D&D... for Dummies? [Archive] - Wizards Community

D&D... for Dummies? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
anshar
01-25-05, 10:41 PM Yes folks, you read correctly.
Dungeons & Dragons for Dummies.

You just had to know it was going to happen sooner or later.

Check it out here. (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0764584596/qid=1106711118/sr=8-1/ref=pd_bbs_1/103-2270265-7973442?v=glance&s=books&n=507846)
thatbamaguy
01-25-05, 10:55 PM The game is not that hard........ :doh:
Seeker95
01-25-05, 11:08 PM Old news... but still very much worth getting.
The book is not to learn how to play D&D, but rather to learn about D&D.
Ranger REG
01-26-05, 04:16 AM The book is not to learn how to play D&D, but rather to learn about D&D.
So... that we can become one with D&D? :P
thatbamaguy
01-26-05, 10:48 AM :rofl:
Seeker95
01-26-05, 11:12 AM I'm amending my comment from above.

It would appear from the Amazon blurb that this book indeed teaches how to play. As a Dummies book, I suspect it will also include some history and trivia about the game.

In any case, this will be a very useful book because it will organize the rules in such a way that the brand-new-to-the-game player who joins your group could read this faster than the PHB, and get everything s/he needs from it to start. Having a basic understanding of the game, that new player can then make better use of the Player's Handbook in terms of mechanics, because they will be building such use upon a foundation of understanding the concepts.

Part of the difficulty of the PHB (and DMG) is that both assume you know what you are doing ahead of time. Although a piece of advice we often offer newbies is to ask their DMs, this advice assumes a DM has some semblance of a clue as to how to teach. My father-in-law is the best pinochle player in the world (just ask him!). But God forbid you should ever have to have him teach you how to play.

In my Wednesday night game, three of my players have been playing since the late 80s or eearly 90s (with myself being a player since the late 70s). In the past year, we have had four players who had never played before. I had to order my players to stop trying to teach the new folks! The would consistently bring 2e rules into the conversation "as an explanation" for how 3e is different. Or they would present the basic rules of some mechanic, quickly followed up with just about every exception to the rule.

Because the Dummies line has a standard practice of assuming the reader knows NOTHING about the subject, and builds from there, I suspect this book will be much better than the PHB in teaching how to play the game. And certainly more effective than most players or DMs that attempt to introduce brand new players.

This book will probably become a must-have element of any gaming group that routinely introduces D&D to new players.
Nightfang
01-26-05, 12:03 PM I will buy it. Why? Well, the rule books are a lot to digest, especially for the GM like me whose players expect to know EVERYTHING. I have read the books over and over, but having an external volume to read, away from the gaming table, may be what I need to get a fresh look at the ruleset.

Also, if I ever get new players (not likely) who want to play and do not know the rules at all, this would be a good loaner to get them started.

This annoys me -

and even move up in the hierarchy to become a Dungeon Master.

Oh, so there is a ranking system for the players, who can eventually move up in ranks from newbie to player to power gamer to dungeon master? :P

But, like all things, I will get over it.
Aliquid
01-26-05, 12:26 PM Oh, so there is a ranking system for the players, who can eventually move up in ranks from newbie to player to power gamer to dungeon master?I wonder what the ranks are in the "hierarchy" betweem newbie and DM...
Sulaco
01-26-05, 12:29 PM So... that we can become one with D&D? :P

Of course not. Everyone knows a "one" is a fumble. You have to become twenty with the game...
Draco Strang
01-26-05, 12:50 PM This book is interesting from a collector's view. I'll pick it up just so I can have another DnD tome weighing down my shelves. Hell, it can't be worse than that 30th anniversary book.
Ogre4Hire
01-26-05, 02:39 PM Of course not. Everyone knows a "one" is a fumble. You have to become twenty with the game...
:rimshot:
necromancer787
01-26-05, 04:15 PM This book is interesting from a collector's view. I'll pick it up just so I can have another DnD tome weighing down my shelves. Hell, it can't be worse than that 30th anniversary book.

Amen. I can't think of a bigger rip off. But waddaya gona do? :pint:
Ricky
01-26-05, 04:17 PM I wonder if the book focues on the mechanics of D&D or the role-playing aspect. Does anyone know?
anshar
01-26-05, 04:23 PM Well, I too will likely buy it. Mostly for the reasons that Seeker mentioned about the dummies series. Ok... truth be told, I want the "full-color fold out game map" advertised at the top of the front cover. :D

Seriously though, I think it's a good idea. I was just kind of caught off guard when I was browsing through the Chapters online catalogue and saw this bright yellow book with a black stripe across the middle and couldn't stop laughing for a few minutes.

The only thing that worries me is this:
...allowing readers to play using this book and nothing else.
That implies (for me at least) that it will be dummed down (no pun intended) in the hopes of making it a complete game in one book.

All in all, I will probably buy it to see how it reads. But as for a basic set of rules to introduce new players to the game, I thought that's what the Basic Game was for. I mean, do they really expect us to believe that the box was yellow and black by coincidence? ;)
Aliquid
01-26-05, 05:32 PM The only thing that worries me is this:

...allowing readers to play using this book and nothing else.

That implies (for me at least) that it will be dummed down (no pun intended) in the hopes of making it a complete game in one book.
Well technically you don't need any books to play D&D... As long as the DM and one of the other players has books, things can run just fine. I have played in various campaigns where some of the players don't own any D&D books.... heck they don't even own dice.
Ranger REG
01-26-05, 09:52 PM Of course not. Everyone knows a "one" is a fumble. You have to become twenty with the game...
Correction: a natural twenty. Bo Derek is only a "10."

So, what are the steps toward D&D enlightenment?

:thinks:
Seeker95
01-26-05, 11:39 PM So, what are the steps toward D&D enlightenment?Not sure, but...

Enlightenment is often One.
Habits come in Sevens.
Most programs require Twelve steps.
But D&D is all about the d20.
anshar
01-27-05, 08:42 AM Well technically you don't need any books to play D&D... As long as the DM and one of the other players has books, things can run just fine. I have played in various campaigns where some of the players don't own any D&D books.... heck they don't even own dice.

I'm not saying that everyone must own the book... it's dumming down that worries me. I worry that a group will use this book alone for a while and then when the move up to the core books, may become confused.

On the other hand, I worry about a lot of things. ;) It might be very good considering who one of the authors is.
Ranger REG
01-28-05, 02:33 AM I'm not saying that everyone must own the book... it's dumming down that worries me.
Why? Are you worried about the influx of village idiots and doofs buying D&D? :smirk:

I didn't realize D&D is exclusive for such an entry-level RPG.
simen_88
01-29-05, 04:09 PM This book scares me. I fear it will tell about "creative strategies combining various items to make the game even easier to win " or something like that.
Edymnion
01-29-05, 06:27 PM Why? Are you worried about the influx of village idiots and doofs buying D&D? :smirk:

I didn't realize D&D is exclusive for such an entry-level RPG.Umm... the running gag we had in 2e was that THAC0 was how we kept stupid people out of the game.... :D
Deacon Liadon
01-29-05, 07:58 PM I still don't understand it.

*Prepares torture rack for edymnion. Just in case…*
Ranger REG
01-29-05, 09:37 PM Umm... the running gag we had in 2e was that THAC0 was how we kept stupid people out of the game.... :D
And draw them toward Alternity? :smirk:

Just kidding. :P
KnightErrantJR
01-29-05, 09:58 PM At my age, and realizing how hard it is to find anyone for a group . . . anything that gets more people into the hobby would be great . . . If they start playing I can always learn them up to my level later . . .

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
anshar 01-25-05, 10:41 PM	Yes folks, you read correctly. Dungeons & Dragons for Dummies. You just had to know it was going to happen sooner or later. Check it out here. (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0764584596/qid=1106711118/sr=8-1/ref=pd_bbs_1/103-2270265-7973442?v=glance&s=books&n=507846)
thatbamaguy 01-25-05, 10:55 PM	The game is not that hard........ :doh:
Seeker95 01-25-05, 11:08 PM	Old news... but still very much worth getting. The book is not to learn how to play D&D, but rather to learn about D&D.
Ranger REG 01-26-05, 04:16 AM	The book is not to learn how to play D&D, but rather to learn about D&D. So... that we can become one with D&D? :P
thatbamaguy 01-26-05, 10:48 AM	:rofl:
Seeker95 01-26-05, 11:12 AM	I'm amending my comment from above. It would appear from the Amazon blurb that this book indeed teaches how to play. As a Dummies book, I suspect it will also include some history and trivia about the game. In any case, this will be a very useful book because it will organize the rules in such a way that the brand-new-to-the-game player who joins your group could read this faster than the PHB, and get everything s/he needs from it to start. Having a basic understanding of the game, that new player can then make better use of the Player's Handbook in terms of mechanics, because they will be building such use upon a foundation of understanding the concepts. Part of the difficulty of the PHB (and DMG) is that both assume you know what you are doing ahead of time. Although a piece of advice we often offer newbies is to ask their DMs, this advice assumes a DM has some semblance of a clue as to how to teach. My father-in-law is the best pinochle player in the world (just ask him!). But God forbid you should ever have to have him teach you how to play. In my Wednesday night game, three of my players have been playing since the late 80s or eearly 90s (with myself being a player since the late 70s). In the past year, we have had four players who had never played before. I had to order my players to stop trying to teach the new folks! The would consistently bring 2e rules into the conversation "as an explanation" for how 3e is different. Or they would present the basic rules of some mechanic, quickly followed up with just about every exception to the rule. Because the Dummies line has a standard practice of assuming the reader knows NOTHING about the subject, and builds from there, I suspect this book will be much better than the PHB in teaching how to play the game. And certainly more effective than most players or DMs that attempt to introduce brand new players. This book will probably become a must-have element of any gaming group that routinely introduces D&D to new players.
Nightfang 01-26-05, 12:03 PM	I will buy it. Why? Well, the rule books are a lot to digest, especially for the GM like me whose players expect to know EVERYTHING. I have read the books over and over, but having an external volume to read, away from the gaming table, may be what I need to get a fresh look at the ruleset. Also, if I ever get new players (not likely) who want to play and do not know the rules at all, this would be a good loaner to get them started. This annoys me - and even move up in the hierarchy to become a Dungeon Master. Oh, so there is a ranking system for the players, who can eventually move up in ranks from newbie to player to power gamer to dungeon master? :P But, like all things, I will get over it.
Aliquid 01-26-05, 12:26 PM	Oh, so there is a ranking system for the players, who can eventually move up in ranks from newbie to player to power gamer to dungeon master?I wonder what the ranks are in the "hierarchy" betweem newbie and DM...
Sulaco 01-26-05, 12:29 PM	So... that we can become one with D&D? :P Of course not. Everyone knows a "one" is a fumble. You have to become twenty with the game...
Draco Strang 01-26-05, 12:50 PM	This book is interesting from a collector's view. I'll pick it up just so I can have another DnD tome weighing down my shelves. Hell, it can't be worse than that 30th anniversary book.
Ogre4Hire 01-26-05, 02:39 PM	Of course not. Everyone knows a "one" is a fumble. You have to become twenty with the game... :rimshot:
necromancer787 01-26-05, 04:15 PM	This book is interesting from a collector's view. I'll pick it up just so I can have another DnD tome weighing down my shelves. Hell, it can't be worse than that 30th anniversary book. Amen. I can't think of a bigger rip off. But waddaya gona do? :pint:
Ricky 01-26-05, 04:17 PM	I wonder if the book focues on the mechanics of D&D or the role-playing aspect. Does anyone know?
anshar 01-26-05, 04:23 PM	Well, I too will likely buy it. Mostly for the reasons that Seeker mentioned about the dummies series. Ok... truth be told, I want the "full-color fold out game map" advertised at the top of the front cover. :D Seriously though, I think it's a good idea. I was just kind of caught off guard when I was browsing through the Chapters online catalogue and saw this bright yellow book with a black stripe across the middle and couldn't stop laughing for a few minutes. The only thing that worries me is this: ...allowing readers to play using this book and nothing else. That implies (for me at least) that it will be dummed down (no pun intended) in the hopes of making it a complete game in one book. All in all, I will probably buy it to see how it reads. But as for a basic set of rules to introduce new players to the game, I thought that's what the Basic Game was for. I mean, do they really expect us to believe that the box was yellow and black by coincidence? ;)
Aliquid 01-26-05, 05:32 PM	The only thing that worries me is this: ...allowing readers to play using this book and nothing else. That implies (for me at least) that it will be dummed down (no pun intended) in the hopes of making it a complete game in one book. Well technically you don't need any books to play D&D... As long as the DM and one of the other players has books, things can run just fine. I have played in various campaigns where some of the players don't own any D&D books.... heck they don't even own dice.
Ranger REG 01-26-05, 09:52 PM	Of course not. Everyone knows a "one" is a fumble. You have to become twenty with the game... Correction: a natural twenty. Bo Derek is only a "10." So, what are the steps toward D&D enlightenment? :thinks:
Seeker95 01-26-05, 11:39 PM	So, what are the steps toward D&D enlightenment?Not sure, but... Enlightenment is often One. Habits come in Sevens. Most programs require Twelve steps. But D&D is all about the d20.
anshar 01-27-05, 08:42 AM	Well technically you don't need any books to play D&D... As long as the DM and one of the other players has books, things can run just fine. I have played in various campaigns where some of the players don't own any D&D books.... heck they don't even own dice. I'm not saying that everyone must own the book... it's dumming down that worries me. I worry that a group will use this book alone for a while and then when the move up to the core books, may become confused. On the other hand, I worry about a lot of things. ;) It might be very good considering who one of the authors is.
Ranger REG 01-28-05, 02:33 AM	I'm not saying that everyone must own the book... it's dumming down that worries me. Why? Are you worried about the influx of village idiots and doofs buying D&D? :smirk: I didn't realize D&D is exclusive for such an entry-level RPG.
simen_88 01-29-05, 04:09 PM	This book scares me. I fear it will tell about "creative strategies combining various items to make the game even easier to win " or something like that.
Edymnion 01-29-05, 06:27 PM	Why? Are you worried about the influx of village idiots and doofs buying D&D? :smirk: I didn't realize D&D is exclusive for such an entry-level RPG.Umm... the running gag we had in 2e was that THAC0 was how we kept stupid people out of the game.... :D
Deacon Liadon 01-29-05, 07:58 PM	I still don't understand it. Prepares torture rack for edymnion. Just in case…
Ranger REG 01-29-05, 09:37 PM	Umm... the running gag we had in 2e was that THAC0 was how we kept stupid people out of the game.... :D And draw them toward Alternity? :smirk: Just kidding. :P
KnightErrantJR 01-29-05, 09:58 PM	At my age, and realizing how hard it is to find anyone for a group . . . anything that gets more people into the hobby would be great . . . If they start playing I can always learn them up to my level later . . .