What’s your favorite boxed set?

[Malmuria]

Probably Planes of Chaos, not even because those planescape boxes were super usable. But the art and imagination of the setting was very inspiring.

 

[GreyLord]

Hmm...hard to say...but probably

1. Basic set (BECMI). Best introduction to D&D (only better introduction I have ever read was the Pathfinder Beginner Box for PF1e).

2. Basic Set (BX)

3. Basic Set (Holmes). See a pattern here?

4. Basic Set (3e)

5. Expert Set (BX)

6. Expert Set (BECMI)

Sure, they aren't AD&D, but I've seen plenty of folks use them alongside their AD&D books!

I have no idea how many people learned how to play D&D (And hence AD&D by default as many times they went on to use the Basic rules with the AD&D books) with the first 3 listed here??!! I think it was a LOT though.

Actual AD&D Box set though...

1. Tales of the Lance (2e).

2. FRCS

 

[TerraDave]

The Moldvay basic set, for the not a setting one. One of the best, and best selling, RPG products of all time.
The Cook/Moldvay expert set for the setting one. As it does include Ilse of Dread and the D&D known world. Which is a setting, if a very brief one.

 

[JEB]

Limiting the list to an AD&D top 3?

1. The second Ravenloft Campaign Setting (red box, post-Grand Conjunction). My first in-depth introduction to the setting.

2. Council of Wyrms. Playing dragons is cool. (Or would have been, had I actually managed it.)

3. Spelljammer: AD&D Adventures in Space. Just a fun setting, and I liked the weird options and metaphysics.

Runners-up would be Masque of the Red Death, the Planescape Campaign Setting, Planes of Chaos, and Planes of Law. (I never did manage to get Planes of Conflict, but I'm sure it would have been a top one if I had.)

 

[Yora]

Dark Sun. Original Campaign Setting box. My all-time favorite D&D setting. It was weird and wild and dangerous. Evocative of the science-fantasy stories I love. Psionics even for the plants and everything...everything is desperately trying to kill you. Also, the world is doomed. The bad guys won a few centuries ago. Good luck.

That's an easy one.

I also really like the Planescape box, but as interesting and cool as the setting is, it doesn't actually offer much in the way of adventures. Dark Sun on the other hand has the PCs always under pressure to simply get something to drink and avoid getting the attention of the templars. And almost all the water happens to be where all the templars are. Sitting still is not an option, anything you do is risky. Great environment for adventures.

 

[GuyBoy]

Hmmmm...
City of Greyhawk?
Return to the Tomb of Horrors?
Night Below?

All three are amazing. If I was going to a desert island and could only take one, I’d choose Night Below. Just.

 

[LoganRan]

I'm familiar with the World of Greyhawk campaign setting but have never heard of City of Greyhawk. When was the latter released? For which edition of D&D?

 

[FriendlyFiend]

The Planescape Boxed Set. It took my gaming in a whole new direction and opened up so much possibility. After that, I'd have to go with Dark Sun, with the OG Ravenloft boxed set following on.

 

[mserabian]

I'm familiar with the World of Greyhawk campaign setting but have never heard of City of Greyhawk. When was the latter released? For which edition of D&D?

CIty of Greyhawk was published in 1989 for AD&D 2e. It was written by Douglas Niles, Carl Sargent, and Rik Rose. It details the city and the Cairn Hills, the Mistmarsh, the Plain of Greyhawk, and the Eastern Reach of the Gnarly Forest. It has a ton of NPCs, 24 adventure cards set both in and around the city, 4 poster maps, and loving detail of the city and surrounds... It's not Gary's Greyhawk city (it was published after he left the company) but it's my City of Greyhawk!

Here's a link to the product on DM's Guild. The City of Greyhawk (2e) - Wizards of the Coast | AD&D 1st Ed. | Dungeon Masters Guild

 

[mserabian]

The Planescape Boxed Set. It took my gaming in a whole new direction and opened up so much possibility. After that, I'd have to go with Dark Sun, with the OG Ravenloft boxed set following on.

for some reason I could never really get into Planescape. Maybe at the time it was just too weird to me or something...