Updated DDM Starter Contents

[ObsidianCrane]

Amazon is now listing the starter contents as;

5 exclusive, non-random, pre-painted plastic miniatures: Large Green Dragon, Human Sellsword, Elf Warlock, Dwarf Battlemaster, and Exiled Drow Fighter
5 stat cards
2 double-sided, illustrated battle grids
1 damage counter sheet
1 twenty-sided die (d20)
Rulebook

The DDM Rulebook refers to starting with the Yuan-Ti Swiftscale and the Human Fighter, so the Exiled Drow might be replaced. Otherwise the miniatures match those on page 9 of the rulebook.

The DDM rulebook indicates those "double-sided" battle grids include (pg 38);
Dwarven Outpost: Includes River, dfficult terrain, diagonal walls.
Flooded Ruins: Includes River, difficult terrain, teleporters.
Jungle Temple: Forest, difficult terrain, statues, blood rock and healing font.
Crossroads and Monster Lair: Half sized maps. Forst, Dificult Terrain. These seem to be the ones used as examples through the book.

Again this doesn't line up exactly with the contents that Amazon has listed, yet it also doesn't match what the DDM book says on page 2 either. So...

 

[Dragonbait]

I'm kind of surprised that they didn't add in either a Dragonborn or tiefling instead of the drow to show off some of the new 4E stuff.

 

[ZappoHisbane]

There are also box photos of the booster sets up on Amazon.ca. Looks like we can expect a beholder for sure, and what appears to be a minotaur. The third one I'm guessing is a death knight or something to that effect.

http://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/0786947551

 

[Zaruthustran]

I'm kind of surprised that they didn't add in either a Dragonborn or tiefling instead of the drow to show off some of the new 4E stuff.

Me too. Those two races are unique to D&D; players wanting to try out the new races (dare I say, the majority of 4E players?) will have no other source for a mini other than WotC. Including them in the starter set would have been a terrific way to introduce 4E players to DDM.

Very odd.

On the other hand, if the Dragonborn and Tiefling are released only in boosters, the secondary (or "eBay") market will have very high prices on those figs. I bet a bunch of DDM players will be able to fund their complete set solely by selling extra Dragonborn and Tieflings.

Speaking of: they should probably release three figures for each new race. A figure in chain armor who can sub for a fighter, cleric, warlord, or paladin, a figure in leather armor that can sub for a rogue or ranger, and a "caster" figure that can represent a warlock or wizard.

EDIT: looks like Amazon has the Dungeons of Dread boosters and starters discounted to $10, and right now they're running a promotion where all book pre-orders (AMZN considers the minis a "book", since it gets them through their book distributor) are an additional 5% off.

They've also got the Deluxe Edition PHB at about 50% off. I just pre-ordered it, the DMG, MM, the adventures (all discounted $10), two boosters and a starter.