The Dungeons & Dragons Set 4: Master Rules, also called the Master Set, is a boxed set for Basic Dungeons & Dragons released in June 1985. It is part of a series of five core rulebooks unofficially termed BECMI.
The Master Rules take characters from levels 26 to 36.
Official synopsis[]
At last, the cycle is complete. Players and Dungeon Masters alike may experience the wonder of reaching for the ultimate levels of mortal might with the D&D Master Set.
In the Basic Set you learned to crawl through dungeons and defeat the minions of evil. In the Expert Set you set out on wanderings through the wilderness. In the Companion Set you climbed to the pinnacle of success and founded kingdoms, conquered wild lands, and battled barbarian hordes. Now, in the Master Set, you can soar across the sky and into the pages of legend.
These books are written for the experienced D&D player. The Master Player's Book expands on the known abilities of characters with new skills and spells. The Dungeon Masters Book features three sections that have become a standard for each rules set: New Procedures, Monsters, and Magical Treasures, all designed with the Master Level characters in mind.
Now, you are only limited by your imagination. Answer the clarion call to adventure; the lands of legend await!
Content[]
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Development and release[]
Development[]
The book was written by Gary Gygax and Frank Mentzer. Art was provided by Jeff Easley, Larry Elmore, Ruth Hoyer and Roger Raupp.
Release[]
The Master Set was released by TSR in June 1985 for $[missing data] US.
International releases were produced in Finnish, German, Hebrew, Italian, Japanese, and Korean. The Finnish version was called "Sankarisäännöt", "Hero Set", since the Companion Set had already been called Master Set in Finnish.[1]
On August 9, 2016, it was re-released in digital format. It is currently available on DriveThruRPG and Dungeon Masters Guild for $4.99.
Reception and influence[]
Sales[]
The Master Rules sold 157,268 copies between 1984 and 1989. It sold 89,415 copies in 1984, 22,394 copies in 1985, 18,327 copies in 1986, 8,782 copies in 1987, 12,064 copies in 1988, and 6,286 copies in 1989.[2] It sold fewer copies than the previous "BECMI" boxed sets, perhaps as fewer players would reach the high character levels necessary to use this product.
Critical reception[]
As of 2023, Master Set reached the rank of Platinum seller on DriveThruRPG.