Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #35525 in Toys & Games
• Brand: Hasbro

Manufacturer's Description
The fantasy adventure board game. The Land of Rallion is in the grip of the dark forces of the Dungeon Master. You can decide to be one of the four heroes whose mission it is to battle through the dungeon, defeating vicious monsters. Or will you choose to be the Dungeon Master, trying to stop the heroes.

Customer Reviews

A good introduction to Dungeons and Dragons
Dungeons and Dragons is a famous roleplaying game, which is a lot of fun. The drawback is that the hardback rulebooks are expensive and complicated. For a beginner it can seem daunting to invest so much money in something that may prove impossible to learn.

But help is at hand! The Dungeons and Dragons Boardgame appears to be there for the aspiring D&D enthusiast. It is a simplified version of a more complex system, encompassing the main elements of the real game.

One player adopts title of "Dungeon Master", controlling the Monsters and Traps within the Dungeon, while any other players take control of the four characters provided. There are miniatures and boards to demonstrate the action, as well as cards which illustrate items. The Dungeon Master's Manual has pre-set Adventures which can be played out in sequential order, and ample rules. To seasoned D&D veterans, the action may seem diluted and bare of roleplaying, but if it enthuses players then I see no harm in it. Perhaps a good introduction for children, although it takes some intelligence to comprehend the rules.

As a side note, I actually bought this game just to take advantage of the well-modelled plastic miniatures that accompany it. There are four Player Characters, and a horde of monsters including undead, goblins and bugbears.

The word for this product is 'simplistic'
I consider myself as a Dungeons and Dragons fan, and as a fan, I'd like to warn everyone: Please do NOT buy this game if you wish to be a serious D&D gamer. "Watered down" and "simplistic" are the adjectives for this game. In fact, it is so simple, as to almost be a different game, and it should have been named differently too! Like maybe 'D&D Junior'.
If you're looking for a fun game for the kids, this is perfectly fine. But if you want to enter the amazing world called Dungeons and Dragons, then the only option is the D&D Basic Game from Wizards of the Coast, plus the 3 core rulebooks (Player's Handbook, Monster manual, Dungeon Master's guide). This product is fun, and a lot cheaper, but only a shadow of the real thing.

Hero Quest By Any Other Name
As a D&D fan, I was droolingly excited by the prospect of playing this game. Unfortunately, the content is considerably toned down from the parent roleplay system. This makes it easy to pick up and play but detracts from its longevity and intensity.

You might reasonably suggest that it is unfair to compare a simple board game with the vast and growing library of Dungeons and Dragons literature.

In response, I would turn to the successful early 90s game Hero Quest, from which the Dungeons & Dragons game takes it brief. Then I would deduct the atmosphere, the cohesion wrought from accumulable wealth and the massive cultural heritage that rolls in the door with any Warhammer production.

In short, this game - while technically perfect - fails as a Hero Quest clone and barely succeeds as a D&D tie-in.

Personal Rating: Moronic