D&D 5E (2024) Heroes of the Borderlands

[sevenbastard]

Watching that video and I’m sure this box set is worth it for our group.

My only problem is deciding to buy one or two boxes.

 

[Lazybones]

The unboxing video didn't show everything, but it looks like there are four species (elf, dwarf, human, and halfling), and about 7 background options provided in the set. So if you have more than four players, you can at least have some variability between the characters within the four class options.

 

[Riley]

My only problem is deciding to buy one or two boxes.

The Keep Map and Overland Map look very nice - but are opposite sides of the same poster. That might get me to double dip. Maybe.

 

[JusticeArman]

Hey folks! Regarding the line on the Cleric Class Board about casting spells while holding a Shield, that is indeed unique to the Cleric's board and designed to help out the newbies. None of the Shields in Heroes of the Borderlands have symbols emblazoned on them, and unlike the Fighter, the Class Board for the Cleric has only one space for equipment that encourages them to place a Simple Weapon there. (It assumes the other "hand" is holding a Holy Symbol like the character on the cover, allowing that space to be a reminder about spells that require Concentration.) Additionally, no character gets a Shield at the outset—they have to purchase them at the keep! This is so we can teach them foundational aspects about Armor Class without having to worry about where to put that Equipment Card or the extra math involved; they can opt in for the +2 bonus to AC later on. It's by no means a perfect solve, but there are always trade-offs involved in starter experiences like this one. All feedback is good feedback.

 

[Azzy]

I'm all for making the game more streamlined/easier to play, but to me VSM components are something that're an important part of being a caster in DnD, an integral part of the identity.

As someone who came in through BECMI (which didn't have VSM components), I don't feel that they are terribly important to the game.

 

[Micah Sweet]

As someone who came in through BECMI (which didn't have VSM components), I don't feel that they are terribly important to the game.

"Personally I've never felt voting was all that important to the process."

"No kidding, Ford."

-Gerald Ford and Richard Nixon, Futurama.

 

[FitzTheRuke]

Hey folks! Regarding the line on the Cleric Class Board about casting spells while holding a Shield, that is indeed unique to the Cleric's board and designed to help out the newbies. None of the Shields in Heroes of the Borderlands have symbols emblazoned on them, and unlike the Fighter, the Class Board for the Cleric has only one space for equipment that encourages them to place a Simple Weapon there. (It assumes the other "hand" is holding a Holy Symbol like the character on the cover, allowing that space to be a reminder about spells that require Concentration.) Additionally, no character gets a Shield at the outset—they have to purchase them at the keep! This is so we can teach them foundational aspects about Armor Class without having to worry about where to put that Equipment Card or the extra math involved; they can opt in for the +2 bonus to AC later on. It's by no means a perfect solve, but there are always trade-offs involved in starter experiences like this one. All feedback is good feedback.

When are you allowed to switch up equipment? Like, does it take your "Action"?

 

[JusticeArman]

When are you allowed to switch up equipment? Like, does it take your "Action"?

The rules for equipping and unequipping weapons are the same as in the 2024 Player's Handbook. As part of the Attack action, you can equip or unequip one weapon before or after the attack.

 

[Misanthrope Prime]

Been lurking to follow this thread for a while, thought I'd finally register to comment.

It's somehow not on the dndbeyond page yet, but if you look on the "all posts" page, you can see there's now post on using the boards/cards including close up shots of the Cleric Character Board levels 1-3. I really like how they give you one board with levels 1&2 on each side, and then the second board is levels 3 for each of the two subclasses they include. I'm tempted to create similar ones for all classes since I'm apparently doing D&D 101 semi often now - unfortunately the SRD only gives you one subclass.

This does give them a great mechanism for booster packs / expansion stuff. Someone who started playing with these character boards would likely outgrow the boards, but the cards would be infinitely useful.

Regarding mechanic simplification, I think the "you can't cast a spell and hold a shield" may have more clarification in the rules book, but in this current game set, that rule only applies to the Cleric, who is the only spell caster who carries a shield (ironically also a spell caster whose examples of an arcane focus include ... their shield), but it provides some way to explain there's a trade off / balance between "I want to cast a spell" vs "I want to get up close and hit stuff". Could have been done better? probably.

There's this German YouTuber who posted an English voice over of their unboxing of the set, if folks want to see more:

So to clarify, "Heroes of the Borderlands" includes a limited set of rules compared to the PHB and DMG, and it does not include the emblem focus or war caster feat that would allow a cleric to cast with a shield equipped?

Guys, I know I make a lot of jokes about 5e having a Basic vs Advanced split, but...

 

[GarrettKP]

So to clarify, "Heroes of the Borderlands" includes a limited set of rules compared to the PHB and DMG, and it does not include the emblem focus or war caster feat that would allow a cleric to cast with a shield equipped?

Guys, I know I make a lot of jokes about 5e having a Basic vs Advanced split, but...

No feats are in this really, the Starter Set only goes up to level 3.