Beginner Questions [Archive] - Wizards Community

Beginner Questions [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Kabur
10-28-04, 12:35 PM Hello there.

I recently picked up the D&D basic game to play with a few friends. We've all done RPing before, but mostly RP MUDs, never tabletop games. So there were a few initial struggles with the game. I was wondering if someone could help me with a few basic questions that I have. They're probably fairly simple, but I'm having a hard time with them. I've been serving as the DM, just so you know he perspective that this is from.

First of all, what do you do when you enter the room? The rulebook talks about letting the players explore. An I supposed to tell them everything in the room that's not hidden? Or do they have to use turns to move several squares, and when they happen to enter a square where something is, that's when I tell them?

Along the same lines, what if a monster is hidden in the shadows in the room? When do they actually see it? When they enter its square? Does a rogue see it if he searches the room?with an ability check?

I probably have more questions, but really simple things like this seem to be bogging me down right now. I really like the game, especially the creative DM aspects of it; I'll be ordering my core rulebooks soon. I don't really know where to ask questions, though, since I don't know anyone that plays :confused:
Joe123
10-28-04, 12:47 PM When the players' characters enter the room, you describe what their characters can see. If they have a lantern that allows them to see 30-feet all `round, then you describe everything within that range, unless it's hidden. Characters often try searching dungeon rooms. If they are just beginning, sometimes encourage them to do so, such as, "would you like to search the room," or what have you. However, once they get experience with the game, don't give such tips.

If there really is something hidden and they don;t search the room, well then they may simply keep going, missing the hidden thing entirely. Whilst exploring the dungeon, players do not have to explain that they are walking. This is assumed. If they walk down a 90-feet long dungeon passage, you don't have to narrate their walk for every 5-foot square. Just assume they reach the end, if there's nothing of note or interest along the way or a monster to stop them for example.

If a monster is hidden in the shadows, ask every player to make spot skill check. Now secretly roll a Hide check for the monster. If any player scores higher in their die roll than the monster, then the players' characters spot the Monster. It's possible that they won't see anything, in which case they might continue walking adn there is no encounter. Alternatively, the monster might strike, surprising the players.
Seeker95
10-28-04, 01:50 PM Since you came from a MUD background:

1. When the players enter a room:
The DM should state everything that is normally found in the "room description" aspect of a MUD entry. In published (read: pre-made) adventures, this is often the stuff in a box. State everything they can see, unless it specifically calls for a Search or Spot check (or you know it cannot be seen).

2. If the monster is in shadows:
It can usually be seen with a Spot check (the DM rolls for each player). But the monster may have its own agenda. Hiding to gain surprise instead of hiding to avoid being found means that if the members of the party all fail their Spot check, the monster is likely to get a suprise round. If the monster is trying to stay hidden, then allow it to roll an opposed Hide check. A Search check is used if the party actually searches, while a Spot check is if they are not searching.

In MUD terms:
Read the room entry description.
Decide what the monsters will do.
See what the players are doing.
Continue with the story.
Kabur
10-28-04, 04:38 PM Thanks for the feedback.

I don't think that I'm thinking of this quite right. The party walks into the room, and I describe it to them. If there is a monster hidden in the shadows, or behind a statue or something, the party will find it if they pass spot or search checks. If the party spots it, I just tell them they see the monster, and let them move to fight it however they want.

Now, say a monster passes its checks and stays hidden. If the monster is planning a surprise attack, do I then say 'The monster attacks by surprise...' and let the party position to defend? Or can I wait until the party is doing other things? For example, someone goes over to examing a pile of trash at the South end of the room, while the rest of the party examines bookcases at the north end of the room, 15 squares away. If the monster is hiding by the trash, and makes his attack against the player that comes near it, do the rest automatically position themselves to defend? Or at this point, is movement speed taken into account, meaning that the single character has to fight the monster until enough rounds have passed for the others to make it to him and help?
Seeker95
10-28-04, 06:52 PM Either way works fine, although if the monster is intending to attack, I'd have it attack as soon as someone comes close enough for it to attack without having to move more than 5'. That way it gets a single surprise attack and then everyone rolls initiative.
amethal
10-29-04, 09:21 AM I quite like having my monsters take 10 on hide checks i.e. just add 10 to its hide score and that gives you what the PCs have to beat.

It saves on a dice roll, and also doesn't give away to the players that they are making an opposed check i.e. they are trying to spot a monster, rather than a hidden object or something.

If the monster has had a couple of minutes to prepare for the players, it could take 20 on its hide i.e. add 20 to its hide score rather than 10.

If the monster hides successfully, it will try and choose the best moment to attack, which might depend on its intelligence. Depending on what it can do, it might want the party close together, or it might want them spread out.

Monsters with multiple attacks are going to prefer to wait for a victim to come within 5 feet, if possible, so it can use a full attack action.
Seeker95
10-29-04, 09:25 AM Monsters with multiple attacks are going to prefer to wait for a victim to come within 5 feet, if possible, so it can use a full attack action.Monsters with only a single attack will also want to wait. Surprise is not as effective if you have to use your single action to move close enough for the PCs to then kill you.
salamander
10-29-04, 09:35 AM Are we all talking about the same ruleset though? The OP is asking how such a thing is dealt with using the basic set - I don't have a clue how that differs from the regular core ruleset.
Seeker95
10-29-04, 09:38 AM Good point.

This might be the time to temporarily devote an entire board to the "Basic Set" only, since most of us reg'lars won't have nary a clue about the mechanics of the basic set.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Kabur 10-28-04, 12:35 PM	Hello there. I recently picked up the D&D basic game to play with a few friends. We've all done RPing before, but mostly RP MUDs, never tabletop games. So there were a few initial struggles with the game. I was wondering if someone could help me with a few basic questions that I have. They're probably fairly simple, but I'm having a hard time with them. I've been serving as the DM, just so you know he perspective that this is from. First of all, what do you do when you enter the room? The rulebook talks about letting the players explore. An I supposed to tell them everything in the room that's not hidden? Or do they have to use turns to move several squares, and when they happen to enter a square where something is, that's when I tell them? Along the same lines, what if a monster is hidden in the shadows in the room? When do they actually see it? When they enter its square? Does a rogue see it if he searches the room?with an ability check? I probably have more questions, but really simple things like this seem to be bogging me down right now. I really like the game, especially the creative DM aspects of it; I'll be ordering my core rulebooks soon. I don't really know where to ask questions, though, since I don't know anyone that plays :confused:
Joe123 10-28-04, 12:47 PM	When the players' characters enter the room, you describe what their characters can see. If they have a lantern that allows them to see 30-feet all `round, then you describe everything within that range, unless it's hidden. Characters often try searching dungeon rooms. If they are just beginning, sometimes encourage them to do so, such as, "would you like to search the room," or what have you. However, once they get experience with the game, don't give such tips. If there really is something hidden and they don;t search the room, well then they may simply keep going, missing the hidden thing entirely. Whilst exploring the dungeon, players do not have to explain that they are walking. This is assumed. If they walk down a 90-feet long dungeon passage, you don't have to narrate their walk for every 5-foot square. Just assume they reach the end, if there's nothing of note or interest along the way or a monster to stop them for example. If a monster is hidden in the shadows, ask every player to make spot skill check. Now secretly roll a Hide check for the monster. If any player scores higher in their die roll than the monster, then the players' characters spot the Monster. It's possible that they won't see anything, in which case they might continue walking adn there is no encounter. Alternatively, the monster might strike, surprising the players.
Seeker95 10-28-04, 01:50 PM	Since you came from a MUD background: 1. When the players enter a room: The DM should state everything that is normally found in the "room description" aspect of a MUD entry. In published (read: pre-made) adventures, this is often the stuff in a box. State everything they can see, unless it specifically calls for a Search or Spot check (or you know it cannot be seen). 2. If the monster is in shadows: It can usually be seen with a Spot check (the DM rolls for each player). But the monster may have its own agenda. Hiding to gain surprise instead of hiding to avoid being found means that if the members of the party all fail their Spot check, the monster is likely to get a suprise round. If the monster is trying to stay hidden, then allow it to roll an opposed Hide check. A Search check is used if the party actually searches, while a Spot check is if they are not searching. In MUD terms: Read the room entry description. Decide what the monsters will do. See what the players are doing. Continue with the story.
Kabur 10-28-04, 04:38 PM	Thanks for the feedback. I don't think that I'm thinking of this quite right. The party walks into the room, and I describe it to them. If there is a monster hidden in the shadows, or behind a statue or something, the party will find it if they pass spot or search checks. If the party spots it, I just tell them they see the monster, and let them move to fight it however they want. Now, say a monster passes its checks and stays hidden. If the monster is planning a surprise attack, do I then say 'The monster attacks by surprise...' and let the party position to defend? Or can I wait until the party is doing other things? For example, someone goes over to examing a pile of trash at the South end of the room, while the rest of the party examines bookcases at the north end of the room, 15 squares away. If the monster is hiding by the trash, and makes his attack against the player that comes near it, do the rest automatically position themselves to defend? Or at this point, is movement speed taken into account, meaning that the single character has to fight the monster until enough rounds have passed for the others to make it to him and help?
Seeker95 10-28-04, 06:52 PM	Either way works fine, although if the monster is intending to attack, I'd have it attack as soon as someone comes close enough for it to attack without having to move more than 5'. That way it gets a single surprise attack and then everyone rolls initiative.
amethal 10-29-04, 09:21 AM	I quite like having my monsters take 10 on hide checks i.e. just add 10 to its hide score and that gives you what the PCs have to beat. It saves on a dice roll, and also doesn't give away to the players that they are making an opposed check i.e. they are trying to spot a monster, rather than a hidden object or something. If the monster has had a couple of minutes to prepare for the players, it could take 20 on its hide i.e. add 20 to its hide score rather than 10. If the monster hides successfully, it will try and choose the best moment to attack, which might depend on its intelligence. Depending on what it can do, it might want the party close together, or it might want them spread out. Monsters with multiple attacks are going to prefer to wait for a victim to come within 5 feet, if possible, so it can use a full attack action.
Seeker95 10-29-04, 09:25 AM	Monsters with multiple attacks are going to prefer to wait for a victim to come within 5 feet, if possible, so it can use a full attack action.Monsters with only a single attack will also want to wait. Surprise is not as effective if you have to use your single action to move close enough for the PCs to then kill you.
salamander 10-29-04, 09:35 AM	Are we all talking about the same ruleset though? The OP is asking how such a thing is dealt with using the basic set - I don't have a clue how that differs from the regular core ruleset.
Seeker95 10-29-04, 09:38 AM	Good point. This might be the time to temporarily devote an entire board to the "Basic Set" only, since most of us reg'lars won't have nary a clue about the mechanics of the basic set.