Help An Idiotic Newbie! [Archive] - Wizards Community

Help An Idiotic Newbie! [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Gallamine
05-12-05, 09:36 PM Although I have Role-Played before, I have never done anything quite like D&D and I don't understand the simplest of things. My one main problem right now is that I'm running a D&D group of people even less compotent than I and I need to know some things for our URL.

If you can, can you tell me what Dexterity, Constitution, Intelligence :weep: , Wisdom and Charisma mean? Arigoto!
Paradisio
05-12-05, 09:39 PM I don't mean to sound rude, but my suggestion is to sit down, and read the books. It's all explained there, or in a dictionary.
Gallamine
05-12-05, 09:41 PM Tried that, but thanks. Like I said, I'm incompotent; the dictionary is evil... I don't have a PHB yet, but I'm getting one soon, but in the mean time I really need to know what those terms mean :(
Shaken, not Stunned
05-12-05, 09:45 PM The SRD, in my sig, contains the basic rules of the game. Do not run a game until you have a PHB and a DMG. You should also buy one published adventure to get a feel for a good way to set things up.'

It is very, very difficult (see impossible) to run a game with out at least the three core books, but the PHB and the DMG are the important ones.
Paradisio
05-12-05, 09:45 PM Ok, here you go, this is basically a players handbook, shorthand version. (I hope I'm allowed to post this.)

http://www.systemreferencedocuments.org/35/sovelior_sage/home.html

Dexterity: Ability to dodge and hit with ranged weapons, also for reflex save.
Constitution: How tough you are, and also for fortitude save.
Intelligence: How smart you are (knowledge checks), and how many skill points you get.
Wisdom: How you perceive things, good for willpower saves.
Charisma: How others perceieve you, a combination of looks and personality.
Gallamine
05-12-05, 09:49 PM Arigato! :D
Loren Pechtel
05-12-05, 11:24 PM Tried that, but thanks. Like I said, I'm incompotent; the dictionary is evil... I don't have a PHB yet, but I'm getting one soon, but in the mean time I really need to know what those terms mean :(

You need a *LOT* more than merely the definition of those terms. Trying to run a game is enough to keep track of without adding the burden of not knowing the rules. The system reference document is linked in this thread, read it. You can skip the spells & items that are above the level you will be dealing with but you need to read the rest of it.

You'll also need to have the books (Player's Handbook, Dungeon Master's Guide and Monster Manual) available or else at a minimum the system reference document available. You *WILL* be referring to them frequently at first. I have never seen a game session without somebody looking something up.
Draco Strang
05-12-05, 11:49 PM Yea. Buy the three core books. Without those, you're gonna have a lot of trouble, and our explanations won't make much sense.

The SRD is pretty good for reference, but sucks for learning the game.
Gallamine
05-13-05, 11:42 AM Thanks much. I'm getting the book tomorrow along with Basic Game. Hopefully I'll be able to memorize the PHB for the most-part if I read it carefully. Thanks for the info. :)
Draco Strang
05-13-05, 12:36 PM Thanks much. I'm getting the book tomorrow along with Basic Game. Hopefully I'll be able to memorize the PHB for the most-part if I read it carefully. Thanks for the info. :)
God I love this attitude. Right-O. Very sporting of you. Absolutely corking.

Newbs that want to buy the core books and learn the rules before bumrushing us with questions? Awesome. Simply frickin' awesome.
Gallamine
05-13-05, 12:41 PM God I love this attitude. Right-O. Very sporting of you. Absolutely corking.

Newbs that want to buy the core books and learn the rules before bumrushing us with questions? Awesome. Simply frickin' awesome.

The rulebooks are important, but I just wanted to get some basic info. before I started playing the game.

It's weird though, because out of all of the RPG's I have played, they have never asked for Dexterity, etc.
Draco Strang
05-13-05, 12:56 PM The rulebooks are important, but I just wanted to get some basic info. before I started playing the game.

It's weird though, because out of all of the RPG's I have played, they have never asked for Dexterity,
What RPG were you playing?
Gallamine
05-13-05, 12:58 PM Hidden Volatiles and Argren Cross. They're unerground RPG's, which would probably explain why
Blairconz
05-14-05, 02:32 AM 1. Get the books and the SRD is a big help.
2. Read until your eyes hurt.
3. Play but don't try anything fancy, if you don't know something, house rule it but write it down.
4. Reread anything you didn't get when you played.
5. Ask for specific help on these boards, the folks here a blimming good bunch and will answer virtually any questions you have, as long as they are specific.
6. Try doing some DnD related excersizes, character builds, city builds, encounter designs and start on your own campaign setting.
7. Be grateful you weren't thrown in headfirst like me (Out of 2 years playing, I only realized a few months ago that attacks could be directed against different enemies and how AoOs worked.)
8. Play some more.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Gallamine 05-12-05, 09:36 PM	Although I have Role-Played before, I have never done anything quite like D&D and I don't understand the simplest of things. My one main problem right now is that I'm running a D&D group of people even less compotent than I and I need to know some things for our URL. If you can, can you tell me what Dexterity, Constitution, Intelligence :weep: , Wisdom and Charisma mean? Arigoto!
Paradisio 05-12-05, 09:39 PM	I don't mean to sound rude, but my suggestion is to sit down, and read the books. It's all explained there, or in a dictionary.
Gallamine 05-12-05, 09:41 PM	Tried that, but thanks. Like I said, I'm incompotent; the dictionary is evil... I don't have a PHB yet, but I'm getting one soon, but in the mean time I really need to know what those terms mean :(
Shaken, not Stunned 05-12-05, 09:45 PM	The SRD, in my sig, contains the basic rules of the game. Do not run a game until you have a PHB and a DMG. You should also buy one published adventure to get a feel for a good way to set things up.' It is very, very difficult (see impossible) to run a game with out at least the three core books, but the PHB and the DMG are the important ones.
Paradisio 05-12-05, 09:45 PM	Ok, here you go, this is basically a players handbook, shorthand version. (I hope I'm allowed to post this.) http://www.systemreferencedocuments.org/35/sovelior_sage/home.html Dexterity: Ability to dodge and hit with ranged weapons, also for reflex save. Constitution: How tough you are, and also for fortitude save. Intelligence: How smart you are (knowledge checks), and how many skill points you get. Wisdom: How you perceive things, good for willpower saves. Charisma: How others perceieve you, a combination of looks and personality.
Gallamine 05-12-05, 09:49 PM	Arigato! :D
Loren Pechtel 05-12-05, 11:24 PM	Tried that, but thanks. Like I said, I'm incompotent; the dictionary is evil... I don't have a PHB yet, but I'm getting one soon, but in the mean time I really need to know what those terms mean :( You need a LOT more than merely the definition of those terms. Trying to run a game is enough to keep track of without adding the burden of not knowing the rules. The system reference document is linked in this thread, read it. You can skip the spells & items that are above the level you will be dealing with but you need to read the rest of it. You'll also need to have the books (Player's Handbook, Dungeon Master's Guide and Monster Manual) available or else at a minimum the system reference document available. You WILL be referring to them frequently at first. I have never seen a game session without somebody looking something up.
Draco Strang 05-12-05, 11:49 PM	Yea. Buy the three core books. Without those, you're gonna have a lot of trouble, and our explanations won't make much sense. The SRD is pretty good for reference, but sucks for learning the game.
Gallamine 05-13-05, 11:42 AM	Thanks much. I'm getting the book tomorrow along with Basic Game. Hopefully I'll be able to memorize the PHB for the most-part if I read it carefully. Thanks for the info. :)
Draco Strang 05-13-05, 12:36 PM	Thanks much. I'm getting the book tomorrow along with Basic Game. Hopefully I'll be able to memorize the PHB for the most-part if I read it carefully. Thanks for the info. :) God I love this attitude. Right-O. Very sporting of you. Absolutely corking. Newbs that want to buy the core books and learn the rules before bumrushing us with questions? Awesome. Simply frickin' awesome.
Gallamine 05-13-05, 12:41 PM	God I love this attitude. Right-O. Very sporting of you. Absolutely corking. Newbs that want to buy the core books and learn the rules before bumrushing us with questions? Awesome. Simply frickin' awesome. The rulebooks are important, but I just wanted to get some basic info. before I started playing the game. It's weird though, because out of all of the RPG's I have played, they have never asked for Dexterity, etc.
Draco Strang 05-13-05, 12:56 PM	The rulebooks are important, but I just wanted to get some basic info. before I started playing the game. It's weird though, because out of all of the RPG's I have played, they have never asked for Dexterity, What RPG were you playing?
Gallamine 05-13-05, 12:58 PM	Hidden Volatiles and Argren Cross. They're unerground RPG's, which would probably explain why
Blairconz 05-14-05, 02:32 AM	1. Get the books and the SRD is a big help. 2. Read until your eyes hurt. 3. Play but don't try anything fancy, if you don't know something, house rule it but write it down. 4. Reread anything you didn't get when you played. 5. Ask for specific help on these boards, the folks here a blimming good bunch and will answer virtually any questions you have, as long as they are specific. 6. Try doing some DnD related excersizes, character builds, city builds, encounter designs and start on your own campaign setting. 7. Be grateful you weren't thrown in headfirst like me (Out of 2 years playing, I only realized a few months ago that attacks could be directed against different enemies and how AoOs worked.) 8. Play some more.