D&D for a dummy? [Archive] - Wizards Community

D&D for a dummy? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
sketti
09-04-06, 04:50 PM Hi! I've been invited by a friend to join her in a D&D game with some of her usual gaming buddies. I've wanted to try table-top rpgs for years but never managed to meet anyone willing to take a complete newbie.

I'd like to understand at least the basics by then (I have around a month), you know, so I don't slow down the game too much. Is there something like a "D&D for Dummies" on the internet somewhere?
Sikyanakotik
09-04-06, 05:15 PM You mean this? (http://www.amazon.com/Dungeons-Dragons-Dummies-Bill-Slavicsek/dp/0764584596/sr=8-1/qid=1157404407/ref=pd_bbs_1/103-8169803-6677417?ie=UTF8&s=books)

Seriously, all you really need is to do is read through the Players Handbook once or twice. Everything else you should be able to pick up pretty quickly.
sketti
09-04-06, 05:44 PM Well, I know about the book. The thing is, I don't have an awful lot of money >.< So I'd rather not have to buy anything. I just can't afford it right now. So I was hoping for something that may be found online. Doesn't need to be super detailed with diagrams and pretty images so long as I understand the way a game goes, what the heck are modifiers and the "dos and don'ts" and such basic, D&D 101 stuff.
Tunjunz
09-04-06, 05:46 PM hey i was in the same situation as you exept i wanted to start a gaming club, and i just bought the basic game and read through the rule book in that. ive seen the dungeons and dragons for dummies on some interent sites but does anyone have a opinion on wether its worth buying or not? thanks!
Ranger REG
09-04-06, 06:28 PM Hi! I've been invited by a friend to join her in a D&D game with some of her usual gaming buddies. I've wanted to try table-top rpgs for years but never managed to meet anyone willing to take a complete newbie.

I'd like to understand at least the basics by then (I have around a month), you know, so I don't slow down the game too much. Is there something like a "D&D for Dummies" on the internet somewhere?
The basics?

d20 roll + modifiers = result vs. difficuly class or armor class.

Meet or beat the "x" class number and you win.

Make sure your friend is willing to teach you about the numbers on your character sheets, but other than that, pretend you're someone else in the game world.
Chippy_the_Devourer
09-04-06, 06:29 PM If you don't have the PHB or anything like that, you can download the SRD. It has the basic info, monsters, epic informations, psionic classes and such... It's awesome. And you can print character sheets off of the DnD main page.
You can come up with a character without any books.
wereooze
09-04-06, 06:30 PM Make your 1st character a warrior or rogue. Not having to remember anything about magic will save you alot of time.
Ranger REG
09-04-06, 06:31 PM hey i was in the same situation as you exept i wanted to start a gaming club, and i just bought the basic game and read through the rule book in that. ive seen the dungeons and dragons for dummies on some interent sites but does anyone have a opinion on wether its worth buying or not? thanks!
Better to start with the basic game first, just to give you an idea of what the game is all about. Then after that, if you're interested in continuing this hobby, get the Dummies book.

Better to know if this is something you want to do on your free time before you spend more.
GreyLord
09-04-06, 06:35 PM This isn't for Dummies, but this might be what you might be looking for.

Here...

http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=d20/article/srd35
Sikyanakotik
09-04-06, 06:45 PM Well, I know about the book. The thing is, I don't have an awful lot of money >.< So I'd rather not have to buy anything. I just can't afford it right now. So I was hoping for something that may be found online. Doesn't need to be super detailed with diagrams and pretty images so long as I understand the way a game goes, what the heck are modifiers and the "dos and don'ts" and such basic, D&D 101 stuff.
Oh! Well in that case, this should be just what you need.

http://www.d20srd.com
savant_warlord13
09-04-06, 06:51 PM Dungeons and Dragons boils down to: roll a d20, apply modifiers (2nd grade addition and subtraction), and compare the result to a target number. The rest is choices and rolling for damage.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
sketti 09-04-06, 04:50 PM	Hi! I've been invited by a friend to join her in a D&D game with some of her usual gaming buddies. I've wanted to try table-top rpgs for years but never managed to meet anyone willing to take a complete newbie. I'd like to understand at least the basics by then (I have around a month), you know, so I don't slow down the game too much. Is there something like a "D&D for Dummies" on the internet somewhere?
Sikyanakotik 09-04-06, 05:15 PM	You mean this? (http://www.amazon.com/Dungeons-Dragons-Dummies-Bill-Slavicsek/dp/0764584596/sr=8-1/qid=1157404407/ref=pd_bbs_1/103-8169803-6677417?ie=UTF8&s=books) Seriously, all you really need is to do is read through the Players Handbook once or twice. Everything else you should be able to pick up pretty quickly.
sketti 09-04-06, 05:44 PM	Well, I know about the book. The thing is, I don't have an awful lot of money >.< So I'd rather not have to buy anything. I just can't afford it right now. So I was hoping for something that may be found online. Doesn't need to be super detailed with diagrams and pretty images so long as I understand the way a game goes, what the heck are modifiers and the "dos and don'ts" and such basic, D&D 101 stuff.
Tunjunz 09-04-06, 05:46 PM	hey i was in the same situation as you exept i wanted to start a gaming club, and i just bought the basic game and read through the rule book in that. ive seen the dungeons and dragons for dummies on some interent sites but does anyone have a opinion on wether its worth buying or not? thanks!
Ranger REG 09-04-06, 06:28 PM	Hi! I've been invited by a friend to join her in a D&D game with some of her usual gaming buddies. I've wanted to try table-top rpgs for years but never managed to meet anyone willing to take a complete newbie. I'd like to understand at least the basics by then (I have around a month), you know, so I don't slow down the game too much. Is there something like a "D&D for Dummies" on the internet somewhere? The basics? d20 roll + modifiers = result vs. difficuly class or armor class. Meet or beat the "x" class number and you win. Make sure your friend is willing to teach you about the numbers on your character sheets, but other than that, pretend you're someone else in the game world.
Chippy_the_Devourer 09-04-06, 06:29 PM	If you don't have the PHB or anything like that, you can download the SRD. It has the basic info, monsters, epic informations, psionic classes and such... It's awesome. And you can print character sheets off of the DnD main page. You can come up with a character without any books.
wereooze 09-04-06, 06:30 PM	Make your 1st character a warrior or rogue. Not having to remember anything about magic will save you alot of time.
Ranger REG 09-04-06, 06:31 PM	hey i was in the same situation as you exept i wanted to start a gaming club, and i just bought the basic game and read through the rule book in that. ive seen the dungeons and dragons for dummies on some interent sites but does anyone have a opinion on wether its worth buying or not? thanks! Better to start with the basic game first, just to give you an idea of what the game is all about. Then after that, if you're interested in continuing this hobby, get the Dummies book. Better to know if this is something you want to do on your free time before you spend more.
GreyLord 09-04-06, 06:35 PM	This isn't for Dummies, but this might be what you might be looking for. Here... http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=d20/article/srd35
Sikyanakotik 09-04-06, 06:45 PM	Well, I know about the book. The thing is, I don't have an awful lot of money >.< So I'd rather not have to buy anything. I just can't afford it right now. So I was hoping for something that may be found online. Doesn't need to be super detailed with diagrams and pretty images so long as I understand the way a game goes, what the heck are modifiers and the "dos and don'ts" and such basic, D&D 101 stuff. Oh! Well in that case, this should be just what you need. http://www.d20srd.com
savant_warlord13 09-04-06, 06:51 PM	Dungeons and Dragons boils down to: roll a d20, apply modifiers (2nd grade addition and subtraction), and compare the result to a target number. The rest is choices and rolling for damage.