getting into the game - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

getting into the game

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
Galandun
Apr 06, 2012 15:11:12 i want to get into DnD for a research project (yes, really) and don't want to spend a lot of dough. are the encounters events free or is there an entry fee? i have a burnahms drugs which hosts DnD encounters weekly. i used the redblade system to make a character since the native WoTC creater is subscription based. and Wizards doesn't make all of their rules easy to read or find for the free ones on their website. if anyone can link me to them and help me out in other ways i will be most appreciative.
#2
Shirebrok
Apr 06, 2012 16:52:48
WotC does not require anybody to pay in order to play Encounters, but rather leaves it up to the organizers to decide. Personally, I've never met anyone charging for playing in Encounters. I have heard of people charging a small amount (2 to 5 dollars), although I'm not sure what factors would influence that. Anyway, it's case-by-case; ask the person in charge.

As for getting the material: You'll have a hard time getting free, up-to-date game rules. You'd be better off showing up at a game and asking the person running it if he or she could spend some time with you to explain how the game works. He or she will also be able to recommend you the books you might want to get so you don't have to spend too much money. However, I still recommend getting an Insider subscription. I don't know how long you have to work on that research for, but, IIRC, it's only 10 dollars per month - way more complete and economical than purchasing the books, both short- and long-term.
#3
Galandun
Apr 06, 2012 18:11:45 thanks for that. i eMailed them but have not heard back yet. do i need a character created to join Encounters or can i create one there? i found the beginners guide www.wizards.com/dnd/files/QuickStartRule... and the first dungeon they give you www.wizards.com/dnd/files/H1.pdf
do they have all i need for now? i have the revised rules of 4.0 but they're tedious to read. could i just jump into Encounters and start playing or do i need to do more research?
#4
richardine
Apr 07, 2012 20:35:17 Short version: You can show up with nothing and no knowledge of the game. People will help you make a character and teach you the rules. Ask the coordinator and other players for advice on things you might need for your research project.

You can jump into encounters without knowing anything, and the coordinator will teach you to play. That is part of what encounters was designed to do. They do have pre-generated characters that you can use, or you can show up early and have the coordinator or one of the other players help you make a character. If you wanted you could use one of the characters in the back of the quickstart rule link you provided.

It is providing you the information you need to run a combat encounter and how to use skills assuming that you have a character already made, but its not giving you information on character creation or calculating the numbers for powers. Its enough to sit down and play with a pre-generated character or with a chacter made using the builder so that all the math is done for you. It does not give you enough information to make your own character. Your fellow players and the game coordinator can help you with that.

Since you are doing a research project it would be to your benefit to explain the project to the coordinator and they can help you choose what materials you will need for it. Considering the cost of the materials compared to how much information you might need from them you should pick up a D&D insider account. It may be possible for you to barrow someones books.

What is your research project? We can't tell exactly what you need without knowing what you are doing.

#5
Galandun
Apr 08, 2012 11:45:13 i'm trying to make a mechanic for a videogame that is in no way based on DnD. i just figured i would study mechanics a bit and then write my own. then focus on storyline, and then coding. as for dice, should i get the chessex pound of dice seeing as the dice are expensive? my drugstore doesn't have an online shop so no way to check if they have a mix 'n match bin for 10 cents apiece.
#6
mellored
Apr 09, 2012 15:44:29
i'm trying to make a mechanic for a videogame that is in no way based on DnD. i just figured i would study mechanics a bit and then write my own. then focus on storyline, and then coding. as for dice, should i get the chessex pound of dice seeing as the dice are expensive? my drugstore doesn't have an online shop so no way to check if they have a mix 'n match bin for 10 cents apiece.

A pounds is a fair bit more then you'll need... unless you like them. A starter set cost about 3-5 bucks, depending on how shiney you want your dice.

Though if you have a andriod, dice bag is a nice free ap. I'm sure there's one's on the iphone as well. And laptops can easily generate random numbers.

All of which are actually better (more random) then dice.
#7
Galandun
Apr 09, 2012 18:20:30 i don't have a cellphone, and i do not wish to drag a laptop to every encounter. aside from the fact that i want enough dice for spares and extra sets for my parents (i'm 14) if they want to play. the pund seems to fit that bill, aside from the random fact. i'm looking on eBay to see if anyone is selling sets cheap.
#8
Avric_Tholomyes
Apr 12, 2012 2:44:20 I started with a set of 7 dice. It's alright, though it's slow, since you'll be rolling them one at a time, if you have a power that does 3d8 damage, for example. One thing, if you're going to be playing with family, that you could do is have a communal set of d4-d12s, so that you can each have a d20, and have the other dice for when anyone needs it, but I only recommend this for families, since people often get attatched to their dice. The DM should probably get their own dice, even when doing a communal die pool.

Also, just in case you haven't thought of it, I reccomend dice sets being of different colors. I've seen too many people buy a single color, for their different sets, because they don't anticipate the utility of having dice that can be told apart from one another, and they like their dice sets to match.
#9
mellored
Apr 12, 2012 14:26:03 If he's buying for the group, a pound-o-dice is a good way to go.
#10
Galandun
May 16, 2012 15:58:30 all in all im just buying for myself, my dad, and maybe my mom if she wants to play ever.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 Galandun Apr 06, 2012 15:11:12	i want to get into DnD for a research project (yes, really) and don't want to spend a lot of dough. are the encounters events free or is there an entry fee? i have a burnahms drugs which hosts DnD encounters weekly. i used the redblade system to make a character since the native WoTC creater is subscription based. and Wizards doesn't make all of their rules easy to read or find for the free ones on their website. if anyone can link me to them and help me out in other ways i will be most appreciative.
#2 Shirebrok Apr 06, 2012 16:52:48	WotC does not require anybody to pay in order to play Encounters, but rather leaves it up to the organizers to decide. Personally, I've never met anyone charging for playing in Encounters. I have heard of people charging a small amount (2 to 5 dollars), although I'm not sure what factors would influence that. Anyway, it's case-by-case; ask the person in charge. As for getting the material: You'll have a hard time getting free, up-to-date game rules. You'd be better off showing up at a game and asking the person running it if he or she could spend some time with you to explain how the game works. He or she will also be able to recommend you the books you might want to get so you don't have to spend too much money. However, I still recommend getting an Insider subscription. I don't know how long you have to work on that research for, but, IIRC, it's only 10 dollars per month - way more complete and economical than purchasing the books, both short- and long-term.
#3 Galandun Apr 06, 2012 18:11:45	thanks for that. i eMailed them but have not heard back yet. do i need a character created to join Encounters or can i create one there? i found the beginners guide www.wizards.com/dnd/files/QuickStartRule... and the first dungeon they give you www.wizards.com/dnd/files/H1.pdf do they have all i need for now? i have the revised rules of 4.0 but they're tedious to read. could i just jump into Encounters and start playing or do i need to do more research?
#4 richardine Apr 07, 2012 20:35:17	Short version: You can show up with nothing and no knowledge of the game. People will help you make a character and teach you the rules. Ask the coordinator and other players for advice on things you might need for your research project. You can jump into encounters without knowing anything, and the coordinator will teach you to play. That is part of what encounters was designed to do. They do have pre-generated characters that you can use, or you can show up early and have the coordinator or one of the other players help you make a character. If you wanted you could use one of the characters in the back of the quickstart rule link you provided. It is providing you the information you need to run a combat encounter and how to use skills assuming that you have a character already made, but its not giving you information on character creation or calculating the numbers for powers. Its enough to sit down and play with a pre-generated character or with a chacter made using the builder so that all the math is done for you. It does not give you enough information to make your own character. Your fellow players and the game coordinator can help you with that. Since you are doing a research project it would be to your benefit to explain the project to the coordinator and they can help you choose what materials you will need for it. Considering the cost of the materials compared to how much information you might need from them you should pick up a D&D insider account. It may be possible for you to barrow someones books. What is your research project? We can't tell exactly what you need without knowing what you are doing.
#5 Galandun Apr 08, 2012 11:45:13	i'm trying to make a mechanic for a videogame that is in no way based on DnD. i just figured i would study mechanics a bit and then write my own. then focus on storyline, and then coding. as for dice, should i get the chessex pound of dice seeing as the dice are expensive? my drugstore doesn't have an online shop so no way to check if they have a mix 'n match bin for 10 cents apiece.
#6 mellored Apr 09, 2012 15:44:29	i'm trying to make a mechanic for a videogame that is in no way based on DnD. i just figured i would study mechanics a bit and then write my own. then focus on storyline, and then coding. as for dice, should i get the chessex pound of dice seeing as the dice are expensive? my drugstore doesn't have an online shop so no way to check if they have a mix 'n match bin for 10 cents apiece. A pounds is a fair bit more then you'll need... unless you like them. A starter set cost about 3-5 bucks, depending on how shiney you want your dice. Though if you have a andriod, dice bag is a nice free ap. I'm sure there's one's on the iphone as well. And laptops can easily generate random numbers. All of which are actually better (more random) then dice.
#7 Galandun Apr 09, 2012 18:20:30	i don't have a cellphone, and i do not wish to drag a laptop to every encounter. aside from the fact that i want enough dice for spares and extra sets for my parents (i'm 14) if they want to play. the pund seems to fit that bill, aside from the random fact. i'm looking on eBay to see if anyone is selling sets cheap.
#8 Avric_Tholomyes Apr 12, 2012 2:44:20	I started with a set of 7 dice. It's alright, though it's slow, since you'll be rolling them one at a time, if you have a power that does 3d8 damage, for example. One thing, if you're going to be playing with family, that you could do is have a communal set of d4-d12s, so that you can each have a d20, and have the other dice for when anyone needs it, but I only recommend this for families, since people often get attatched to their dice. The DM should probably get their own dice, even when doing a communal die pool. Also, just in case you haven't thought of it, I reccomend dice sets being of different colors. I've seen too many people buy a single color, for their different sets, because they don't anticipate the utility of having dice that can be told apart from one another, and they like their dice sets to match.
#9 mellored Apr 12, 2012 14:26:03	If he's buying for the group, a pound-o-dice is a good way to go.
#10 Galandun May 16, 2012 15:58:30	all in all im just buying for myself, my dad, and maybe my mom if she wants to play ever.