Dungeons & Dragons 4e Game Review

Dungeons & Dragons is the great-grandpappy of all role-playing games. Armed with pencil, paper, books, some weird dice, a few plastic miniatures and a ton of imagination, players can go on fantasy adventures that make the Lord of the Rings look like a bedtime story. Playing D&D is like telling a story where each player gets to be one of the heroes and one person gets to be the Dungeon Master - the head storyteller who controls the bad guys and most of the story. Here's the scoop on the new 4th Edition Dungeons & Dragons with our review.

Heroes, Adventure and More!

4th Edition Dungeons & Dragons is a lot different from earlier versions. It's fast and easy to play, plus picking your heroes' powers is simple. Battles get crazy because everybody gets wicked moves they can use - from tossing fireballs to fancy swordplay! It feels a bit like playing a video game RPG, but you get to create your own stories and villains. Unfortunately, you need to do math and keep track of a bunch of details as you play. It's also a bit frustrating that only ranger heroes can adventure by themselves - everybody else needs a team of allies or they'll get clobbered.

Fourth Edition = Fun?

Designed to be easy for new players, 4th Edition D&D makes it easy to sit down with friends and family for a dose of action-packed fantasy adventure. There's more math and reading involved than playing a video game, but you'll be having fun with friends rather than staring at a tube. Check out the Keep on the Shadowfell adventure for a cheap and easy way to test-drive D&D 4e. If you like it, there are three books to look at:

Player's Handbook - How to make heroes and gain levels. Every player needs one of these.
Monster Manual - Packed with villains from goblins to zombies and dragons. You need one to run a game!
Dungeon Master's Guide - Full of the little rules about how to make weird adventures. Useful, but you can play without one.

Thumbs Up:

Players only need the Player's Handbook.
You don't need to be an expert to make an awesome character!
Keep on the Shadowfell = super-simple way to try the game out.
You can play dragons as characters!
D&D Miniatures let you bring the battles to life.

Thumbs Down:

Dungeon Masters need three big books.
It's like playing World of Warcraft, but doing all the math yourself.
Heroes can't save the day on their own.

Rating:
Age: 8+
Price Range: (for each book)

Price Range Legend
$0-$15 =
$16-$30 =
$31-$45 =
$46-$60 =
$60+ =

Related Stories:

D&D Miniatures: Dungeons of Dread and New Rules Review
Dungeons & Dragons Basic Game Fantasy RPG Review
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King DVD Review
MapleStory Card Game Review
Find More Cool Toy Reviews Here!

full story »

Hyper Dash Toy Review

Can you think on the run? Well here is a game that will challenge you to be on your quickest behavior! Kidzworld reviews this unique game! full story »

The Impressionist Art Game Review

Learn about great works of art by Monet, Renoir, Degas and more while playing cards like Go Fish and a new version of Concentration! full story »

Settlers of Catan Board Game Review

One of the best board games of all time, Settlers of Catan is fun for players of all ages! Find out why with our review. full story »

Last Word Game Review

Who cares about being first? This is a board game where you have to finish last in order to win! Check out the review of Last Word right here. full story »