Dungeon Master's Kit is redundant

[kaomera]

I think the DM's kit is relevant in two ways: One, it accomplishes the design goals of essentials (specifically: that you can have a complete, if limited, D&D game with just essentials products), & two, it does so without putting more redundant material in products that existing 4e players are going to want.

The rules compendium, on the other hand, is nice to have on the shelf, but I find that the individual booklets are more convenient at the table.

 

[Uller]

You can probably have a complete Essentials D&D game without the DM Kit at all. I bought the DM Kit, Heroes of Fallen Lands and Monster Vault for my kids for Christmas and promptly felt the need for the RC...Other than the screen, tokens and the adventure, I almost never open the DM book. I don't regret buying it and if I were a new DM I'd probably use it more. If I were running a home-brew campaign, I'd definitely feel a need to buy DMG 1 & 2...

 

[S'mon]

I think the minimum spend for a 4e campaign is Heroes of the Fallen Lands, Monster Vault, and Rules Compendium, plus dice and an erasable battlemat. Replace Rules Compendium with DM's Kit for the non-Common magic items.

I like how HoFL, MV + RC is quite inexpensive and includes the monster tokens you need to play.