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Rookie Needs Help Please

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
drag0ncharm
Oct 22, 2008 22:46:03 I have a bit of problem. And help would be loved.

I have a mate who wants to start playing D&D, easy enough, he wants a D&D Den and wants me to help him order all the stuff he might need. However I am small fry, I have been playing for over three years but just start DMing at the beginning of this year so I don't have a complete Idea of what he needs/wants.

He has given me pretty much a free reign with the wallet (with in reason) but i don't want to overload him with books either. I'm setting him up with the 3.5 vers, If any one can give me a few titles that he might need (other than the Core Books obviously) that would be great.
#2
RUMPLESTIX
Oct 23, 2008 22:27:59 The Magic Item Compendium is a good 'lump' book. It has a lot of information.

If he is not planning on building his whole world from scratch you may want to try Forgotten Realms (get the 3rd ed. Frogotten Realms Campaign Setting and 3rd ed. Forgotten Realms Player's Guide), the Eberron Campaign Setting, or you might want to search for something like the Iron Kingdoms Campaign Setting (out of print?) If you choose either of the first two, there is a ton of assorted books to go along with each, but more so with FR.

Are you getting a big table with a big dry-erase grid mat or perhaps 'dungeon tile' sets to quickly add features to 'rooms' in dungeons, inns, etc?
#3
birdursh
Oct 25, 2008 14:06:23 By "den" do you mean he's sectioning off a room or area specifically for gaming? That's pretty awesome, and deserves a mini-fridge. he did give you free reign over the wallet, after all. ;)

Otherwise, I second pretty much everything Rumplestix said. The battlemat, tiles, and what have yous are great, though once you start going that direction you start to want minis to populate them. As for books, start small. Grab the cores (obviously), and maybe a campaign setting like FR or Eberron as Rumplestix suggested. You can always add to your library later if you find yourself in need or want of something.
#4
1_ton_ghost
Oct 25, 2008 14:52:31 Big table; suggest two 6 ft plastic folding ones for portability/ease. Cheap, effective. Comfy chairs, not lounging on couches, etc. (they need to be right there at table).

TV trays around help too for peripheral extras. Too many books, dice, food/drink piles on the table is trouble. Nothing like a fried laptop...

Big ass chessex grid map or multiple small ones cut to fit/synch up together. two 3 X 3 ft panes of plexiglass to overlay (spare the map) and add another level for spell FX and quick details. Wet erase markers seem to work well too (keep a roll of paper towels and small dish of water nearby).

My boy cut out templates on colored acetate pieces for 20ft blasts, cones, and the like. This saves valuable time for placement rather than moving all the minis and maps to discrern "what goes where". Super cheap.

Bells and whistles: if you want music, suggest a laptop (off the table) w/ a big ole HD loaded w/ a zillion mp3s (recommend instrumental pieces only, scores & soundtracks namely). Soulseek is a good peer-to-peer for this end (again, go easy on his wallet).
Food, non-greasy stuff, preferably w/ a fork (nothing ruins good books like oil stains, cheeto crumbs, etc in your books). Furthermore, good minis (not those cheap plastic crappies) can have the spray fixer compromised from acids in your oils and foods.

Books, the real reason we're here: broad, not-too-specific ones that benefit as many people as possible. RUMPLESTIX's recommendation of MgcItmCmp is a really really good example. It's awesome, very eccletic, and packed w/ alot of raw text/data, not so much fluff/filler. Good buy. Get books like that; broad coverage. Spell Cmpndm is a good mirror too.

PHBs [more than 1 probably] and 1 PHB II, DMG I & II, Complete Adventurer helps alot of different classes, not just 1, Unearthed Arcana for more free thinking/rules tweaking, Comp.Warrior is not bad, maybe another Monster Manual beyond #1 is good too.

Poke around used book stores. Alot of people unloaded 3.x material for 4th so you can get it cheap. 1/2 Price Books is a good one. Amazon elsewhere. Point is, spare your friend's wallet as to splurge might turn him off to the game and starta nasty fight too.
#5
Qube
Oct 26, 2008 10:54:42 I'dd suggest
(1) cores
(2) complete arcane / divine / warrior / adventurer
(3) PHB2

In that order. (completes for additional features (items, skills, feats, classes, prestige classes, etc ...), PHB contains some fixes and flavors (IMO PHB2 was the best 3.5 book)

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 drag0ncharm Oct 22, 2008 22:46:03	I have a bit of problem. And help would be loved. I have a mate who wants to start playing D&D, easy enough, he wants a D&D Den and wants me to help him order all the stuff he might need. However I am small fry, I have been playing for over three years but just start DMing at the beginning of this year so I don't have a complete Idea of what he needs/wants. He has given me pretty much a free reign with the wallet (with in reason) but i don't want to overload him with books either. I'm setting him up with the 3.5 vers, If any one can give me a few titles that he might need (other than the Core Books obviously) that would be great.
#2 RUMPLESTIX Oct 23, 2008 22:27:59	The Magic Item Compendium is a good 'lump' book. It has a lot of information. If he is not planning on building his whole world from scratch you may want to try Forgotten Realms (get the 3rd ed. Frogotten Realms Campaign Setting and 3rd ed. Forgotten Realms Player's Guide), the Eberron Campaign Setting, or you might want to search for something like the Iron Kingdoms Campaign Setting (out of print?) If you choose either of the first two, there is a ton of assorted books to go along with each, but more so with FR. Are you getting a big table with a big dry-erase grid mat or perhaps 'dungeon tile' sets to quickly add features to 'rooms' in dungeons, inns, etc?
#3 birdursh Oct 25, 2008 14:06:23	By "den" do you mean he's sectioning off a room or area specifically for gaming? That's pretty awesome, and deserves a mini-fridge. he did give you free reign over the wallet, after all. ;) Otherwise, I second pretty much everything Rumplestix said. The battlemat, tiles, and what have yous are great, though once you start going that direction you start to want minis to populate them. As for books, start small. Grab the cores (obviously), and maybe a campaign setting like FR or Eberron as Rumplestix suggested. You can always add to your library later if you find yourself in need or want of something.
#4 1_ton_ghost Oct 25, 2008 14:52:31	Big table; suggest two 6 ft plastic folding ones for portability/ease. Cheap, effective. Comfy chairs, not lounging on couches, etc. (they need to be right there at table). TV trays around help too for peripheral extras. Too many books, dice, food/drink piles on the table is trouble. Nothing like a fried laptop... Big ass chessex grid map or multiple small ones cut to fit/synch up together. two 3 X 3 ft panes of plexiglass to overlay (spare the map) and add another level for spell FX and quick details. Wet erase markers seem to work well too (keep a roll of paper towels and small dish of water nearby). My boy cut out templates on colored acetate pieces for 20ft blasts, cones, and the like. This saves valuable time for placement rather than moving all the minis and maps to discrern "what goes where". Super cheap. Bells and whistles: if you want music, suggest a laptop (off the table) w/ a big ole HD loaded w/ a zillion mp3s (recommend instrumental pieces only, scores & soundtracks namely). Soulseek is a good peer-to-peer for this end (again, go easy on his wallet). Food, non-greasy stuff, preferably w/ a fork (nothing ruins good books like oil stains, cheeto crumbs, etc in your books). Furthermore, good minis (not those cheap plastic crappies) can have the spray fixer compromised from acids in your oils and foods. Books, the real reason we're here: broad, not-too-specific ones that benefit as many people as possible. RUMPLESTIX's recommendation of MgcItmCmp is a really really good example. It's awesome, very eccletic, and packed w/ alot of raw text/data, not so much fluff/filler. Good buy. Get books like that; broad coverage. Spell Cmpndm is a good mirror too. PHBs [more than 1 probably] and 1 PHB II, DMG I & II, Complete Adventurer helps alot of different classes, not just 1, Unearthed Arcana for more free thinking/rules tweaking, Comp.Warrior is not bad, maybe another Monster Manual beyond #1 is good too. Poke around used book stores. Alot of people unloaded 3.x material for 4th so you can get it cheap. 1/2 Price Books is a good one. Amazon elsewhere. Point is, spare your friend's wallet as to splurge might turn him off to the game and starta nasty fight too.
#5 Qube Oct 26, 2008 10:54:42	I'dd suggest (1) cores (2) complete arcane / divine / warrior / adventurer (3) PHB2 In that order. (completes for additional features (items, skills, feats, classes, prestige classes, etc ...), PHB contains some fixes and flavors (IMO PHB2 was the best 3.5 book)