Prospective buyers should be aware that this product offers very little added value for playing D&D. The character record sheet is identical to the one in the back of the Player's Handbook. (This is also available as a free pdf file at the publisher's web site.) A second sheet is provided in landscape orientation, but the content of the sheet is identical. There are two copies of each sheet - so you'll still be heading to the photocopier to use these with an average play group. Those expecting special character sheets tailored for each class (as in previous incarnations of this product) will be disappointed. There are some attractive power cards / magic item cards included, but they are not pre-printed with powers or items from the Player's Handbook - you need to write in the information yourself.
Aside from that, the only other thing in this package is a cardboard folder for holding the character sheet. The art is nice, but it is still just a folder. Even for someone like me (who loves D&D and buys lots of products that I don't use a lot, just because I like to have them), this product has little value. I would not have bought it if I had known the character sheets are the same as the one in the book. I was really hoping for some creative, extra-useful layout, customized for different classes, and with some rules information preprinted on the sheets or cards where appropriate.
The only reason for the two stars is that I am using the decorative folder, and may use some of the cards some day if I need to come up with a power or item on the fly during play.
-- By Tom Waters from Santa Fe, NM USA on September 02, 2008
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