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The Dungeons & Dragons Expert Set is a boxed set released in 1981. Edited by Dave Cook, it is part of the second revision of the Basic Dungeons & Dragons product line, and serves as a sequel to the Basic Set (B/X) (1981). The Expert Set provides rules for playing characters from 4th to 14th level.

The Expert Set consists of the 64-page Expert Rulebook, a copy of the adventure module X1 The Isle of Dread (1981), and a set of six uncolored dice.[1]

Official synopsis[]

Content[]

Development and release[]

Development[]

The book was written by Dave Cook. Art was provided by Jeff Dee, Wade Hampton, David S. LaForce, Erol Otus, Jim Roslof and Bill Willingham.

Release[]

The D&D Expert Set was released by TSR in 1981 for $[missing data] US or $[missing data] Canadian.

On February 04, 2013, it was re-released in digital format. It is currently available on DriveThruRPG and Dungeon Masters Guild for $4.99 for the Expert Rulebook, not including the module X1 The Isle of Dread (1981).

Reception and influence[]

Sales[]

The Expert Set sold 277,894 copies in 1981, 189,313 copies in 1982, and 149,942 copies in 1983. The Expert Rules book was also sold separately, selling 42,852 copies in 1981, 45,891 copies in 1982, and 28,633 copies in 1983. In total, this amounts to 734,525 copies in the products first three years on sale.[2]

From 1984 onward TSR did not keep separate sales figures, lumping together sales of the Expert Set, Expert Rules, and the Expert Rules (BECMI) (1983). However, total sales were still lower than the original Expert Set, only 91,797 in 1984 and dropping to 21,500 in 1989.[2]

Critical reception[]

As of 2023, D&D Expert Set Rulebook reached the rank of Adamantine seller on DriveThruRPG.

Influence on other works[]

External links[]

References[]

Basic Dungeons & Dragons
Core rules
Holmes: Basic Set
Moldvay/Cook B/X: Basic SetExpert Set
BECMI: Basic RulesExpert RulesCompanion RulesMaster RulesImmortals Rules
Rules CyclopediaThe New Easy to Master Dungeons & Dragons Game
The Classic Dungeons & Dragons Game
Supplements
Creature CrucibleGazetteer
Bestiary of Dragons and GiantsThe Book of Marvelous MagicThe Book of Wondrous InventionsChampions of Mystara: Heroes of the Princess ArkCreature CatalogueCreature CatalogPoor Wizard's Almanac & Book of FactsPoor Wizard's Almanac II & Book of FactsPoor Wizard's Almanac III & Book of FactsThe Shady Dragon InnThunder RiftWrath of the Immortals
Adventures
In Search of Adventure (In Search of the Unknown) • The Keep on the BorderlandsPalace of the Silver PrincessThe Lost CityHorror on the HillThe Veiled SocietyRahasiaJourney to The RockCastle Caldwell and Beyond) • Adventures in BlackmoorTemple of the FrogCity of the GodsThe Duchy of TenArena of ThyatisLegions of ThyatisEye of TraldarThe Dymrak DreadKing's FestivalQueen's HarvestAssault on Raven's RuinThe Best of IntentionsBlade of VengeanceBlizzard PassCastle AmberCrown of Ancient GloryCurse of XanathonDeath's RideThe Dragon's DenDrums on Fire MountainEarthshaker!The Endless StairEye of the WyvernFive Coins For A KingdomThe Gem and the StaffGhost of Lion CastleThe Goblin's LairThe Immortal StormIn the Phantom's WakeInto the MaelstromThe Isle of DreadMaze of the Riddling MinotaurThe Knight of NewtsLathan's GoldLegacy of BloodMaster of the Desert NomadsMystery of the Snow PearlsNight's Dark TerrorQuagmire!Quest for the HeartstoneQuest for the Silver SwordRage of the RakastaRed Arrow, Black ShieldSabre RiverSaga of the Shadow LordThe Savage CoastSkarda's MirrorSword and ShieldTalons of NightTemple of DeathTest of the WarlordsThunderdelve MountainThe Tree of LifeTwilight CallingVengeance of AlphaksThe War Rafts of KronWhere Chaos ReignsThe Wrath of OlympusWrath of the Minotaur
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