Getting Started in D&D [Archive] - Wizards Community

Getting Started in D&D [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Brunoli
11-27-05, 11:13 AM Hi all. I played several games 20 years ago, but I'm interested in getting into D&D. I'm looking for advice on what to do? I'm looking for a group now, but should I go buy the Players guide first and roll up some characters? I'm familiar with RPG's but not specifically D&D. As a player is the Player's guide enough to get me started? Should I just go buy it and read through it?

Thanks for input :)
homey188
11-27-05, 12:13 PM the player guide ,the dm guide, and the book with monsters in it are on the srd,minus the flavor text.

srd (http://www.d20srd.org/index.htm)

it is good to get the books for travel but if you play next to the computer the srd is okay.
Crunchy Frog
11-27-05, 05:39 PM If you're going to join someone else's group as a player, the Player's Handbook is enough. You probably don't need your own copy of it; I've played in groups of eight people with only three Player's Handbooks floating around. The SRD, as linked by homey188, is a good resource, with most of the info from the PH. Some people are touchy about letting other people use their dice, so you should probably bring your own. (Or you may get lucky, and be able to borrow someone else's dice.)

If you want to run your own group, you really should get all three core books. Until you do, the SRD might be enough. But that's long on stats, and short on examples, detailed explanations, and the game-running advice present in the Dungeon Master's Guide.

If you need some advice about making your own characters check out Skip Williams' with Class (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/arch/cwc) column. The ones at the bottom, Monks thru Fighters, are the ones in the PH.
Elbethamore
11-27-05, 09:12 PM I don't recommend rolling up characters until you have an idea of the campaign you'll be playing in, as well as what stat generation method they are using. But it is worthwhile to come up with 1 or 2 character concepts/backstories to facilitate your character creation.

If you join a group that tells you to have a character ready for the first session, that's another matter, of course.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Brunoli 11-27-05, 11:13 AM	Hi all. I played several games 20 years ago, but I'm interested in getting into D&D. I'm looking for advice on what to do? I'm looking for a group now, but should I go buy the Players guide first and roll up some characters? I'm familiar with RPG's but not specifically D&D. As a player is the Player's guide enough to get me started? Should I just go buy it and read through it? Thanks for input :)
homey188 11-27-05, 12:13 PM	the player guide ,the dm guide, and the book with monsters in it are on the srd,minus the flavor text. srd (http://www.d20srd.org/index.htm) it is good to get the books for travel but if you play next to the computer the srd is okay.
Crunchy Frog 11-27-05, 05:39 PM	If you're going to join someone else's group as a player, the Player's Handbook is enough. You probably don't need your own copy of it; I've played in groups of eight people with only three Player's Handbooks floating around. The SRD, as linked by homey188, is a good resource, with most of the info from the PH. Some people are touchy about letting other people use their dice, so you should probably bring your own. (Or you may get lucky, and be able to borrow someone else's dice.) If you want to run your own group, you really should get all three core books. Until you do, the SRD might be enough. But that's long on stats, and short on examples, detailed explanations, and the game-running advice present in the Dungeon Master's Guide. If you need some advice about making your own characters check out Skip Williams' with Class (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/arch/cwc) column. The ones at the bottom, Monks thru Fighters, are the ones in the PH.
Elbethamore 11-27-05, 09:12 PM	I don't recommend rolling up characters until you have an idea of the campaign you'll be playing in, as well as what stat generation method they are using. But it is worthwhile to come up with 1 or 2 character concepts/backstories to facilitate your character creation. If you join a group that tells you to have a character ready for the first session, that's another matter, of course.