D&D 4E Neo-Red Box (4e Starter Set) in my hands!

[Joshua Randall]

The neo-Red Box (a/k/a the 4e Starter Set) is in my hands!

Well, technically it's sitting on my desk in front of me while I type this, but you get the idea.

I'm sure everyone pretty much knows what's in it by now, so I'll only comment a few things that I noticed:

There's a small flyer titled "Your Next Quest Awaits" advertising a redemption code you can use on the D&D website for another adventure.

Currently the website (dungeonsanddragons.com/codes) redirects to wizards.com/dnd, but the flyer does say "Offer available from September 7, 2010, until December 31, 2001", so perhaps the site isn't active yet.

The power cards are a little smaller than I thought they would be -- the size of Magic: the Gathering cards (exactly that size) instead of the somewhat larger power cards that previously existed.

The tokens for PCs and monsters are quite nice -- very glossy. There are twelve PC-lookin' tokens, six male and six female, in a variety of classes, races, and skin tones.

I'm off to roll up my first Red Box PC in ~25 years, but I'll check back in an hour or so if people want to post questions.

 

[Melkor]

No questions Josh, just wanted to say: "Have fun!"

 

[TarionzCousin]

1. How much use would a group of experienced DnD gamers currently playing Paragon level 4e have for this?

2. What color is the box?

 

[CasvalRemDeikun]

Did any of the races change besides gaining optional ability score adjustments?

Does the Mage gain Magic Missile as an extra or is it a static at-will? The preview Mage on WotC's website only has Ghost Sound and Light as cantrips, do Mages gain any more besides that?

 

[darjr]

Phillip Reed took some pictures of his copy.

Dungeons and Dragons Starter Set Pics | GM Oracle

 

[Joshua Randall]

My nimble halfling rogue semi-bravely defended Traevus, the dwarf merchant, from a vicious goblin attack.
[sblock]My neo-Red Box career didn't get off to such a great start when my character's first attack roll was a 2! He was then counter-attacked by a goblin that rolled a 19! Ack!

Fortunately, my PC was able to chase off the goblins. But it turns out they stole a box from Traevus, and he offered me a chunk o' gold to retrieve it. (I decided my character was somewhat greedy.)

But where was the goblin lair? My PC questioned one of the goblins (go, go, Heal check then Diplomacy check) to find out. Arriving at the lair, my character found it occupied by four goblins who were unaware they were about to be attacked.

Much dice-rolling later, my character stood victorious over the bodies. Now I just need to find a DM to run me through the rest of the adventure. [/sblock]

1. How much use would a group of experienced DnD gamers currently playing Paragon level 4e have for this?

Not to get all Bill Clinton on you, but it depends upon your definition of "use".

There's nothing here that's directly applicable to Paragon tier play. I suppose you might have a character who wants to swap out one of his powers for one of the new powers in the Red Box... but you may as well wait for the other 4e Essentials books if you're mainly interested in powers.

The tokens and map are, of course, level neutral.

Did any of the races change besides gaining optional ability score adjustments?

Not that I noticed.

Humans have human versatility, but we already knew that.

I did find one discrepancy in that there is one section that reads, "Fill in your speed, which is 7 if you're an elf, or 6 if you're another race."

So, either dwarves move 6 now... or this is a mistake.

Does the Mage gain Magic Missile as an extra or is it a static at-will?

It appears that wizards always get magic missile, then choose two more at-will spells.

The preview Mage on WotC's website only has Ghost Sound and Light as cantrips, do Mages gain any more besides that?

Mage hand as well.

 

[CasvalRemDeikun]

It appears that wizards always get magic missile, then choose two more at-will spells.

Okay, the pregens must be all full of errors. What are the evocation at-will powers?

Mage hand

as well.

So Prestidigitation got dumped. Sad, but as long as the other three (which basically constituted Prestidigitation anyway) are in place I am good.

Thanks for answering my questions, BTW. I can't wait for this product.

 

[Stalker0]

One thing I've been a bit confused about, does the red box include the full essential rules...or is it just an abridged version of them?

 

[giant.robot]

One thing I've been a bit confused about, does the red box include the full essential rules...or is it just an abridged version of them?

The DM booklet is very similar in size and scope to the DM booklet that came with the 2008 Starter Set. It's rewritten with current errata applied and presented a little more concisely. There's just enough in the Red Box to cover level 1 and 2 adventures.

 

[cavalier973]

The solo adventure: could it be easily adapted to a multi-player adventure? i.e. have the players build their characters together at the same time?