Stormonu
NeoGrognard
Through D&D's history, the game has presented a portal to entry into the game system through one or more boxed sets. Over time, these boxed sets have gone through many changes (often with some variations in the same edition - such as different adventures or other items included with the rules).
Holmes Edition (1977):
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This boxed set went through several changes as the game grew. The particular set I had, for example, did not have dice but paper chits (that you would put in a hat and draw) instead of dice. Some sets came with B1 - In Search of the Unknown or B2 - Keep on the Borderlands (I had the latter). Some printings have "Hobbits" and "Balrogs" in the monster sections. The adventure featured in here was also reproduced in the D&D Coloring Book (Yes, D&D had an OFFICIAL coloring book!)
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Moldvay/Cook Edition (1981)
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This edition was a complete top-to-bottom reworking of the D&D rules and was followed with an Expert set for 4th-14th level (It also promised "Companion" rules up to 36th, but this didn't show up until the whole set was revised with the next iteration). The adventure that was in the rulebook was the Ruined Tower. (The first time I ran it, the group thief died to the pit trap some 10' into the adventure). This set came with a three-holed booklet that could be put into a 3-ring binder, as well as a copy of B2 - Keep on the Borderlands and cheap plastic dice. It had the B series of modules (for levels 1-3) and X series of modules (for the Expert set) to complement it.
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Mentzer Edition (1983)
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This, of course, is the set the 4E Basic Set is drawing from. It had a solo "choose your own adventure" beginning in the player book that introduced you (as a fighter) to the D&D world. The DM's book had additional adventures in it against the evil wizard Bargle. This set was continued with the Expert (X module series), Companion (CM modules series), Master (M module series) and Immortal rules (I module series). The Gazeeters of the Known World came out during this set's hey-day.
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Challenger Series (1992)
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The picture is actually, Dragon's Den, but this version was boxed like a board game, included stand-up counters and poster maps for "Zanzer's Dungeon". It had several seperate boxed add-ons, including Goblin's Lair and Haunted Tower. This series (I believe) had numerous pure modules, such as "Quest for the Silver Sword", "Assault on Raven's Ruin" and others.
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Basic Edition Set(1994)
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This was a repackaging of the Challenger boxed set into a more book-like box.
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Introduction to AD&D Game (thanks JeffB) (1995)
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This version included an audio CD with the room descriptions (and sounds). Unfortunately, if you lost the CD, the text wasn't repeated in the adventure! Also, this set used the "Advanced" Dungeons and Dragons rules, and came with three booklets - Player's, Dungeon Master's and a Monster book, with covers designed to make them look like slimmed-down versions of the PHB, DMG and MM.
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The Complete Starter Set: Advanced Dungeons & Dragons [boardgame box] (1996)
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Similar to the Challenger edition box, this boardgame-sized box used the AD&D rules. Unfortunately, I missed this edition (somehow) and I don't have much more information about it.
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(1999)
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I have this set, but I'm not familiar with its contents. This was the last "Basic Set" TSR (not WotC) put out.
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3.0 Boxed Set (2000)
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This set was actually for the 3.0 rule system, not the "basic" system that had grown around the Moldvay rule set. It contained premade characters, tokens for heroes and monsters and a poster map sheet to create your own dungeon adventure.
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3.5 first boxed set [boardgame box] (2004)
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This boxed set came with thick cardstock tiles to make various dungeons, premade characters, dice and plastic minis from the then-new miniature line. One of the big draws was it came with a (rare) black dragon.
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3.5 "revised" basic boxed set (2006)
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[/sblock]
Similar to the 3.0 set, but with updated rules, a different dungeon and slightly different miniatures (from the latest set that was out at the time).
4E Starter Set (thanks DoctorHook) (2008)
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This set came with dice, quick start rules similar to that appeared in Keep on the Shadowfell, a couple of maps and two sheets of the popular dungeon tiles, but no miniatures.
4E Essentials Basic Set (2010)
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[/sblock]
Of course, this contains a slimmed-down version of the 4E rules with a walk-through/choose-your-own-adventure start to help you make your character. Contains power cards for the characters, tokens for PCs and monsters and a set of dice.
If you'd like to add anything (including your own memories of these sets), I urge you do so
Holmes Edition (1977):
[sblock]
[/sblock]
This boxed set went through several changes as the game grew. The particular set I had, for example, did not have dice but paper chits (that you would put in a hat and draw) instead of dice. Some sets came with B1 - In Search of the Unknown or B2 - Keep on the Borderlands (I had the latter). Some printings have "Hobbits" and "Balrogs" in the monster sections. The adventure featured in here was also reproduced in the D&D Coloring Book (Yes, D&D had an OFFICIAL coloring book!)
-----------------------------------
Moldvay/Cook Edition (1981)
[sblock]
[/sblock]
This edition was a complete top-to-bottom reworking of the D&D rules and was followed with an Expert set for 4th-14th level (It also promised "Companion" rules up to 36th, but this didn't show up until the whole set was revised with the next iteration). The adventure that was in the rulebook was the Ruined Tower. (The first time I ran it, the group thief died to the pit trap some 10' into the adventure). This set came with a three-holed booklet that could be put into a 3-ring binder, as well as a copy of B2 - Keep on the Borderlands and cheap plastic dice. It had the B series of modules (for levels 1-3) and X series of modules (for the Expert set) to complement it.
----------------------------------------
Mentzer Edition (1983)
[sblock]
[/sblock]
This, of course, is the set the 4E Basic Set is drawing from. It had a solo "choose your own adventure" beginning in the player book that introduced you (as a fighter) to the D&D world. The DM's book had additional adventures in it against the evil wizard Bargle. This set was continued with the Expert (X module series), Companion (CM modules series), Master (M module series) and Immortal rules (I module series). The Gazeeters of the Known World came out during this set's hey-day.
---------------------------------
Challenger Series (1992)
[sblock]
[/sblock]
The picture is actually, Dragon's Den, but this version was boxed like a board game, included stand-up counters and poster maps for "Zanzer's Dungeon". It had several seperate boxed add-ons, including Goblin's Lair and Haunted Tower. This series (I believe) had numerous pure modules, such as "Quest for the Silver Sword", "Assault on Raven's Ruin" and others.
----------------------------------------------
Basic Edition Set(1994)
[sblock]
[/sblock]
This was a repackaging of the Challenger boxed set into a more book-like box.
--------------------------------------
Introduction to AD&D Game (thanks JeffB) (1995)
[sblock]
[/sblock]
This version included an audio CD with the room descriptions (and sounds). Unfortunately, if you lost the CD, the text wasn't repeated in the adventure! Also, this set used the "Advanced" Dungeons and Dragons rules, and came with three booklets - Player's, Dungeon Master's and a Monster book, with covers designed to make them look like slimmed-down versions of the PHB, DMG and MM.
-----------------------------------------
The Complete Starter Set: Advanced Dungeons & Dragons [boardgame box] (1996)
[sblock]
[/sblock]
Similar to the Challenger edition box, this boardgame-sized box used the AD&D rules. Unfortunately, I missed this edition (somehow) and I don't have much more information about it.
----------------------------------
(1999)
[sblock]
[/sblock]
I have this set, but I'm not familiar with its contents. This was the last "Basic Set" TSR (not WotC) put out.
---------------------------------
3.0 Boxed Set (2000)
[sblock]
[/sblock]
This set was actually for the 3.0 rule system, not the "basic" system that had grown around the Moldvay rule set. It contained premade characters, tokens for heroes and monsters and a poster map sheet to create your own dungeon adventure.
--------------------------------------
3.5 first boxed set [boardgame box] (2004)
[sblock]
[/sblock]
This boxed set came with thick cardstock tiles to make various dungeons, premade characters, dice and plastic minis from the then-new miniature line. One of the big draws was it came with a (rare) black dragon.
---------------------------------------------------
3.5 "revised" basic boxed set (2006)
[sblock]
[/sblock]
Similar to the 3.0 set, but with updated rules, a different dungeon and slightly different miniatures (from the latest set that was out at the time).
4E Starter Set (thanks DoctorHook) (2008)
[sblock]
[/sblock]
This set came with dice, quick start rules similar to that appeared in Keep on the Shadowfell, a couple of maps and two sheets of the popular dungeon tiles, but no miniatures.
4E Essentials Basic Set (2010)
[sblock]
[/sblock]
Of course, this contains a slimmed-down version of the 4E rules with a walk-through/choose-your-own-adventure start to help you make your character. Contains power cards for the characters, tokens for PCs and monsters and a set of dice.
If you'd like to add anything (including your own memories of these sets), I urge you do so
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