Post/Author/DateTime	Post
moonblue66 03-26-06, 02:17 AM	:help: Ok so, here's the deal: I'm a 25 year old female from Southern California. I've never actually played D&D and have no idea how to get started. I've been to places where they have games going on. I thought it looked pretty cool. I know guys who play but, I think they underestimate my intelligence. No matter how hard I try, it seems that when I ask about playing-- it all turns into some big joke. So moving on.... Here's what I'd like to know: 1. What's the difference between D&D and D&D miniatures? (or do they somehow correlate?) 2. Do I need to memorize a huge rulebook or can I learn as I go along? 3. Is there a place where I can get good prices on this stuff? 4. How do I get started? 5.If you have a group that plays in or near my area-- is it possible for me to sit in and watch? (just to get an idea). Thanks :)
Yumaddar 03-26-06, 02:55 AM	Well, I would suggest you buying The Players Handbook. That's the bare minimum for players. The DM should also own, at the very least, The Dungeon Masters Guide and The Monster Manual. Preferably, you should have 3.5. I don't know about 'cheap'. I got my books at Amazon.com, but they cost me about 30 bucks a piece, and I ended up buying over a hundred dollars worth of books (but then, I'm the DM, so I need more books than you do, unless you intend to do that.) And you don't have to memorize the rules to play. That is, there are a lot of rules at play at any one time, and there are a lot of ways to interpret those rules (which depends on the DM). While you should read the Players Handbook, you do not need to memorize the rules fully. All you really need to know are the basics, particularly if you have an experienced DM who can easily walk you into the game. As for miniatures, apparently there’s an independent tactical game that goes with it or something of that nature, I don't know. But miniatures are also used for visual aid in combat situations while playing DnD. If that's the case, the DM while provide them. (If you want to DM, there’s a lot more to know...DMing while having little experience is extremely hard, though, and takes a lot of work, particularly if you want to jump in with a complex campaign. I should know, I'm doing it now.)
Rimefire_Genasi 03-26-06, 03:45 AM	:help: I'm a 25 year old female from Southern California. I know guys who play but, I think they underestimate my intelligence. No matter how hard I try, it seems that when I ask about playing-- it all turns into some big joke. So moving on.... This right here... this is a problem... both of these are conflicting issues. If you are a GIRL and you ask about playing D&D and the Nerdy Guys playing laugh at you, and make jokes about it, well, They are retards don't play with em.... As for all the other stuff, all you as a player really needs is a Players Handbook... wich I'm led to belive they sell, in many book stores, but yes they are quite expensive around 24-32 $$$$$$ but once you buy, a 3.5 book you won't need one for a few years, till the Wizards for yonder coast run low on funds and make a new book, but you might get lucky and that will be the Year of LaRevolution, in which we all rise up to face the Wizards and there Tyrinacal Powermongering...... YEah sorry I got off topic... The only thing you need: 1. A PHB (Players Handbook) 2. A Group (of cool people who don't make fun of you)
Mitchell 03-26-06, 04:51 AM	For what it's worth, there is a gamers classified board for trying to connect players with other players. Just click community, and I believe it is the topmost board on that page. I think it's called Wizards.COMmunity or some such. Good luck. :)
Parum 03-26-06, 10:48 AM	The other guys are right, all you REALLY need is a PHB. What I would recommend is read through the player classes and choose something you think you would like. For a first time player, and no I don't mean a girl! *heck props to girls for playing*, I would choose either a Ranger, Fighter, Barbarian or Rogue. Rogue's can be tricky with their lack of survivability, but they are my favorite. The other three classes are mentioned because they have a high survivability rate, and are fun to play to boot! Once you choose what you want to play find a nice group. Places you can go are HERE (http://boards1.wizards.com/forumdisplay.php?f=347) on the confidentials, check the local game stores like you have been or step into the local Library's fantasy fiction section. There are some thing you could read up on to get a rudimentary working knowledge of the game. But honestly, I have been playing / runnign games since 1997 and there are still times I mess up. I would say best thing to do is have someone with some experience sit down with you 1 on 1 and go through the basics of combat. Other then that, Have Fun! I hope you enjoy the game, and be sure to stop by and tell us how it's going!!
Diet_Sunkist 03-26-06, 11:12 AM	Ignore Parum, he dedicated a thread to thanking a moderator for doing his job. In order to play you do not need minatures. Also, NEVER EVER GIVE OUT ANY UNNEEDED INFO VIA THE INTERNET It is a very bad idea 25 year old girl from southern cali.
Parum 03-26-06, 11:51 AM	Don't mind Sunkist, He woke up on the wrong side of the Troll Cave this morning. However a good lesson can be taken from this. He is correct, we should all be cautious as to what info we give out here. (There are high strung, "interesting" individuals here; and you never know what they are capable of)
Stormthrone 03-26-06, 03:01 PM	I think there are more than one 25 year old girl in Southern California, so in my opinion she wasn't giving away to much... As the others have said - get the Players Handbook, a set of dice as it's always good to have your own, and find a hobbystore and ask the clerc if he know about some groups that wouldn't mind letting you watch, perhaps they even play in the store? As for the watching part - I really would recomend that you asked to sit in and play a character instead of watching, as you'll experience the game in a whole different way if you just watch... And about the whole girly thing - the most interesting people I've had as players have almost always been female. There is something in your mind that just - how can I put this - unleashes when you get to roleplay, and I love it! (Yeah, generalizing is fun!) Shame you're on the other side of the planet, as you could have joined our game anytime - we even have a few girls already, so you wouldn't feel "alone"... ;)
Parum 03-26-06, 03:20 PM	LOL its the truth. Women gamers just have such a different way of looking at things then Men. We had a player with a Female Half-Orc Paladin... OMG it was the most fun I have had in ages. *girls rock*
Diet_Sunkist 03-26-06, 04:26 PM	I know three hackers that go to my school. One steals pictures stored on girls computers. Telling the world that you are a cali girl makes hackers very happy.
Legendarius 03-26-06, 05:36 PM	:help: Ok so, here's the deal: I'm a 25 year old female from Southern California. I've never actually played D&D and have no idea how to get started. I've been to places where they have games going on. I thought it looked pretty cool. I know guys who play but, I think they underestimate my intelligence. No matter how hard I try, it seems that when I ask about playing-- it all turns into some big joke. So moving on.... Here's what I'd like to know: 1. What's the difference between D&D and D&D miniatures? (or do they somehow correlate?) 2. Do I need to memorize a huge rulebook or can I learn as I go along? 3. Is there a place where I can get good prices on this stuff? 4. How do I get started? 5.If you have a group that plays in or near my area-- is it possible for me to sit in and watch? (just to get an idea). Thanks :) The other posters hit most of the highlights, going number by number with what you posted: 1. D&D is a role playing game where the player assumes the role of a fictional character in a fantasy world. This character is generally considered an adventurer, one who takes on challenges and tasks that the commoners of the world don't such as battling monsters, saving kingdoms from dragons, etc. As play progresses, the character earns experience based on their accomplishments and improves gaining new skills and powers. It's a form of interactive storytelling with a mechanic (rolling dice) to resolve conflict. A dungeon master (referee/storyteller) runs the adventure and describes things for the players. If everyone has fun, everyone wins. You don't absolutely need minis to play, but they can add to the fun and help to resolve details during combat situations. The miniatures game is more like a tactical board game. Players are fighting against one another to win a battle. The different miniatures have point values and each player builds a squad based on a certain number of points. They duke it out, somebody wins. The mechanics of combat for the minis game were derived from the mechanics from the D&D roleplaying game (version 3.x, the current one). 2. No, you don't need to memorize the rule book. There is way to much detail there. A player really only needs the Player's Handbook (PHB for short) to play but if you're just getting started you might want to get a copy of the D&D basic game, a simplified version of the rules that is designed for new players, comes with dice, minis, etc. Start playing with someone and you'll pick it up as you go along. 3. Prices can vary on the products, you might find someone selling a PHB used. The online retailers like amazon.com and paizo.com tend to have some discount. If you have a big book chain near you like Books-A-Million and you have their discount card you can use that. If ordering from amazon.com, you might be able to avoid paying shipping if you spend enough money at one shot (say if you see other books, games, CDs, DVDs, etc. you want). 4./5. Easiest way to learn is find a group that plays and sit in on a game, think of it as having your character making a guest appearance on that night's episode. There are a number of community boards, etc. that list groups in a given area. It might be safest/most comfortable if you can find a decent game (possibly comic) store near you and ask the salesperson there if they run demonstrations of the game or know any groups that come and play regularly there in the store. The vast majority of gamers I know, while possibly a little weird or eccentric, are very nice, fun, open-minded people who love their hobby and look forward to new people getting involved in it. One last thing to consider, if you find there is a game convention running at a hotel or convention center near you, attend for a day and sign up for a session of D&D that is specifically for beginners. They'll explain the basics and get you started with the fun. L. P.S. Give the guys you know who play crap for not inviting you to join them to learn the game.
moonblue66 03-26-06, 11:21 PM	Thanks for all of the info everyone. You guys rock :) Yummaddar- Thanks for the info. Right now, I'm interested in keeping things simple-- so no, I'm not interesting in DM'ing. Mitchell- I reposted this same post in the classifieds. Thanks. Parum- The library is an excellent idea. I'll go check it out. Thanks. Diet_Sunkist- Thanks for the concern, but I honestly don't think that I gave out too much info. I'll be careful :) *Plus if I do end up playing-- I'd start playing at a public place or with the guys I already know. Stormthrone- Thanks for the encouragement. It's too bad I can't join your group :( Legendarius- Thanks for answering every single question. I'll probably end up playing with those guys who gave me crap... They recently told me they'd be more than happy to walk me through it. They like to poke fun at me in general. I am the only girl they hang out with...heh I think I can handle it :)
Kresalak 03-27-06, 02:02 AM	It seems you already have a thread in the classified place-thing, so the first part that I would have written here becomes useless and is prematurely replaced with this long sentence that I am currently dragging out for no apparant reason, although there may be an ulterior motive in my dragging out of this run on sentence that stopped making sense a while ago, though I am unable to pinpoint where it stopped making sense and started being useless drivel. Eh-hem, regardless, to expand on the words of Legendarius, although you do not need to memorize anything, reading the Players Handbook a few times over can prove useful. However, feel free to skip chapter 11 unless you plan to play a spellcaster, which isn't the best choice since you're new to the game. Also, when I first saw this thread I thought your name was "monoblue66". Guess my days of playing Magic are coming back to huant me, probably with moans of "buy this". They're like some kind of ghost. Only instead of draining heat, it drains money.
Foozlesprite 03-27-06, 02:30 AM	I, too, am a young female gamer (17, actually). The other guys are right, you need the Player's Handbook, which generally costs around $30. I assume you want to play rather than run a game as a Dungeon Master, so that should be all you need. Read through the book in your spare time, looking over classes and races to see what you're interested in. Learn the difference between a feat and a skill. You don't have to memorize everything, just get comfortable with the layout of the book so you you can look things up when you need them (and don't forget there's a handy glossary). And get yourself a cheap set of D&D dice (essential). The dice represent the randomness inherent in anything. The statistics, modified by class, race, feats, and the like, represent training that your character has done. The stereotypical "easy" starting class is fighter because there are not extras to worry about, such as spell management, loyalty to deities, or an animal companion to run. But don't feel pigeonholed into being a fighter. I found myself drawn to druids, so I started on a half-elf druid. It just means a little more work. I learned by reading through the book. I also have a helpful boyfriend who plays D&D, and he took me to a few sessions at the local gaming store (find one-it shouldn't be that hard, I found one in Arkansas) to see how actual gameplay worked. That was the most helpful thing for me. The book can confuse a newbie by talking about "base attack bonus" or "saving throws," so seeing a game in action is the best way to learn. Anyways, I hope I haven't overwhelmed you. Good luck, and remember that D&D can be addictive (I started less than a year ago, and now own 4 or 5 books, reference my boyfriend's books a lot, and play every Tuesday, even running a session or two when my boyfriend isn't feeling up to it). And remember, no matter what you choose to play, it has its strengths: my first DM tried to talk me out of playing a "wussy druid," but she charged into battle with her scimitar and wolf, hitting more than our fighter, cleric, and rogue. I became known as the Druid of Doom. Have fun.
Kresalak 03-27-06, 04:25 AM	Although new people are often drawn to the Fighter, it is actually a very hard class to play effetively. The huge amount of feats draws it towards being very tactically oriented, and to new people this can often be a challenge. Barbarians work better for the "I smash!" concept, and Rage can get you used to applying temporary modifiers. Good classes to start as are Barbarian, Rogue, or Sorcerer, since they don't require too much bookeeping. It's a good bet to stay away from things that prepare spells for a while, although the divine casters who get their entire spell list aren't too problematic. Foozlesprite, your DM seems to have been unaware that the Druid is the most powerful Core class there is. Outside of Core, Artificer beats it, but Artificer beats everything.
was_fired 03-27-06, 04:36 AM	I too would advise a barbarian as a starting class. An average fighter is easy to build, but in the end you would end up feeling weaker than the rest of your group. A good fighter is as hard to make and manage as a spellcaster so avoid them until you have a decent amount of experiance with the feat system, and access to a lot of other books. A barbarian is your best bet to start out with. They have a lot of small built in bonuses, and the ability to do tons of damage without much thought involved. A ranger or paladin can also work, but odds are you will feel like a secondary character more often than not with them unless you get lucky, learn the rules fast, or have an experianced character help you out when your making the character.
Stormthrone 03-27-06, 04:55 AM	Ah, as for what class you should choose - I'd say choose the one you think looks coolest. You said yourself that you're an intelligent girl, so you shouldn't have any trouble with any of the classes. If I'm to give some advice though, I'd set the three listed below as my "rookie-classes". 1. Barbarian - as the others have stated, a barbarian is a huge lump of muscle, with an axe attached in one end. "I smash" is a great description, just think Conan... If you just want to learn by watching, you should go berserk... 2. Cleric. Yeah, I know the others told you to stay away from it for a while, but I'm all for learning by doing. If you're the party's main healer, as you would be as the cleric, the other people will tell you how to utilize your powers. All you need to do is stop them when you feel they are playing your character! For a good cleric "template" you should think "Field-medic, with a religion, and a heavy mace." 3. Rogue. Again, learning by doing. Rogue is my favourite class, because as one you can do just about anything! You're giving a decent fight, you'll be able to slip away, you'll never lack money (hehe!) and more important, if you play your rogue right, you'll never lack friends either, as you'll be able to smoot-talk, bluff and well... lie, your way into the lives of other people. Now, if you decide to play a rogue, don't hesitate to drop me a line, and I'll help you with the background. (One that is easy to play, but very amusing for the others! I hope you've got good acting skills though...)