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Dungeons and Dragons Core Rulebook Gift Set, 4th Edition |  | Author: Wizards RPG Team
Brand: Wizards of the Coast
Category: Book
List Price: $104.95
Buy New: $62.48
as of 3/10/2010 09:14 CST details
You Save: $42.47 (40%)
New (34) Used (11) from $59.99
Seller: zp_books
Rating:  231 reviews
Sales Rank: 3354
Format: Box set
Media: Hardcover
Edition: 4th
Pages: 832
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 7
Dimensions (in): 11.6 x 8.7 x 2.4
ISBN: 0786950633
Dewey Decimal Number: 793
EAN: 9780786950638
ASIN: 0786950633
Publication Date: June 6, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Editorial Reviews:
Product Description
All three 4th Edition core rulebooks in one handsome slipcase. The Dungeons & Dragons Roleplaying Game has defined the medieval fantasy genre and the tabletop RPG industry for more than 30 years. In the D&D game, players create characters that band together to explore dungeons, slay monsters, and find treasure. The 4th Edition D&D rules offer the best possible play experience by presenting exciting character options, an elegant and robust rules system, and handy storytelling tools for the Dungeon Master.This gift set features a handsome slipcase containing all three of the 4th Edition D&D Roleplaying Game core rulebooks: the Players Handbook rulebook (320 pages), the Monster Manual rulebook (288 pages), and the Dungeon Masters Guide rulebook (224 pages).
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| Customer Reviews:
 All in the name March 8, 2010
C. J. Carter (Adelaide)
Compared to what could-have-been, a great disappointment. Layout is confusing (terms like 2w appearing before they're explained), artwork is below standard compared to (say) Dragonlance art.
The actual rules are a top-to-bottom redesign of prior work with just enough terminology retained to be confusing (don't expect a "saving throw" to do what it used to do), and much simpler that previously. Compared to prior editions however, the core books are "crippleware" with significantly limited options - no druids, bards, gnomes, half-orcs, fighters unable to use two weapons, etc - and any of those means more splatbooks required (on top of miniatures which are more or less mandatory now.
The majority of the player's handbook is pretty well wasted space - it consists of "power" descriptions though these are often simple combat moves like slowing a foe by shooting them in the leg, or pushing an opponent back with your shield - compared to many other RPGs a character's tactical options are significantly limited since a character relies on their "powers" without any universally applicable rules for hit locations, bleeding, back attacks or the like (in 2nd edition Dungeons and Dragons for example you could attack an opponent in the leg and slow them - here you would need a specific power to do it, and could do it only once). It also continues to reward any player attempting to do anything clever in combat beyond their standard attacks with an "attack of opportunity".
The rules in particular really have little in common with prior editions and to be fair, 90% of the hate directed toward the ruleset is caused by a conflict between gamers who thought they were getting something and got something else. Absolutely try before you buy because it is *NOT* D&D. Anyone who wants realism in their gaming (read: anything to make sense) should avoid it, since totally revised world backgrounds, monsters that sit around to be killed without any real explanation of their ecology or nature beyond some attack powers, jaw-droppingly unrealistic healing rules, wacky character powers like short-range teleport and endless rains of magical power bolts at level 1, and more or less free resurrection (500 GP) will all sting like a sneak attack to the spleen.
 Quality Reiview (not content), ink smudges easily!!! March 5, 2010
Andy
The issues regarding the content of these books have been discussed thoroughly. This review focuses on the quality of the books themseleves. The case is a very nice high gloss quality. The binding on the books feels solid and the pages seem very well attached to the spine so far (I just got them). People who play often and have experience with D&D books will recognize that a good solid spine and binding is very important. The illustrations are top quality, they are bright, vibrant, and insiprational.
The one major problem I've had is with the quality of the printing. I have yet to see any spelling errors or omissions, and the text is dark and easy on the eyes. But every time I touch my books, run a finger along a chart or hold a place on a page, the ink smudges...badly!! I've only had these books a few days and already a page or two in each book (PHB, DMG, and MM) has smudges, seemingly caused by just lifting my finger off the page, or moving it lightly across the page! My fingers aren't wet or particularly dirty, nor am I pushing with any unusual effort on the page. For comparison, I've had my 3.5 books for years and through many MANY play sessions, I've yet to see a ink smudge.
The smudges do not render the books un-readable, at least so far, but they are quite unsighlty and frustrating, especially in a brand new set. Perhaps I am doing something to cause this, but I can't imagine what it would be (nothing I haven't done with my 3.5 books certainly).
So yes go ahead and buy them, the game is fun and streamlined so that there is more action and less looking stuff up. But BE CAREFUL how you touch the pages of your books, if they are like mine, the ink is VERY fragile!!
 Most accessible edition to date March 3, 2010
Bryan N. Reynolds (San Francisco, CA USA)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I've been playing Dungeons & Dragons since middle school, which now makes me a more than 20-year veteran of the game. I've weathered the cumbersome rules such as THAC0 and grapple, and have found this new edition to be the most player friendly--and perhaps more importantly--the most Dungeon Master friendly! If you've ever ran a game of D&D for your friends, you know the level of preperation that is usually involved for the Dungeon Master. For 2nd and 3rd edition games especially, the prep time can easily outweigh (if not double) the amount of time actually spent actually playing game.
I recommend 4th edition for those who've played D&D in the past but found the prep times to sometimes be unmanageable. 4e is very robust and customizable, but it's new design streamlines things which were clunky to do in past editions. Things like altering monsters to give them different abilities or make them stronger, design traps, social encounters, even simple tasks like movement or creating magic items are easier to execute, making the game run faster so you can get back into the action.
It's also a great way to introduce young players of the MMORPG age to the greatest tabletop game ever made. You hear more and more about families that spend a lot of their free time gaming together, be it in front of the TV with their Wii, or on computers playing WoW, or anything in-between. I believe D&D is a great social game that will have people of all ages deeply engaged and interacting FACE-TO-FACE! Imagine that!
A welcome return to an old hobby! February 25, 2010
Danny Van Eijk (Rotterdam)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Let me start by saying that I do not care for the whole "3/3.5 was so much better" remarks as I feel all edition should be judged individually for what they (are trying to) do.
I was an enthousiastic player of Roleplaying games in my high school years but had been completely out of it for nearly 15 years. Back in the day we played a lot of Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay and kind of stuck with that for the entire time we played.
Even at that time I found the sheer amount of source books, rules appendages, campaign settings etc. of the D&D universe both very attractive and intimidating. For my friends however, the intimidating aspect was a lot bigger and we stuck to plying WFRP, a fine system and a great hobby.
Over the years we lost touch and went our own way.
Recently I picked up the PHB and started reading it, a little bit baffled by the books lay out I came to grips with it quite easily none the less. I looked around for friends interested in playing (all in our mid-thirties) and had a player group of 5 (+ myself as a DM) in literally a couple of days.
I picked up the MM and DMG as well and wrote our first adventure, it played a dream. It was swift, clear, highly entertaining and left a lot of room for improvisation and personal preference.
We have been playing for months now and my D&D Library has already grown to around 20 books. We get together every week (that didn't happen for a very long time) and we have a blast.
I couldn't care less that people here seem to be stuck on previous editions (they can still get them so why whine so much?) I am judging this product on what it did for me. A lot! I had forgotten how much fun RPGing was and am glad to have picked it up.
Furthermore I love the clean, crisp textbook print and typespace. I think the artwork is wonderful and love pretty much every additional book I collected. For anyone not playing RPG's yet or, like me, not having played them in ages I can thoroughly recommend this set as it contains all you need to get started and dive in!
Brief Noob review February 19, 2010
J. Burgos (West Hollywood, CA United States)
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
I will admit that I resisted picking up DnD4 for over a year and a half. Part of the reason was that I wanted to be solidly sure I could invest in this rpg. I have read countless reviews (including the ones here) and made my decision to pick this stunning 3book Slipcase set.
Presentation: Stunning and in full color. The layout was good but felt crammed in places (lots of information). I really liked the info on the history of DnD in the first section of the PHB.
Rules: I think this is fundamentally why I have picked up 4ed. I am no fan of MMORPGs but I do like how the game has returned more solidly than ever to its wargaming roots by use of miniatures and grid maps. This adds a layer of visual clarity that is helpful in visualizing combat. However, I do not think this element of the game detracts from pure role-playing without the use of mini's. I like the elimination of the Vancian magic system (I really hated it and thats one reason I abandoned ADnD and DnD 3.5. I love what they have done with the magic system and how low level spell casters are valuable in combat.
Setting: Solid and fun. It presents a generic world setting but you can adapt it easily to Forgotten Realms, Dark Sun or Eberron.
So thats it. Im loving this new version of DnD and I hope it sets the trend for future expansions of the rpg that started it all.
Good gaming everyone!
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