RPG Review: D&D Boxed Collector’s Set

While I’ve been enjoying the special covers for Xanathar’s Guide, Volo’s Guide, and Mordenkainen’s Tome, there was an itch that remained unscratched. How could I own all these beautiful alternate art covers, and then still have the boring old D&D core rulebook covers?

Luckily, Wizards dipped into my mind and plucked out that thought, and brought us these new books.

Illustrated by Hydro74, the same artist who graced the covers of the three other special editions, these are gorgeous. A fierce barbarian with a dragon-skull helm covers the Player’s Handbook, a blue Beholder is on the Monster Manual, and Acererak looms in purple over the Dungeon Master’s Guide.

The texture on the books isn’t the soft velvet on the previous covers, but is a smoother version of the matte-backing on the backs of the standard D&D books. The colors, however, really pop, as they’re slightly metallic, and seem to change color in the light. It’s really stunning.

The books contain the latest errata. For myself, I don’t ever really pay any attention to the errata, but having updated books in hand will be nice. Will I notice if the wording on some spell is different from one book to another? Probably not, but it’s good to have it.

The books feel really nice in your hand. It reminds me of 3e, where the artistry on the covers made you feel like you were holding some forgotten tome. These feel the same way.

The boxed set also comes with a mind-blowingly gorgeous game master screen. Black, with ornately painted red dragons that shimmer, It’s definitely going to replace my old DM screen permanently.

The price for the special collector’s set is the same as if you bought the three core rulebooks and the DM screen all at the same time, so that’s pretty cool! I’m glad they didn’t try to upcharge it. They also released a new collector’s boxed set that doesn’t have these new covers, but features the original art, slightly updated with some flourishes. These special edition covers were designed especially for your FLGS, so make sure to get down and pick one up! I know most game stores over-ordered, so you should still find some available.

Wizards of the Coast sent a copy of the Collector’s Set for us to review.