The Stranger Things Dungeons & Dragons Starter Set was a no-brainer considering how wrapped into the TV series the role-playing game was. Close behind in terms of an obvious decision is Dungeons & Dragons Vs. Rick and Morty, the newest D&D starter set that capitalizes on the popularity of both the animated series and the Rick and Morty vs. Dungeons & Dragons comic. Like the comic series, the box set is co-written by Jim Zub and features new art by Troy Little.
As with most starter sets it contains a streamlined version of the Dungeons and Dragons 5th Edition rules, an adventure (this one for up to five 1st level characters) that will take players up to 3rd level, a set of dice, a DM's screen, and five pre-generated characters. The dice consists of a regular set of polyhedrals with two d20s and four d6s in greenish-yellow with blue lettering.
The adventure was supposedly written by Rick, and it shows through every bit of the content. If you like the comic book or the original animated series, this boxed set is for you. In fact, it's the Rickest of Rick adventures possible.
According to the comic book series. Rick is an old school power gamer, so even when the adventure provides roleplay opportunities in addition to the usual hack-and-slash, Rick's running commentary makes it clear which option he prefers.
The adventure, The Lost Dungeon of Rickedness: Big Rick Energy, lives up to its name – loud, random, wacky and sometimes quite clever (like The Writers Room). The setting is Rick's dungeon on Earth C-141 where he does whatever he wants because he's a celebrity Dungeon Master with a live-streaming show, Cynical Troll. It doesn't have a conventional adventure set-up. Instead you get box text like:
Rick's attitude doesn't just infuse the box text. It also colors the notes to the DM, as if Rick is the proxy DM. Location names aren't fancy. There's a Goblin Room, Another Goblin Room and a Third Goblin Room. This being Rick and Morty, there's also a Butt Room, a Buttless Zombie Room and Tommy Two-Butts Room. I don't want to describe them too much because it would give away the jokes, but there is a Rick-inspired riff on a famous feature in Tomb of Horrors, albeit with a very different result. Goblins & Gizzards makes an appearance, with a note that it's “way better than D&D.”
Treasure in one room includes a set of 11 greenish-yellow dice (sound familiar?). The dice come with a “lifetime of warm, murderous memories” and the character who takes them has the urge to collect many, many more. Let's be honest – it's not wrong.
The conclusion to the adventure is a bit deus ex machina, but in context of the story, and especially Rick, it makes sense. And, in a weird way, it's kind of sweet...sort of.
The pre-gens are two human fighters, a half-elf wizard, a half-orc rogue, and an elf cleric. The artwork indicates that the characters are “played” by Morty, Summer, Jerry, Beth and “Meatface.” The art for Lyan Amaranthia at first made me think it was Donna Gueterman, but reading the adventure confirms it's definitely Beth. While prior knowledge of the Rick and Morty vs. Dungeons & Dragons comic book series is not required, you'll recognize some jokes and references if you do.
This might sound backward, but I really like the Rick and Morty Rulebook more than the adventure...and that's not a slight against the adventure. Rick's attitude infuses the text even more, with notes where he “yells” things like “Life's a tightrope, Morty” and “Force them to jump through pointless hoops for your own entertainment.” Under all of that, there's really good, clear explanations of how the 5th Edition rules work.
The Rulebook also does an excellent job of explaining how a role-playing game works, better than most. Ignore some of Rick's ravings about power, and it has solid DMing advice. It also correctly states that the DM "wins" by default. Despite the ravings about control and power, it makes it clear that killing the players is not the way to “win” as a DM. I know a few DMs who still need to learn that lesson.
Recommendations for this Starter Set are pretty simple.
As with most starter sets it contains a streamlined version of the Dungeons and Dragons 5th Edition rules, an adventure (this one for up to five 1st level characters) that will take players up to 3rd level, a set of dice, a DM's screen, and five pre-generated characters. The dice consists of a regular set of polyhedrals with two d20s and four d6s in greenish-yellow with blue lettering.
The adventure was supposedly written by Rick, and it shows through every bit of the content. If you like the comic book or the original animated series, this boxed set is for you. In fact, it's the Rickest of Rick adventures possible.
According to the comic book series. Rick is an old school power gamer, so even when the adventure provides roleplay opportunities in addition to the usual hack-and-slash, Rick's running commentary makes it clear which option he prefers.
The adventure, The Lost Dungeon of Rickedness: Big Rick Energy, lives up to its name – loud, random, wacky and sometimes quite clever (like The Writers Room). The setting is Rick's dungeon on Earth C-141 where he does whatever he wants because he's a celebrity Dungeon Master with a live-streaming show, Cynical Troll. It doesn't have a conventional adventure set-up. Instead you get box text like:
Mixed in with the Rick notes is some good DMing advice. Playing up a simple treasure item to make it sound like more than it is and misdirect players is one example. Suggestions on how to manage an encounter that could be handled violently or diplomatically is also useful.
Rick's attitude doesn't just infuse the box text. It also colors the notes to the DM, as if Rick is the proxy DM. Location names aren't fancy. There's a Goblin Room, Another Goblin Room and a Third Goblin Room. This being Rick and Morty, there's also a Butt Room, a Buttless Zombie Room and Tommy Two-Butts Room. I don't want to describe them too much because it would give away the jokes, but there is a Rick-inspired riff on a famous feature in Tomb of Horrors, albeit with a very different result. Goblins & Gizzards makes an appearance, with a note that it's “way better than D&D.”
Treasure in one room includes a set of 11 greenish-yellow dice (sound familiar?). The dice come with a “lifetime of warm, murderous memories” and the character who takes them has the urge to collect many, many more. Let's be honest – it's not wrong.
The conclusion to the adventure is a bit deus ex machina, but in context of the story, and especially Rick, it makes sense. And, in a weird way, it's kind of sweet...sort of.
The pre-gens are two human fighters, a half-elf wizard, a half-orc rogue, and an elf cleric. The artwork indicates that the characters are “played” by Morty, Summer, Jerry, Beth and “Meatface.” The art for Lyan Amaranthia at first made me think it was Donna Gueterman, but reading the adventure confirms it's definitely Beth. While prior knowledge of the Rick and Morty vs. Dungeons & Dragons comic book series is not required, you'll recognize some jokes and references if you do.
This might sound backward, but I really like the Rick and Morty Rulebook more than the adventure...and that's not a slight against the adventure. Rick's attitude infuses the text even more, with notes where he “yells” things like “Life's a tightrope, Morty” and “Force them to jump through pointless hoops for your own entertainment.” Under all of that, there's really good, clear explanations of how the 5th Edition rules work.
The Rulebook also does an excellent job of explaining how a role-playing game works, better than most. Ignore some of Rick's ravings about power, and it has solid DMing advice. It also correctly states that the DM "wins" by default. Despite the ravings about control and power, it makes it clear that killing the players is not the way to “win” as a DM. I know a few DMs who still need to learn that lesson.
Recommendations for this Starter Set are pretty simple.
- If you're a fan of Rick and Morty who plays D&D, it's a must buy.
- Love Rick and Morty and curious about D&D? It's definitely worth the purchase.
- Hate Rick and Morty? Why are you reading this? Seriously, I doubt this starter set will win you over if you don't like Rick and Morty's sense of humor. You'd be better off buying the D&D Essentials Set for classic D&D or the Stranger Things D&D Starter Set if that's your fandom.
Last edited by a moderator:
