Dungeons & Dragons Basic Game - 2004 Edition

2004 Edition

The game is designed to be able to be played with minimal preparation, but with a slightly different design approach to doing this. Players choose one of the already designed character sheets and corresponding miniature, and need only read the Quick Start rules to start play. The Dungeon Master needs only to read the First Adventure book in addition the Quick Start Rules.

Once the First Adventure has been played the Advanced rules contains everything need to create and equip new characters and play adventures with them at first and second level. This book contains 4 classes, 4 races, some equipment, and spells, while hinting at the fuller selection of each available in the full game. It also contains an extension of the First Adventure that should allow players to reach at least second level and monsters and suggested maps so the Dungeon master can start designing his own further adventures.

While the set is compatible with the 3.5 edition rules, there are some minor differences implemented here for simplicity's sake. For instance, the basic rules state that a diagonal movement step counts as two squares instead of one, whereas the more complex (and official) rule is that it counts as 1.5 squares (you count 1 on the first diagonal step, then 2 more on the next step, then 1, then 2, and so forth). In other areas, many 3.5 rules are simply left out, such as critical hits (there are none in the basic game) and inventory weight management.

The game includes:

• 16 fully painted plastic miniatures:
  • 4 heroes (Aramil/Sorcerer, Eberk/Cleric, Lidda/Rogue and Regdar/Fighter)
  • 4 kobolds (2 Skirmishers, 2 Warriors)
  • 2 orc warriors
  • 2 skeletons
  • 1 wolf skeleton
  • 1 dire rat
  • 1 troglodyte
  • 1 young black dragon
• 4 double-sided dungeon map tiles
• 4 character sheets
• 7 dice (one of each: black d4, red d6, blue d8, green d10 & purple d10%, yellow d12, orange d20)
• Quick Start Rules
• First Adventure Book
• Advanced Rulebook

The Advanced Rulebook contains 16 black and white "stat cards" (pre-cut cardstock from the back fold of the book) corresponding to the 16 miniatures. These cards are in the format of the Dungeons & Dragons Miniatures Game and allow use of the miniatures with that game.