Role playing game starter sets have become increasingly popular over the past few years. They contain everything a table needs to try out a game for an evening or two of play. The best ones contain material and accessories that will continue to be useful if the players decide to pick up the full game.
The newest Dungeons & Dragons Starter Set has a lot in common with a board game. Everything has a visual component that’s laid out before each player. There are also a bunch of big tactical maps that help visualize combat.
Box sets aren’t anything new in the role playing game space. In celebration of the new D&D starter set, I put together a list of some of my favorite box sets that I’ve recently seen. Pick up one of these to check out a new game and expand everyone at the table’s horizons.
Star Trek Adventures Second Edition Starter Set
The Star Trek franchise has gone through a bit of a rebirth these past few years. So has the official Star Trek Adventures role playing game. It’s released a Starter Set to show off a sleek new redesign with a short campaign ready for fans to play.
The design keys off the shiny retro future vibes of Strange New Worlds. The game has also been simplified by reducing dice rolls and making combat run much more quickly. While the box contains characters read to play, it’s also compatible with original characters and playable with classic characters available on the company website.
Lord Of The Rings Roleplaying Starter Set
A few years ago, Free League Publishing brought The One Ring under its banner allowing players to officially play in the realm of Middle-Earth. The first release included a core book and a starter set focused on The Shire. They also expanded their coverage to a D&D Fifth Edition adaptation of the rules called Lord Of The Rings Roleplaying.
To paraphrase a famous hobbit, “What about second boxed set?” The One Ring now has two to choose from while Lord Of The Rings Roleplaying now has one. Over Hill and Under Hill covers the same material in two different systems giving fans flexibility in trying out some new adventures in a classic setting.
Imperium Maledictum Starter Set
The world of Warhammer 40,000 is filled with lore created over decades that span thousands of years. Imperium Maledictum offers an excellent way to begin with players as members of the Empire brought together by a powerful patron to do their bidding. Depending on the players that can mean investigation, intrigue and even assassination on different weeks.
The starter set throws the players into an investigation of a potential miracle on an industrial world. It has a little bit of everything from wrestling with the power of the Inquisition to dealing with those corrupted by the Ruinous Powers. Cubicle 7 does a great job with making their box sets very friendly to new players.
Cypher System Starter Set
Characters in the Cypher Sytem are defined by a single phrase: “I am an (adjective) (noun) that verbs” The Starter Set has ten characters defined as such ready to show how quickly the system moves. There are two adventures in the box with a third available as a download.
This set also includes items useful in broader Cypher System play. XP cards, for example, make it easier to track points as well as hand them out during intrusions. These items will continue to be useful after the upcoming Cypher System edition update hits next year.
These starter sets are available directly from the publisher, through online retailers or at Friendly Local Game Stores.
