The Dungeons & Dragons Basic Game is an introductory version of Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) role-playing game packaged in the form of a board game. The original game was released in 2004 by Wizards of the Coast and was designed by Jonathan Tweet, one of the D&D 3rd edition designers. A new version of this game was released in September 2006. It is a simplified version that is still fully compatible with the full D&D version 3.5 game. Characters used in this game can be easily expanded for use in the full game, if players so desire. The game is designed to be able to be played with minimal preparation. Players choose one of the already designed character booklets and corresponding miniature. These booklets cover all the basic rules and abilities of their characters. A booklet is included for the Dungeon Master (DM) which covers the encounters and monsters and rules necessary to play the game. 2004 edition The game is designed to be able to be played with minimal preparation, but with a slightly different design approach to doing this. Players choose one of the already designed character sheets and corresponding miniature, and need only read the Quick Start rules to start play. The DM needs only to read the First Adventure book in addition the Quick Start Rules. Once the First Adventure has been played the Advanced rules contains everything need to create and equip new characters and play adventures with them at first and second level. This book contains four classes, four races, some equipment, and spells, while hinting at the fuller selection of each available in the full game. It also contains an extension of the First Adventure that should allow players to reach at least second level and monsters and suggested maps so the Dungeon master can start designing his own further adventures. While the set is compatible with the 3.5 version rules, there are some minor differences implemented here for simplicity's sake. For instance, the basic rules state that a diagonal movement step counts as two squares instead of one, whereas the more complex rule is that it counts as 1.5 squares. In other areas, many 3.5 rules are simply left out, such as critical hits (there are none in the basic game) and inventory weight management. The game includes: 16 fully painted plastic miniatures: 4 heroes (Aramil/Sorcerer, Eberk/Cleric, Lidda/Rogue and Regdar/Fighter) 4 kobolds