DnD for dummies book. [Archive] - Wizards Community

DnD for dummies book. [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Feeroper
07-05-05, 02:07 AM Is this book any good? I wouldnt call myself a hardcore, or even seasoned vet of DnD, but Im no "dummy" either. Just wondering if this book is worth checking out/ is handy enough to have a copy. Thanks!
SnowbearK
07-05-05, 02:50 AM For the extreme beginner, it's no doubt useful, but for anyone with half a brain, the time to read the PHb two or three times, it's a waste of shelf space.
J Milburn
07-05-05, 12:41 PM Yes, I saw it and thought it would be great for some less experianced players i game with. Shame it has such an offensive title though, I would be quite embarrassed if I bought it.
wordserpent
07-05-05, 12:47 PM Yes, I saw it and thought it would be great for some less experianced players i game with. Shame it has such an offensive title though, I would be quite embarrassed if I bought it.

Perhaps it should have been titled: "D&D for Normal People"?

The Title: "D&D for Int<14" would be too much gamespeak.
Feeroper
07-05-05, 11:10 PM Thanks for the opinions so far, anyone else have one they are willing to share?

Personally the title doesnt bother me, the "Dummies" books are well known, so imo It wouldnt make you look stupid.
WizO_Cat
07-05-05, 11:31 PM Actually, I thought about getting the book for my wife. She's really not into gaming and maybe this would help her understand.

As for the "Subject X for Dummies" titles, I really don't let the Dummies parts phase me too much. My wife and I got the "The Complete Idiots Guide for 20th Century History" and I've actually picked up a thing or two from it - and I'm a history geek.
Cymraegmorgan
07-06-05, 09:32 AM Shame it has such an offensive title though, I would be quite embarrassed if I bought it.

I thought the same thing until I bought the Dummies HTML and the Web Pages books. By thumbing through both books over a thirty minute period, I was able to build the basics of my website in two hours.
I know the next time I need information fast, and need it well organized, I will brazenly show my "Dummyhood" to the clerk at the bookstore by buying one of this series.
diaglo
07-06-05, 10:31 AM Actually, I thought about getting the book for my wife. She's really not into gaming and maybe this would help her understand.

As for the "Subject X for Dummies" titles, I really don't let the Dummies parts phase me too much. My wife and I got the "The Complete Idiots Guide for 20th Century History" and I've actually picked up a thing or two from it - and I'm a history geek.

i bought 6 copies and gave them to my group.
freckle_smoker
07-06-05, 11:07 AM I have it and it showed Me a few things I didnt know about the game and I play pretty regularly .
J Milburn
07-06-05, 01:57 PM i bought 6 copies and gave them to my group.

Brilliant. Is that genuine?

And i have never seen the 'for dummies' books before, thats probably why i saw it as so offensive. They are probably not sold so much in england.
Giant Turtle
07-06-05, 03:21 PM I've got a few years under my belt, but when I saw it, I thought it would be cool to have on principal, if nothing else, you could toss it at a player whenever he needs help, or let the newbies read it. I have a lot of friends that don't have NEAR the experience I do, so they could really use it. Its like the book of exalted deeds or book of vile darkness, you read it if your a gamer and you get a level in "Gamer" If your not a gamer and you read it, save or become a first level "Gamer" lol
pangalactic
07-06-05, 03:22 PM Brilliant. Is that genuine?

And i have never seen the 'for dummies' books before, thats probably why i saw it as so offensive. They are probably not sold so much in england.

I'm from England and i've seen them before - I think it just depends on your interests, most seem to be computer-related, so if you're not into computers or any kind of programming you probably haven't had reason to look at them. They're usually pretty good, though :)
Thorvar
07-06-05, 04:16 PM I didn't know there was such a book... but I will probably be picking it up! I love the "Dummies" books, and the "Idiot's Guide" books as well. I too was skeptical, then one day I picked up Middle Earth for Dummies and it blew me away. Very well written and great for even a "hard core" LoTR fan like myself.
Stardrake
07-06-05, 11:11 PM For the benefit of our friends Across the Water, I'll point out that the "(X) for Dummies" series is probably the most popular series of basic informational books in the US. It all started with a book called DOS for Dummies back in the late 80's, covering MS-DOS 3.3. Since then the series has exploded and now covers all sorts of topics--from technical to cooking to gardenig to sports to intellectual topics (Shakespeare for Dummies, Philosophy For Dummies, etc) and yes, even Sex For Dummies (by Dr. Ruth Westheimer, no less!).

While a few people over here are also offended by the title, most just absorb the info inside, laugh at the jokes and cartoons, and enjoy.
Mythmaker
07-07-05, 10:38 AM When and if the gods ever smile upon me and I actually have a group to play with.....this book will be at the top of my list for new and prospective players. It's like the cliff-notes version of the PhB. =)

Mythmaker
rbrt_Spade
07-07-05, 11:08 AM i learned some programing from the seris and bugs in windows 98 networks! :)
diaglo
07-07-05, 01:56 PM Brilliant. Is that genuine?

And i have never seen the 'for dummies' books before, thats probably why i saw it as so offensive. They are probably not sold so much in england.
mais bien sur.

i never joke about gaming.

it was okay. not exactly what i was hoping for.

but the DMG II has that more in hand i believe.
ILL34GL3
07-07-05, 02:00 PM I randomly opened up a copy at my FLGS, saw that there was a whole page on what kind of shield your cleric should use, and put it back on the shelf.
RolandStJude
07-07-05, 07:11 PM To the OP:

I would recommend, for a gamer with the level of experience that you seem to have, that you spend a couple hours reading/skimming through it in a Barnes & Noble, Borders, or other "read-in" type bookstore. It's got some decent explanations and may help you explain things to others.

I got what I wanted out of it that way. I found it interesting, but not terribly useful in an ongoing sense. I'm glad that I looked at it, and more glad that I didn't buy it.

Roland St. Jude
Insert humorous sig here.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Feeroper 07-05-05, 02:07 AM	Is this book any good? I wouldnt call myself a hardcore, or even seasoned vet of DnD, but Im no "dummy" either. Just wondering if this book is worth checking out/ is handy enough to have a copy. Thanks!
SnowbearK 07-05-05, 02:50 AM	For the extreme beginner, it's no doubt useful, but for anyone with half a brain, the time to read the PHb two or three times, it's a waste of shelf space.
J Milburn 07-05-05, 12:41 PM	Yes, I saw it and thought it would be great for some less experianced players i game with. Shame it has such an offensive title though, I would be quite embarrassed if I bought it.
wordserpent 07-05-05, 12:47 PM	Yes, I saw it and thought it would be great for some less experianced players i game with. Shame it has such an offensive title though, I would be quite embarrassed if I bought it. Perhaps it should have been titled: "D&D for Normal People"? The Title: "D&D for Int<14" would be too much gamespeak.
Feeroper 07-05-05, 11:10 PM	Thanks for the opinions so far, anyone else have one they are willing to share? Personally the title doesnt bother me, the "Dummies" books are well known, so imo It wouldnt make you look stupid.
WizO_Cat 07-05-05, 11:31 PM	Actually, I thought about getting the book for my wife. She's really not into gaming and maybe this would help her understand. As for the "Subject X for Dummies" titles, I really don't let the Dummies parts phase me too much. My wife and I got the "The Complete Idiots Guide for 20th Century History" and I've actually picked up a thing or two from it - and I'm a history geek.
Cymraegmorgan 07-06-05, 09:32 AM	Shame it has such an offensive title though, I would be quite embarrassed if I bought it. I thought the same thing until I bought the Dummies HTML and the Web Pages books. By thumbing through both books over a thirty minute period, I was able to build the basics of my website in two hours. I know the next time I need information fast, and need it well organized, I will brazenly show my "Dummyhood" to the clerk at the bookstore by buying one of this series.
diaglo 07-06-05, 10:31 AM	Actually, I thought about getting the book for my wife. She's really not into gaming and maybe this would help her understand. As for the "Subject X for Dummies" titles, I really don't let the Dummies parts phase me too much. My wife and I got the "The Complete Idiots Guide for 20th Century History" and I've actually picked up a thing or two from it - and I'm a history geek. i bought 6 copies and gave them to my group.
freckle_smoker 07-06-05, 11:07 AM	I have it and it showed Me a few things I didnt know about the game and I play pretty regularly .
J Milburn 07-06-05, 01:57 PM	i bought 6 copies and gave them to my group. Brilliant. Is that genuine? And i have never seen the 'for dummies' books before, thats probably why i saw it as so offensive. They are probably not sold so much in england.
Giant Turtle 07-06-05, 03:21 PM	I've got a few years under my belt, but when I saw it, I thought it would be cool to have on principal, if nothing else, you could toss it at a player whenever he needs help, or let the newbies read it. I have a lot of friends that don't have NEAR the experience I do, so they could really use it. Its like the book of exalted deeds or book of vile darkness, you read it if your a gamer and you get a level in "Gamer" If your not a gamer and you read it, save or become a first level "Gamer" lol
pangalactic 07-06-05, 03:22 PM	Brilliant. Is that genuine? And i have never seen the 'for dummies' books before, thats probably why i saw it as so offensive. They are probably not sold so much in england. I'm from England and i've seen them before - I think it just depends on your interests, most seem to be computer-related, so if you're not into computers or any kind of programming you probably haven't had reason to look at them. They're usually pretty good, though :)
Thorvar 07-06-05, 04:16 PM	I didn't know there was such a book... but I will probably be picking it up! I love the "Dummies" books, and the "Idiot's Guide" books as well. I too was skeptical, then one day I picked up Middle Earth for Dummies and it blew me away. Very well written and great for even a "hard core" LoTR fan like myself.
Stardrake 07-06-05, 11:11 PM	For the benefit of our friends Across the Water, I'll point out that the "(X) for Dummies" series is probably the most popular series of basic informational books in the US. It all started with a book called DOS for Dummies back in the late 80's, covering MS-DOS 3.3. Since then the series has exploded and now covers all sorts of topics--from technical to cooking to gardenig to sports to intellectual topics (Shakespeare for Dummies, Philosophy For Dummies, etc) and yes, even Sex For Dummies (by Dr. Ruth Westheimer, no less!). While a few people over here are also offended by the title, most just absorb the info inside, laugh at the jokes and cartoons, and enjoy.
Mythmaker 07-07-05, 10:38 AM	When and if the gods ever smile upon me and I actually have a group to play with.....this book will be at the top of my list for new and prospective players. It's like the cliff-notes version of the PhB. =) Mythmaker
rbrt_Spade 07-07-05, 11:08 AM	i learned some programing from the seris and bugs in windows 98 networks! :)
diaglo 07-07-05, 01:56 PM	Brilliant. Is that genuine? And i have never seen the 'for dummies' books before, thats probably why i saw it as so offensive. They are probably not sold so much in england. mais bien sur. i never joke about gaming. it was okay. not exactly what i was hoping for. but the DMG II has that more in hand i believe.
ILL34GL3 07-07-05, 02:00 PM	I randomly opened up a copy at my FLGS, saw that there was a whole page on what kind of shield your cleric should use, and put it back on the shelf.
RolandStJude 07-07-05, 07:11 PM	To the OP: I would recommend, for a gamer with the level of experience that you seem to have, that you spend a couple hours reading/skimming through it in a Barnes & Noble, Borders, or other "read-in" type bookstore. It's got some decent explanations and may help you explain things to others. I got what I wanted out of it that way. I found it interesting, but not terribly useful in an ongoing sense. I'm glad that I looked at it, and more glad that I didn't buy it. Roland St. Jude Insert humorous sig here.