Is your son already playing? Do you have a set at home already and this will be his own?
My DS7 started playing using the dinged up old plastic set at his school's after care program. Since he seemed to enjoy it (and so we could get a break from incessant requests to play Magic the Gathering with him), we bought one at home. I think it cost $15 at Barnes and Noble and came with a little booklet to remind us of the rules. It has a glass board and glass pieces with felt on the bottom so they feel nice when they slide. The board is about 12" square. He's perfectly happy with it, and it looks sort of pretty on our coffee table.
I don't know what the weighting is all about or the archer/quiver thing. But they sound a bit too complicated for a beginner. Maybe you're past that though. If so, I hope others give you a more useful answer!
Sue
