WotC Adventure Begins: A New Dungeons and Dragons Boardgame

A new D&D board game called Adventure Begins is available for pre-order.

Originally spotted under a different name at the London Toy Fair, this new game launches on October 1st. It's positioned as a D&D entry point for ages 10+, and designed for 2-4 players.

Dungeons & Dragons Adventure Begins, for Ages 10 and Up

• QUICK ENTRY TO DUNGEONS & DRAGONS: Step into the exciting world of D&D with the Dungeon & Dragons Adventure Begins board game for ages 10 and up
• COOPERATIVE FANTASY GAME: For new D&D fans! This game is a portal to the monsters, magic, and heroes of Dungeons & Dragons. Players work together as they journey through the lands of Neverwinter
• QUICK GAMEPLAY: Players can choose and customize their hero and backpack, battle iconic D&D monsters, and experience a new adventure every time. So, step forward, brave heroes; adventure awaits
• CHOOSE A JOURNEY FOR YOUR PARTY: Choose a journey and which Boss your party of heroes will fight in the end. Choose from Felbris (Beholder), Orn (Fire Giant), Deathsleep (Green Dragon) and The Kraken
• D&D MINIATURE FIGURES: The game includes 4 mini figures that correspond with the heroes featured in gameplay

The Dungeons & Dragons Adventure Begins game is cooperative board game for ages 10 and up. It's a fun, fast entry into the world of D&D. Designed for new D&D fans, players get to choose their characters and their journey as they travel through the lands of Neverwinter. They'll work together to battle monsters and defeat the Boss monster that's terrorizing the realm. The role of Dungeon Master passes from player to player with each turn, so everyone gets to be a part of the storytelling. This exciting portal to the monsters, magic, and heroes of Dungeons & Dragons makes a great gift for the emerging D&D fan.

Copyright 2020 Wizards of the Coast LLC. Wizards of the Coast, Dungeons & Dragons, D&D, their respective logos, and the Dragon Ampersand, are trademarks of Wizards of the Coast in the USA and other countries. Creatures, characters, monsters, campaign settings and related materials are the intellectual property of Wizards of the Coast. All rights reserved.
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• Includes 4 mini-figures, 4 Boss tiles, 4 20-sided dice, 10-sided Dungeon Master die, damage clip, 4 health trackers, plastic deck holder, 20 character tiles, 4 dungeon boards, 24 gold, 4 adventure decks, item deck, 4 reference cards, 8 backpack cards, 12 gatekeeper cards, part stand, and game rules.
• Ages 10 and up.
• For 2-4 players.

There's also an introductory YouTube video about the game.


You can get it from Amazon, Walmart, GameStop, EE, Big Bad Toy Store, and Pulse.

Amazon.com: Dungeons & Dragons Adventure Begins, Cooperative Fantasy Board Game, Fast Entry to The World of D&D, Family Game for 2-4 Players, 10 and Up: Toys & Games

Buy Dungeons & Dragons Adventure Begins, Cooperative Fantasy Board Game, Fast Entry to The World of D&D, Family Game for 2-4 Players, 10 and Up: Games & Accessories - Amazon.com ✓ FREE DELIVERY possible on eligible purchases

www.amazon.com

 

[Retreater]

I don't get the cheap components. The minis look terrible compared to those in products by Blacklist Games, CMON, Fantasy Flight, and Games Workshop. The other components seem lacking too. I realize it's $25, but up the cost a bit to include at least a cool version of the dragon.
Parents will spend $60 on a new video game. Why not $50 for a board game?
Wizards has multiple affordable starter sets, some even branded with pop culture references, on the shelves at major retail outlets. Why do we need another dinky product?

 

[Retreater]

That's basically what's stopping me. I also prefer the artwork to correspond to monster manual artwork (actually I'm basically not a fan of Pathfinder's anime style)

You could print out the pics you want on cardstock, cut them out, and attach to the empty Pathfinder Pawn bases?

 

[philreed]

This looks very fun. Pre-ordered!

 

[Retreater]

There are some dungeon-crawler board games, but HQ was different. Simple rules to be learn by children, the exploration was like a laybrinth, searching traps and hidden doors, and a soft leveling-up, earning to buy better item. I don't remember these elements together in other board game. Maybe one, but with complicated rules.

I wonder about if dungeoncrawl boardgames should use an mobile app as the monster AI and to show the unlocked traps and secret doors.

Descent has an app that fulfills the role of the Overlord. It has all the other traits you've mentioned, but is granted a little more complex than HQ - which is also sort of my White Whale game. I have numerous Dungeon crawl games and none have felt right.
Since HQ is very expensive these days, an option might be to piece together your own. Scans of all the cards and booklets are online (which I can link here if you're interested). Use other minis to represent what you need (for example, find some orc, skeleton, etc minis from another company).
But HQ for me was awesome because of the tinkering I put into it. It didn't really have class options, leveling, and other things we like from modern Dungeon crawlers. I added that. Other games today have those and are better balanced.
Again, I really encourage you to look at Altar Quest. Even the game board was designed as an homage to HQ by two brothers who grew up loving HQ. It has the doors, the furniture.

 

[aco175]

Anyone find the 'skill challenge' a bit meh? A random guy walks up to you in a dungeon and you must rhyme two-syllable words to get a loot card. Could be fun for younger kids and may get them into the game, but meh.

This looks a great intro for kids! Shame mine are still way too young. I might pick it up and stash it somewhere for a few years!

May want to wait for the 6e game to come out if your kids are that young. But, if they can rhyme, you are good to go.

 

[Worrgrendel]

Interesting. As I recall, the 4E board games were designed to be played without a DM, with the opponents being automata controlled by cards. This one apparently has a DM role that rotates from player to player. Very curious to see how that works.

It looks like each turn, the DM rotates clockwise through each player. All the DM does is read the Monster/Event card for their turn and roll dice for the Monster/Event or adjudicate the outcome on some cards (like who danced best in the dance off for Otto's Irresistible Dance event. If it is a Monster fight it looks like they still participate in the fight but just get to roll for the Monster too.

 

[Reynard]

I am both confused and amused by folks in this thread grumbling about cheap components and limited utility.

IT'S AN INTRODUCTORY GAME FOR CHILDREN.

Seriously -- it is meant to be played exactly 4 times before moving on to the Starter Set or Essentials box. It isn't a premium FFG style dungeon crawler. It's a crappy board game designed to make you want to try real D&D. If you are an established D&D player, it's not for you.

 

[Teraptus]

The Adventure Began!

Can I play the Wizard? - "YOU'RE ON"

 

[Worrgrendel]

I am both confused and amused by folks in this thread grumbling about cheap components and limited utility.

IT'S AN INTRODUCTORY GAME FOR CHILDREN.

Seriously -- it is meant to be played exactly 4 times before moving on to the Starter Set or Essentials box. It isn't a premium FFG style dungeon crawler. It's a crappy board game designed to make you want to try real D&D. If you are an established D&D player, it's not for you.

Exactly, I have 7 year old twins and I'm contemplating getting this for my wife and I to play with them. They'd probably need help at first but I see the rhyming and dancing and imaginative play as being perfect for them! If it turns out they are a bit too young for it then we'll shelve it and come back to it a year later.

 

[Worrgrendel]

Can I play the Wizard? - "YOU'RE ON"

Does anyone still have VHS players anymore?

Edit: At least it wasn't BETAMAX!!!