how do i get into dnd?
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Look up a gaming store in your area. Find one that runs games at the store (a common enough practice) Then just ask if you can join in to try it. You'll meet some players who have experience with it, and they can answer the 100s of little questions that will come up and help you ease into it. The bare minimum for you yourself to play I feel is to get the Players Handbook, and dice. If you get into it and want to try other things go for it. If you're comfortable with DND style RPGs from other sources (Neverwinter Nights, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, Temple of Elemental Evil, Icewind Dale, Baldurs Gate, etc.) the transition is minimal. Even if you aren't though, I recommend picking a barbarian / fighter as your first character, and focusing on the role play aspects, as they are generally what sets a true DND game apart from a PC version. Acting in character enriches everyone's experience.
hmmm, find you local game store (roleplaying games, not computer) and post a note saying that you would like to learn the game and find somebody to play with. Personally I was lucky enough to have some friends that were playing when I started so I didn't have to go through that. I have since left D&D (around the time the 3rd edition came) so I'm not sure what you need but the Players Handbook (or what they call it now) and a box of multisided dice should be enough to begin with.
EDIT: Ninjaed.
EDIT: Ninjaed.
A gaming store in your area is definitely a good place to start. A lot of them will have games going on, so ask the store manager if there are any games that are accepting new players. Sometimes you might have to wait a little bit, since some DMs don't like bringing in new PCs mid-campaign.
If you want to get a head start, you can look up the 3.5 reference information [http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=d20/article/srd35] online for free. I would recommend that over buying a book right away - the first question you want to ask when you're getting in to a new game is "What version are you playing?" There are lots of different versions. 4.0 is the newest, but there's some resistance to the changes, so a lot of people are still playing 3.5 and a lot of people (like my group) have switched over to the Pathfinder Beta [http://paizo.com/store/downloads/pathfinder/pathfinderRPG/v5748btpy84o0&source=search].
Check out what version you're going to be playing, and *then* get the Player's Handbook that follows that version. Also, you want to get yourself some dice. I'd pick up at least 3d20, 5d4, 5d6, 3d8, 1d12, and 2d10 to start. Get differently colored d10s so you can use them as percentage die. You'll want to accumulate more dice as you go along, but that's a fairly reasonable starting package and can handle most initial setups.
The above poster recommends fighter or barbarian as a first class, which isn't too bad. Sorcerer isn't too hard either, that's what I started with. I strongly don't recommend starting with a Paladin, because they're very confusing to a new player (you have to level your horse). Cleric and druid can be tough first calls too.
Fighter/Barbarian's probably good, but if you have your heart set on a caster, I'd try sorcerer over one of the other caster classes. You might also want to talk to your group a little bit and see what everyone else is playing. If you're joining a group that has 5 casters and no fighters, you may want a fighter. If it's the other way around, you might pick differently.
Also make sure to ask if there are any house rules. Most groups have at least a few house rules in effect, so it's good to know what they are before getting started.
Good luck to you.
If you want to get a head start, you can look up the 3.5 reference information [http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=d20/article/srd35] online for free. I would recommend that over buying a book right away - the first question you want to ask when you're getting in to a new game is "What version are you playing?" There are lots of different versions. 4.0 is the newest, but there's some resistance to the changes, so a lot of people are still playing 3.5 and a lot of people (like my group) have switched over to the Pathfinder Beta [http://paizo.com/store/downloads/pathfinder/pathfinderRPG/v5748btpy84o0&source=search].
Check out what version you're going to be playing, and *then* get the Player's Handbook that follows that version. Also, you want to get yourself some dice. I'd pick up at least 3d20, 5d4, 5d6, 3d8, 1d12, and 2d10 to start. Get differently colored d10s so you can use them as percentage die. You'll want to accumulate more dice as you go along, but that's a fairly reasonable starting package and can handle most initial setups.
The above poster recommends fighter or barbarian as a first class, which isn't too bad. Sorcerer isn't too hard either, that's what I started with. I strongly don't recommend starting with a Paladin, because they're very confusing to a new player (you have to level your horse). Cleric and druid can be tough first calls too.
Fighter/Barbarian's probably good, but if you have your heart set on a caster, I'd try sorcerer over one of the other caster classes. You might also want to talk to your group a little bit and see what everyone else is playing. If you're joining a group that has 5 casters and no fighters, you may want a fighter. If it's the other way around, you might pick differently.
Also make sure to ask if there are any house rules. Most groups have at least a few house rules in effect, so it's good to know what they are before getting started.
Good luck to you.
You'll need a copy of the player's handbook of the edition you want to play in, a character sheet, and some dice. You'll need a probably six six-sided dice, three eight-sided dice, three ten-sided dice, one twelve-sided dice (almost nobody uses a d12), and probably two twenty-sided dice.
Illirica's advice is about the 3.5 edition: 4'th edition isn't too bad to start a character in. My first character was a Paladin, which was a good all-rounder and welcome in pretty much any group.
I started playing when my friend who was into the game offered to host a game. Maybe you could convince your friends to join you? It's pretty inexpensive compared to video gaming and you get more play time to the dollar.
(Also the irony of someone posting that you'll be stuck somebody's mom's basement with a bunch of people that smell funny on a video game forum is just too much.)
Illirica's advice is about the 3.5 edition: 4'th edition isn't too bad to start a character in. My first character was a Paladin, which was a good all-rounder and welcome in pretty much any group.
I started playing when my friend who was into the game offered to host a game. Maybe you could convince your friends to join you? It's pretty inexpensive compared to video gaming and you get more play time to the dollar.
(Also the irony of someone posting that you'll be stuck somebody's mom's basement with a bunch of people that smell funny on a video game forum is just too much.)
D&D can be really fun. Depends what version though. When I played it with a few friends, we played the board game version. But like, REAL D&D is just a ridiculously big rule book and pen and paper 
Personally I recommend Whitewolf for Pen and Paper, but if that's not your thing, then take the above advice about posting on a bulletin board in a comic book/gaming shop. Though in that list of dice, they did forget to mention 1 or 2 4-sided dice, since that's your magic missile and dagger damage.
And as for Kukul's xenophobia, everyone I know that plays tabletop games is married, except for one guy, and he's just a man-whore so he doesn't count.
And as for Kukul's xenophobia, everyone I know that plays tabletop games is married, except for one guy, and he's just a man-whore so he doesn't count.
Well, if you want to get into to please do the following.
1: Find local game store.
2:Talk to the nerds there.
Some might talk to you and ask you to join or agree to teach you how to play. If they don't do the following.
Buy a Players handbook, a DM guide and aMonster manual. After that study those books. Them teach your friends. The end
1: Find local game store.
2:Talk to the nerds there.
Some might talk to you and ask you to join or agree to teach you how to play. If they don't do the following.
Buy a Players handbook, a DM guide and aMonster manual. After that study those books. Them teach your friends. The end
You might also find some clubs advertised at you local gaming store. One of my current groups started as a club, and we've been playing together for probably ten or eleven years now.Grimm91 said:
EDIT: If you do end up having to teach yourself, D&D might not be the best game to start with. It's very rules heavy and can be a bit overwhelming for a beginner. White Wolf's World of Darkness is a little lighter on the rules, although it's a little angsty in tone.
If you can get your hands on it, and ebay or amazon might be a good place to look, try and get your hands on a copy of Vampire: The Masquerade. You only need one book to play and it's all fairly easy to get your head around.
Specifically this book [http://www.amazon.com/Vampire-Masquerade-Revised-Justin-Achilli/dp/1565042492/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1232318479&sr=8-1].
Kukul said:
He's right I asked my dad how to play, and regret ever doing it. He had to go up into the attic and spent 4 hours explaning how to play, the rules, BLAH BLAH BLAH.... It all sort of blended together after the first 30 min. Im sorry if this is harsh but I wouldent suggest it. If you still want to learn try a google search.
Also, this is exactly the sort of post you should ignore. Give it a try and make up your own mind.ForrestDixon said:
FIrst thing:
Get yourself a DM that knows his stuff, nothing's funny when he can't even make up an original campaign.
Second: Rulebooks and dice, rulebooks can be found in .PDF or online, but paper is so much more fun. Dice are a must, fancy dice are the core of the game.
Third: FInd someone you actually like, nothing's worse then playing a campaign over 6 hours with someone you can't stand. Girls are extra good, they bring variety, hah.
Fourth: Uhm, location, a dark basement or the woods, you need some atmosphere, and preferably somewhere you won't get disturbed by
non-believers.
Get yourself a DM that knows his stuff, nothing's funny when he can't even make up an original campaign.
Second: Rulebooks and dice, rulebooks can be found in .PDF or online, but paper is so much more fun. Dice are a must, fancy dice are the core of the game.
Third: FInd someone you actually like, nothing's worse then playing a campaign over 6 hours with someone you can't stand. Girls are extra good, they bring variety, hah.
Fourth: Uhm, location, a dark basement or the woods, you need some atmosphere, and preferably somewhere you won't get disturbed by
non-believers.
nilcypher said:
Well maby I should have said dont ask your dad if you dont want to possibly be sitting for 4 hours
If you like the fantasy genre (I'm guessing here based on your choice of D&D) and have to start your own group I would personally recommend Warhammer Fantasy RolePlaying Game (2nd edition). All you need both as a player and a GM is one book which has all the rules and the core rules of that system is quite simple. Although if you choose to use all the rules from start it can get a little confusing.
D&D has the advantage of being widespread and having a lot of different worlds (the older editions anyways. (A)D&D 2nd edition has the most followed by 3rd.) but can be quite rules heavy although it is one of the systems that most people start with.
D&D has the advantage of being widespread and having a lot of different worlds (the older editions anyways. (A)D&D 2nd edition has the most followed by 3rd.) but can be quite rules heavy although it is one of the systems that most people start with.
