D&D General Your Favorite D&D-esque Starter Set

[Stormonu]

If I have forgotten any, please forgive me and just note them below and I'll try to get them added. D&D-esque is anything that uses the D&D rules or the OGL/SRD rules to create a fantasy RPG. This would exclude the likes of Warhammer Fantasy, Dragonsbane and other fantasy games not based in whole or in part on D&D's rules (I mean, there's already enough just from TSR/WotC alone)

This is for STARTER sets, not "complete" games, excluding such as the original "brown box books" or the Rules Encyclopedia.

I'd also be interested to hear why a particular set was your favorite.

 

[Stormonu]

My personal favorite is the 5E Phandelver set (prior to that, it would have been the B/X Molvay 1981 set).

It is my favorite as 5E 2014 is my favorite edition, and I was able to get 3 generations (my parents, myself & wife & brother & his wife, and my kids) all at one table playing the game.

 

[Nikosandros]

I voted for the Mentzer set, which is the one I began with. BX is a sleeker rule set, but Mentzer is, IMHO, just perfect for teaching the game. If I could give two votes, the second one would be for the Phandelver set.

 

[payn]

PF BB FTW

 

[Sacrosanct]

B/X Moldvay. Short and to the point. Excellent presentation and art.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

I like what I've seen of Heroes of the Borderlands, but I'm not comfortable voting for it until I've got it in my hot little hands and run at least one session. In the meantime, Phandelver retains the crown.

 

[sevenbastard]

B/X is great, Lost Mines is the best starter adventure, but Pathefinder 1e Beginners Box is probably the best of the list.