adding new players to a game? [Archive] - Wizards Community

adding new players to a game? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
MergedLoki
03-12-08, 01:59 AM hey all,
I have a group that played dnd regularly a few years back, and now we're getting back into it and we've brought along a few new people (my gf, a friends gf, and 2 other new friends that wanna give it a shot).
the problem is, as the dm i know most the rules and it falls to me to explain EVERYTHING which, gets kind of a annoying after having to explain how to roll up a character to a new person for the 4th time in as many weeks.
(as none of hte players seem to know the rules all that well and leave it to me to explain stuff for em).
I'm just wondering if there's any half decent ways people have come up with to give new players a run down on the basics of the game. (one of the things i've been doing just for ease on both my part and the new players is just using the base classes for em, n not letting em delve into complete warrior etc. etc. figure it'll make it easier for em).
Etarnon
03-12-08, 02:15 AM Use Pre Generated characters, that you create.

Buy them spare PHB's and pass them out. (This is why I play older editions, they are dirt cheap, so that every player can get one from me.)

Have the first session be a very basic roleplaying / simple combat session so that everyone learns at the same time.

Good luck.
MrWildman
03-12-08, 02:30 AM Hey,

I can't vouch for how decent any of these ideas are, but...

Someone completely new to RPGs is often fascinated by the funny-looking dice. I'll improvise a quick encounter for them.
"Okay, you're in the marketplace looking for new armor (Yeah, I know, whatever) and this guy wants to haggle. He's persuasive, but you're stubborn. Roll this and add +3" Handing over the d20 and completely winging it, "You've got to beat a 14."
After two or three of these they start to get the idea: "The shopkeeper tried to pull a hidden knife, so you want to..?" "I wanna hit him! What's his Defense, or whatever?"

You could also hand out some unimportant NPCs to everybody and have them roleplay some scene that adventurers never see. Cleaning up after a battle, preparing for the delivery of a dead dragon, etc.

Or you could use popular movies as examples and cross-reference game concepts mimicking certain stunts and moves. This method does carry the burden of having to say: "No, you can't do Neo!" far more often, so be warned.

There's probably others. I'll keep thinking.

Peace.
MergedLoki
03-13-08, 02:31 AM well the first poitn you made. is basically what i've done from way back when I was like.. 12 or 13 n just starting to learn 2nd E.

the problem is NOW my friends'll just tell new players 'yea he'll just tell you if you hit or miss just tell him what you rolled'

where as you know, the players hwo i've been with since day 1, know the whole ok his AC's 20 I get plus 3 to hit I gotta get a 17.

I dont mind u know making it easier for first timers it's just a hassle when it's 3+ in one go and everyone depends on me lol.
well for the MOST part (except for one brand new player this weekend) the other newbies are getting the hang of it enough that i dont have to hold their hand every step of the game.
Kouk
03-13-08, 02:47 AM How about the other guy's girlfriend teaches her, and you ask your friends nicely to read the book as much as possible and ask questions about things over email.

Reading the book is the fastest and best way I feel. Otherwise, just go through a lot of sessions until they get the hang of the common things, and hope they never try the complicated things.

Of course, if they aren't even aware of the complicated things, then they are limiting what they can do in the game which may reduce their fun levels.

EDIT: The other experienced players should help some more around the table though, so you can focus more on running the game. Just ask them to aid their fellow adventurers.
MergedLoki
03-13-08, 03:06 AM Yea, I have (asked other exp players to help out).

Problem being the MOST experienced ones (there's 2 others besides myself) can't make it to every session.. and one in fact can only make it every... 3 or 4 times due to work.

i've got one semi-exp player coming and I think i'll just tell the other players 'direct questions to him' and if he doenst' nkow i'll fill in. but it'll gimmie mroe time to u know... DM as oppose to flip through books for rules etc.
toucanbuzz
03-13-08, 10:39 AM I suggest "learn as you go."

1. Talk out the numbers until folks understand how they hit AC 15 or how their initiative is 10.

2. Tell them don't worry about all the crazy numbers up front on the premise they'll learn as they go.

3. Other players can help, such as pointing out how saves work when everyone has to roll one.

4. Give subtle hints to new players for skill usage. "Someone with good balance could probably make it across that slick ledge."

But to sit and try and tell them the rules, it won't work. They'll catch about two lines and forget the rest. :confused:

The D&D original website has a good interactive Demo that would be great for completely New players on its "what is D&D" heading.
Dunsel
03-13-08, 01:24 PM In addition to all the other excellent advice you have been given, you are the DM and, part of the DMs job is to instruct the players.

Since your experienced players cannot help you, the entire burden falls upon your shoulders. Learn to be patient and always remember what it was like the first day you started to learn the rules.

The DM is a story teller, referee, and teacher.

Edit: Also don't use those auto-calculating character sheets, they don't teach the players how the numbers work.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
MergedLoki 03-12-08, 01:59 AM	hey all, I have a group that played dnd regularly a few years back, and now we're getting back into it and we've brought along a few new people (my gf, a friends gf, and 2 other new friends that wanna give it a shot). the problem is, as the dm i know most the rules and it falls to me to explain EVERYTHING which, gets kind of a annoying after having to explain how to roll up a character to a new person for the 4th time in as many weeks. (as none of hte players seem to know the rules all that well and leave it to me to explain stuff for em). I'm just wondering if there's any half decent ways people have come up with to give new players a run down on the basics of the game. (one of the things i've been doing just for ease on both my part and the new players is just using the base classes for em, n not letting em delve into complete warrior etc. etc. figure it'll make it easier for em).
Etarnon 03-12-08, 02:15 AM	Use Pre Generated characters, that you create. Buy them spare PHB's and pass them out. (This is why I play older editions, they are dirt cheap, so that every player can get one from me.) Have the first session be a very basic roleplaying / simple combat session so that everyone learns at the same time. Good luck.
MrWildman 03-12-08, 02:30 AM	Hey, I can't vouch for how decent any of these ideas are, but... Someone completely new to RPGs is often fascinated by the funny-looking dice. I'll improvise a quick encounter for them. "Okay, you're in the marketplace looking for new armor (Yeah, I know, whatever) and this guy wants to haggle. He's persuasive, but you're stubborn. Roll this and add +3" Handing over the d20 and completely winging it, "You've got to beat a 14." After two or three of these they start to get the idea: "The shopkeeper tried to pull a hidden knife, so you want to..?" "I wanna hit him! What's his Defense, or whatever?" You could also hand out some unimportant NPCs to everybody and have them roleplay some scene that adventurers never see. Cleaning up after a battle, preparing for the delivery of a dead dragon, etc. Or you could use popular movies as examples and cross-reference game concepts mimicking certain stunts and moves. This method does carry the burden of having to say: "No, you can't do Neo!" far more often, so be warned. There's probably others. I'll keep thinking. Peace.
MergedLoki 03-13-08, 02:31 AM	well the first poitn you made. is basically what i've done from way back when I was like.. 12 or 13 n just starting to learn 2nd E. the problem is NOW my friends'll just tell new players 'yea he'll just tell you if you hit or miss just tell him what you rolled' where as you know, the players hwo i've been with since day 1, know the whole ok his AC's 20 I get plus 3 to hit I gotta get a 17. I dont mind u know making it easier for first timers it's just a hassle when it's 3+ in one go and everyone depends on me lol. well for the MOST part (except for one brand new player this weekend) the other newbies are getting the hang of it enough that i dont have to hold their hand every step of the game.
Kouk 03-13-08, 02:47 AM	How about the other guy's girlfriend teaches her, and you ask your friends nicely to read the book as much as possible and ask questions about things over email. Reading the book is the fastest and best way I feel. Otherwise, just go through a lot of sessions until they get the hang of the common things, and hope they never try the complicated things. Of course, if they aren't even aware of the complicated things, then they are limiting what they can do in the game which may reduce their fun levels. EDIT: The other experienced players should help some more around the table though, so you can focus more on running the game. Just ask them to aid their fellow adventurers.
MergedLoki 03-13-08, 03:06 AM	Yea, I have (asked other exp players to help out). Problem being the MOST experienced ones (there's 2 others besides myself) can't make it to every session.. and one in fact can only make it every... 3 or 4 times due to work. i've got one semi-exp player coming and I think i'll just tell the other players 'direct questions to him' and if he doenst' nkow i'll fill in. but it'll gimmie mroe time to u know... DM as oppose to flip through books for rules etc.
toucanbuzz 03-13-08, 10:39 AM	I suggest "learn as you go." 1. Talk out the numbers until folks understand how they hit AC 15 or how their initiative is 10. 2. Tell them don't worry about all the crazy numbers up front on the premise they'll learn as they go. 3. Other players can help, such as pointing out how saves work when everyone has to roll one. 4. Give subtle hints to new players for skill usage. "Someone with good balance could probably make it across that slick ledge." But to sit and try and tell them the rules, it won't work. They'll catch about two lines and forget the rest. :confused: The D&D original website has a good interactive Demo that would be great for completely New players on its "what is D&D" heading.
Dunsel 03-13-08, 01:24 PM	In addition to all the other excellent advice you have been given, you are the DM and, part of the DMs job is to instruct the players. Since your experienced players cannot help you, the entire burden falls upon your shoulders. Learn to be patient and always remember what it was like the first day you started to learn the rules. The DM is a story teller, referee, and teacher. Edit: Also don't use those auto-calculating character sheets, they don't teach the players how the numbers work.