Boxed Sets: What Do You Want In Them

[Sacrosanct]

When purchasing a boxed set, what do you want them to include inside?

Keep in mind that publishers are looking at challenging times with tariffs, especially boxed sets which are subject to the full tariff amount. What this means is that you're looking at either spending triple what you're used to, or you're looking at boxed sets being treated as a limited edition product. Large print runs with cheap injection molded minis are not an option currently.

Note: The image below is just a prototype. I'm already looking at using black walnut instead of pine, with colored resin to make the images and title pop. I'm also probably only going to go with a Player's book and Gm's book, and not five separate ones.

 

[sevenbastard]

Rules to advance charachters the equivalent of levels 1 to 5 in D&D. Understanding not all games have level, but a good starter set should have rules for charachter advancement.

A solid starter adventure that shows how to use the game and how the GM can expand and write there own.

Pathfinder 1e beginners book if it was paired with the Adventure from Lost Mines would be the ideal starter set.

 

[MGibster]

I'm a simple man. I just want 1-2 books, preferably one I can hand to players, an adventure, and some maps. While I'm open to having other items, I don't want any dice. I can understand dice being included in a starter set though.

 

[Distracted DM]

Is the question here an old school "Night Below"-style box set, or a start set?

 

[Morrus]

Depends what it’s a boxed set of. I’d want a different thing from a boxed campaign setting to a boxed adventure path to a boxed full game to a boxed starter set.

 

[Sacrosanct]

Is the question here an old school "Night Below"-style box set, or a start set?

Not really a starter set. A boxed set version of the game. For example, what would you want in a boxed for the D&D game in general, or the WHFRP game, etc.

 

[kronovan]

The Chaosium starter boxes I've bought in the past year (Call of Cthulhu & Pendragon) are very close to what I consider ideal. Digital cartography has been a hobby of mine for decades though, and I prefer to make my own maps. So unless it'd be a global or continental scale map for a new setting, I be happy to make my own. Provided the included adventure and setting background gives enough details to do that.

The pregen adventures in starter sets are about the only prewritten I use, so I do like and appreciate the inlcusion of those. Pregen PCs to me are a must have, because I prefer scaled down versions of the rules and those typically don't have enough content to build a competent PC.

I only need dice if the system requires proprietary dice or uncommon dice. Otherwise, if they're included and upping the overall cost, they better be thematic - here's looking at you GR for your cheesy dice tossed into Dragon Age boxes.

 

[payn]

Not really a starter set. A boxed set version of the game. For example, what would you want in a boxed for the D&D game in general, or the WHFRP game, etc.

Game in general and not a starter set? All of the above.

 

[Tonguez]

Player Guide
DM Guide/Advice with Introductory Adventure
Main Adventure with thematic handouts and maps
A Gazetteer/Setting Guide (with more encounter hooks)

 

[aco175]

A box set that is not a starter set? I'm now picturing those Beedle and Grimm boxes with all sort of things but cost hundreds of dollars. I would first want it affordable, like starter sets, but those are a loss leader from what I gather to draw people into that game.

If it is a general D&D box set or another game I have and play and not a starter set, then I do not need rules. Maybe a cheat sheet of common things to hand to players that do not play or something with conditions on them. Pregens are fine and there could be 6-8 of them to choose from.

To make a box of something I know and play, then I need an adventure that would likely span a couple/few levels. I do not need a campaign lasting 1-15 levels, but something going from level 5-10 would be good. Some monster tokens are good for a box and there can be ones for the PCs as well. (Battle)Maps would fit in a box and are always great, and better if they can be used again for other campaigns.

I'm wondering if all of this could be just a shrink-wrap softcover.