I'm completely new to D&D - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

I'm completely new to D&D

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
dwarvenwarrior
Jul 25, 2008 1:11:06 I was wondering if I could play as a Goblinoid(such as a bugbear) Or is that not possible? Now I've completely dedicated on learning how to play D&D with friends, I already know what a want. a Dwarf Fighter etc.
But besides playing a human and making him chaotic evil, Could a player(lets say "evil story") play a Bugbear(or any other "by character class") humanoid?
#2
Cohen95
Jul 25, 2008 1:52:05 Monster Races are covered in the back of the Monster Manual, consult your DM for permission. A lot of people here will assume they're okay, for purposes of Optimizing, etc. A PC, whether monstrous or not, is never bound to any specific alignment, that I'm aware of.

Again, though, of course, consult with your DM, it's his decision.
#3
kouk
Jul 25, 2008 3:59:47 Playing as "monster" races is always up to the DM. The game world may not be supportive of that kind of monster even if he claims to be a good guy, or they may not exist at all.

The Monster Manual racial abilities is not really written for use by a player, but for DMs who want to stat one up as a full-fledged NPC. They are not really balanced for PC use, and the book cautions DMs about allowing them.

Additionally, an evil character is frequently problematic. Make sure your DM is alright with you playing an evil-aligned character, because many many campaigns cannot support that. Running an evil-aligned campaign is not recommended for new DMs, for all sorts of reasons. If your DM is not interested in running an Evil-aligned campaign, I strongly recommend being a "good guy" especially if just starting out.
#4
kaldair
Jul 25, 2008 8:36:50 In my opinion, new players should start out with a simple one-class PHB character. It can be very fulfulling gameplay-wise and you won't get bogged down with excess rules. I started on a straight elf rogue in 3.0, and he's still my favorite character I've ever played. (Granted I only took him three levels... though he's the character of mine who survived the longest... died to an ancient red wyrm we were running from... cuz I was still a new player and forgot I had evasion.)

That said, I'm now a munchkin, and like to put together three different classes and 2 obscure feats to qualify for this prestige class and that feat together as early as possible. I think in light of 4e however, I will put that aside and roleplay a casanova teifling feylock, not optimized for value but with what I think a (pardon the pun) devil-may-care ladies' man would be trained in.
#5
lostdwarf
Jul 25, 2008 9:26:42 Decide who will be running the game in your group, and then it is up to him. The stats for monster race characters are in the Monster Manual. Playing a "monster" does bring up a number of problems, however. If your character is of a race that most people assume is evil and hostile it will make it very diffiucult to operate in a civilized area of any kind. I think that if you are running most published settings you should stick with the races in the player's handbook. On the other hand, if the DM is creating his own setting, he might very well have some kind of area where bugbears and hobgoblins can walk down the streets next to elves and dwarves without an instant fight breaking out- perhaps a frontier or borderlands area of some kind. Its all up to your dungeon master.
#6
dwarvenwarrior
Jul 25, 2008 15:14:19 So its up to dungeon master? I wanna play D&D the way its supposed to be played. But I just wanted to know because my dungeon master wants to try something different.(though probably a "cliched" different.)
But thanks for the advice and info.
#7
The_Stray
Jul 26, 2008 9:02:12 if your DM is cool with it, anything goes.
#8
kouk
Jul 27, 2008 6:11:41
So its up to dungeon master? I wanna play D&D the way its supposed to be played. But I just wanted to know because my dungeon master wants to try something different.(though probably a "cliched" different.)
But thanks for the advice and info.

No game is ever really "the way it is supposed to be played" because there is no correct way to play. As long as everyone has fun with it, it's working fine.

Strictly by the books though, a player only has access to what's in the PHB.

DMs can, and frequently do, make changes to the assumed ruleset. Now, if your DM is also new, then I would strongly recommend he not change anything major until he gets more experience.
#9
Jon_of_the_North
Jul 27, 2008 14:49:04 Welcome to the game!

Monster races can be tricky, and Evil parties don't work well in my (limited in this regard) experience. Mixed parties are worse (much experience here). Look at the party and try to figure out what fits/ is needed and what you'll enjoy.

Your GM wants "to try something different." Could you elaborate please?
#10
bone_naga
Jul 27, 2008 15:21:36 Monster races can be tricky or not, depending on the DM. In my campaign, a player has a mind flayer character, but in a world with heavy racial prejudices, he is in constant danger of being exposed and murdered by an angry mob. In another campaign, the DM had minotaurs and goblins hanging out with elves and dwarves, so it really wasn't any problem.

As far as the monster's abilities, they aren't really unbalanced or anything. However, they are different, and they don't always work the same way or with the same intent the most PC racial abilities functions.

If you want to have an all evil or mixed alignment party, I've had pretty good experiences with that, but it depends on the players. Even evil characters can have friends and help each other out. Even if they don't like each other, they can still work together for mutual profit. Lone villains (short of dragons) don't tend to last that long, so its in the party's best interest to work together. If you keep that in mind, evil campaigns are no problem. However, if you have characters that decide to strike down random people or eat babies because "they're evil", then you will encounter some problems.

Also, do you really want to play evil, or do you just think you should because you want to be a goblin or orc or something? You are not required to be any particular alignment just because of your race. Also, unaligned might suit your preferences just fine, if you want a character who walks the line without actually crossing over it.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 dwarvenwarrior Jul 25, 2008 1:11:06	I was wondering if I could play as a Goblinoid(such as a bugbear) Or is that not possible? Now I've completely dedicated on learning how to play D&D with friends, I already know what a want. a Dwarf Fighter etc. But besides playing a human and making him chaotic evil, Could a player(lets say "evil story") play a Bugbear(or any other "by character class") humanoid?
#2 Cohen95 Jul 25, 2008 1:52:05	Monster Races are covered in the back of the Monster Manual, consult your DM for permission. A lot of people here will assume they're okay, for purposes of Optimizing, etc. A PC, whether monstrous or not, is never bound to any specific alignment, that I'm aware of. Again, though, of course, consult with your DM, it's his decision.
#3 kouk Jul 25, 2008 3:59:47	Playing as "monster" races is always up to the DM. The game world may not be supportive of that kind of monster even if he claims to be a good guy, or they may not exist at all. The Monster Manual racial abilities is not really written for use by a player, but for DMs who want to stat one up as a full-fledged NPC. They are not really balanced for PC use, and the book cautions DMs about allowing them. Additionally, an evil character is frequently problematic. Make sure your DM is alright with you playing an evil-aligned character, because many many campaigns cannot support that. Running an evil-aligned campaign is not recommended for new DMs, for all sorts of reasons. If your DM is not interested in running an Evil-aligned campaign, I strongly recommend being a "good guy" especially if just starting out.
#4 kaldair Jul 25, 2008 8:36:50	In my opinion, new players should start out with a simple one-class PHB character. It can be very fulfulling gameplay-wise and you won't get bogged down with excess rules. I started on a straight elf rogue in 3.0, and he's still my favorite character I've ever played. (Granted I only took him three levels... though he's the character of mine who survived the longest... died to an ancient red wyrm we were running from... cuz I was still a new player and forgot I had evasion.) That said, I'm now a munchkin, and like to put together three different classes and 2 obscure feats to qualify for this prestige class and that feat together as early as possible. I think in light of 4e however, I will put that aside and roleplay a casanova teifling feylock, not optimized for value but with what I think a (pardon the pun) devil-may-care ladies' man would be trained in.
#5 lostdwarf Jul 25, 2008 9:26:42	Decide who will be running the game in your group, and then it is up to him. The stats for monster race characters are in the Monster Manual. Playing a "monster" does bring up a number of problems, however. If your character is of a race that most people assume is evil and hostile it will make it very diffiucult to operate in a civilized area of any kind. I think that if you are running most published settings you should stick with the races in the player's handbook. On the other hand, if the DM is creating his own setting, he might very well have some kind of area where bugbears and hobgoblins can walk down the streets next to elves and dwarves without an instant fight breaking out- perhaps a frontier or borderlands area of some kind. Its all up to your dungeon master.
#6 dwarvenwarrior Jul 25, 2008 15:14:19	So its up to dungeon master? I wanna play D&D the way its supposed to be played. But I just wanted to know because my dungeon master wants to try something different.(though probably a "cliched" different.) But thanks for the advice and info.
#7 The_Stray Jul 26, 2008 9:02:12	if your DM is cool with it, anything goes.
#8 kouk Jul 27, 2008 6:11:41	So its up to dungeon master? I wanna play D&D the way its supposed to be played. But I just wanted to know because my dungeon master wants to try something different.(though probably a "cliched" different.) But thanks for the advice and info. No game is ever really "the way it is supposed to be played" because there is no correct way to play. As long as everyone has fun with it, it's working fine. Strictly by the books though, a player only has access to what's in the PHB. DMs can, and frequently do, make changes to the assumed ruleset. Now, if your DM is also new, then I would strongly recommend he not change anything major until he gets more experience.
#9 Jon_of_the_North Jul 27, 2008 14:49:04	Welcome to the game! Monster races can be tricky, and Evil parties don't work well in my (limited in this regard) experience. Mixed parties are worse (much experience here). Look at the party and try to figure out what fits/ is needed and what you'll enjoy. Your GM wants "to try something different." Could you elaborate please?
#10 bone_naga Jul 27, 2008 15:21:36	Monster races can be tricky or not, depending on the DM. In my campaign, a player has a mind flayer character, but in a world with heavy racial prejudices, he is in constant danger of being exposed and murdered by an angry mob. In another campaign, the DM had minotaurs and goblins hanging out with elves and dwarves, so it really wasn't any problem. As far as the monster's abilities, they aren't really unbalanced or anything. However, they are different, and they don't always work the same way or with the same intent the most PC racial abilities functions. If you want to have an all evil or mixed alignment party, I've had pretty good experiences with that, but it depends on the players. Even evil characters can have friends and help each other out. Even if they don't like each other, they can still work together for mutual profit. Lone villains (short of dragons) don't tend to last that long, so its in the party's best interest to work together. If you keep that in mind, evil campaigns are no problem. However, if you have characters that decide to strike down random people or eat babies because "they're evil", then you will encounter some problems. Also, do you really want to play evil, or do you just think you should because you want to be a goblin or orc or something? You are not required to be any particular alignment just because of your race. Also, unaligned might suit your preferences just fine, if you want a character who walks the line without actually crossing over it.