Overwhelmed [Archive] - Wizards Community

Overwhelmed [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
ToxicWire
11-05-05, 09:19 PM I had my mom drop me off at the bookstore for about 2-3 hours today. That's normal for me, as I love going there just to browse and find or find a new book to read. I love the bookstore, but my last few trips I have looked at D&D, and not until this past week have I considered it and FR (FR because I have read so much of Drizzt. Salvatore is an excellent writer.). Those 2 or so hours today I read and skimmed the main Forgotten Realms book, the Player's Handbook v3.5, and the DM Guide book (forget exact name). Those were VERY long and complicated. I skimmed other books and, from what little I could understand, your character can be turned into a lycanthrope or undead. You can be a vampire and other undead classes. There are TONS of cofusing prestige classes and the basic ones are confusing enough.... if I end up being able to play, it'll take atleast 6 months if I read a lot to thoroughly read and comprehend the handbook and the FR book.

All of this seems amazingly overwhelming.... am I looking at it in the wrong perspective or what?
Jerseykill
11-05-05, 10:07 PM Dude, as for right now, just buy the three core rule-books; infact, at first all you need is the PHB, as, I'm assuming, you don't have a group to game with as of yet?

Digging into the game at first is a HUGE undertaking, and being overwhelmed is a very easy thing to have happened to you; Hell, I remember buying the game and quitting because it was so darn confusing when I was around thirteen or so (being as I'm sixteen now). So, my advice, is take a few weeks to just go over stuff within the PHB (Player's Handbook), and the DMG (the Dungeon Master's Guide, by the way :)); and, if I am correct, find a group to play with!
And, once you've got a good grasp on this stuff, purchase the FRCH (Forgotten Realms Core Handbook) so you can run/play in games within the wonderful setting of Forgotten Realms. (Buying supplements and thing's shouldn't even be on your mind yet, there are far to many! The history/certain nit-picky aspects of the setting are not so important as the genuine feeling it has!)
If you plan on DM'ing, you'll need to read up on everything and get creative; and you'll have to purchase a copy of the MM (Monster's Manual) to use the Monster's already pre-generated within to throw against your player's.

Hell, it wouldn't hurt to buy the D&D Newb Pack thinger, as it has pre-set adventure's and character's you could practice on. :)

Learning the game does take a little bit of time, but, hell, it's part of the initial fun. But you'll be damn well good and into the immersiveness of it in no time! :)

If you live anywhere in central NJ I would be glad to help you out! :)

Hope I've helped!

-A fellow Noob who's gotten a good hang of it.
Shike
11-06-05, 12:10 PM I will have to agree with Jersey Kill. I've only been roleplaying for 6 years (give or take) and have found a deep love for the game. Start with the PHB and learn the rules. it is the only thing you need to begin to play the game. The DMG is a source book for DM's to hand out xp world build, magical items, etc. Very important for DMs but not really important at all for players.

BTW, D&D is a much easier game to learn than the HERO system, so be glad you're starting where you are.

Also, find some people to play with, it is always better to work these things out with others, especially if you can find an experienced patient player who will teach the game to you. I find this is the best way, as I'm currently teaching my wife the game, and she is enjoying it immensly.

Cheers :pint:
Majorafire77
11-06-05, 02:34 PM Just buy the Player's Handbook for now and play games online (such as at www.dndonlinegames.com (http://www.dndonlinegames.com)) before you start trying to get into DMing and stuff like that. In fact, before you even do that you should take a look at the SRD (http://www.d20srd.org), which is pretty much a compilation of 99% of the rules presented in the three core books combined.
Zevox
11-06-05, 09:51 PM As a basic introductory to the rules of D&D, you may want to buy the D&D Basic Game. It comes with a small, premade adventure, a miniature rulebook containing basic rules necessary for that adventure, as well as some tiles made specfically for it, premade stats sheets for four characters, a set of dice, and a number of minis to represent those characters/creatures. The adventure isn't much story-wise, but it gets you oriented to the basics of the game's mechanics at least. Thats how I started the game after being in a similar position to yours: having read FR novels for about two years, primarily R.A. Salvatore's, but having never picked up the game itself.

After that, read through the Player's Handbook (PHB) to get used to the specifics of the game mechanics. Once you understand the way the rules work prety well, its just a matter of getting a group together (and getting them to learn said rules) and getting a game going (for which you'll also require the Dungeon Master's Guide and Monster Manual for the DM's use). If you want it to be in the Forgotten Realms, that'd be when you pick up the Campaign Settign book or Player's Guide to Faerūn for basic info on the setting and how to work games in there.

Zevox
Kessalin Talira
11-06-05, 10:12 PM Go to the D&D home page (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/welcome) and subscribe to the newsletter. The link is on the bottom left of the page. Read through those as they arrive, and buy the PHB. Read through that, completely, at least once, then make up some sample characters. Then get the DMG and Monster Manual. When you're done reading those, you'll have a good grasp on things. THEN, get the Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting if you really want it, but make sure you get the Player's Guide to Faerun at around the same time, so that you can see how things changed when converting to the revised rules.

Yes, it'll take some time, but it's time very well spent. :D

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
ToxicWire 11-05-05, 09:19 PM	I had my mom drop me off at the bookstore for about 2-3 hours today. That's normal for me, as I love going there just to browse and find or find a new book to read. I love the bookstore, but my last few trips I have looked at D&D, and not until this past week have I considered it and FR (FR because I have read so much of Drizzt. Salvatore is an excellent writer.). Those 2 or so hours today I read and skimmed the main Forgotten Realms book, the Player's Handbook v3.5, and the DM Guide book (forget exact name). Those were VERY long and complicated. I skimmed other books and, from what little I could understand, your character can be turned into a lycanthrope or undead. You can be a vampire and other undead classes. There are TONS of cofusing prestige classes and the basic ones are confusing enough.... if I end up being able to play, it'll take atleast 6 months if I read a lot to thoroughly read and comprehend the handbook and the FR book. All of this seems amazingly overwhelming.... am I looking at it in the wrong perspective or what?
Jerseykill 11-05-05, 10:07 PM	Dude, as for right now, just buy the three core rule-books; infact, at first all you need is the PHB, as, I'm assuming, you don't have a group to game with as of yet? Digging into the game at first is a HUGE undertaking, and being overwhelmed is a very easy thing to have happened to you; Hell, I remember buying the game and quitting because it was so darn confusing when I was around thirteen or so (being as I'm sixteen now). So, my advice, is take a few weeks to just go over stuff within the PHB (Player's Handbook), and the DMG (the Dungeon Master's Guide, by the way :)); and, if I am correct, find a group to play with! And, once you've got a good grasp on this stuff, purchase the FRCH (Forgotten Realms Core Handbook) so you can run/play in games within the wonderful setting of Forgotten Realms. (Buying supplements and thing's shouldn't even be on your mind yet, there are far to many! The history/certain nit-picky aspects of the setting are not so important as the genuine feeling it has!) If you plan on DM'ing, you'll need to read up on everything and get creative; and you'll have to purchase a copy of the MM (Monster's Manual) to use the Monster's already pre-generated within to throw against your player's. Hell, it wouldn't hurt to buy the D&D Newb Pack thinger, as it has pre-set adventure's and character's you could practice on. :) Learning the game does take a little bit of time, but, hell, it's part of the initial fun. But you'll be damn well good and into the immersiveness of it in no time! :) If you live anywhere in central NJ I would be glad to help you out! :) Hope I've helped! -A fellow Noob who's gotten a good hang of it.
Shike 11-06-05, 12:10 PM	I will have to agree with Jersey Kill. I've only been roleplaying for 6 years (give or take) and have found a deep love for the game. Start with the PHB and learn the rules. it is the only thing you need to begin to play the game. The DMG is a source book for DM's to hand out xp world build, magical items, etc. Very important for DMs but not really important at all for players. BTW, D&D is a much easier game to learn than the HERO system, so be glad you're starting where you are. Also, find some people to play with, it is always better to work these things out with others, especially if you can find an experienced patient player who will teach the game to you. I find this is the best way, as I'm currently teaching my wife the game, and she is enjoying it immensly. Cheers :pint:
Majorafire77 11-06-05, 02:34 PM	Just buy the Player's Handbook for now and play games online (such as at www.dndonlinegames.com (http://www.dndonlinegames.com)) before you start trying to get into DMing and stuff like that. In fact, before you even do that you should take a look at the SRD (http://www.d20srd.org), which is pretty much a compilation of 99% of the rules presented in the three core books combined.
Zevox 11-06-05, 09:51 PM	As a basic introductory to the rules of D&D, you may want to buy the D&D Basic Game. It comes with a small, premade adventure, a miniature rulebook containing basic rules necessary for that adventure, as well as some tiles made specfically for it, premade stats sheets for four characters, a set of dice, and a number of minis to represent those characters/creatures. The adventure isn't much story-wise, but it gets you oriented to the basics of the game's mechanics at least. Thats how I started the game after being in a similar position to yours: having read FR novels for about two years, primarily R.A. Salvatore's, but having never picked up the game itself. After that, read through the Player's Handbook (PHB) to get used to the specifics of the game mechanics. Once you understand the way the rules work prety well, its just a matter of getting a group together (and getting them to learn said rules) and getting a game going (for which you'll also require the Dungeon Master's Guide and Monster Manual for the DM's use). If you want it to be in the Forgotten Realms, that'd be when you pick up the Campaign Settign book or Player's Guide to Faerūn for basic info on the setting and how to work games in there. Zevox
Kessalin Talira 11-06-05, 10:12 PM	Go to the D&D home page (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/welcome) and subscribe to the newsletter. The link is on the bottom left of the page. Read through those as they arrive, and buy the PHB. Read through that, completely, at least once, then make up some sample characters. Then get the DMG and Monster Manual. When you're done reading those, you'll have a good grasp on things. THEN, get the Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting if you really want it, but make sure you get the Player's Guide to Faerun at around the same time, so that you can see how things changed when converting to the revised rules. Yes, it'll take some time, but it's time very well spent. :D