Like the rest of the Essentials line, the Dungeon Master’s Kit aims to provide an inexpensive yet comprehensive entrance point into the hobby for new gamers. Although the role of the Dungeon Master has been covered to some greater or lesser degree in the Rules Compendium, the Dungeon Master’s Kit expands the DM’s role beyond simply being the player who adjudicates the rules, providing a framework through which he or she can become a creator of worlds. The included Dungeon Master’s Book covers what I might describe as the “macro” aspects of successful DMing: how to structure an adventure, a nation or even an entire milieu. Additional nuts-and-bolts – or micro – aspects include creating traps and mapping dungeons, awarding players and how to handle more complicated aspects of Dungeons & Dragons combat. While some of you more experienced gamers may wonder why so much time is being devoted to something that may seem to be elementary or self-explanatory, you should try very hard to remember back to a time when the hobby was very new for you. For the neophyte, the Dungeon Master’s Book is a valuable tool indeed, and Wizards of the Coast does an excellent job of making the new DM comfortable and confident in his or her role.
In addition to the Dungeon Master’s Book, the Dungeon Master’s Kit also includes a multi-panel fold-out Dungeon Master’s Screen that is for all practical purposes identical to the one that was initially produced for the launch of the fourth edition of Dungeons & Dragons. If there’s any difference at all, it is that the card stock seems a little lighter, but it’s certainly not flimsy, and it’s a good move on Wizards’ part to include it here. The box also includes two glossy fold-out maps and three cards of pop-out character and monster tokens. These are for use in the included adventure, Reavers of Harkenwood.
Reavers of Harkenwood, an adventure for second level characters presented here in two separate booklets, thrusts the characters into a mission to liberate a realm currently under the control of a group of brigands allied with Bullywugs, a hideous race of frog-men. The adventurers will have their work cut out for them in this mission: the rightful ruler of the realm has been captured, and outside support could be difficult to find. Plus, there are rumors of demonic forces loose in the area. Reavers of Harkenwood is a really solid adventure, and is another good example of how Wizards endeavors to include content that will be of value to even experienced players in all of their Essentials products.
