How should I even start? [Archive] - Wizards Community

How should I even start? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
LoR_Drub
12-26-05, 02:15 AM Im a new player.... how should i even get started playing?
Pandaemoni
12-26-05, 02:27 AM The first step is to read the Player's Handbook. It's a tough resad the first time, but you don't need to memorize it, just get the sense of what they are talking about. (You can probably skip the spells section for now and read those at a later point, or slowly over time.)

If you have friends who already play, you can ask them questions as you go. You can always post them on these forums as well, probably in the "what's a player to do" forum, if no other one matches the subject matter.

If you don't know anyone who plays, you need to find people who do. Depending on where you live there may be groups who connect online (try, for example meetup.com, as they have Dungeons and Dragons clubs around the U.S., assuming that's where you are). If you don't know people currently playing then you'll need to meet some and find group that is starting a new campaign.

You'll usually find that players and DMs are happy to take on new players and teach them how to play, if they have room to add another player to the group.

Welcome to the game!
Arikas
12-26-05, 03:22 AM Im a new player.... how should i even get started playing?

first of all, welcome to D&D :D

second, do you have any roleplaying experience? (not video game, table top style?)

theres dungeons and dragons for dummies out there, i hear its pretty user friendly. other than that, read through the players handbook. you dont hafta understand everything, as long as you have friends who know how to play they should help you along with everything :)

i recommend just reading through races, classes, skills, and feats. probably easiest chapters to get through. combat is VERY interesting if you read all of it, but most of it wont make sense when you read it without playing.

spells, bah dont worry about those for now, those will come later :D
LoR_Drub
12-26-05, 03:24 AM ya i have some roleplaying exp. I used to play Warhammer. But im looking for an upgrade =D!
Pandaemoni
12-26-05, 05:19 AM I'd recommend that you read the Combat chapter through at least once. Even if you don't understand it fully, it's best to have a vague idea of it when you start. You should also read the descriptions of Masterwork weapons and masterwork armor in the equipment section, though the rest of the equipment chapter you can skip (other than the tables that show all the weapons and armor).

The spells and magic chapter you can skip...assuming you don't play a spellcaster.

It may be best to start looking for a group now. In my experience it takes a little time to find a new group (as many groups do not like to add new players midway through an ongoing campaign). Assuming you have friends who already play, that likely isn't a problem for you...but if you had D&D playing friends then I suspect they'd have already told you how to start learning the game.
Grizzled Gryphon
12-26-05, 09:59 AM Welcome!! I hope you have fun!!
Gworraent
12-27-05, 07:30 PM Find a group to play with before even buying money for books. Then play two sessions with two different dm's with two different styles of characters for each dm (mebbe one barbarian and another one wizard or rogue). This is good cos mebbe your first DM really sucks and drives you insane. Once you think you like DnD. Buy the PHB

Have fun and good luck m8!
Incarum_lover
12-30-05, 04:12 PM Well, if you dont find anyone who plays you could get a couple of friends and yall can start of nw together. Atleast thats how i got introduced, my friend wanted to play so we got a bunch of people, got the start out thing with the board snd premade sheets and went for it.
Sluagh
12-30-05, 04:46 PM Well, if you dont find anyone who plays you could get a couple of friends and yall can start of nw together. Atleast thats how i got introduced, my friend wanted to play so we got a bunch of people, got the start out thing with the board snd premade sheets and went for it.

That's the approach we took too, We started out with the old Star Wars d6 system though, which is very newbie friendly. D&D might be alittle more difficult to learn on (certainly was when I started... 2e, eugh).

Do you have a group to play with already lined up, LoR_Drub? If so, even if they're not experienced yet either, it's a really good idea to discuss how you think the rules work before you start playing. As mentioned, read through the basics of the Abilities, skills, races, classes and combat before you play, try to get a feel for how it works. It'll be a bit slow and weird at first, but it;ll streamline as you go.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
LoR_Drub 12-26-05, 02:15 AM	Im a new player.... how should i even get started playing?
Pandaemoni 12-26-05, 02:27 AM	The first step is to read the Player's Handbook. It's a tough resad the first time, but you don't need to memorize it, just get the sense of what they are talking about. (You can probably skip the spells section for now and read those at a later point, or slowly over time.) If you have friends who already play, you can ask them questions as you go. You can always post them on these forums as well, probably in the "what's a player to do" forum, if no other one matches the subject matter. If you don't know anyone who plays, you need to find people who do. Depending on where you live there may be groups who connect online (try, for example meetup.com, as they have Dungeons and Dragons clubs around the U.S., assuming that's where you are). If you don't know people currently playing then you'll need to meet some and find group that is starting a new campaign. You'll usually find that players and DMs are happy to take on new players and teach them how to play, if they have room to add another player to the group. Welcome to the game!
Arikas 12-26-05, 03:22 AM	Im a new player.... how should i even get started playing? first of all, welcome to D&D :D second, do you have any roleplaying experience? (not video game, table top style?) theres dungeons and dragons for dummies out there, i hear its pretty user friendly. other than that, read through the players handbook. you dont hafta understand everything, as long as you have friends who know how to play they should help you along with everything :) i recommend just reading through races, classes, skills, and feats. probably easiest chapters to get through. combat is VERY interesting if you read all of it, but most of it wont make sense when you read it without playing. spells, bah dont worry about those for now, those will come later :D
LoR_Drub 12-26-05, 03:24 AM	ya i have some roleplaying exp. I used to play Warhammer. But im looking for an upgrade =D!
Pandaemoni 12-26-05, 05:19 AM	I'd recommend that you read the Combat chapter through at least once. Even if you don't understand it fully, it's best to have a vague idea of it when you start. You should also read the descriptions of Masterwork weapons and masterwork armor in the equipment section, though the rest of the equipment chapter you can skip (other than the tables that show all the weapons and armor). The spells and magic chapter you can skip...assuming you don't play a spellcaster. It may be best to start looking for a group now. In my experience it takes a little time to find a new group (as many groups do not like to add new players midway through an ongoing campaign). Assuming you have friends who already play, that likely isn't a problem for you...but if you had D&D playing friends then I suspect they'd have already told you how to start learning the game.
Grizzled Gryphon 12-26-05, 09:59 AM	Welcome!! I hope you have fun!!
Gworraent 12-27-05, 07:30 PM	Find a group to play with before even buying money for books. Then play two sessions with two different dm's with two different styles of characters for each dm (mebbe one barbarian and another one wizard or rogue). This is good cos mebbe your first DM really sucks and drives you insane. Once you think you like DnD. Buy the PHB Have fun and good luck m8!
Incarum_lover 12-30-05, 04:12 PM	Well, if you dont find anyone who plays you could get a couple of friends and yall can start of nw together. Atleast thats how i got introduced, my friend wanted to play so we got a bunch of people, got the start out thing with the board snd premade sheets and went for it.
Sluagh 12-30-05, 04:46 PM	Well, if you dont find anyone who plays you could get a couple of friends and yall can start of nw together. Atleast thats how i got introduced, my friend wanted to play so we got a bunch of people, got the start out thing with the board snd premade sheets and went for it. That's the approach we took too, We started out with the old Star Wars d6 system though, which is very newbie friendly. D&D might be alittle more difficult to learn on (certainly was when I started... 2e, eugh). Do you have a group to play with already lined up, LoR_Drub? If so, even if they're not experienced yet either, it's a really good idea to discuss how you think the rules work before you start playing. As mentioned, read through the basics of the Abilities, skills, races, classes and combat before you play, try to get a feel for how it works. It'll be a bit slow and weird at first, but it;ll streamline as you go.