how do i get into dnd?

[linchowlewy]

Cthulhu: When the characters would rather dogpile on top of a live grenade than try out that new magical necklace they just found.

same happens in paranoia. most things in paranoia can kill you so people become afraid of toothpicks. (seriously). incidentally the people in the campaign i was playing my friends grabbed a live hand grenade because i told them it was kind of pineapple shaped.

 

[Rahnzan]

I suggest you look around for a roleplaying game you might actually enjoy first. Not to say I know what you'd enjoy but there are a lot of different roleplaying games out there, not all of which follow the dumbed down simplistic gaming style of dungeons and dragons where you play one of a few races with one of a few classes that punishes you for doing anything but the standard. Sure there's roleplaying aspect, but then why do I have to even put up with the rules system if I'm there to roleplay? So I found a game whos rules actually lend to roleplaying instead of going against it's grain. Give GURPS a look up. It gives me a lot more room for designing exactly what kind of character I want to play without bogging me down with useless gaming constructs you'd normally find in an MMO. Leveling, Class, Race...what is stopping that mage from wearing armor? What's stopping that Knight from picking a lock? Honestly. "The knight doesn't have dexterous fingers" or some nonsense? So it takes no finesse to wield a sword now...Reasons I avoided Dungeons and Dragons all together.

I typically play in the living room of my friends house or the local game shop. The only basement I've ever played in was a really nice basement with a TV, bar, fridge, table-hockey, was well lit and well air conditioned. We all bathe regularly too and for the most part enjoy our significant others with varying frequency.

Gamer chicks are also 50/50 in my area.

DND is only the most popular because it has the most advertisement, so it tends to be the first game anyone plays. And once you've commited time and money into one thing you tend not to move away from it, and since you pretty much NEED every book and the gaming culture involved tends to believe that its not a DND game unless the GM has all the books, that tends to be a LOT of time and money. Sad thing since dungeons and dragons took [x] editions (yeah right just four...) to finally get around to doing what other games could do in their first. With Gurps I only need two books to run and play a game, the other books just help me along and save me time.

 

[linchowlewy]

also i forgot to mention this about runequest that you can pick up all the basic rules for free. here is the link for all those interested http://basicroleplaying.com/forum/downloads//ec_tmp/RuneQuest%20SRD%20Luxury%20edition.pdf [ Deluxe SRD]. of course this SRD has none of the backstory or creature descriptions only plain rules, so it helps for generic Roleplay or if you already are familiar with the backstory like i am.

the actual system is also very good doing away with levels and classes and allowing anyone to do anything (at various levels of success).

sorry if this comes across as a huge plug for it.

 

[Jandau]

Starting tabletop RPG gaming:

1. Pick a setting/ruleset. 4th edition DnD is fairly easy to pick up.

2. Get the basic materials. In case of DnD, it would mean Player's Handbook, Monster Manual and Dungeon Master's Guide.

3. Get some people together. Generally, a solid number of people is 5-7. Less than that and it might get lonely. More than that can get crowded.

4. Pick a Dungeon Master. This is the tricky part. Every tabletop RPG requires a person who moderates the whole thing, tells the story and plays the non-player characters. A bad DM = a bad game, hence a lot of people tend to avoid the role.

5. Make sure everyone has at least a basic understanding of what they are doing, what characters they want to play, etc.

6. Secure the logistics. Room to play in, food and drinks, music, etc.

7. GET IT ON!

 

[Nigh Invulnerable]

D&D is one of the oldest tabletop RPGs and is therefore the most recognized. Depending on what type of video games you're used to it can be an excellent system to start with. Many RPG systems exist for many different tastes. If you like the Baldur's Gate series, Neverwinter Nights, KOTOR, and similar games then you'll grasp the basics of D&D since 3rd edition.

A good gaming group needs a DM and around 4 players, or more if you like. Being the DM is the most time consuming outside of actual play time, but can be a ton of fun because you're essentially God of a world.

I'd recommend it. Don't let people who say, "D&D is too simple and restrictive" discourage you from trying it out with some people. The best way to find a system you like is to start there and try others as you get used to the classic.

 

[Xaryn Mar]

D&D is one of the oldest tabletop RPGs and is therefore the most recognized.

Just to nitpick a bit: Besides the old Chainmail game D&D IS the oldest and first RPG and Chainmail was a transition between wargames and what we now know as RolePlaying Games.

 

[Theophenes]

D&D is one of the oldest tabletop RPGs and is therefore the most recognized.

Just to nitpick a bit: Besides the old Chainmail game D&D IS the oldest and first RPG and Chainmail was a transition between wargames and what we now know as RolePlaying Games.

Xaryn, you deserve a no-prize just for knowing what Chainmail IS.

On a side note, table-top gamers aren't lit on fire in most communities. However, some good advice is that your hometown may lack a game store, so you may wanna try a bookstore or craigslist for both materials and people.

Also, don't let bad experiences send you running away screaming. I've had good, bad, and medium DMs and games. It's just like any other social activity, find a group you mesh with and you'll be fine. Best of luck, and may your dice rolls not always screw you over.

 

[Jinx_Dragon]

As a old, old, old D&Der, ok not that old but still, I would say it is fairly easy to get into a group. Now to get into a good enough group... that I never mastered which is probably why I quit. I would say go for the RP game stores and ask around there, they might have a message board or something where other players in your area can work out times and places to play together.

There is always online, but expect people to start treating the game as if the whole thing is there for their enjoyment. Nothing ruins a game like a player trying to make it all about them or just not turning up to games because they didn't feel like it. At least if you have to be somewhere and you see the faces of the people who expect you to be there it is a lot harder to just show them up then if it is all just text on a screen.

Damn you get some arseholes online....

 

[coldfrog]

DnD is the most popular pen and paper games but there are others i would recommend over that. if you want an ultra realistic game go for Runequest; very realistic combat. if you want humour with your friends go for paranoia. i've never had so much fun with my friends; almost collapsed laughing. in my personal opinion DnD is a bit too simple.

Holy crap, I've been DYING to play a Paranoia game ever since I looked through the main book... The concept is absolutely brilliant and it seems to do the thing I prefer, IE value the roleplaying higher than D&D (which is also why I like GURPS). Plus I always feel like D&D thinks it has to take itself seriously because it is the most widely known. GURPS, if you're curious, has a very small amount of dice (at least the game I played) and we mostly worked around our roleplaying skills. I can't remember if this was built in, but the game we played had a quirks system where you have certain quirks that do little but affect role-playing. I was an exceptionally polite police officer. It was fun watching people react to me because they either thought they could take advantage of me, or they were so scared that I was going to turn the other foot and start beating them to death that they cowered before me. I had fun with that role.

 

[Logan Westbrook]

If y'all keep playing the "edition wars" game I'm gonna have to waste time writing an elaborate post about why the thing you love sucks horribly and irredeemably. Best just to drop it.

-- Alex

Cecil Adams said it best: "Here we have a game that combines the charm of a Pentagon briefing with the excitement of double-entry bookkeeping. I don't get it."

(edited because I was able to chase down the article in question [http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/278/whats-the-deal-with-dungeons-and-dragons] with the correct quote.)

I'm not sure how relevant that quote is any more. Check the date of the article.

EDIT: The date at the top of the article doesn't gel well with the last paragraph. I'd assume the article was written in 1995, which is is still quite a while ago.

 

[Draygen]

*snip* I can't remember if this was built in, but the game we played had a quirks system where you have certain quirks that do little but affect role-playing. I was an exceptionally polite police officer. It was fun watching people react to me because they either thought they could take advantage of me, or they were so scared that I was going to turn the other foot and start beating them to death that they cowered before me. I had fun with that role.

I know the feeling. In our hunter game in Whitewolf, my friend made a deal with a demon, and in doing so asked for protection from ME, because he figured that if I found out he was making a deal with a demon, I might beat him up. Turns out he was right, but he won't get away from the demon long enough for me to unleash the pain!

 

[sequio]

Don't start playing it. And if you do, don't cry when one of your teammates decides to be an asshole and throws another player who's a paladin wearing spiked armor at your back for crit hit in middle of fighting off suicidal monks in a trap room prepared by the dm. Why? Because you were a priest and wouldn't heal him because he was being a dick.

 

[Jinx_Dragon]

Holy crap, I've been DYING to play a Paranoia game ever since I looked through the main book...

YES! I'm not the only one who has been dying to play a Paranoia game ever since I first read the main book. I have a hell of a lot of resources sitting on my computer and yet no one to play with as no one here RPs in pen and paper and I can't trust any group online not to screw me out of yet another RP experience. If you do find a RP group online willing to give it a shot this is one game that might win me back into the pen and paper fold.

 

[Omnidum]

PS- Avoid 4.0. Goddamn munchkin version. 3.5 ftw.

Nah, Homebrew 2nd ed FTW.

Homebrew 1st edition, I say!

 

[Nigh Invulnerable]

D&D is one of the oldest tabletop RPGs and is therefore the most recognized.

Just to nitpick a bit: Besides the old Chainmail game D&D IS the oldest and first RPG and Chainmail was a transition between wargames and what we now know as RolePlaying Games.

Nitpick away. I just figured that most people are unaware of the origins of D&D unless they're serious players who read stuff from the magazines WotC published or their online service. I'm one of those mutants who does know a bit about the history of D&D as well.

 

[TsunamiWombat]

I reccomend Neverwinter Nights as well. It's effectivly a D&D 3.0 simulator, and there are some really great full out roleplaying servers you can find. I play on one.

Just be prepared to download alot of Hakpaks, at least CEP. On the upside, it's like an MMO that YOU design and there are no monthly fee's.

 

[Fingolfin High-King of the Noldor]

I don't recommend it. It will ruin your life!!

 

[SteveDave]

Don't take a shower for five weeks then look into a mirror and repeat "I am a douchbag" five times.

 

[vivadelkitty]

Personally, if you're into the role-playing aspect of the game, I'd go with Edition 3.5, if you want something more video-game esque, play 4th edition. Personally, I love 3.5, but of course it all depends on your playing style and how you want to enjoy the game. 4th edition seems a lot more combat-centric to me, and doesn't really offer a lot of paths for character development and storycrafting.

 

[Drake the Dragonheart]

I have noticed something with my group of friends that does RP. When we play D&D, I am virtually the only person (maybe there is one other) who EVER plays a non-human race. It is weird. I know the bonus feat is nice and all, but what's the point of having a variety of races available if you never experiment outside human?