TTRPG Showdown: D&D 5e "Starter Set" vs "Essentials Kit"

Picture this: you’re new to the table-top roleplaying game (TTRPG) scene. The name you’re most familiar with is Dungeons and Dragons. Through the ether, perhaps through a friend or a YouTube video, you’ve learned that “fifth edition” (5e) is the latest version of the game. After searching around, you’ve found to potential “on-boarding” points for the game: a “starter set,” and an “essentials kit.” Which is a better fit, though? Check out my reviews to find out!

D&D Starter Set

Pros:

The package does a good job walking first-time DMs through running a D&D campaign
The write-up includes a bunch of adventure hooks and side-quests, meaning it will still be interesting to more experienced players
The included rulebook provides a reasonably comprehensive list of basic game mechanics (even if only a few classes are explicitly discussed)
The full-color artwork is nice.
I could easily see this adventure serving as a template for many more campaigns, with a bit of elbow grease and know-how.

Cons:

The paper the book is printed on is terrible. It’s high-gloss and hard to write on. I was constantly readjusting the book’s position to fight glare.
The starter set rulebook doesn’t really discuss the various classes / class abilities. I guess this makes some sense, given that the included pre-made characters are all level 1. Still, it may make learning D&D from scratch (and without help) more difficult, especially as characters level up. I know this kind of information is included in the Player’s Handbook (PHB), but that’s a separate (and more expensive) purchase.
The campaign write-up is very combat heavy, with some areas having 5-10 possible encounters. This isn’t a bad thing per se, but it may lengthen sessions (as combat is the slowest part of D&D, in my experience).
The book relies on XP rather than milestones to level up. This isn’t bad in and of itself, but it is more number tracking and crunching than I typically prefer.
(nit-pick) I wish the book included electronic supplements for online tabletops (e.g. Roll20, D&D Beyond, etc), but I understand why they aren’t (what with these services being run by companies that aren’t affiliated with Wizards of the Cost / WotC).

Check it out here.

D&D Essentials Kit

Pros:

“Essentials” comes with more stuff than the “Starter Kit” (more dice, more table-top maps, etc)
The included rulebook is more comprehensive than the one provided in the “starter set.” It is no replacement for the Player’s Handbook, though. Many classes are skipped over (Warlock, Paladin, etc), and many subclasses aren’t mentioned. Also, classes on offer are only discussed up to level six.

Cons:

My main complaint about this set is that it reads more like a collection of side-quests than a cohesive campaign; this is due, in large part, to the fact that many of the “quests” come from a “Quest Board.” None of the quests are bad, but they lack the direction of the “Starter Kit.”
The books are printed on the same awful, glossy paper as the “Starter Kit”
I’m disappointed by how little coverage “side-kicks” got (2 pages of 65 in the rulebook), but I am glad it was included as a mechanic.
The spells section doesn’t specify which classes can use which spells; that must be looked up in the “classes” section. There are also a few weird formatting choices (e.g. putting a sidebar where one isn’t needed).

Check it out here.

Which Would I Buy?

The Starter Set is a great way to delve into the world of 5th Edition D&D. It isn’t perfect, but its MSRP ($19.99) makes it hard to complain. This may also be a good pick-up for more experienced DMs who are looking for a well-crafted pre-made campaign, or as inspiration for their next adventure. By comparison, while the Essentials Kit lacks some of the overarching structure of the “Starter Kit,” it adds value by providing more content and pack-ins. Its MSRP is also $5 higher ($24.99), so the additional goodies make sense.

If I could only pick one, I’d go for the “Starter Kit.” The adventure is more cohesive, and has a more satisfying climax.

If I had a small party (e.g. a DM and a single player), the Essentials Kit may be a better option due to its “companion” rules.

If I had no money, I’d download the system reference document (SRD) for free; it’s not nearly as beginner friendly, but it provides all the rules you could need to run a game.

In a perfect world, I’d pick both. Since they’re both set in the same place (Forgotten Realms), you could easily dovetail the Starter experience into the Essentials quests. Whatever you chose, if you add a Discord server and a dice roller bot you’re in for hours of fun.