Advice on DMing a newbie [Archive] - Wizards Community

Advice on DMing a newbie [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Deadlion
07-27-07, 03:26 PM I have a friend who has never played a roleplaying game before, but recently she has expressed interest in trying it out.

We've spoken about it a couple of times, and I've explained basically how it works, so that won't be a problem.

She is also a big Lord of the Rings fan, so the whole fantasy-genre issue that some people have won't come up.

What I would like to know is this... how to make her enjoy the game. Obviously, as we're good friends anyway, it'll be at least a bit enjoyable on purely social level, and I like to think I can create a good enough storyline with decently characterised NPCs, but... well, I was just hoping some of you who have been through the experience of DMing complete newbies might have some tips for me?
RedArmyInfantry
07-27-07, 03:38 PM I would start their character off at level 1 and I would probably help them do their character sheet by hand (Rather than one of the many character generators on the internet). As you fill in each thing on the character sheet you can explain what it does and so on. Also, one very important thing is to not overload them with information. This means don't try and teach them every rule of the game before you even start. I find it easier to teach people as we go along rather than reciting 30 pages of rules and tactics, hoping that they will remember it all.
dhaga
07-27-07, 03:41 PM Be patient. What is obvious to you, as an experienced player or DM, may not be obvious to her. Expect a lot of questions about very basic things, and encourage her to question things she doesn't understand. This may include rolling dice! I recently tried to explain how D&D "works" to someone who had never played. Trying to explain how one reads the result of a 4-sided die roll turned out to be quite amusing, but for any of us who play D&D, it's just natural to know how to read the result.

If you're teaching 3rd Edition, be thankful it is not 2nd Edition. It was always "fun" to explain THAC0 to a new player...
WiscDM
07-27-07, 04:39 PM I would sit down with the player a full week before you plan to include her on her first game session. Besides explaining the dice and rolls, go through the player's handbook together and explain in your words the benefits and downsides of race, class, melee, range, divine and arcane magic. Explain the effects and the benefits that each characteristic bring to her character: why strength is important to fighters, etc. But all this time make mental notes as to what she was and was not interested in so that you can both start a background for the character to make her interested in the roleplaying aspects AND in your head start thinking of hooks that will get here immediately interested and excited to play. Roll the character together so that it is neat and clear as to what each stat means and it'll give her an opportunity to ask any questions that come up. And I always advise that newb players start at level 1 so that the player and character grow and learn together. And some people would prefer to play a One-Shot with just you and maybe one or two other experienced player(s) before joining the main group.
Gottwick
07-27-07, 04:48 PM I suggest she play an easy class. Wizard is not intuitive. Spells known? Slots? What are those? Spellcasters in general are hard to explain. Rangers and monks are easy for the first couple of levels.
konrad_the_tall
07-27-07, 05:01 PM I've found that explaining things as you go along always helps. Just give some general info to start with, like how skills work, what armour class is and what the features of her class are and there role in adventuring.

Be presentable. Your not only an abassador for your game, but the hobby as a whole.

Think carefuly about who else is playing. The fat creppy guy playing a nynthomaniac cleric of Nerull doesn't give the best impression.

Try to cut down on the in jokes, as theese can exclude a newbie

be friendly and encorage her to ask questions aobut things she doens't understand. Be willing to prod her in the right direction.

ask her to draw a picture of her character to help her visualsie them. works great for shoppign as well.

make an adventure record sheet for recoridng what items she has found, notes on people met and asses to kick ect.

Don't be put out if she doesn't want to play again, rolepalying isn't for everyone.

Good luck, bringing a newbie into the hobby in refreshing and satisfying.

Don't pee on her.
_Radagast_
07-27-07, 05:18 PM I'm running a campaign right now (we've reached 4th level from 1st) and two of the players are new to the game.

The best advice I can give is to not overload them with the rules at first. Instead, lure them in with the story and characters. As the campaign progresses, slowly throw in more complex actions, combat, etc... But, when you first start out, keep the combat simple.
Arkeas
07-27-07, 05:59 PM After a couple sessions, ask her to look through the combat section in order to give her ideas for some maneuvers she could try. Don't ask her to memorize the rules, but she might like to try sundering something, and it often does not come up when you learn as you go.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Deadlion 07-27-07, 03:26 PM	I have a friend who has never played a roleplaying game before, but recently she has expressed interest in trying it out. We've spoken about it a couple of times, and I've explained basically how it works, so that won't be a problem. She is also a big Lord of the Rings fan, so the whole fantasy-genre issue that some people have won't come up. What I would like to know is this... how to make her enjoy the game. Obviously, as we're good friends anyway, it'll be at least a bit enjoyable on purely social level, and I like to think I can create a good enough storyline with decently characterised NPCs, but... well, I was just hoping some of you who have been through the experience of DMing complete newbies might have some tips for me?
RedArmyInfantry 07-27-07, 03:38 PM	I would start their character off at level 1 and I would probably help them do their character sheet by hand (Rather than one of the many character generators on the internet). As you fill in each thing on the character sheet you can explain what it does and so on. Also, one very important thing is to not overload them with information. This means don't try and teach them every rule of the game before you even start. I find it easier to teach people as we go along rather than reciting 30 pages of rules and tactics, hoping that they will remember it all.
dhaga 07-27-07, 03:41 PM	Be patient. What is obvious to you, as an experienced player or DM, may not be obvious to her. Expect a lot of questions about very basic things, and encourage her to question things she doesn't understand. This may include rolling dice! I recently tried to explain how D&D "works" to someone who had never played. Trying to explain how one reads the result of a 4-sided die roll turned out to be quite amusing, but for any of us who play D&D, it's just natural to know how to read the result. If you're teaching 3rd Edition, be thankful it is not 2nd Edition. It was always "fun" to explain THAC0 to a new player...
WiscDM 07-27-07, 04:39 PM	I would sit down with the player a full week before you plan to include her on her first game session. Besides explaining the dice and rolls, go through the player's handbook together and explain in your words the benefits and downsides of race, class, melee, range, divine and arcane magic. Explain the effects and the benefits that each characteristic bring to her character: why strength is important to fighters, etc. But all this time make mental notes as to what she was and was not interested in so that you can both start a background for the character to make her interested in the roleplaying aspects AND in your head start thinking of hooks that will get here immediately interested and excited to play. Roll the character together so that it is neat and clear as to what each stat means and it'll give her an opportunity to ask any questions that come up. And I always advise that newb players start at level 1 so that the player and character grow and learn together. And some people would prefer to play a One-Shot with just you and maybe one or two other experienced player(s) before joining the main group.
Gottwick 07-27-07, 04:48 PM	I suggest she play an easy class. Wizard is not intuitive. Spells known? Slots? What are those? Spellcasters in general are hard to explain. Rangers and monks are easy for the first couple of levels.
konrad_the_tall 07-27-07, 05:01 PM	I've found that explaining things as you go along always helps. Just give some general info to start with, like how skills work, what armour class is and what the features of her class are and there role in adventuring. Be presentable. Your not only an abassador for your game, but the hobby as a whole. Think carefuly about who else is playing. The fat creppy guy playing a nynthomaniac cleric of Nerull doesn't give the best impression. Try to cut down on the in jokes, as theese can exclude a newbie be friendly and encorage her to ask questions aobut things she doens't understand. Be willing to prod her in the right direction. ask her to draw a picture of her character to help her visualsie them. works great for shoppign as well. make an adventure record sheet for recoridng what items she has found, notes on people met and asses to kick ect. Don't be put out if she doesn't want to play again, rolepalying isn't for everyone. Good luck, bringing a newbie into the hobby in refreshing and satisfying. Don't pee on her.
_Radagast_ 07-27-07, 05:18 PM	I'm running a campaign right now (we've reached 4th level from 1st) and two of the players are new to the game. The best advice I can give is to not overload them with the rules at first. Instead, lure them in with the story and characters. As the campaign progresses, slowly throw in more complex actions, combat, etc... But, when you first start out, keep the combat simple.
Arkeas 07-27-07, 05:59 PM	After a couple sessions, ask her to look through the combat section in order to give her ideas for some maneuvers she could try. Don't ask her to memorize the rules, but she might like to try sundering something, and it often does not come up when you learn as you go.