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How to get started?

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
mattsface
Jun 10, 2008 13:30:06 My friends and I just bought this old starter pack and borders to just give DnD a try.. We've always been WoW and Everquest players so we were very curious about the game.

We played through the started pack and they defeated the blue dragon....

and loved every effing min of it ha. I understand now they have a new rule set out and everything. I couldn't find anything on this site on how to get started

Can anyone point me in a direction to get started? What products to buy and such?

We loved how you used the miniatures
#2
henkman
Jun 10, 2008 13:58:02 To get started you should get the Player's Handbook, Monster Manual, and Dungeon Master's Guide.
#3
Xaielao2
Jun 10, 2008 15:04:30 Well you could pick up Keep on the Shadowfell. It's a stand alone adventure with pre-generated characters and all the rules you need to run it.

But if your serious about playing then invest in a Players Handbook, Monster Manual and Dungeon Master's Guide. These are the 3 'core' books needed to fully run the game. It'll set you back $70 or more, but are worth years and years of enjoyment just on their own.
#4
noman
Jun 10, 2008 21:11:40 I wouldn't be surprised if Wizards came out with a little sample module and quick rules. They did it when 3rd Edition was new. They had it on their website, downloadable, and for free.
#5
mycroftb
Jun 10, 2008 22:00:30 For the OP: D&D is kinda transitional right now. They're focusing more on getting prior users to switch over, and most of the ads and products are geared toward that.

I recall that they intend on creating a starter set like the Basic Game that you have later this year, possibly in time for the holiday shopping season.

If you don't want to wait six months, though, you can still jump right in, with some extra goodies.

Keep on the Shadowfell, as others have mentioned, is a standalone adventure. It includes some quick-start rules and already-created characters, just like you're used to. You can keep it simple and play through it as-is without buying the MSRP $105 book bundle. It should take players up to third level before it ends.

You will have to get some extra supplies, though, as it doesn't come with minis, and you'll need to make your own battlemats for a good portion of the encounters.

You can use the minis you have from the blue dragon box for some of the monsters, acknowledging that you can't match them exactly. "These two goblins are short, reptilian humanoids wearing heavy armor and wielding swords and shields. This orc is the same species, but with a bone mask and a staff. These Monopoly houses are the same kind of monster too, but they just have spears." Don't be afraid to scavenge for pieces. I use glass beads for large groups of minions. Other people get fancier by finding a picture online, then printing it out to fold over and glue to a washer as a stand.

As for battlemats, a lot of experienced gamers use a vinyl wet-erase (and wet-erase-ONLY) mat that's already marked off in one-inch squares, such as those made by Chessex. I've heard Steel Sqwire's use-any-marker flipmats are good too. A hobby or comic shop that specializes in games might carry something like this. Otherwise you can use large paper mats purchasable at most office stores that have 1" squares on them.

You've already got dice, some PC minis, and iconic monster minis from the blue dragon box. With a mat and maybe some scrounged mini pieces, you'd be all set to play Keep on the Shadowfell.

If you like it, you can then get the core books, make your own characters, and create your own adventures. (Or if you'd rather not create, Wizards is releasing more modules to continue the storyline from Keep on the Shadowfell, H2 should be out well before you finish H1.)

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 mattsface Jun 10, 2008 13:30:06	My friends and I just bought this old starter pack and borders to just give DnD a try.. We've always been WoW and Everquest players so we were very curious about the game. We played through the started pack and they defeated the blue dragon.... and loved every effing min of it ha. I understand now they have a new rule set out and everything. I couldn't find anything on this site on how to get started Can anyone point me in a direction to get started? What products to buy and such? We loved how you used the miniatures
#2 henkman Jun 10, 2008 13:58:02	To get started you should get the Player's Handbook, Monster Manual, and Dungeon Master's Guide.
#3 Xaielao2 Jun 10, 2008 15:04:30	Well you could pick up Keep on the Shadowfell. It's a stand alone adventure with pre-generated characters and all the rules you need to run it. But if your serious about playing then invest in a Players Handbook, Monster Manual and Dungeon Master's Guide. These are the 3 'core' books needed to fully run the game. It'll set you back $70 or more, but are worth years and years of enjoyment just on their own.
#4 noman Jun 10, 2008 21:11:40	I wouldn't be surprised if Wizards came out with a little sample module and quick rules. They did it when 3rd Edition was new. They had it on their website, downloadable, and for free.
#5 mycroftb Jun 10, 2008 22:00:30	For the OP: D&D is kinda transitional right now. They're focusing more on getting prior users to switch over, and most of the ads and products are geared toward that. I recall that they intend on creating a starter set like the Basic Game that you have later this year, possibly in time for the holiday shopping season. If you don't want to wait six months, though, you can still jump right in, with some extra goodies. Keep on the Shadowfell, as others have mentioned, is a standalone adventure. It includes some quick-start rules and already-created characters, just like you're used to. You can keep it simple and play through it as-is without buying the MSRP $105 book bundle. It should take players up to third level before it ends. You will have to get some extra supplies, though, as it doesn't come with minis, and you'll need to make your own battlemats for a good portion of the encounters. You can use the minis you have from the blue dragon box for some of the monsters, acknowledging that you can't match them exactly. "These two goblins are short, reptilian humanoids wearing heavy armor and wielding swords and shields. This orc is the same species, but with a bone mask and a staff. These Monopoly houses are the same kind of monster too, but they just have spears." Don't be afraid to scavenge for pieces. I use glass beads for large groups of minions. Other people get fancier by finding a picture online, then printing it out to fold over and glue to a washer as a stand. As for battlemats, a lot of experienced gamers use a vinyl wet-erase (and wet-erase-ONLY) mat that's already marked off in one-inch squares, such as those made by Chessex. I've heard Steel Sqwire's use-any-marker flipmats are good too. A hobby or comic shop that specializes in games might carry something like this. Otherwise you can use large paper mats purchasable at most office stores that have 1" squares on them. You've already got dice, some PC minis, and iconic monster minis from the blue dragon box. With a mat and maybe some scrounged mini pieces, you'd be all set to play Keep on the Shadowfell. If you like it, you can then get the core books, make your own characters, and create your own adventures. (Or if you'd rather not create, Wizards is releasing more modules to continue the storyline from Keep on the Shadowfell, H2 should be out well before you finish H1.)