The new starter set does not specify the format of the maps, but given that it specifies 18 maps and doesn't mention tiles, I'd bet on either a map booklet or poster maps (a map booklet is hard to use in play without accessories that aren't mentioned, so I would think poster maps, but that's a lot of poster maps. Unless it's something like 18 8.5x11 cards that you can lay out as needed, which would probably work for the caves of chaos).
Based on this image in the marketplace, it does look like poster maps.
And personally, that image sure looks "board game" enough for me. 😅
Because I've been quoted, I'll respond. If someone wants to tell their friend "hey, let's play this cool board game. I think you'll like it, though it doesn't actually have a board." Totally fine. I'm not a gate keeper. If the company that makes the game decides it's a board game, it is indeed as someone said earlier, an over-simplicfication for the masses. That disturbs me. I don't want to trick anyone into buying it. I want people to know what they are getting. Why not just "a game"?
A board game has a definition, or an assumed definition, as does a roleplaying game. If the company that makes the biggest RPG calls their RPG a board game, I feel that waters down what an RPG is.
And finally, this was marketed to me. I pay for my account here. They should want my money. Just because I've played before, doesn't mean they should discount me.
"Calling D&D a board game is what's often referred to as a "lie to children"" This was a nice way of putting it.
Trust me, a simple on the rails adventure can play quite similarly to a number of existing board games. Betrayal at the House on the Hill, for one. Not necessarily built for roleplay and "can I try this" moments, but there can be a lot of common ground.
Because I've been quoted, I'll respond. If someone wants to tell their friend "hey, let's play this cool board game. I think you'll like it, though it doesn't actually have a board." Totally fine. I'm not a gate keeper. If the company that makes the game decides it's a board game, it is indeed as someone said earlier, an over-simplicfication for the masses. That disturbs me. I don't want to trick anyone into buying it. I want people to know what they are getting. Why not just "a game"?
Because calling it just a "game" does not contain any useful information compared to calling it a board game. Chess, soccer, and Call of Duty are all games after all. I'm not sure why you'd be "disturbed" that they're using language accessible for non-D&D/non-TTRPG players for their product aimed at non-D&D/non-TTRPG players.
A board game has a definition, or an assumed definition, as does a roleplaying game. If the company that makes the biggest RPG calls their RPG a board game, I feel that waters down what an RPG is.
They're not calling D&D a board game, they're calling a single product aimed at non-TTRPG players a board game. The only thing they're "watering down" is the "first shot" because not everyone is ready to start right away with the "strong stuff" if we're going with the beverage analogy.
"Calling D&D a board game is what's often referred to as a "lie to children"" This was a nice way of putting it.
Given your above response, I feel you may have misunderstood the "lies to children" philosophy.
Borderlands has been my go to starter adventure for almost every new group since 1979, until 5e started making quality starter adventures (like Lost Mine of Phandalin). I last used it with my current group just 4 years ago. So I was eager to get this as much for nostalgia as for content. But it’s a tough decision.
Part of me was going to get the bundle, despite the fact that all of my gaming is now virtual. But that shipping cost puts it past the price I am willing to pay. When Dragon Queen came out, they chose to refund shipping, realizing that buying from Amazon with free shipping would take away from direct sales. I understand that shipping costs them money, but it still irks me to have to pay it.
My other concern (actually more a question) is that these digital pre-orders never quite give us enough information. Will any of these tokens be alternative art to what the Monster Manual gives us? Will there be new monsters which are not currently in the Monster Manual? What will the digital dice be like? Will they have cool effects (like the LEGO) dice or just another skin with nothing really special about them? Will the digital set have cards like the “board game” version? The recent VTT announcement said that we would soon be able to have “handouts”. Will they start off that feature with the cards from Borderlands?
I don’t suppose anyone here has answers to these questions, but they all factor into my purchasing decisions.
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ModeratorBased on this image in the marketplace, it does look like poster maps.
And personally, that image sure looks "board game" enough for me. 😅
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Because I've been quoted, I'll respond.
If someone wants to tell their friend "hey, let's play this cool board game. I think you'll like it, though it doesn't actually have a board." Totally fine. I'm not a gate keeper.
If the company that makes the game decides it's a board game, it is indeed as someone said earlier, an over-simplicfication for the masses. That disturbs me. I don't want to trick anyone into buying it. I want people to know what they are getting. Why not just "a game"?
A board game has a definition, or an assumed definition, as does a roleplaying game. If the company that makes the biggest RPG calls their RPG a board game, I feel that waters down what an RPG is.
And finally, this was marketed to me. I pay for my account here. They should want my money. Just because I've played before, doesn't mean they should discount me.
"Calling D&D a board game is what's often referred to as a "lie to children"" This was a nice way of putting it.
Trust me, a simple on the rails adventure can play quite similarly to a number of existing board games. Betrayal at the House on the Hill, for one. Not necessarily built for roleplay and "can I try this" moments, but there can be a lot of common ground.
Because calling it just a "game" does not contain any useful information compared to calling it a board game. Chess, soccer, and Call of Duty are all games after all. I'm not sure why you'd be "disturbed" that they're using language accessible for non-D&D/non-TTRPG players for their product aimed at non-D&D/non-TTRPG players.
They're not calling D&D a board game, they're calling a single product aimed at non-TTRPG players a board game. The only thing they're "watering down" is the "first shot" because not everyone is ready to start right away with the "strong stuff" if we're going with the beverage analogy.
Given your above response, I feel you may have misunderstood the "lies to children" philosophy.
Find my D&D Beyond articles here
There's board games that are literal dungeon crawlers, such as Descent or Gloomhaven.
Borderlands has been my go to starter adventure for almost every new group since 1979, until 5e started making quality starter adventures (like Lost Mine of Phandalin). I last used it with my current group just 4 years ago. So I was eager to get this as much for nostalgia as for content. But it’s a tough decision.
Part of me was going to get the bundle, despite the fact that all of my gaming is now virtual. But that shipping cost puts it past the price I am willing to pay. When Dragon Queen came out, they chose to refund shipping, realizing that buying from Amazon with free shipping would take away from direct sales. I understand that shipping costs them money, but it still irks me to have to pay it.
My other concern (actually more a question) is that these digital pre-orders never quite give us enough information. Will any of these tokens be alternative art to what the Monster Manual gives us? Will there be new monsters which are not currently in the Monster Manual? What will the digital dice be like? Will they have cool effects (like the LEGO) dice or just another skin with nothing really special about them? Will the digital set have cards like the “board game” version? The recent VTT announcement said that we would soon be able to have “handouts”. Will they start off that feature with the cards from Borderlands?
I don’t suppose anyone here has answers to these questions, but they all factor into my purchasing decisions.