Very Confused About FR, and D&D in general [Archive] - Wizards Community

Very Confused About FR, and D&D in general [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
ToxicWire
11-02-05, 04:42 PM Well, EQ2 wasn't what I had hoped and I now am awaiting the launch of Vanguard: Saga of Heroes. Until then, I am thinking about taking up D&D in some form to play until then and even afterwards, and if I do it'll probably be FR that I make a character in. All I know about D&D is its a PnP RPG and its fantasy. That's it. Oh, and that you need a DM and other players. All of my friends are not into things like this (fantasy). So... how would I being to play without others and what would I need to buy?

EDIT: Also, since this is a RP game and I am a RPer from MMORPGs, how does RPing work in this game? It seems like it would be hard to do...

Thanks for all the help!
Shike
11-02-05, 07:02 PM Well, I think the first thing that you need to realize is that when in game you "act" as your character as in when you talk you are either saying what your character is saying, or describing what your character is doing. Much of the game (hopefully) is character interaction, not combat, though modules are generally a little more combat heavy. it is impossible to play this game by yourself, you need at least 1 other person. There are boards where you can advertise that you are new to the game and wish to play, but you need others. After you build your character, that is your characters set of abilities, characteristics, etc, but you, and only you can actually decide your character's personality,which for some (like myself) becomes the hard part. :)

The forgotten realms is probably the most popular D&D setting. It has a lot of history and materials. If you only want to be a player, and play in the realms, you really only need 2 books and a set of dice. THe books are the Players Handbook and Player's Guide to the Faerun. These two items will teach you how to build a character and play in the realms. Other than that you don't need anything. If you want you can pick up other supplements, such as any of the complete series or other realms products.

FYI, being a DM, especially a new DM, is a lot of work, but becomes easier with time. THe point of a Roleplay game, either tabletop or LARP, is to tell a story using the Player Characters as the main characters and NonPlayer Characters as the backdrop. If you read any of the fantasy books in the realms, such as the Cleric Quintet by R.A. Salvatore, the main characters should be considered the Player Characters and anyone else is an NPC.

If you have any further question please ask as the people on these boards are usually helpful. Also, if you are thinking of using the realms, I highly suggest going over to http://www.candlekeep.com and join the boards there as well.
Old Sage
11-02-05, 08:26 PM Great way to mention Candlekeep.com Shike... Big Al would be pleased :cool:.

Additionally, I'd also mention that ToxicWire also take a look over the material hosted at this very site -- namely the FR webpage here at WotC. There's plenty of introductionary material and source information that can provide a taste of what the Realms has to offer.
Shike
11-02-05, 08:39 PM Old Mage,

I do like the website for its information as well as the boards. Sometimes get better info than here... sometimes :)

Cheers :pint:
ClobberinTime
11-03-05, 09:29 AM My suggestion is that before you play familiarize yourself with the rules, the best way to do this is to make some characters and run them through some modules solo. Buy a couple of copies of dungeon. Also you might want to just play with one other person the first time so its easier not to get distracted by four people talking at once.

Make your Players experts on their spells and abilities, i.e. make them write up short descriptions of what all their spells do.

Check over their characters carefully before you start playing and make sure they got basic things like AC, flat footed AC, Touch AC etc... right.

one of the tricky parts for someone playing computer games is that the the Pen and Paper game is turn based, read over that section of the Players handbook thouroughly.
Bladegeek
11-04-05, 10:05 AM Don't mean to thread jack here but I have a question:

I have just learned how to play the 3.5 edition of D&D....I grew up on the first edition....and having been the DM through this re-learning processes I mess up a bunch of stuff. I am starting fresh in forgotten realms setting now but I am having a hard time to developing a campaign theme. I would like to work the PC from 1 level growing in some kind of Drow sub-plot to work them towards the city of the spider queen some day. Is there a "generic or standard" campaign plot in forgotten realms along that line or do I need to stop being lazy and develop one myself?
Shike
11-04-05, 10:30 AM Overall, I think you're probably going to have to do it on your own, though if you have the CotSQ Module there will probably be good information about how to get your characters into it.

You might (from adventure one) try to intorduce the drow and knowledge of Menzoberanzan (sp?), but don't have them as "on state" antagonists quite yet. Have them working in the background for whoever your antagonist is going to be (controling the scenes from behind is something drow are quite good at) Othrwise, you can pick and choose some of the adventures form the downloads page from the DND/FR site.
ToxicWire
11-04-05, 04:34 PM Thanks for the advice! Also, what other campaigns are there other than FR? I am looking to play the one with most races/classes or whatnot. :P
Majorafire77
11-04-05, 11:36 PM Thanks for the advice! Also, what other campaigns are there other than FR? I am looking to play the one with most races/classes or whatnot. :P
If I were you, I'd go with the adventure path that WotC made for 3.0 a while ago (Sunless Citadel and friends). I'm not that big on FR, but I know that there is tons of information about it. Especially for an MMORPG player such as yourself who's looking for a short-term role-playing experience until the next video game comes out, I think the adventure path makes the most sense.

Since they came out a while ago, they're pretty cheap, and they outline the entire dungeon for the DM (especially great for newbies). They also outline the entire scenario so a newer DM doesn't get overwhelmed. I recommend trying the Sunless Citadel before you buy any others, to see if you like the pre-made adventures and to get a good feel for how the d20 system works. While your character may not be the fireball-slinging lightning-blasting mage that you were looking for, a more basic character is better for newer players. If you try starting off with said uber-character, you'll find yourself overwhelmed.
ToxicWire
11-05-05, 12:29 PM Especially for an MMORPG player such as yourself who's looking for a short-term role-playing experience until the next video game comes out, I think the adventure path makes the most sense.

Hehe, nah. I have always been interested in DnD, and I figured it best to start while waiting for Vanguard: Saga of Heroes. Once that is out, I will be playing both. Not ditching DnD for a MMORPG. :D

EDIT: And what is this AD&D I hear about? I am still confused about DnD...
Majorafire77
11-05-05, 01:43 PM Hehe, nah. I have always been interested in DnD, and I figured it best to start while waiting for Vanguard: Saga of Heroes. Once that is out, I will be playing both. Not ditching DnD for a MMORPG. :D
Alright then. I guess your main options are the adventure path, homebrew setting, FR, or Eberron. Like I said, the adventure path is pretty cool. Eberron (which is what I primarily play) is a newer setting from WotC and is excelent, but it isn't Tolkien-esque if that's what you're looking for. There's loads of good stuff to be said for it, however (which I won't say because this is an FR board). FR is a highly detailed fantasy world that will give you your high-fantasy fix if that's what you're looking for. It has uber-mages, gods that walk the earth, and all that fun stuff.

Alternatively, you (or your DM) could simply make a homebrew setting and you can play in there. This would be where your DM makes the world however he wants it and you guys travel around in it. Both Eberron and the Forgotten Realms were once homebrew settings iirc, but they were good enough to be taken to the next level and to be marketed by TSR/WotC.
EDIT: And what is this AD&D I hear about? I am still confused about DnD...
AD&D stands for Advanced Dungeons and Dragons, which is a term not used by WotC anymore. I didn't play before 3rd edition, so I might be wrong, but I believe that AD&D was simply the term used to describe 2nd edtion the way that D&D is used to describe the current edition. I'm sure one of these guys knows better than I do though.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
ToxicWire 11-02-05, 04:42 PM	Well, EQ2 wasn't what I had hoped and I now am awaiting the launch of Vanguard: Saga of Heroes. Until then, I am thinking about taking up D&D in some form to play until then and even afterwards, and if I do it'll probably be FR that I make a character in. All I know about D&D is its a PnP RPG and its fantasy. That's it. Oh, and that you need a DM and other players. All of my friends are not into things like this (fantasy). So... how would I being to play without others and what would I need to buy? EDIT: Also, since this is a RP game and I am a RPer from MMORPGs, how does RPing work in this game? It seems like it would be hard to do... Thanks for all the help!
Shike 11-02-05, 07:02 PM	Well, I think the first thing that you need to realize is that when in game you "act" as your character as in when you talk you are either saying what your character is saying, or describing what your character is doing. Much of the game (hopefully) is character interaction, not combat, though modules are generally a little more combat heavy. it is impossible to play this game by yourself, you need at least 1 other person. There are boards where you can advertise that you are new to the game and wish to play, but you need others. After you build your character, that is your characters set of abilities, characteristics, etc, but you, and only you can actually decide your character's personality,which for some (like myself) becomes the hard part. :) The forgotten realms is probably the most popular D&D setting. It has a lot of history and materials. If you only want to be a player, and play in the realms, you really only need 2 books and a set of dice. THe books are the Players Handbook and Player's Guide to the Faerun. These two items will teach you how to build a character and play in the realms. Other than that you don't need anything. If you want you can pick up other supplements, such as any of the complete series or other realms products. FYI, being a DM, especially a new DM, is a lot of work, but becomes easier with time. THe point of a Roleplay game, either tabletop or LARP, is to tell a story using the Player Characters as the main characters and NonPlayer Characters as the backdrop. If you read any of the fantasy books in the realms, such as the Cleric Quintet by R.A. Salvatore, the main characters should be considered the Player Characters and anyone else is an NPC. If you have any further question please ask as the people on these boards are usually helpful. Also, if you are thinking of using the realms, I highly suggest going over to http://www.candlekeep.com and join the boards there as well.
Old Sage 11-02-05, 08:26 PM	Great way to mention Candlekeep.com Shike... Big Al would be pleased :cool:. Additionally, I'd also mention that ToxicWire also take a look over the material hosted at this very site -- namely the FR webpage here at WotC. There's plenty of introductionary material and source information that can provide a taste of what the Realms has to offer.
Shike 11-02-05, 08:39 PM	Old Mage, I do like the website for its information as well as the boards. Sometimes get better info than here... sometimes :) Cheers :pint:
ClobberinTime 11-03-05, 09:29 AM	My suggestion is that before you play familiarize yourself with the rules, the best way to do this is to make some characters and run them through some modules solo. Buy a couple of copies of dungeon. Also you might want to just play with one other person the first time so its easier not to get distracted by four people talking at once. Make your Players experts on their spells and abilities, i.e. make them write up short descriptions of what all their spells do. Check over their characters carefully before you start playing and make sure they got basic things like AC, flat footed AC, Touch AC etc... right. one of the tricky parts for someone playing computer games is that the the Pen and Paper game is turn based, read over that section of the Players handbook thouroughly.
Bladegeek 11-04-05, 10:05 AM	Don't mean to thread jack here but I have a question: I have just learned how to play the 3.5 edition of D&D....I grew up on the first edition....and having been the DM through this re-learning processes I mess up a bunch of stuff. I am starting fresh in forgotten realms setting now but I am having a hard time to developing a campaign theme. I would like to work the PC from 1 level growing in some kind of Drow sub-plot to work them towards the city of the spider queen some day. Is there a "generic or standard" campaign plot in forgotten realms along that line or do I need to stop being lazy and develop one myself?
Shike 11-04-05, 10:30 AM	Overall, I think you're probably going to have to do it on your own, though if you have the CotSQ Module there will probably be good information about how to get your characters into it. You might (from adventure one) try to intorduce the drow and knowledge of Menzoberanzan (sp?), but don't have them as "on state" antagonists quite yet. Have them working in the background for whoever your antagonist is going to be (controling the scenes from behind is something drow are quite good at) Othrwise, you can pick and choose some of the adventures form the downloads page from the DND/FR site.
ToxicWire 11-04-05, 04:34 PM	Thanks for the advice! Also, what other campaigns are there other than FR? I am looking to play the one with most races/classes or whatnot. :P
Majorafire77 11-04-05, 11:36 PM	Thanks for the advice! Also, what other campaigns are there other than FR? I am looking to play the one with most races/classes or whatnot. :P If I were you, I'd go with the adventure path that WotC made for 3.0 a while ago (Sunless Citadel and friends). I'm not that big on FR, but I know that there is tons of information about it. Especially for an MMORPG player such as yourself who's looking for a short-term role-playing experience until the next video game comes out, I think the adventure path makes the most sense. Since they came out a while ago, they're pretty cheap, and they outline the entire dungeon for the DM (especially great for newbies). They also outline the entire scenario so a newer DM doesn't get overwhelmed. I recommend trying the Sunless Citadel before you buy any others, to see if you like the pre-made adventures and to get a good feel for how the d20 system works. While your character may not be the fireball-slinging lightning-blasting mage that you were looking for, a more basic character is better for newer players. If you try starting off with said uber-character, you'll find yourself overwhelmed.
ToxicWire 11-05-05, 12:29 PM	Especially for an MMORPG player such as yourself who's looking for a short-term role-playing experience until the next video game comes out, I think the adventure path makes the most sense. Hehe, nah. I have always been interested in DnD, and I figured it best to start while waiting for Vanguard: Saga of Heroes. Once that is out, I will be playing both. Not ditching DnD for a MMORPG. :D EDIT: And what is this AD&D I hear about? I am still confused about DnD...
Majorafire77 11-05-05, 01:43 PM	Hehe, nah. I have always been interested in DnD, and I figured it best to start while waiting for Vanguard: Saga of Heroes. Once that is out, I will be playing both. Not ditching DnD for a MMORPG. :D Alright then. I guess your main options are the adventure path, homebrew setting, FR, or Eberron. Like I said, the adventure path is pretty cool. Eberron (which is what I primarily play) is a newer setting from WotC and is excelent, but it isn't Tolkien-esque if that's what you're looking for. There's loads of good stuff to be said for it, however (which I won't say because this is an FR board). FR is a highly detailed fantasy world that will give you your high-fantasy fix if that's what you're looking for. It has uber-mages, gods that walk the earth, and all that fun stuff. Alternatively, you (or your DM) could simply make a homebrew setting and you can play in there. This would be where your DM makes the world however he wants it and you guys travel around in it. Both Eberron and the Forgotten Realms were once homebrew settings iirc, but they were good enough to be taken to the next level and to be marketed by TSR/WotC. EDIT: And what is this AD&D I hear about? I am still confused about DnD... AD&D stands for Advanced Dungeons and Dragons, which is a term not used by WotC anymore. I didn't play before 3rd edition, so I might be wrong, but I believe that AD&D was simply the term used to describe 2nd edtion the way that D&D is used to describe the current edition. I'm sure one of these guys knows better than I do though.