Freeman gave this game an Overall Evaluation of "Very Good", concluding: "It's still preferable to participate in an ongoing campaign, but if you must venture into RPG country without a guide, this is the first place to visit". But to find the answer you seek, you must first topple ancient powers without succumbing to the bitter cold.

The adventure is filled with a number of NPCs you can use to give players hints about their options during the adventure, as well as the opportunity to fill the game with memorable characters.Runara, the peaceful yet mysterious leader of the Dragon’s Rest cloister will introduce you to the Isle and its many problems.

In general, the goal seems to be to streamline the system, making it very accessible to new gamers, but still providing enough substance and versatility that more experienced gamers will find the system desirable. The lack of what’s here does impact the game you can play with this set, and the games you will play in the future, for which it provides no foundation to build on. So: take a deep breath, go over your materials and prepare for a cracking adventure in the Forgotten Realms.In their first session, characters will face combat, navigate the game’s exploration and social interaction mechanics, and get a general taste of how to play Dungeons and Dragons fifth edition. They say that the book that comes with it is very well written, the character sheets are detailed, and the chapters are laid out nice and clearly. Like Seagrow Caves, be ready to move combatants around to suit the pacing of the game you want to run.

Lost Mine of Phandelver uses the more complex, experience-points-based level up system, but this has been replaced with the milestone-based option. Combining that with either a purchase of the Essentials Kit or even any or all of the main three rulebooks ( Player’s Handbook, Dungeon Master’s Guide, and Monster Manual) is a better use of your money for getting into the hobby. In the 2015 ENnie Awards, the Starter Set was the gold winner of "Best Production Values" and "Best Family Game". In a similar vein, as a dungeon master you'll want to consider whether to choose a homebrew or pre-built campaign - we'd recommend the latter if you're just starting out. Strahd is an incredible and fleshed-out villain, even having his memoir in "I, Strahd," and the setting of Barovia is deeply intriguing, as are its inhabitants.The set also includes a Dungeon Master's Screen which doubles as a folder for the cards, fold-up cardboard pawns, a color map sheet, and dice.