing that hasn't been addressed by that review, though, is character generation. The review *implies* that the basic game has no chargen, but never states this. What's the verdict on that?

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If I remember correctly, it does have limited chargen with a small selection of feats etc and I also believe that it includes pre-gens.

The minis, however, are well worth the price.

If someone is looking at true rules-light d20 D&D, there are two offerings to check:

--Castles and Crusades from Troll Lord Games. It deviates from d20 a bit, but I've heard it looks and plays quite nice.

--Blue Rose from Green Ronin (not yet released). Some people, based on the previews, have been saying it could well be a contender for a rules-light d20 fantasy game, though more geared toward personal interaction than combat.

This D&D Basic Set, geared for teaching absolute basics from 1st to 2nd, is meant to ease people into the core books, rather than take them away from it.

Sebastian Francis said:

Please, don't speak to me of Castles & Crusades! I want the *real thing*, baby.

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Not trying to hijack your thread, but given EGG's involvment w/ the Trolls, I can't see how C&C could be perceived as anything but "the real thing," if nothing else it's as close to "the real thing meets 3.X" as is legally possible. You really should check it out.

scadgrad said:

Not trying to hijack your thread, but given EGG's involvment w/ the Trolls, I can't see how C&C could be perceived as anything but "the real thing," if nothing else it's as close to "the real thing meets 3.X" as is legally possible. You really should check it out.

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Eh? Gygax was involved with C&C? I hadn't heard that. To what extent was he involved?

Sebastian Francis said:

Does it have chargen?

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Yes. They limit the selection of class, races, skills, feats, and spells, but that's certainly reasonable for a basic set. They also "simplify" some of the rules, e.g., humans get +2 to one skill, rather than an extra skill point per level.

Sebastian Francis said:

What levels do the PCs advance to?

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Sigh. Second. I see little point in intentionally crippling the basic set like this. The three core books already offer so many more classes, races, skills, feats, spells, etc.; they could easily allow characters up to, say, fifth level, without hurting sales of the core books. If anything, budding DMs would ease their way into the "advanced" rules with the Monster Manual.

Sebastian Francis said:

What about production values? Are the rulebooks simply photocopied and stapled, or are they nice quality?

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Very, very nice production values. The miniatures are good, and the cardboard maps are excellent. I would have killed for this set when I was 10.

Sebastian Francis said:

How does it compare to the "Adventure Game" they released for 3.0?

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Even better production values. Slightly better rules, with charater creation.

Sebastian Francis said:

Eh? Gygax was involved with C&C? I hadn't heard that. To what extent was he involved?

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Well, Troll Lord Games is the primary publisher of EGG's 3.X work and they continue to work very closely w/ him on a number of projects. Along these lines, the Trolls will be releasing EGG's Castle Zagyg which the good Colonel is converting/writing specifically for the C&C rules set (as well as 1e/OD&D). I can't say that EGG's name will be on the C&C PHB as a designer or playtester, but he has been involved from the inception, or very nearly so from what I can gather. I couldn't accurately provide you with the exact details of his involvment, but perhaps I can convince one of the Trolls, or my fellows in the C&C to provide a bit more enlightenment.