D&D General Who is this made for (Not Beginners) - the New D&D Starter Set

[Micah Sweet]

So are you just ignoring all the comments that point out that this info is incorrect.

He explained that he had all the same information that was supposed to be there, and the only lengthy objection I saw (a lot of folks have me blocked for some reason), looked like an issue of preference and perception. I saw a disagreement in opinion, not a claim of objective wrongness.

For my part, I don't see any value in the bulk of the material in that box, and far preferred the 2014 Lost Mines Set. All that bling would be a waste of money for me. Not sure the OP and I would even have the same objections.

Of course, I've been informed that the young people need these things now, so maybe I'm wrong.

 

[Morrus]

He explained that he had all the same information that was supposed to be there, and the only lengthy objection I saw (a lot of folks have me blocked for some reason), looked like an issue of preference and perception. I saw a disagreement in opinion, not a claim of objective wrongness.

For my part, I don't see any value in the bulk of the material in that box, and far preferred the 2014 Lost Mines Set. All that bling would be a waste of money for me. Not sure the OP and I would even have the same objections.

Of course, I've been informed that the young people need these things now, so maybe I'm wrong.

As many people have pointed out, there is, in fact, a rulebook in the box, and the OP is incorrect when he says that there is not.

 

[GreyLord]

I don't have the set, but from the videos that have been linked, it looks like the first part of the Play Guide explains the components like the class boards and how to read them. The second part of it is (I assume) a reprint of the Basic D&D rules, which will explain things like save DCs and the basic structure of play (including the role of the DM). I mean, it sounds like you didn't find the information in these adequate for your needs, but given you are an experienced player, it's presumably not that easy for you to judge it anyway. But in any case, that material is included.

You have to watch the videos to figure things out. The videos are far more clear and more in depth than the book on character creation and what goes on in the character creation.

Same with the how to play video. The How to play video actually has a decent example of how to play. The books example of roleplaying is so short...that...yeah.

 

[GreyLord]

Page 18: "A caster's spell save DC and spell attack modifier are both listed on the character's Class Board."

On the cleric card, it's the bottom of column three: "Spell Save DC 13"

On the wizard card, it's on the bottom of the merged columns two and three: "Spell Save DC 13"

There is nothing about recalculating the DC after level 3, when you're told to use the PHB.

Thank you. That's not actually the Spell DC (which is stated specifically to be on the Spell Card...as quoted on page 10 under Saving Throws, but you are correct. We ALL missed that line...somehow.

 

[GreyLord]

Question did you and your players actually read through the PG or did you just skim it?

They read it (they are the new players). I skimmed it. I know how to play 5e so I didn't expect to have to get everyone going from scratch.

That didn't work out.

I started everyone from the basics. It took an hour before we even started to play.

I was hoping something like 5 minutes. Instead...one hour. Some of that was because I was trying to figure out what was in each of their boxes (I shared a box with one so I had not looked at the actual play guide or Read Me First, I was prepping to run. I came half an hour after they did so they could have all their stuff set up by the time I got there. They did not.

Prime example...section 6 tells you that you should get cards out...they did not realize they were supposed to grab their spell cards. The cards were all separated nicely into separate piles, but no one really had any cards. The tokens were all punched...and some actually had a token or two...but otherwise...no real tokens (you would think they would understand to at least get the gold talked about on their sheets, but they did not).

It would have been easier if I had gotten them up and running from the PHB itself. At least that would be pencil and paper which is written faster than trying to get everyone to sort through cards trying to find which card they need in their decks...calling me over to ask if this or that card is the right one...etc.

I decided the ONLY bonus to having multiple Starter Sets at this point is so that if anyone wants to play the same class or background, you'll have enough components. No one played the Rogue.

The Save situation came up mid game when someone cast a spell. That's when I started trying to find what the book said about saves. I couldn't find it. I looked at the obvious spot (Saving Throws) and then looked at where in told me to (on the Spell Card) and it was not there. I looked at the glossary...and it was not there.

 

[aco175]

How come nobody pointed out that it is not 'technically' a rulebook, but a Reference Booklet. Please direct pithy comments back to me. I was going to insert a sarcastic note, but some people think something written is does not always come across right.

 

[Thommy H-H]

You have to watch the videos to figure things out. The videos are far more clear and more in depth than the book on character creation and what goes on in the character creation.

Same with the how to play video. The How to play video actually has a decent example of how to play. The books example of roleplaying is so short...that...yeah.

But you don't have to create characters - they're essentially pregens. You literally just pick a class, a species, and a background, which are represented by the cards. It sounds like you went into this as an experienced DM, expecting it to tell you how to do all the stuff you already know how to do, when the set is specifically designed to give a simpler experience with fewer decision points to avoid overwhelming new players. Like, it doesn't tell you how to calculate the save DCs because you literally don't have to do that with this product - everything is already filled in for you.

 

[Cordwainer Fish]

So...where can they learn to play. You have to scan the QR code (which half of them warned me not to, they said you never do that because it's too easy to put viruses or other things in them...I'm like...I really don't think Hasbro is going to destroy their reputation doing that).

It takes you to a link...

Final Fantasy IX all over again.

 

[Charlaquin]

Thank you. That's not actually the Spell DC

“A caster's spell save DC and spell attack modifier” isn’t actually the spell DC…? How do you figure?

 

[Charlaquin]

They read it (they are the new players). I skimmed it. I know how to play 5e so I didn't expect to have to get everyone going from scratch.

That didn't work out.

I started everyone from the basics. It took an hour before we even started to play.

I was hoping something like 5 minutes. Instead...one hour. Some of that was because I was trying to figure out what was in each of their boxes (I shared a box with one so I had not looked at the actual play guide or Read Me First, I was prepping to run. I came half an hour after they did so they could have all their stuff set up by the time I got there. They did not.

Prime example...section 6 tells you that you should get cards out...they did not realize they were supposed to grab their spell cards. The cards were all separated nicely into separate piles, but no one really had any cards. The tokens were all punched...and some actually had a token or two...but otherwise...no real tokens (you would think they would understand to at least get the gold talked about on their sheets, but they did not).

It would have been easier if I had gotten them up and running from the PHB itself. At least that would be pencil and paper which is written faster than trying to get everyone to sort through cards trying to find which card they need in their decks...calling me over to ask if this or that card is the right one...etc.

I decided the ONLY bonus to having multiple Starter Sets at this point is so that if anyone wants to play the same class or background, you'll have enough components. No one played the Rogue.

The Save situation came up mid game when someone cast a spell. That's when I started trying to find what the book said about saves. I couldn't find it. I looked at the obvious spot (Saving Throws) and then looked at where in told me to (on the Spell Card) and it was not there. I looked at the glossary...and it was not there.

To be honest, from this description it sounds like your players just didn’t read their copies ahead of time, counting on you to be able to teach them without them having to do homework first, and you didn’t read it either, counting on them to do their homework, so no one was properly prepared and you had to try to muddle through it together. This is understandably frustrating, but not really the starter set’s fault