New Player Looking for Advice [Archive] - Wizards Community

New Player Looking for Advice [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
wboyden
09-06-06, 12:00 PM Hi

I played D&D a long time ago, recently gotten a rpga number and have enrolled into D&D rewards been looking into the living greyhawk compaign. Mainly looking for online play but I have been reading posts and posts and have join the yahoo group for greyhawk and bissel (the region im in)

But I need help in getting started, from charactor creation on, I have 3.5 PHB as as I have downloaded the campaign sourcebook

Can someone help me out and at least point me in the right direction, where to get started I have read about the TU and the military service but not sure how exactly that works either.

thanks in advance
Bill
trollbill
09-06-06, 12:06 PM Hi

I played D&D a long time ago, recently gotten a rpga number and have enrolled into D&D rewards been looking into the living greyhawk compaign. Mainly looking for online play but I have been reading posts and posts and have join the yahoo group for greyhawk and bissel (the region im in)

But I need help in getting started, from charactor creation on, I have 3.5 PHB as as I have downloaded the campaign sourcebook

Can someone help me out and at least point me in the right direction, where to get started I have read about the TU and the military service but not sure how exactly that works either.

thanks in advance
Bill

Well, the most important thing you need to do is download the Living Greyhawk Campaign Standards from the RPGA Home page. This should answer most, if not all, of your questions. If you have any questions after reading it. Ask again.
kenobi65
09-06-06, 12:22 PM Sounds like he's got the LGCS.

As you've already joined the Bissel Yahoo group, you'll likely find it's easier to get answers to region-specific questions there (like your questions on military service), then here on this general board.

Also, Bissel's region web site is at:
http://hobbes.viceandvillainy.org:4242/Bissel/

Finally, regarding online play...just remember that only Cores can be played online. There are several Yahoo groups which exist to facilitate online RPGA play; the most relevant one for you is going to be OnlineGameDay:
http://games.groups.yahoo.com/group/OnlineGameDay/

Most online play of LG that I've seen recently is done using a shareware program called OpenRPG, so you'll want to look into downloading a copy of that. My understanding is that some folks find OpenRPG to have a steep learning curve, but there are people on the OGD list who are often willing to help new players figure things out.
wboyden
09-06-06, 12:46 PM Thanks for the quick replys,

Yes, I have the LGCS have gone through it mostly, Also been looking at more in depth at creation and the fast play ones as well.

I have been to Bissel's region web site and also joined that list as well, I have also joined the game day one and downloaded that program although I have not had a chance to get it setup.

I am going to try to get it going tonight, As for only playing cores online I dont think that would be a problem since I am just starting out.

I guess I should point out that I have taken the master level dm test, So I am not a complete newcomer just really new to the living concept.

I will be starting off just as a player online and then possibly moving to a DM for local play. I do have a couple of people that may also be interested in playing (currently get together for mini games now and then).

But they currently are not RPGA members.

So I would guess that I would need to get a character created and the program installed and running then find a game I can get into.

thanks for your time
chesspiece
09-06-06, 01:45 PM I will be starting off just as a player online and then possibly moving to a DM for local play. I do have a couple of people that may also be interested in playing (currently get together for mini games now and then).

But they currently are not RPGA members.

So I would guess that I would need to get a character created and the program installed and running then find a game I can get into.

thanks for your time

Sounds like you're in good shape. As you may have noticed, most of the LG community / messageboards are friendly. So keep asking if you run into trouble.

As a warning, some find that LG is a bit high on the 'combat danger' scale. There are a number of sites that are dedicated to PC creation / builds for LG. Of course, the group I regularly play with has several Players that are new to RPGs and they've survived well with un-optimized PCs. About the only global advice I've seen is: don't be shy about buying some consumables at the lower levels and (almost always) spend 6 points on Con - giving you a 14 before racial modifiers.

Since you're starting by playing online, you could decide to ignore Regional stuff (Bissel in your case) at first. Your PC is allowed to choose any of the LG Regions as his Home Region. There are a few in-game benefits (joining meta-organization groups such as the military, lower TU cost for playing your Region's modules) but you can play without them.

Good luck and have fun!

Stephen Martin
trollbill
09-06-06, 03:37 PM You might also want to look around at the convention/game day listings on Wizards' web site or Warhorn.net. If there is a game day or convention in your area of Bissel, you might want to think about going to it. You can talk to people face to face then (which usually gets you better answers than online) and get a better feel for LG.
wboyden
09-06-06, 04:18 PM You might also want to look around at the convention/game day listings on Wizards' web site or Warhorn.net. If there is a game day or convention in your area of Bissel, you might want to think about going to it. You can talk to people face to face then (which usually gets you better answers than online) and get a better feel for LG.

Thanks again for the replys, I have lookup on the rpga calander for places and there is the problem as there is only 3 places listed and they are all about 90 minutes away there be the case of looking to play online

chesspiece, I actual would rather not ignore those peices entirly would rather would them into the character and then I would be more firmilar with them at least the aspects of anyway when I was able to play them.
kenobi65
09-06-06, 04:25 PM Thanks again for the replys, I have lookup on the rpga calander for places and there is the problem as there is only 3 places listed and they are all about 90 minutes away there be the case of looking to play online.

The event calendar's not always a great resource for finding a game, as a lot of games aren't listed with a great deal of lead time...and home games, being private, aren't listed at all.

You're probably more likely to hear of play opportunities on the Bissel group...you may even want to post on that group, indicating that you're just starting up, and looking for a game or two (preferably an Intro module).
UMiskatonic
09-20-06, 03:31 PM Apologies if you already know this.

Well, you get 52 TU a year. Those are time units, which you know, and you use them to go adventuring (generally, 1-2 every 4 hour game). Unless you're from Bissel, in which case you also use them to do military service.

This prevents people with more free time from having the most powerful characters in existence. Instead, they'll just have more characters than you do, making it easier to play together.

Along the same lines, everyone gets 28 points for stats, everyone gets about 70% of total possible hit points, and everyone gets maximum starting gold. That way you don't have to look strangely at that kid who swears he rolled 6 18s in a row.

Gear from the players handbook is available to all, as are low level potions and scrolls, and +1 armor and weapons, and a few more things. After that, you have to earn it. After each adventure, you'll get a piece of paper that tells you how much gold, how much Xp, and what treasure you find. Don't lose these, it's proof you earned it. In fact, your'e required to haul them around to every game, so invest in a shiny new 3-ring binder soon.

In Bissel, you'll get benefits from the Profession soldier skill. You'll want to think about how you relate to the army. Are you a slacker, like Hawkeye from MASH, or are you all gung-ho for Bissel?

If you want something easy, be a fighter or a cleric. Those are easy to fit into an army, and you never have enough clerics.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
wboyden 09-06-06, 12:00 PM	Hi I played D&D a long time ago, recently gotten a rpga number and have enrolled into D&D rewards been looking into the living greyhawk compaign. Mainly looking for online play but I have been reading posts and posts and have join the yahoo group for greyhawk and bissel (the region im in) But I need help in getting started, from charactor creation on, I have 3.5 PHB as as I have downloaded the campaign sourcebook Can someone help me out and at least point me in the right direction, where to get started I have read about the TU and the military service but not sure how exactly that works either. thanks in advance Bill
trollbill 09-06-06, 12:06 PM	Hi I played D&D a long time ago, recently gotten a rpga number and have enrolled into D&D rewards been looking into the living greyhawk compaign. Mainly looking for online play but I have been reading posts and posts and have join the yahoo group for greyhawk and bissel (the region im in) But I need help in getting started, from charactor creation on, I have 3.5 PHB as as I have downloaded the campaign sourcebook Can someone help me out and at least point me in the right direction, where to get started I have read about the TU and the military service but not sure how exactly that works either. thanks in advance Bill Well, the most important thing you need to do is download the Living Greyhawk Campaign Standards from the RPGA Home page. This should answer most, if not all, of your questions. If you have any questions after reading it. Ask again.
kenobi65 09-06-06, 12:22 PM	Sounds like he's got the LGCS. As you've already joined the Bissel Yahoo group, you'll likely find it's easier to get answers to region-specific questions there (like your questions on military service), then here on this general board. Also, Bissel's region web site is at: http://hobbes.viceandvillainy.org:4242/Bissel/ Finally, regarding online play...just remember that only Cores can be played online. There are several Yahoo groups which exist to facilitate online RPGA play; the most relevant one for you is going to be OnlineGameDay: http://games.groups.yahoo.com/group/OnlineGameDay/ Most online play of LG that I've seen recently is done using a shareware program called OpenRPG, so you'll want to look into downloading a copy of that. My understanding is that some folks find OpenRPG to have a steep learning curve, but there are people on the OGD list who are often willing to help new players figure things out.
wboyden 09-06-06, 12:46 PM	Thanks for the quick replys, Yes, I have the LGCS have gone through it mostly, Also been looking at more in depth at creation and the fast play ones as well. I have been to Bissel's region web site and also joined that list as well, I have also joined the game day one and downloaded that program although I have not had a chance to get it setup. I am going to try to get it going tonight, As for only playing cores online I dont think that would be a problem since I am just starting out. I guess I should point out that I have taken the master level dm test, So I am not a complete newcomer just really new to the living concept. I will be starting off just as a player online and then possibly moving to a DM for local play. I do have a couple of people that may also be interested in playing (currently get together for mini games now and then). But they currently are not RPGA members. So I would guess that I would need to get a character created and the program installed and running then find a game I can get into. thanks for your time
chesspiece 09-06-06, 01:45 PM	I will be starting off just as a player online and then possibly moving to a DM for local play. I do have a couple of people that may also be interested in playing (currently get together for mini games now and then). But they currently are not RPGA members. So I would guess that I would need to get a character created and the program installed and running then find a game I can get into. thanks for your time Sounds like you're in good shape. As you may have noticed, most of the LG community / messageboards are friendly. So keep asking if you run into trouble. As a warning, some find that LG is a bit high on the 'combat danger' scale. There are a number of sites that are dedicated to PC creation / builds for LG. Of course, the group I regularly play with has several Players that are new to RPGs and they've survived well with un-optimized PCs. About the only global advice I've seen is: don't be shy about buying some consumables at the lower levels and (almost always) spend 6 points on Con - giving you a 14 before racial modifiers. Since you're starting by playing online, you could decide to ignore Regional stuff (Bissel in your case) at first. Your PC is allowed to choose any of the LG Regions as his Home Region. There are a few in-game benefits (joining meta-organization groups such as the military, lower TU cost for playing your Region's modules) but you can play without them. Good luck and have fun! Stephen Martin
trollbill 09-06-06, 03:37 PM	You might also want to look around at the convention/game day listings on Wizards' web site or Warhorn.net. If there is a game day or convention in your area of Bissel, you might want to think about going to it. You can talk to people face to face then (which usually gets you better answers than online) and get a better feel for LG.
wboyden 09-06-06, 04:18 PM	You might also want to look around at the convention/game day listings on Wizards' web site or Warhorn.net. If there is a game day or convention in your area of Bissel, you might want to think about going to it. You can talk to people face to face then (which usually gets you better answers than online) and get a better feel for LG. Thanks again for the replys, I have lookup on the rpga calander for places and there is the problem as there is only 3 places listed and they are all about 90 minutes away there be the case of looking to play online chesspiece, I actual would rather not ignore those peices entirly would rather would them into the character and then I would be more firmilar with them at least the aspects of anyway when I was able to play them.
kenobi65 09-06-06, 04:25 PM	Thanks again for the replys, I have lookup on the rpga calander for places and there is the problem as there is only 3 places listed and they are all about 90 minutes away there be the case of looking to play online. The event calendar's not always a great resource for finding a game, as a lot of games aren't listed with a great deal of lead time...and home games, being private, aren't listed at all. You're probably more likely to hear of play opportunities on the Bissel group...you may even want to post on that group, indicating that you're just starting up, and looking for a game or two (preferably an Intro module).
UMiskatonic 09-20-06, 03:31 PM	Apologies if you already know this. Well, you get 52 TU a year. Those are time units, which you know, and you use them to go adventuring (generally, 1-2 every 4 hour game). Unless you're from Bissel, in which case you also use them to do military service. This prevents people with more free time from having the most powerful characters in existence. Instead, they'll just have more characters than you do, making it easier to play together. Along the same lines, everyone gets 28 points for stats, everyone gets about 70% of total possible hit points, and everyone gets maximum starting gold. That way you don't have to look strangely at that kid who swears he rolled 6 18s in a row. Gear from the players handbook is available to all, as are low level potions and scrolls, and +1 armor and weapons, and a few more things. After that, you have to earn it. After each adventure, you'll get a piece of paper that tells you how much gold, how much Xp, and what treasure you find. Don't lose these, it's proof you earned it. In fact, your'e required to haul them around to every game, so invest in a shiny new 3-ring binder soon. In Bissel, you'll get benefits from the Profession soldier skill. You'll want to think about how you relate to the army. Are you a slacker, like Hawkeye from MASH, or are you all gung-ho for Bissel? If you want something easy, be a fighter or a cleric. Those are easy to fit into an army, and you never have enough clerics.