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

[Charlaquin]

I do wonder about that. Not an adventure really tailored to the young prospective roleplayer of today.

It was, however, the module provided for the 5e open playtest. Seems like a no-brainer to use the module that the system was literally built to feel good playing as the introductory module for the system.

 

[Charlaquin]

What an odd goal to me. Do they state that in the product? Are they giving up on long campaign as a playstyle? What's the benefit of constantly changing GMs? Are they shifting to RPGs as short combat-filled sessions that get run by someone else next week? I'm really struggling to understand what they want D&D to be for new players and why.

One of the most talked-about problems facing D&D is a DM shortage. I would think the benefit of training a new generation of players to expect to take turns DMing as the default mode of play rather than to designate one out of five or six as the Forever DM would be pretty obvious.

 

[Micah Sweet]

The starter set goes from level one to level three.

Is this the “style” they are “pushing for new players”?

Is Wizards now dropping tiers 2,3&4?

Oh only the Wizard, Cleric, Fighter and Rogue? Are they “pushing” the core four? Wither the Barbarian, the Paladin and the Bard?


It is a simplified learning set. A minor SUBSET of the game to teach new players, including children, how to play, in an hour or less.

Your hyperbole doesn't due you any favors. It's still the shop window of D&D for prospective new players. It is how they are introduced to the whole game. It is intended to be used by an entire group of new people, including GMs. No mentoring, so no perspectives other than what the box gives you.

 

[Charlaquin]

I don't have the set, so, I decided to google the image of a the class boards. Came up with this one:

View attachment 417856
Seriously? You're claiming you couldn't find the spell save DC's on THAT? Ummm, how did you miss that? I'm color blind and even I can see the giant red (or possibly green) boxes, all three of which are going to be needed the second you start combat.

There are two red ones and two green ones, one of which is directly adjoined to one of the red ones. Which now that you mention it is incredibly colorblind-unfriendly visual design.

 

[Micah Sweet]

One of the most talked-about problems facing D&D is a DM shortage. I would think the benefit of training a new generation of players to expect to take turns DMing as the default mode of play rather than to designate one out of five or six as the Forever DM would be pretty obvious.

I just feel you're not getting a campaign experience with a short turn as GM in a round-robin style, and the campaign is the whole reason I like to GM. Short sessions mostly filled with combat seem more likely for the proposed style, and that doesn't sound like an RPG experience I would enjoy for long.

 

[Parmandur]

I don't have the set, so, I decided to google the image of a the class boards. Came up with this one:

View attachment 417856
Seriously? You're claiming you couldn't find the spell save DC's on THAT? Ummm, how did you miss that? I'm color blind and even I can see the giant red (or possibly green) boxes, all three of which are going to be needed the second you start combat.

Yeah, I wouldn't have noticed if you hadn't pointed it out, but they clearly had red/green colorblindness in mind here even though they donhave both red and green: only Equipment is in green, while only the save numbers (including rhe AC box up higher) are in red...which are distinctive for most, but not a deal breaker if you can't tell the difference.

 

[Imaro]

Any idea why? As in, what benefit does anyone derive from this new to a starter set idea they are replacing campaign play with in the eyes of new players?

First its presented as a suggestion for this starter set along with stating why the starter set's structure is good for trying out this format... so I'm not sure its necessarily replacing anything.

As for benefits...More people get a chance to try out DM'ing and playing...Thus the number of people exposed to and who may choose to DM goes up...Facilitating more available games of D&D...

 

[Parmandur]

There are two red ones and two green ones, one of which is directly adjoined to one of the red ones. Which now that you mention it is incredibly colorblind-unfriendly visual design.

I'd say the opposite: it isn't really a major deal breaker if the equipment and save info bleeds in a bit, and those are the only uses of red and green on the board.

 

[BruceWright]

Your hyperbole doesn't due you any favors. It's still the shop window of D&D for prospective new players.

Agreed there. The Shop Window, not the store.

But I’d go further. This is merely a Shop Window. The Core books are another. Baldur’s Gate 3 another. The movie another. Dndbeyond yet another. Actual plays even more.

It is how they are introduced to the whole game. It is intended to be used by an entire group of new people, including GMs. No mentoring, so no perspectives other than what the box gives you.

I disagree. Purchasers of the box set will have many avenues to get more information about the game.

 

[Micah Sweet]

Agreed there. The Shop Window, not the store.

But I’d go further. This is merely a Shop Window. The Core books are another. Baldur’s Gate 3 another. The movie another. Dndbeyond yet another. Actual plays even more.



I disagree. Purchasers of the box set will have many avenues to get more information about the game.

Sure, if they get past the starter set, which has no perspective beyond the one built into it, since the group is entirely comprised of complete novices in the intended use.