A humble beginning... [Archive] - Wizards Community

A humble beginning... [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Chaise
12-17-05, 10:55 AM I am quite familiar with role-play based war gaming and am now making the giant step into D&D. I would appreciate ANY advice on how to get started and where to go from there. Basically I game with just myself and a friend. We certianly like the idea of a 'set' movement based game so D&D Minatures seems like a god place to start but we want to be able to carry this on to a continuous campaign which involves leveling etc and all the 'behind the scenes' stuff in between (traveling, towns etc) although we have little interest in creating our own adventures from scratch. Basically we are looking for a continous campaign game that allows its characters to grow and has more set rules such as a traditional board game might have in the sense that the players, DM are still required to abide by the rulings of the game (and the DM cannot just do as he/she pleases!). Essentially we want to put our trust in a setup game mechanic that does all that stuff for you. Hope this maks sense. Please feel free to email also. Thankyou!

Chaise.
post_jaded@hotmail.com
Chaise
12-18-05, 07:58 PM bump..
Kresalak
12-18-05, 09:19 PM So, if I understand, you are asking how you should get started playing D&D?

First off, you will need the following books: Players Handbook, Dungeon Masters Guide, and the Monster Manual. I also suggest the Expanded Psionics Handbook, but it is not needed.
Note that the System Reference Document has all this stuff (save for what is copyrighted), although I would not suggest using it to play.

Second, read the rulebooks. This is important.

Now, there are two of you? The game balance (such as there is) is built around 4 players. One of you (I suggest the one who undertands the rules better) will have to be the DM. Now, there is nothing stopping the DM from having his own character, but it is better if they focus on being the DM and not being a player. You will probably want to find 3 other people to play with, but 2 should be enough.

For your wish for a movement based system, 3.x is rather focused on using a map for battles and such. The game system itself should support that.

If you have any further questions, I will be happy to answer them.
Aladdar
12-19-05, 10:50 AM If you don't want to design your own campaign there are a few out there that go from level 1-20. You could use the basic adventure campaign which starts with the sunless citadell put out by wizards. Paizo also just released "The Shackled City" which is a full campaign that began in their dungeon magazine and has just been released in book form.
sparticus_eleisum
12-19-05, 11:18 AM For oficial adventures try here (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/oa/20030530b) you can link some of them with a little tweaking and get a nice campaign...:)

First off, you will need the following books: Players Handbook, Dungeon Masters Guide, and the Monster Manual.
Second, read them

Yes, the SRD (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=d20/article/srd35) is free, but is more expensive and messy print all that pages... also is more easy to carry three books than a binder full of copies(I did that when I was on ADD), you can make a nice deal on ebay or other store(online or FLGS) and get the books in all their glory;)

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Chaise 12-17-05, 10:55 AM	I am quite familiar with role-play based war gaming and am now making the giant step into D&D. I would appreciate ANY advice on how to get started and where to go from there. Basically I game with just myself and a friend. We certianly like the idea of a 'set' movement based game so D&D Minatures seems like a god place to start but we want to be able to carry this on to a continuous campaign which involves leveling etc and all the 'behind the scenes' stuff in between (traveling, towns etc) although we have little interest in creating our own adventures from scratch. Basically we are looking for a continous campaign game that allows its characters to grow and has more set rules such as a traditional board game might have in the sense that the players, DM are still required to abide by the rulings of the game (and the DM cannot just do as he/she pleases!). Essentially we want to put our trust in a setup game mechanic that does all that stuff for you. Hope this maks sense. Please feel free to email also. Thankyou! Chaise. post_jaded@hotmail.com
Chaise 12-18-05, 07:58 PM	bump..
Kresalak 12-18-05, 09:19 PM	So, if I understand, you are asking how you should get started playing D&D? First off, you will need the following books: Players Handbook, Dungeon Masters Guide, and the Monster Manual. I also suggest the Expanded Psionics Handbook, but it is not needed. Note that the System Reference Document has all this stuff (save for what is copyrighted), although I would not suggest using it to play. Second, read the rulebooks. This is important. Now, there are two of you? The game balance (such as there is) is built around 4 players. One of you (I suggest the one who undertands the rules better) will have to be the DM. Now, there is nothing stopping the DM from having his own character, but it is better if they focus on being the DM and not being a player. You will probably want to find 3 other people to play with, but 2 should be enough. For your wish for a movement based system, 3.x is rather focused on using a map for battles and such. The game system itself should support that. If you have any further questions, I will be happy to answer them.
Aladdar 12-19-05, 10:50 AM	If you don't want to design your own campaign there are a few out there that go from level 1-20. You could use the basic adventure campaign which starts with the sunless citadell put out by wizards. Paizo also just released "The Shackled City" which is a full campaign that began in their dungeon magazine and has just been released in book form.
sparticus_eleisum 12-19-05, 11:18 AM	For oficial adventures try here (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/oa/20030530b) you can link some of them with a little tweaking and get a nice campaign...:) First off, you will need the following books: Players Handbook, Dungeon Masters Guide, and the Monster Manual. Second, read them Yes, the SRD (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=d20/article/srd35) is free, but is more expensive and messy print all that pages... also is more easy to carry three books than a binder full of copies(I did that when I was on ADD), you can make a nice deal on ebay or other store(online or FLGS) and get the books in all their glory;)