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Message: <blockquote data-quote="SlyFlourish" data-source="post: 4517087" data-attributes="member: 54840">have itSo I got my Starter Set today from Amazon. I had ordered two more to give away as gifts for non-players and I think it will work out nicely. I plan to write a more thorough review but here are my initial thoughts:1. It's the full 4th edition. There's no hedging of the rules or trying to simplify things. Because the pregens and the basic rules are the same ones used in Keep on the Shadowfell, there isn't a feeling like you're playing some stripped down version.2. The Dungeon Master's Book is THICK! It's got sixty pages, including the nearly 30 page monster section. There are a LOT of monsters in here, thanks to the new stat-block format and the multiple levels and types of the same monsters. There's a lot more to this than just a pre-made adventure. Monsters go up to level 5.3. Though the adventure focuses on combat, it at least begins with some Q and A with an NPC. I'm disappointed to see a lack of traps or skill challenges. The DM section has a discussion of skill challenges but even as a vet player, I'm not exactly sure how to run them so an example would be nice and would break away from the idea that 4e is all about combat.4. The tokens are cool - not miniatures cool but cool. They are numbered which makes tracking pretty easy. The artwork is also nice and flipping the token for bloodied guys is nice.5. The tiles are nice but they are re-prints. Still there are four big rooms and a lot of accessories. It's clearly enough to build out a few different types of rooms.6. The dice are fine but pretty low quality. They're fine if you have nothing else but the d20s given out in starter mini packs are a lot nicer.7. The box is actually my biggest problem with this set. I really hoped for an old-school front opening box with a lid like board games have. Instead its a pretty thin top opening box and a cardboard insert to keep it from completely crushing. I can't imagine this box lasting through very many play sessions before it falls apart. I know people who still have the red box in good condition. There is no way this one will last. Still, it's pretty.8. I also think this should come with a fold-out map like the new adventures have. Two big overland maps would work really well to augment the dungeon tiles.Overall I'm pretty impressed for a $12 package. I'm a vet who purchased every 4e book already published (I doubt I'll say that for very long). I had hoped to have enough in this to run some fun adventures on the road or to introduce new players to the game without having to lug up the whole pile of books.Unlike a lot of people on this thread, I can't see how they could have added character creation without making it a lot more complicated. I think new players want to get into combat. I know my own beginning in 4e was with the half-elf warlock in KotS and I'm still playing her in Thunderspire. I have no problem with pre-gens and I don't think they remove from the RP side of it one bit. My Tira Duskmeadow is completely different than other people's I bet, just in her attitudes and goals alone. I think those who think you can only roleplay with a character you made yourself spend too much time tweaking and not enough time seeing through the eyes of your character. My opinion, of course.Also, to those who seem to jump to thinking people need to spend $100 to continue. I'm pretty sure you could play all of Keep on the Shadowfell after playing through this without ever needing another book. The maps would be the hardest part, but all the rest of the rules already exist.Anyway, overall, I'm impressed.</blockquote>

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