Brand new to the game [Archive] - Wizards Community

Brand new to the game [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
maikal22
09-11-07, 03:37 PM Hello, like the title says, I am brand new to D&D and am about to start a campaign with a couple friends of mine who are also interested. I have purchased the Players Handbook and will be picking up the DM and MM book (3.5) by this friday. I know that those books contain all the info I would need to be successful at this but to be honest I am feeling really overwhelmed and I was hoping that someone who is seasoned in this game would be able to guide me to some easy to follow publications or simply to give me some good advice. Thank you so much for all your help in advance. :)
Gryllmyre
09-11-07, 03:45 PM I think one of the more obvious bits of advice at this point is don't pick up too many extra rules-heavy supplements, because 4e is hitting hard next year.

I'll tell you right now that one of the difficulties of absorbing all of 3.x is that many rules are only mentioned in one place, and the books leave it up to you to find them.

For example: If you want to move around a battlefield without suffering attacks of opportunity, use Tumble. This is of course described in the Tumble skill, but isn't mentioned anywhere else.

Another: When Grease is cast, it causes a slippery surface at the feet of anyone in the area. At this point, they are constantly using their Balance skill, so all the effects of Balancing apply, even though the spell doesn't specifically state this (but Balance states that it applies for any situation where you are standing on a precarious surface).

I'd link you to some good new player guides, but I don't know of any, sorry :(

The Scourge of the Howling Horde might be a good 1st level dungeon to try out the game with.

Bonus: One confusion that many players suffer regarding attacks of opportunity from movement - you are susceptible for moving more than 5' OUT of a threatened square, not INTO one.

If you can find any sample combats that demonstrate many common dice rolls, attacks and spells, that will help you a lot.
Ariana Iriliel
09-11-07, 03:49 PM Hi, and welcome to D&D. I played in the 80's and am just getting back into the game, myself, so have to learn 3.5 from scratch. I just got the three core books. The biggest thing is to read, read and read some more. The more you read, the more things start to fall into place. Keep a pad of paper and pen next to you. Start creating your character and ask questions you can't find in the PHB or DMG. Do you have a seasoned DM? They should also be able to help you flesh out your character. Get a real good feel for your character and what weapons, spells, feats, etc. they have so you won't be utterly overwhelmed in the middle of a battle as what to choose next. If you have a gaming store nearby, see if they have a publicly held game night(s) and ask permission to just sit quietly on the sidelines and watch a D&D game. Though a lot will be confusing, at first, you will get an almost hands on feel for how games are played out. And read lots of posts here on this forum. There is a lot of information to take in!
Stardrake
09-11-07, 07:15 PM Welcome aboard!

A book you might want to look at is DUNGEONS AND DRAGONS FOR DUMMIES --part of the infamous "FOR DUMMIES" series. (You may be able to find it at your local library--the "FOR DUMMIES" series is popular with libraries.) It's one of the better intro-to-gaming type books I've seen.

Hope this helps!
rambaldi
09-12-07, 08:32 AM take your time, specially with spellcasters (take the longest to get into as you have to work out what all your spells do). you will find your first sessions will be very slow as everyone needs to constantly check things, dont over complicate them. keep the combat simple, no grapple, no trip, no disarming, no sundering. Introduce these things slowly, from what i hear many people dont use some of these at all even (or find them rather annoying if they do).

By the sounds of it you will be DMing, if you aren't going to buy a premade adventure take your time planing your first adventure, i suggest in a dungeon then you can use the handy tables that they have written for you. it means a bit of cross referancing from your DMG to your MM but work out what monsters you want from the tables then bookmark all the relevant pages in the MM. (sounds simple but i always forget lol)

Basically, take your time and spend as much time as you can preparing. Work out before your first session what you want to play and how any relevant abilities to that class work
Lygar
09-12-07, 12:43 PM I too am getting back into D&D after a long time. I was first exposed to the game with the old red box Basic Rule set by TSR.

In addition to hobby stores that might hold public games, are there any online resources to find local games?
cplmac
09-12-07, 12:57 PM Just remember that not everything can be covered in the books, especially rules. Whenever I have been playing, it was usually agreed that if it was in the book we went by what it said, if not in the book, whatever the majority of the group felt, with the DM having the final decission. Usually we figured that if it was not to outrageous then it was OK.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
maikal22 09-11-07, 03:37 PM	Hello, like the title says, I am brand new to D&D and am about to start a campaign with a couple friends of mine who are also interested. I have purchased the Players Handbook and will be picking up the DM and MM book (3.5) by this friday. I know that those books contain all the info I would need to be successful at this but to be honest I am feeling really overwhelmed and I was hoping that someone who is seasoned in this game would be able to guide me to some easy to follow publications or simply to give me some good advice. Thank you so much for all your help in advance. :)
Gryllmyre 09-11-07, 03:45 PM	I think one of the more obvious bits of advice at this point is don't pick up too many extra rules-heavy supplements, because 4e is hitting hard next year. I'll tell you right now that one of the difficulties of absorbing all of 3.x is that many rules are only mentioned in one place, and the books leave it up to you to find them. For example: If you want to move around a battlefield without suffering attacks of opportunity, use Tumble. This is of course described in the Tumble skill, but isn't mentioned anywhere else. Another: When Grease is cast, it causes a slippery surface at the feet of anyone in the area. At this point, they are constantly using their Balance skill, so all the effects of Balancing apply, even though the spell doesn't specifically state this (but Balance states that it applies for any situation where you are standing on a precarious surface). I'd link you to some good new player guides, but I don't know of any, sorry :( The Scourge of the Howling Horde might be a good 1st level dungeon to try out the game with. Bonus: One confusion that many players suffer regarding attacks of opportunity from movement - you are susceptible for moving more than 5' OUT of a threatened square, not INTO one. If you can find any sample combats that demonstrate many common dice rolls, attacks and spells, that will help you a lot.
Ariana Iriliel 09-11-07, 03:49 PM	Hi, and welcome to D&D. I played in the 80's and am just getting back into the game, myself, so have to learn 3.5 from scratch. I just got the three core books. The biggest thing is to read, read and read some more. The more you read, the more things start to fall into place. Keep a pad of paper and pen next to you. Start creating your character and ask questions you can't find in the PHB or DMG. Do you have a seasoned DM? They should also be able to help you flesh out your character. Get a real good feel for your character and what weapons, spells, feats, etc. they have so you won't be utterly overwhelmed in the middle of a battle as what to choose next. If you have a gaming store nearby, see if they have a publicly held game night(s) and ask permission to just sit quietly on the sidelines and watch a D&D game. Though a lot will be confusing, at first, you will get an almost hands on feel for how games are played out. And read lots of posts here on this forum. There is a lot of information to take in!
Stardrake 09-11-07, 07:15 PM	Welcome aboard! A book you might want to look at is DUNGEONS AND DRAGONS FOR DUMMIES --part of the infamous "FOR DUMMIES" series. (You may be able to find it at your local library--the "FOR DUMMIES" series is popular with libraries.) It's one of the better intro-to-gaming type books I've seen. Hope this helps!
rambaldi 09-12-07, 08:32 AM	take your time, specially with spellcasters (take the longest to get into as you have to work out what all your spells do). you will find your first sessions will be very slow as everyone needs to constantly check things, dont over complicate them. keep the combat simple, no grapple, no trip, no disarming, no sundering. Introduce these things slowly, from what i hear many people dont use some of these at all even (or find them rather annoying if they do). By the sounds of it you will be DMing, if you aren't going to buy a premade adventure take your time planing your first adventure, i suggest in a dungeon then you can use the handy tables that they have written for you. it means a bit of cross referancing from your DMG to your MM but work out what monsters you want from the tables then bookmark all the relevant pages in the MM. (sounds simple but i always forget lol) Basically, take your time and spend as much time as you can preparing. Work out before your first session what you want to play and how any relevant abilities to that class work
Lygar 09-12-07, 12:43 PM	I too am getting back into D&D after a long time. I was first exposed to the game with the old red box Basic Rule set by TSR. In addition to hobby stores that might hold public games, are there any online resources to find local games?
cplmac 09-12-07, 12:57 PM	Just remember that not everything can be covered in the books, especially rules. Whenever I have been playing, it was usually agreed that if it was in the book we went by what it said, if not in the book, whatever the majority of the group felt, with the DM having the final decission. Usually we figured that if it was not to outrageous then it was OK.