D&D General Take A Look At The Class Boards From The New D&D Starter Set

Check out the cleric's 'dashboard'.
Heroes of the Borderlands, which is Dungeons & Dragons' upcoming new starter set, is one of the largest starter sets the game has ever produced--not least in part to the card-based character creation pops. One essential part of that card-based process is the class board--as D&D Beyond puts it, "a dashboard that clearly lays out everything you need to play, from your Armor Class to your spells and features, with card slots and token trackers that keep the game moving fast".

class-board.jpg

There's a board for each class in the boxed set (the example above is the cleric). In the bottom left you can see a 'What You Need To Play' section which lists the additional cards you need to play a cleric--in this case, two equipment cards, 7 spell cards, and a bunch of gold pieces.

The card itself includes your basic stats--ability scores, saving throws, skills, hit points, speed, and so on. There are also clearly marked spots where you can place cards for your armor, your spells, and other things. There's also a space over on the far right for species and origin cards.

Once you reach level 2, you flip the card cover. That automatically increases your hit points and other features.

cleric-level-2.jpg

Finally, at level 3, you choose your subclass and you swap your class board for a more specialised one. The included cleric includes boards for the Life and Light domains. The new board not only updates your stats (like when you leveleled up to level 2) it also adds in the subclass features.

cleric-board-3.jpg

Heroes of the Borderlands comes out September 16th for $49.99.

 

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If you want the adventure without the toys the digital version is much cheaper.

Well, I'm ridiculous so naturally I've got both. I mean, none of my choices are defensible. I'm just making observations now that I own another thing I compulsively bought.

The "problem" (if there is one) I guess is that the adventure without the toys (ie the digital version) isn't much of an adventure.

Actually maybe that's the point I want to make. If you're a boardgame player looking to try D&D, the physical product is exceptional. If you're an existing player looking to grab the "adventure pack" digital product on DNDBeyond because you just want to play a Keep on the Borderlands adventure...eh.
 

The "problem" (if there is one) I guess is that the adventure without the toys (ie the digital version) isn't much of an adventure
Neither was the original. You could have added a ton of plot, but I really don’t think that would be in the spirit. And there has been a lack of sandbox type content in the last couple of decades. People are forgetting how to do it.
 

I'm aware. I guess I'm speaking to anyone who might not be.

Arman has said that part of the reason they went with Keep on the Borderlands was, of course, to capture the nostalgia audience. This suggests that in addition to boardgame players (who, yes, are the primary intended target) they're also hoping to capture at least some segment of the existing base with this product - that's the segment for whom I'm not sure this is gonna work. At least, not without the inevitable DMsGuild supplements that add "quests" to it.
The idea that every product has to appeal to newbies, boardgamers, and grognards equally is insane. No products could possibly exist. It’s an unreasonable burden to place upon any do any and makes no sense whatsoever.

Every brand has different products for different demographics. A Ford GT isn’t designed for the same customer as a Ford Focus.

This one isn’t for you, and that’s OK.
 

Neither was the original. You could have added a ton of plot, but I really don’t think that would be in the spirit. And there has been a lack of sandbox type content in the last couple of decades. People are forgetting how to do it.

Did the original not have a climax (genuinely asking; I've never read it)?
 


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