Unboxing the Stranger Things D&D Starter Set!

Stranger Things and D&D have made it official! Let's see what's inside!
/ steventhedm
Unwrapping 1:36
Miniatures Review 10:43
Adventure Review 12:19

[@PaladinHeart]

At the retail price of $25, I feel like they could have included a reprint of the original D&D rule book, with a special "worn" look to the cover and pages. Fans of Stranger Things and nostalgic D&D players would have both appreciated something like that. Like you I was also expecting the premade characters to be named after the characters' characters from the TV series (Will the Wise, etc..). I was also hoping they might include miniatures of said characters. I just don't think this set is worth $25. The large boxed sets from the 90's, including Goblin's Lair, Dragon's Den, and Haunted Tower, all offered MUCH more value. They had nice vinyl maps and cardboard standup figures. Sure they were just cardboard, but it felt like TSR was selling us something besides a piece of their imagination. :)

[@JohnWalkerAce]

That cool box into the trashbin?!?!?! That's murder!:(

[@thomasrainsford4944]

one last thing the adventure book made up like Mike's notebook? remove the big Hasbro branding on the front, move it to the back of the book or on the inside cover small and out of the way, as like others have said about the artwork it brakes the emersion/suspension of disbelief, of the fiction they're selling/sold you. I mean both the lost mine of phandelver and Dragon of icespire peak don't have Wizards of the coast' logo big and in the corner of it, no in fact the only branding they have is games name and dragon ampersand, the 4e starter set players handbook and player's book has the game name and Wizards company logo at the bottom in the middle but it's small and in white so it blends in with the red of the books. thank you for attending my TED talk.

[@emilywolf9578]

This was super helpful! I'm an experienced DM, and as of late my parents (both in their 50s) have recently gained a little bit of interest in D&D (they've been watching shows together like Young Sheldon and Stranger Things, which both include dnd as a reoccurring pop culture reference). They've never played board games outside of monopoly, and they're not gamers outside of the board game realm either (besides the occasional game of donkey Kong), and this stuff is intimidating to them! Having a product aimed at /completely/ new folks that's also tied in to a show they watch makes it super accessable. The other starter set seemed a little too daunting, especially because I live roleplay as a DM and the encounter seemed high risk for players like my parents, but this review helped me decide that this would be a good fit! Thank you!

[@captcorajus]

I think the adventure is very 'retro' and it is suppose to be the adventure they were playing on the show, and definitely ticks off a few of those marks. I think a new DM could manage it. Great review!

[@SteventheDM]

You're right, I probably should've made my thoughts clearer. I do believe a new DM could run the adventure, I just wish that it could've had a few extra resources to help new DMs. And it does have a 'retro dungeon delve' feel to it, like you said. Thanks for the comment :)

[@mortalLP]

Came here from your Amazon review, and I'm not disappointed by your full review. It's rather thorough, and it seems to me that you've spent enough time with the contents of the box and the adventure that I trust your insights. I'm still a little torn about whether or not I'll buy this product (and noticed it's not on D&D Beyond), but at least I can make a more informed decision. Thanks!

[@SteventheDM]

I ended up running the adventure a few days after this was posted. The consensus with the players was that unless you're a collector of Stranger Things merch, it might be best to wait for a sale.

[@mortalLP]

@@SteventheDM Oh yeah. I wouldn't consider buying this at full price. But a certain online vendor has it at about $16, so it's still on my radar. I think if the demogorgons' sculpt/paint was better, it'd be an easier sell. But brand deals and IPs are expensive to manage, I'm sure. Thanks again.

[@tylertr9819]

This set is built for people who are just being welcomed to the game. The campaign is very simple and short but it is fun. If your a collector this is perfect, but I still recommend this I had a decent amount of fun with this set.

[@WoodyBrown]

Man - thank you for such an in depth review! Stumbled upon your channel after checking out this Stranger Things D&D starter set and wanting to know more. I’ll be a total newbie to D&D and I’m a huge Stranger Things fan so I think this will be a killer intro into the game and a nice piece for my ST collection. So glad I found tour channel!

[@Blandco]

I took some time and figured out the best way to paint the cheap plastic these minis were made from. I figure some random company gave them a low bid for this. Hasbro did a really nice job with the hard plastic figures in the older D&D board games. It's a real shame because the rulebook and adventure are really nice. A really good intro to D&D for brand new players.

[@SteventheDM]

What was your recipe for painting? Also, how was the mold quality for your minis? Did one of them have a scar like mine did?

[@Blandco]

@@SteventheDM My latest video spells it out. I basically washed and rinsed it normally, gave it a rubbing alcohol bath and then primed it with Poly urethane primer (Vallejo Surface Primer). Then instead of risking adding another layer of paint I just used washes to paint the body and used a bit of paint on the mouth where there wouldn't be much flexing. And yes it had a mark on the upper arm and the unpainted one had a weird circle mark on the hand as well. Honestly not that bad in terms of injection points or whatever they were.

[@SteventheDM]

That's a great video! You're a much more talented painter than I, I'll be using your method to paint the Demogorgon, for sure.

[@Blandco]

@@SteventheDM Feel free to try out your own method. I always paint for durability.

[@BobWorldBuilder]

As some others have mentioned, this is a high-quality video! Just watched one of your earlier videos, and you’ve seriously improved your set up. I recently started my own D&D-related channel, so I’m going to subscribe and add you to the ‘Growing RPG Channels’ list on my homepage. Keep up the great work!

[@StalinBrosef]

I subbed, and I'm surprised at how few videos you've uploaded given the high quality of them. This is a really good channel, and I hope you continue to upload and grow it.

[@thomasrainsford4944]

I also feel like they could of given us retro clone ADD&D character sheets, faded and weathered like the box and filled in as though they were filled out by the kids in the show, but also provide the standard 5e character sheets as well so you could either port the characters over or just run with your own character.

[@hadeseye2297]

Best starter set? Cyberpunk Red Jumpstart Kit (6 Q-Workshop CP themed dice), or Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition.

[@TheNiall666]

I think The One Ring 2e starter set needs to be added to this list. I think it's the best I've ever seen for quality of content.

[@jayme5971]

Finally a simple explanation to what me, a thirteen year old wants!

[@loganmiles8728]

I'm 13 toooo

[@thestrangernoob8527]

You should have more subs

[@SteventheDM]

I mean, I'm not gonna argue with that... :)

[@davemangan497]

I agree

[@KingBrouser]

Steven the DM Should I? Nah, guess not

[@PhastoX1428]

Axelicious Steven the DM should I sub to Axelicious? Nah he sucks

[@Pappahangbal69]

I agree your a great tuber

[@MrGabino8000]

My wife & two kids enjoyed this starter kit. But as a D&D DM from the 80's, this kit didn't do it for me.

[@kevinsisler9379]

Empty enough to fill with your imagination, and D&D extras from other sets, like figures, maps, character sheets, stories, ECT.

[@azizalarrie28yearsago8]

thank you!

[@wisteela]

Excellent video. Subscribed. I'm a big Stranger Things fan, and that's what got me interested in D&D. I'm very much a newbie, and have so far only had a taster/tutorial session at a local gaming café. I will definitely be buying this, and it will also make for a fantastic display item. I love how it's been done so it looks like it's been created by Mike.

[@kawaiichickenz4713]

You’re a very good yt! You have good quality and you review good and I really like the green screen and close ups subbed!

[@user-bk3pr4wu7n]

MY. BROTHER. GOT. ME. THIS FOR XMASSSDD AAA (yes I peeked oops) YALL CANT GET A BETTER BROTHER THTA KNOWS YOY THIS WELL

[@stupiddonkey983]

Only 147 subs that’s not right you need a million let’s get him to that goal yall

[@thomasrainsford4944]

also whilst I'm on this soapbox I feel that they missed a trick by not having the stranger things branding on a cardboard sleeve that fits over the box, and also in like the very small print that the copyright information is printed in, on the box itself, and have the box just be a straight up weathered facsimile of the original red box with the Larry Elmore artwork.

[@jackadamsdaniels6719]

Really helpful thank you

[@SteventheDM]

Happy to help! :)

[@pherk5364]

he looks like hopper

[@pluggothesluggo5509]

Looks like is hopper became a nerd

[@PhastoX1428]

Bro... Have you seen Hopper? This guy looks like a fricking warrior hopper is like Smoll warrior

[@tattooedmillionair]

just to be playful: if those creatures are called demogorgon, what happens when the players meet the actual Demogorgon?

[@WrongNumber76]

Theres another name for demogorgon in the far cry stranger things crossover

[@tattooedmillionair]

@@WrongNumber76 you have my interest and attention... can you elaborate please? :-)

[@WrongNumber76]

@@tattooedmillionair heres you elaboration kzbin.info/www/bejne/b2WYaKJ3m61-ntU

[@y2jPEPSI]

I’ve always always wanted to get into D & D but I have no friends who want to try it with me and I’m too nervous to go to advanced groups

[@Eastbound84]

A lot of the advanced groups are very open to new players. They want to see others take interest in the game and enjoy teaching it. You should go and just let them know you are new.

[@HowtoRPG]

I very nice review and good points.

[@SteventheDM]

Thanks so much! I've been subbed to you for quite some time on my private YT account, so that means a lot. :)

[@HowtoRPG]

@@SteventheDM I look forward to seeing more from you.

[@HURRIC4NEyt]

So underrated ytber. Ur awesome and a literal legend!

[@o0Henry0o]

I thought it was hopper doing the unboxing from the thumbnail

[@ckel1579]

1:42 You can’t ignore the sniffing tho

[@Ryushiferu]

o look hopper is unboxing d&d 😬

[@thegamingmartian8511]

I'm really new to dungeons and dragons, how do I use the maps in the book?

[@thomasrainsford4944]

I feel that the crappy paint job on the demogorgon, is a deliberate choice, because in the fiction they're presenting here much like the faded box art, of this isn't new it's been knocking about in an attic for decades, likewise this mini wasn't painted by a person being paid by Wizards of the coast to paint it, no it's 'been painted by a 12yr old kid', as he prepares to run the campaign he's making for his friends.

[@ibuj001]

If it was a deliberate choice then the rulebook and character sheets should have been worn or something, if it really was knocking around in some attic.

[@thomasrainsford4944]

@@ibuj001 I've mentioned about that as well in another comment, that they could of given us facsimile AD&D character sheets filled out weathered like the box, like they were in the middle of a campaign.

[@ibuj001]

@@thomasrainsford4944 well yeah but if they were really going for the “old stuff in some random attic” vibe then they should’ve done that

[@thomasrainsford4944]

@@ibuj001 I agree they dropped the ball slightly, though that will most likely be down to marketing, wanting them to put something out quickly and this is what they had.

[@MrBillsparrow]

Are you gonna make any more videos. I do enjoy your channel here

[@bakachan3601]

I think this is just supposed will the wises campaign. ^^

[@steveh4437]

I NEED this

[@Strawberry.swisher.666]

Y E S

[@yes01]

I understand how this is a starter set, but where could I buy the version where I can actually play the game?

[@tattooedmillionair]

I would 1st look to your local game store, 2nd your local hobby store and 3rd the internet.

[@Copperflash]

Do you think I’d be able to play this at school during lunch in 45 min sessions? I have a few friends who wanted to start playing, as do I, but the only place we can play is school. (My friends and I all live far from each other so we can’t meet after school and we’re all busy on weekends) Or is it the type of game that we should actually sit down and play through in a single sitting?

[@franciscoalejandro7567]

I guess it is technically possible, but it would be tricky, session lenght can vary a lot, but usually it's around a couple hours. If you all go straight to the point, and the adventure itself is very simple (Like a very small dungeon with very few rooms and monsters) it could be done, but it'd be far from ideal. Maybe you could try playing with them online, I've been playing with my friends on discord since doing it in person hasn't been possible. There are websites and programs that let you simulate dice rolling and even battlemaps to move the characters around, like roll20, but personally I just use the imagination.

[@leahleah3376]

Wud it but to add bord in dungeons and dragons????😆😆😆

[@steveh4437]

1:44

[@megoxman0816]

I have a question. If I do this, could the players still make their own characters or do they have to use the ones used in the campaign so will it still work if the players have their own characters with different stats

[@SteventheDM]

Good question! You could absolutely use this adventure without the pregenerated characters. The pregens are rather generic and have no ties at all to the adventure, meaning you can easily replace them. However you will need a copy of the Basic Rules or the Player's Handbook to create new characters. This Starter Set does NOT come with character creation rules.

[@megoxman0816]

Steven the DM yeah I do I was just wondering

[@KennisTheMenace84]

This guy a nerd guys..... Ima go play D & D now.

[@intrusivethoughts5892]

Is this playable

[@MaxTheTax-gk8cs]

wait how do you play if you don’t have a character to play with like a figure.

[@SteventheDM]

This is a roleplaying game, rather than a board game. In a roleplaying game, the action takes place in your imagination rather than on the table. Miniatures and grids can be used, but are not necessary. :)

[@franciscoalejandro7567]

As said above, technically you don't need them, but you could buy them separately or make your own. On the other hand, a friend of mine has the Pathfinder begginer box (a similar game) and that one does have a board and pawns for characters and monsters, not just the rules, so maybe you'd want to look into that instead.

[@anjulikalala4736]

Will someone explain how to play thisss plzzzzzz🙏🏻🙏🏻

[@tattooedmillionair]

This is directly from 2nd edition AD&D: The Real Basics This section is intended for novice role-players. If you have played role-playing games before, don't be surprised if what you read here sounds familiar. Games come in a wide assortment of types: board games, card games, word games, picture games, miniatures games. Even within these categories are subcategories. Board games, for example, can be divided into path games, real estate games, military simulation games, abstract strategy games, mystery games, and a host of others. Still, in all this mass of games, role-playing games are unique. They form a category all their own that doesn't overlap any other category. For that reason, role-playing games are hard to describe. Comparisons don't work because there isn't anything similar to compare them to. At least, not without stretching your imagination well beyond its normal, everyday extension. But then, stretching your imagination is what role-playing is all about. So let's try an analogy. Imagine that you are playing a simple board game, called Snakes and Ladders. Your goal is to get from the bottom to the top of the board before all the other players. Along the way are traps that can send you sliding back toward your starting position. There are also ladders that can let you jump ahead, closer to the finish space. So far, it's pretty simple and pretty standard. Now let's change a few things. Instead of a flat, featureless board with a path winding from side to side, let's have a maze. You are standing at the entrance, and you know that there's an exit somewhere, but you don't know where. You have to find it. Instead of snakes and ladders, we'll put in hidden doors and secret passages. Don't roll a die to see how far you move; you can move as far as you want. Move down the corridor to the intersection. You can turn right, or left, or go straight ahead, or go back the way you came. Or, as long as you're here, you can look for a hidden door. If you find one, it will open into another stretch of corridor. That corridor might take you straight to the exit or lead you into a blind alley. The only way to find out is to step in and start walking. Of course, given enough time, eventually you'll find the exit. To keep the game interesting, let's put some other things in the maze with you. Nasty things. Things like vampire bats and hobgoblins and zombies and ogres. Of course, we'll give you a sword and a shield, so if you meet one of these things you can defend yourself. You do know how to use a sword, don't you? And there are other players in the maze as well. They have swords and shields, too. How do you suppose another player would react if you chance to meet? He might attack, but he also might offer to team up. After all, even an ogre might think twice about attacking two people carrying sharp swords and stout shields. Finally, let's put the board somewhere you can't see it. Let's give it to one of the players and make that player the referee. Instead of looking at the board, you listen to the referee as he describes what you can see from your position on the board. You tell the referee what you want to do and he moves your piece accordingly. As the referee describes your surroundings, try to picture them mentally. Close your eyes and construct the walls of the maze around yourself. Imagine the hobgoblin as the referee describes it whooping and gamboling down the corridor toward you. Now imagine how you would react in that situation and tell the referee what you are going to do about it. We have just constructed a simple role-playing game. It is not a sophisticated game, but it has the essential element that makes a role-playing game: The player is placed in the midst of an unknown or dangerous situation created by a referee and must work his way through it. This is the heart of role-playing. The player adopts the role of a character and then guides that character through an adventure. The player makes decisions, interacts with other characters and players, and, essentially, "pretends" to be his character during the course of the game. That doesn't mean that the player must jump up and down, dash around, and act like his character. It means that whenever the character is called on to do something or make a decision, the player pretends that he is in that situation and chooses an appropriate course of action. Physically, the players and referee (the DM) should be seated comfortably around a table with the referee at the head. Players need plenty of room for papers, pencils, dice, rule books, drinks, and snacks. The referee needs extra space for his maps, dice, rule books, and assorted notes.

[@Big_smoke69445]

Make your own st campaign

[@trenabennett5706]

How do you get the map

[@CCEditorGabz]

Some d&d games have maps and some don’t

[@savyonshafir1172]

What is the original board game callex

[@tattooedmillionair]

D&D (and AD&D) are not board games

[@gnj8541]

So where’s the bored?

[@2bloodyorcs624]

this vid was great and you should have more subscribers, but i found the aggresive sniffing a little... odd

[@SteventheDM]

Ha! I can't be the only one that likes the smell of new games, right?.... Anyone?....

[@2bloodyorcs624]

@@SteventheDM actually i like the smell too, d&d products have a very distinct sent but i personally wouldn't have posted it

[@smallbluemachine]

2 Bloody Orcs - meh, I’m into the smells too. New boardgame smell. New macbook smell. New he-man figure smell. It’s a thing.

[@SteventheDM]

@@smallbluemachine There are dozens of us! Dozens!