New to the game - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

New to the game

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
element_solider
Feb 04, 2011 20:35:08 Hey everyone im new to D&D and a few of my friends want to try it out and non of us never played it before i was just wondering if anyone has any tips on how to get started and what i need to buy to start right now its four of us wanting to play probably five people would play we would like some help starting out and if this isnt the forum to place this question i'm really sorry thanks Justin :P
#2
openpalm
Feb 04, 2011 22:44:20 Hey Justin,

No need to apologize man, although for your next post you might want to think about writing it in a normal text size. It's not in the right forum (should be in General, I think), but the mods will move it to the right place in due time, so don't worry over it.

I definitely understand your frustration, since there is just so much material right now that you can buy to play. The first thing I definitely have to recommend is for you to get a subscription to DDI insider for the character and monster builders. After that, I would recommend using Monster Vault (much better than monster manual IMHO), the Dungeon Master's Guide 1 and your choice of either the Player's Handbook if you like the At-Will, Daily, Encounter system or D&D Essentials: Heroes of the Fallen Lands if you want your Martial characters to be focused on attacks rather than powers. Forgotten Kingdoms works just as well as Fallen Lands, but overall I like the classes in Fallen Lands better. Once you get an idea how classes work and you find something you like, load up the character builder and start building characters. Look at the guides on the wiki if you're interested in a specific type and before you know it, you can have 4-5 solid characters. It'll also make the job of choosing items to give out to your players much easier.

It is a lot of work, especially starting out with new players. Of the group I'm trying to start, I'm the only one who has played at all and I have had to help my friends make their own characters with what little knowledge I have. DMing scares me a bit, but that's alright. I hope I've been of help
#3
element_solider
Feb 05, 2011 0:03:26 thanks this really did help out alot ill take your advice this has been really usefull looking foward to helping you in future
#4
element_solider
Feb 05, 2011 0:06:53 one other thing ive heaerd of the red box do you think that would be a good thing to buy to start out?
#5
lokiare
Feb 05, 2011 3:13:37 Hi. I wouldn't recommend DDi for the character builder and monster builder. It is buggy and will end up in many cases giving you the wrong numbers. I would suggest getting the red box and having each person run through the solo adventure. Then from there if you like a quickly put together character with few choices as you progress, I'd suggest getting the Heroes of books as well as the DM kit and possibly the monster Vault. If you like choices and want to be able to choose a new option at each level, and like many choices each round, I'd suggest getting the original PHB series, plus the DM kit and monster Vault.
#6
mteich79
Feb 05, 2011 6:40:49 Hi,

I was in the same situation as you. We all started in the Fall of last year.
It is really confusing. When we started there where Essentials Products and D&D4 products.
Then there is insider you have to pay for.

We decided, to switch to Pathfinder which is basically D&D (www.paizo.com).
And has a whole world detailed as a setting, a vivid community and nice adventure paths for you to play.
Check it out!

We are still finishing up our D&D4 campaign. We started with the Red Box which is a cheap and easy way to start pen & paper! and a really nice product. After that we got the Dungeon Master Kit which has another nice adventure to follow up.

Now after a half year. I would rather start directly with Pathfinder. Dont ask here for D&D4 or Pathfinder as a battle will start:-).

That is just my personal experience as a beginner (group)

Have fun thats whats most important!

#7
drnick
Feb 05, 2011 12:15:10 Have you ever played a tabletop rpg? If not, I'd suggest you start with the red box and see how you like it.
#8
element_solider
Feb 07, 2011 2:38:07 thank you guys for all the advice i got the red box just the other day but im still having trouble tinkering with the prouduct alot of the stuff seems counfusing but im starting to get the jest of it thank you for all the help and Dr.nick i havent played any other rpg taple tops :P b but i did like the red box just still working out the kinks
#9
drnick
Feb 07, 2011 15:21:33 Cool. "Tinkering" is half the fun :D

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 element_solider Feb 04, 2011 20:35:08	Hey everyone im new to D&D and a few of my friends want to try it out and non of us never played it before i was just wondering if anyone has any tips on how to get started and what i need to buy to start right now its four of us wanting to play probably five people would play we would like some help starting out and if this isnt the forum to place this question i'm really sorry thanks Justin :P
#2 openpalm Feb 04, 2011 22:44:20	Hey Justin, No need to apologize man, although for your next post you might want to think about writing it in a normal text size. It's not in the right forum (should be in General, I think), but the mods will move it to the right place in due time, so don't worry over it. I definitely understand your frustration, since there is just so much material right now that you can buy to play. The first thing I definitely have to recommend is for you to get a subscription to DDI insider for the character and monster builders. After that, I would recommend using Monster Vault (much better than monster manual IMHO), the Dungeon Master's Guide 1 and your choice of either the Player's Handbook if you like the At-Will, Daily, Encounter system or D&D Essentials: Heroes of the Fallen Lands if you want your Martial characters to be focused on attacks rather than powers. Forgotten Kingdoms works just as well as Fallen Lands, but overall I like the classes in Fallen Lands better. Once you get an idea how classes work and you find something you like, load up the character builder and start building characters. Look at the guides on the wiki if you're interested in a specific type and before you know it, you can have 4-5 solid characters. It'll also make the job of choosing items to give out to your players much easier. It is a lot of work, especially starting out with new players. Of the group I'm trying to start, I'm the only one who has played at all and I have had to help my friends make their own characters with what little knowledge I have. DMing scares me a bit, but that's alright. I hope I've been of help
#3 element_solider Feb 05, 2011 0:03:26	thanks this really did help out alot ill take your advice this has been really usefull looking foward to helping you in future
#4 element_solider Feb 05, 2011 0:06:53	one other thing ive heaerd of the red box do you think that would be a good thing to buy to start out?
#5 lokiare Feb 05, 2011 3:13:37	Hi. I wouldn't recommend DDi for the character builder and monster builder. It is buggy and will end up in many cases giving you the wrong numbers. I would suggest getting the red box and having each person run through the solo adventure. Then from there if you like a quickly put together character with few choices as you progress, I'd suggest getting the Heroes of books as well as the DM kit and possibly the monster Vault. If you like choices and want to be able to choose a new option at each level, and like many choices each round, I'd suggest getting the original PHB series, plus the DM kit and monster Vault.
#6 mteich79 Feb 05, 2011 6:40:49	Hi, I was in the same situation as you. We all started in the Fall of last year. It is really confusing. When we started there where Essentials Products and D&D4 products. Then there is insider you have to pay for. We decided, to switch to Pathfinder which is basically D&D (www.paizo.com). And has a whole world detailed as a setting, a vivid community and nice adventure paths for you to play. Check it out! We are still finishing up our D&D4 campaign. We started with the Red Box which is a cheap and easy way to start pen & paper! and a really nice product. After that we got the Dungeon Master Kit which has another nice adventure to follow up. Now after a half year. I would rather start directly with Pathfinder. Dont ask here for D&D4 or Pathfinder as a battle will start:-). That is just my personal experience as a beginner (group) Have fun thats whats most important!
#7 drnick Feb 05, 2011 12:15:10	Have you ever played a tabletop rpg? If not, I'd suggest you start with the red box and see how you like it.
#8 element_solider Feb 07, 2011 2:38:07	thank you guys for all the advice i got the red box just the other day but im still having trouble tinkering with the prouduct alot of the stuff seems counfusing but im starting to get the jest of it thank you for all the help and Dr.nick i havent played any other rpg taple tops :P b but i did like the red box just still working out the kinks
#9 drnick Feb 07, 2011 15:21:33	Cool. "Tinkering" is half the fun :D