And so the story begins... [Archive] - Wizards Community

And so the story begins... [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Banagon
10-25-05, 02:42 PM Hello.

It's been more than a few years since I've been involved in DMing. Life, family, and a return to college--graduate school--has been keeping me busy as of late.

However, I recently dusted off my boxed set of 3.5 rules which I got for Father's Day two years ago. I was an old school, pre-1980 player that hadn't touched D&D in almost 20 years when my wife got me the set.

She would really like to play, from time to time, so most likely it would be just her (and perhaps my brother) and I.

My questions are:

--Any suggestions on how I can dive right in and start playing? What rules should I devour first?

--How many NPCs should I include in the game as part of the party?

I am sure I have others, but those are the most important ones I can think of right now.

This is my first post here on the D&D boards. Be kind.

Thanks!

Ban
olshanski_home
10-25-05, 03:09 PM Most Important Rules:
The players handbook has the most important rules. I'd read everything up to Chapter 11, "Spells" 3 times. I'd skim the spells and read the general guidelines and glossary about 3-5 times as well.

Next, I'd read the Dungeon Master's Guide, Chapters 1 and 2.
Seeing as you have past experience, the rest of the DMG can be put on the backburner.

I'd suggest buying a decent pre-published adventure for your first time, to see how things have changed. Goodman Games and Necromancer games are highly reccomended. Another option is "Sunless Citadel", although that was written for version 3.0, so it is not 100% compatable, but close enough for playing purposes.

The system is generally designed for 4 characters in a party. If you have a wife and a brother, you could use 2 NPCs... Or, you could take it easy on them and include a single NPC (to make a party of 3), but in that case you may have to watch that the encounters don't become too difficult. A 3 person party really lacks the flexibility of a 4 person party.
Conshey
10-25-05, 03:13 PM depending on the type of campaign your running roll playing (crunchie dice mongers that are down to the rules solid, mainly combat oriented) or role playing (mostly talking and non dice rolling campaigns the feature combat as a sidenote).

In this particular situation i personally would go with the role playing, its easy and all you have to do is talk, the skill rules i would have down pact and the NPC reactions as well as different traits you would like to have as NPC's. If you go for roll playing, chapters 3, 4, 5, 8, 9, 10, 11 in the players handbook everyone must read at least once and understand, as for the DM the entire Dungeon Masters Guide.

As for NPC's exhisting inside parties, as a new DM, avoid it at all costs, regional NPC's that work with the party for a period of time, fine, but not a solid 'im going to travel with you all the time and basically do it as a pc, my pc the all powerfull, because i am DM'. NPC's should flow with the story like background characters in a book.

DMing isn't glorious, but its fun when you show them who's really in charge.

i hope this helps a little

Conshey
Gedrin
10-25-05, 03:15 PM Rules wise, the first thing to examine is the basic mechanic.
Roll 1D20 + Modifier vs. DC.
Difficulty Class, DC, is the target number for all rolls. Once you've got a good grasp of the "D20+Mod vs. DC" mechanic you'll have the basics down with regard to how most other things work, Hit Rolls, Saving Throws, Skill Checks, Spell Resistance...it all works the same, just different numbers.

Your other question, about NPC's, is a different kind of question. Include as many NPC's as you feel apropriate, but with so small a group, I wouldn't, IMC (In My Campaign), place more than one in the party. This is mostly a question of group preference, but there's a good argument for you to do your best to keep it simple for now (that goes for material other than the Core books too, PHB, DMG, MMI).

You'd probably be best served spending some time reading the PHB. You don't have to read every skill and feat, but read the general text at the begining of each chapter, and read a few of the skills and feats so you can get an idea of what's there. Your general question is pretty large, and while most people are happy to give their own advice and view, it's easier to do that when the questions are specific.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Banagon 10-25-05, 02:42 PM	Hello. It's been more than a few years since I've been involved in DMing. Life, family, and a return to college--graduate school--has been keeping me busy as of late. However, I recently dusted off my boxed set of 3.5 rules which I got for Father's Day two years ago. I was an old school, pre-1980 player that hadn't touched D&D in almost 20 years when my wife got me the set. She would really like to play, from time to time, so most likely it would be just her (and perhaps my brother) and I. My questions are: --Any suggestions on how I can dive right in and start playing? What rules should I devour first? --How many NPCs should I include in the game as part of the party? I am sure I have others, but those are the most important ones I can think of right now. This is my first post here on the D&D boards. Be kind. Thanks! Ban
olshanski_home 10-25-05, 03:09 PM	Most Important Rules: The players handbook has the most important rules. I'd read everything up to Chapter 11, "Spells" 3 times. I'd skim the spells and read the general guidelines and glossary about 3-5 times as well. Next, I'd read the Dungeon Master's Guide, Chapters 1 and 2. Seeing as you have past experience, the rest of the DMG can be put on the backburner. I'd suggest buying a decent pre-published adventure for your first time, to see how things have changed. Goodman Games and Necromancer games are highly reccomended. Another option is "Sunless Citadel", although that was written for version 3.0, so it is not 100% compatable, but close enough for playing purposes. The system is generally designed for 4 characters in a party. If you have a wife and a brother, you could use 2 NPCs... Or, you could take it easy on them and include a single NPC (to make a party of 3), but in that case you may have to watch that the encounters don't become too difficult. A 3 person party really lacks the flexibility of a 4 person party.
Conshey 10-25-05, 03:13 PM	depending on the type of campaign your running roll playing (crunchie dice mongers that are down to the rules solid, mainly combat oriented) or role playing (mostly talking and non dice rolling campaigns the feature combat as a sidenote). In this particular situation i personally would go with the role playing, its easy and all you have to do is talk, the skill rules i would have down pact and the NPC reactions as well as different traits you would like to have as NPC's. If you go for roll playing, chapters 3, 4, 5, 8, 9, 10, 11 in the players handbook everyone must read at least once and understand, as for the DM the entire Dungeon Masters Guide. As for NPC's exhisting inside parties, as a new DM, avoid it at all costs, regional NPC's that work with the party for a period of time, fine, but not a solid 'im going to travel with you all the time and basically do it as a pc, my pc the all powerfull, because i am DM'. NPC's should flow with the story like background characters in a book. DMing isn't glorious, but its fun when you show them who's really in charge. i hope this helps a little Conshey
Gedrin 10-25-05, 03:15 PM	Rules wise, the first thing to examine is the basic mechanic. Roll 1D20 + Modifier vs. DC. Difficulty Class, DC, is the target number for all rolls. Once you've got a good grasp of the "D20+Mod vs. DC" mechanic you'll have the basics down with regard to how most other things work, Hit Rolls, Saving Throws, Skill Checks, Spell Resistance...it all works the same, just different numbers. Your other question, about NPC's, is a different kind of question. Include as many NPC's as you feel apropriate, but with so small a group, I wouldn't, IMC (In My Campaign), place more than one in the party. This is mostly a question of group preference, but there's a good argument for you to do your best to keep it simple for now (that goes for material other than the Core books too, PHB, DMG, MMI). You'd probably be best served spending some time reading the PHB. You don't have to read every skill and feat, but read the general text at the begining of each chapter, and read a few of the skills and feats so you can get an idea of what's there. Your general question is pretty large, and while most people are happy to give their own advice and view, it's easier to do that when the questions are specific.