Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Varaz 07-08-07, 04:57 PM	Hi, I go by the name Varaz, i know you must not care for this >< But, i just found out that D&D existed, so i wanted to start playing it, i already found a couple of friends to play ( to start a game and such) So, since im completely new, ( and that there is no topic for this ) I would need someone to explain HOW to make a character, i also need to how other stuff too, byt lets starts with that. I wanted to created a Rogue character who would be Chatotic neutral, but i dont know if this is good. **[ By the way, in the game that we are planning on doing, i am going to be a DM ( dungeon Master ) but i am not really sure what to to... Can anybody help me? ]**
Genetic 07-08-07, 04:59 PM	Step 1: Buy the core rule books - Player's Handbook, Dungeon Master Guide, Monster Manual. Step 2: Read the core rule books. Step 3: Play.
Varaz 07-08-07, 05:00 PM	So i just need to read those books, and i will be okay?
Genetic 07-08-07, 05:03 PM	So i just need to read those books, and i will be okay? Pretty much. Once you've read them and have any other questions you can post them here or look in the FAQ. They cover everything you need to play.
Bhaelfur 07-08-07, 05:03 PM	They're called "Rulebooks" for a reason. Most games require you to actually read the rules.
Varaz 07-08-07, 05:04 PM	Okay, Thank you , i shall read those books! And i know that i have to read the rules... All games have rules
Ack 07-08-07, 05:26 PM	Check my sig; there is a set of instructions for filling out your character sheet :D
calronmoonflower 07-08-07, 06:39 PM	I wanted to created a Rogue character who would be Chatotic neutral, but i dont know if this is good. I would like to point out that many think that chaotic means random. Even a chaotic neutral person will not do things just "because".
Ack 07-08-07, 06:40 PM	I would like to point out that many think that chaotic means random. Even a chaotic neutral person will not do things just "because". When you are playing a Chaotic Neutral character, you must remind yourself regularly that "Chaotic Neutral does not mean Chaotic Stupid."
Callista 07-08-07, 06:46 PM	Right. CN is an individualist, a free spirit, somebody who believes that he should make his own decisions. Actually, if you think about it, CN is probably the majority alignment in America--our culture stresses individual rights, individual happiness, and living your life the way you want to. CN tends to be unplanned and spontaneous, making deicisions by gut feeling. On the moral axis, CN doesn't go out of its way to either help or hurt others; the philosophy is generally "live and let live". Hate your enemies, love your friends. That sort of thing.
afrokid53 07-09-07, 08:55 AM	wait so your telling me that i need not only the PH i need to spend an extra £34 ( thats $68 !!! on books) on the Monster manual and Dungeons masters guide befor i can even play !?!?! i mean surely i would atleast be able to fill in my character sheet with the PH? if this is true my comic binge just went ***'s up. ahhh
12Shark 07-09-07, 09:13 AM	Incidentally, the SRD provides a handy reference, and you could learn everything you need to know to play the game from there. www.d20srd.org It provides a really handy reference for rules, too. The PHB is all you need though.
Pyro_Azer 07-09-07, 09:34 AM	wait so your telling me that i need not only the PH i need to spend an extra £34 ( thats $68 !!! on books) on the Monster manual and Dungeons masters guide befor i can even play !?!?! i mean surely i would atleast be able to fill in my character sheet with the PH? if this is true my comic binge just went ***'s up. ahhh If you are the dm you need the dmg and the mm. If you are a player you don't need them although i as a player fing it is still nice to have them even though they are not a necessity.
Genetic 07-09-07, 10:02 AM	The thing about the SRD is that it only has the rules. It doesn't have anything about how to create characters, for example. Books are better in this case. The SRD is good once you've at least read the actual PHB and DMG, in my opinion. Monsters Manual is different since it's just a listing of monsters.
KoraktheBarbarin 07-09-07, 10:31 AM	Yea, unfortunately the game can get pretty expensive really fast. You figure after the 3 core books (Players Handbook, Dungeon Master's Guide, & Monster Manual) there are still dozens of source books, for example Monster Manuals II, III, IV, & V. Yes there are 5 Hardback Monster Manuals available and you can rest assured they more than likely going to make more, not to mention books like Manual of the Planes, Psionics Handbook, & The Epic Level Book just to name a few. If you plan on getting into D & D it can get expensive, but for the hours and hours and days and weeks of play you get out of the game and the experiences you have that can never be found anywhere else it's well worth every bit of the money you invest. Don't let the cost stop you from playing the game it's worth the cost. And after reading through the PHB and DMG you should be able to run a game pretty easily. The more you play and reread the rules the better you'll get and trust me the memories of your games will last a lifetime or more. My first DM's kids know all sorts of stories from our first games and have started stories of there own now. I hope you do join the world of gamers it's a world for every generation.:)
geekling 07-09-07, 11:14 AM	wait so your telling me that i need not only the PH i need to spend an extra £34 ( thats $68 !!! on books) on the Monster manual and Dungeons masters guide befor i can even play !?!?! i mean surely i would atleast be able to fill in my character sheet with the PH? if this is true my comic binge just went ***'s up. ahhh To play, to be a player in a D&D game run by someone else - you only need access to the PHB. You know the players handbook. The rules the players need to know. But to DM you in addition to the PHB really kind of do need the DMG. The PHB does not include the stuff it is very good if the DM knows. Like how do do the DM thing - really. So yes, someone in your group - do need the DMG. Because to play you kind of rather do need someone to wear the DM hat. The MM on the other hand. To begin with, there's plenty enough monsters in the online SRD to keep you going. Good news is. If you've got a group of new players going. You don't really all need seperate copies of all the books - or even the PHB. Just access to it so you can read the basics through and look up stuff as it comes up. It gets easier if everyone has their own copy of the PHB, as you don't have to wait around while Mike checks X while you want to check Y - but it's doable.
Gerry 07-09-07, 11:58 AM	THE OTHER WAY to start is to buy the Boxed set "Basic Game". It simplifies many of the rules, or ignores them completely, and gives you a chance to start playing in this game. The thing to understand is that this is NOT a boardgame, but an inter-active "storytelling" game, where each player has the Role of their character, and the DM has the role of all other creatures, plus is the "author" of the storyline. The DM takes the stated actions of the players, and interprets how they work, often asking for a dice roll to see how well something works out, if at all. Different probablilities roll different dice. Good Luck, welcome to the game! Gerry ps. If you do NOT get the Basic Game, buy an intro module, or at least read thru one at your local store, to get a feel for what happens in a game. ghs2
Phrennzy 07-09-07, 12:35 PM	Hello and welcome to the game. There are two roles in the game, player and Dungeon Master (DM). If you are a player, you need the Player's Handbook. If you are the DM, you need the Player's Handbook, the Dungeon Master's Guide, and the Monster Manual. You could use the online SRD for the Monster Manual, though it does leave some things out. Those three books are called 'core' books and it is all I use. While it is a considerable amount of money to spend, you only do it once, and get years of enjoyment out of them. If you are the DM, you do not need to make a character. You are the one who will be running the dungeons, and the monsters. I would suggest reading some of these adventures. Start with the first level adventures and try them out. http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/oa/20030530b
DrMorganes 07-09-07, 12:42 PM	wait so your telling me that i need not only the PH i need to spend an extra £34 ( thats $68 !!! on books) on the Monster manual and Dungeons masters guide befor i can even play !?!?! i mean surely i would atleast be able to fill in my character sheet with the PH? if this is true my comic binge just went ***'s up. ahhh Actually, at the barest minimum, you need the Player's Handbook and the System Reference Documents, also known as the SRD. You can download copies from the main site, but most folks prefer the hypertext version at http://www.d20srd.org. The SRD contains between 85% and 90% of the material in the Core books in terms of game mechanics, but is missing "proprietary" information like how to generate ability scores, the XP chart, and certain magic items and monsters. The PHB contains all the rules necessary to actually play.
HermitIX 07-09-07, 12:48 PM	I would also like to add, that it is generally considered a bad idea to be a DM and have a character you are running in the campaign.
Callista 07-09-07, 02:14 PM	yeah, great way to get completely overwhelmed and confused. Also, it's like reading a story you wrote yourself--maybe a nice ego boost, but you already know all the plot twists.
TorgSmackie 07-09-07, 07:33 PM	A tip: the first game you play is probably going to be wrong. You'll forget things, you'll skip things, there's a lot of rules in this game and its not really possible to remember them all on your first go. Don't worry about it, just have fun. You can correct mistakes later when you're all more familiar with it.
Varaz 07-09-07, 08:13 PM	Well, I went to the store, and i bought these books: Players handbook I Players handbook II Monster Manuel I Monster Manuel II Monster Manuel III Monster Manuel IV Dungeon Masters Guide I Dungeon Masters Guide II Book Of Vile Darkness I know it must seems much, but i have lots of money on my hands. But carying all these books seems to be annoying, they weigh alot and would be preety hard to carry around, Ist there a way to get them on something else? And i would alos like to thank all of you for your support, in someone that does not really " Know the rules and lingo "
Lenore 07-09-07, 09:01 PM	I wanted to created a Rogue character who would be Chatotic neutral, but i dont know if this is good. No, this would not be good...it would be neutral.
Tek_Jensen 07-10-07, 12:05 AM	Well, I went to the store, and i bought these books: Players handbook I Players handbook II Monster Manuel I Monster Manuel II Monster Manuel III Monster Manuel IV Dungeon Masters Guide I Dungeon Masters Guide II Book Of Vile Darkness I know it must seems much, but i have lots of money on my hands. But carying all these books seems to be annoying, they weigh alot and would be preety hard to carry around, Ist there a way to get them on something else? And i would alos like to thank all of you for your support, in someone that does not really " Know the rules and lingo " Wow, If I was you I'd try to take back DMG II, the MM II-IV, and the BoVD. Buy books from the Complete Series instead, I think they're more useful as far as options to build and expand your characters go.
calronmoonflower 07-10-07, 03:55 AM	wait so your telling me that i need not only the PH i need to spend an extra £34 ( thats $68 !!! on books) on the Monster manual and Dungeons masters guide befor i can even play !?!?! i mean surely i would atleast be able to fill in my character sheet with the PH? if this is true my comic binge just went ***'s up. ahhh You will most likely need the Dungeon Master's Guide however, you don't really need the Monster Manuel to play. Your campaign will look totally different, but it's still not necessary.
Yokomohoyo 07-10-07, 04:47 AM	If you have the Players Hand Book (PBH) and a good set of Dice and plan to just be a player, then that is all that you need. You will need a Dungeon Master (DM) to run the game. I would suggest to go to your local Hobby Shop or Comic Book Shop and check out if their are any games currently in your area and ask one of the guys if you can join one of their games. Most people will say yes so dont worry abou that part. Now as for filling out your character sheet you will have to roll for your stats and I would suggest a good pencil for filling it out. Don't forget to use photocoppies of the character sheets. I cant stress how important it is not to use the character sheet provided on the back of your PBH.
Varaz 07-10-07, 11:31 AM	Ok, so ive read , since i was tired last night, i read the book of vile darkness.. But all those AC DC ect really really confised me, is there somewere ritten what all that lingo means?
Phrennzy 07-10-07, 12:13 PM	Start with reading the Player's Handbook. Then read the DMG. Leave off all those other books for a few weeks. You need to learn how to play the game before you add all that extra stuff. Keep re-reading the PHB. There are a lot of rules.
Josol_ka_Sileria 07-10-07, 12:48 PM	Completly agree with Phrenzy. The Players Handbook has a lot of the technical data and mechanics of the game. Heck, you could make a couple fighter characters and have them fight each other just from that book alone. Personally I think it's a good way to learn the base combat system. When you're comfortable there, throw a rogue in the mix, then a cleric, then a wizard. Learn as you go. There's also a glossary in the back if you're stuck for what an abbrev. or acromyn means. OPINION: The Dungeon Master's Guide: has a little advice that can be useful, but it's mostly extra charts and dice tables. And for half of it to be useful, you need the Monster Manual. Speaking of... The Monster Manual: Is just that, a reference for the monsters commonly found in D&D. You can change monsters stats, advance their Hit Dice, and do countless hours of work on them if you wish to. Me? I'm lazy. The other stuff is flavor. It may look impressive, but it's not necessary. I'm not stopping you from putting it in your game; your group, both DM and players, can make it as simple or as complicated as you want. Learn the core. Everything boils down to those concepts. Fancy stuff can wait.
Varaz 07-10-07, 01:38 PM	Theres a abryviation definition in the back! ZOMG! i did not see that!