If the highlights of your childhood involved tense moments around a kitchen table as you contemplated going into a berserker rage or, perhaps, whether it was time to cast fireball, then your trip into nostalgia could be aided with the tome, Dungeons & Dragons: Lore & Legends - A Visual Celebration of the Fifth Edition of the World's Greatest Roleplaying Game, which I've already reviewed (see link below).
But there are tomes, and then there are tomes. Just like there are fans and then there are fans. And if you're truly a dedicated fan of Dungeons & Dragons (or if you're buying gifts for one who has everything), then the run-of-the-mill version may simply not do. No, you may need the "Special Edition, Boxed Book & Ephemera Set." "Pray tell, what's that!?" you may ask. Pull up a chair and I'll explain...
Dungeons & Dragons: Lore & Legends - A Visual Celebration of the Fifth Edition of the World's Greatest Roleplaying Game [Special Edition, Boxed Book & Ephemera Set] is a limited edition (?) enhanced version of the book. Instead of the dark blue cover that the original version sports, this version is draped in a deep matte grey-black, soft-feeling cover and comes in a matching box. Instead of the more pedestrian cover image of the original, this version features a wicked-looking graphic design by Hydro74 that has almost a tattoo look to it on the front and a similarly tattoo-inspired design featuring a flaming skull with d20s for eyes on the back cover... and nothing to take away from that design. When a book is published in these modern times, there are certain things that get added to the cover to facilitate selling it, such as a UPC symbol. This version comes wrapped in plastic with a sticker on the outside that takes care of providing a UPC symbol and description text, so that once the plastic is removed, the boxed set (and the book within) aren't blemished with such mundane trappings of modern merchandising.
The reader is likely familiar with "boxed sets" of books, such as a series of books that are all included as a single package, with a display box that contains the collection of books all together in one place, so they are easily located and accessed. This is a handy way of doing things and is often presented as a special edition for fans and collectors. This special edition of Lore & Legends, however, is an interesting case since there's only one book in this boxed set. Instead of additional books, this collectors' item features a pull-out drawer that contains a few additional goodies of interest to Dungeons & Dragons fans. First, there's a large, fold-out map. I love a map as much as the next fantasy nerd. My favorite is a cloth map, but I also enjoy a large map that shows a good bit of the geography, which is what you'll find here. The map, illustrated by Jared Blando, displays Faerûn in all of its glory, unfolding to a size of 24"x36." Additionally, there is a small (8"x10") collectible fantasy art print of the original fifth edition Starter Set cover artwork by Jaime Jones and a Dungeons & Dragons branded d20 die, where the D&D logo takes the place of the 20. That's all that comes in the drawer, but the drawer itself matches the box and has a really nice lining featuring a repeating pattern that includes the D&D logo. This drawer is removable and could be used as a dice tray, per the publisher's suggestion.
The idea of using the pull-out drawer as a dice tray seems to me like it would really only work for the person who is hosting the game. Lore & Legends is a large, heavy book, in and of itself. The boxed edition is a little bit heavier and almost twice the size. You're not going to want to lug that around. Further, the premium finish comes at a premium price, so it's doubtful that anyone's going to want to risk damaging the finish carrying it to and fro. I'm sure a lot of people will take it with them - once - to show it off to their gaming party, but then it's probably going to relegated to a special place on their shelf of collectables or gaming books. Further, while the removable drawer is well made, it's protected by being in the boxed set. I wouldn't recommend removing it and taking it with you to a games session without the rest of the boxed set, as it's highly likely to get damaged that way. But, if you're playing a gaming session at your own home, this drawer could be used as a very stylish dice rolling tray.
Additionally, there are extra pages in this special edition. Specifically, there are three gatefold "Through the Ages" sections that are each three pages wide and show examples of illustrations featured in the original edition, First Edition, Second Edition, Third Edition, Fourth Edition and Fifth Edition of certain elements of D&D, to give a visual comparison and timeline of how the art evolved through the different editions. The first one, called "Through the Ages: Classic Creatures" features Goblins and Bugbears. The second one, also called "Through the Ages: Classic Creatures," depicts the illustrations of Displacer Beasts and Rust Monsters through the editions. The third and final "Through the Ages" feature, called "Adventurers and Heroes" shows the evolution of Dwarf and Elf imagery through the various editions. These are bound in the volume, not removable add-ins, but they don't have page numbers. For this reason, the number of pages (as indicated by the last numbered page in each book) are the same. This edition is, however, detectably thicker if you hold it next to the original edition.
So, who is the edition for? Well, first of all, for the well-off or those who splurge on D&D collectables. The original version runs right around $30 USD. This version is currently available on Amazon for right around three times that ($93.99 USD). So, the physical differences between the two are the three foldout sections, a map, a print, a twenty sided die, a slide-out drawer and a box that can contain all of that. Are these extras worth an additional $60 USD? Well, similar maps of Faerûn for hanging on your wall can cost $20 to $80 USD, but those are probably without creases from being folded and may be framed. I don't see the D&D themed d20 for sale separately, but I see that you can get two sets of seven polyhedral dice (so, among them, two d20s) for $10 USD, and some really interesting looking d20 dice are available for $15 to $30 USD. That would indicate to me that the added value of the extra items - on a purely physical and functional basis - is between $25 to $110, without considering the collectable print and the extra pages in the book. So, depending on how much the cool factor means to you, how enticing you find a D&D branded d20, and your interest in the art and the map, perhaps for decorating a game room? Yes, it could very well be worth it... or, perhaps not so much. In the end, the decision is a personal one, but I will say... the cool factor is strong with this one.
