Introduction to Advanced Dungeons & Dragons^*

Introduction to Advanced Dungeons & Dragons is a 1995 starter box that turns AD&D into a board game with figures and an audio CD.

It's aimed at newcomers who want to try fantasy adventures without thick rulebooks.

What's it about?

One player acts as Dungeon Master while everyone else runs a party of heroes. Together you explore simple scenarios on a game board. The audio CD sets the mood and also feeds instructions to the Dungeon Master.

In the box

• Starter versions of the Player's Handbook, Dungeon Master Guide and Monstrous Manual
• A set of dice
• Six plastic hero figures and six character cards
• A Dungeon Master screen
• An audio CD
• A double-sided map with "Tomb of Damara" and "House on Harrow Hill"

How a session runs

1. The Dungeon Master sets up the scenario.
2. The party moves its figures across the grid.
3. Encounters and fights are resolved with dice.

Who is it for?

Two to seven players aged 12 and up. A session takes about two hours. Today the box is as much a collector's item as a gateway to classic AD&D.

Conclusion

This starter set by Richard Baker and Bruce Nesmith is a charming piece of 1990s gaming history. Collectors and nostalgic players will enjoy it. If you want a modern dungeon crawler, newer games will serve you better.