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Other players can't play...

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
neotyguy40
Mar 23, 2009 17:20:18 Every few days, I and a group of about 5 friends join together and play the 3.5 version of D&D.

I like to play with them, yet they have no idea how to play!

The only person in the game who has a rulebook is the DM, and I have a virtual one on my computer. I have been playing the game for 2-3 years, and they all just started playing. I understand if they want to learn about it, but the DM is sort of the leader of the entire group, and he has no intentions of letting me explain how the game works.

This is how the game goes:

1. He pulls out his monster book and picks a random creature to fight.
2. We all get our own creature to fight and we don't even roll dice.
3. After we all finish, he gives everyone extreme amount of experience (enough to raise an entire level per fight).
4. Repeat until we get bored and leave.

Whenever I try to explain it, he just tells me that he knows how to play. And there are no other groups around my school that plays D&D.
#2
Shiftkitty
Mar 23, 2009 17:34:31 I take it he is loathe to let you DM?
#3
dalzig
Mar 23, 2009 19:10:55 Ask if they want to try another game. If they agree, make them D&D characters (without ever saying D&D) and walk them through a simple adventure.

At the end, ask them if they had fun. Then, spring on them that THIS is what D&D truly is.
#4
newyorkrick
Mar 23, 2009 20:10:08 Hit them over the head with a club and yell "I am the Orc King!"

Doubt it will help, but it would be funny to see. :D
#5
gregt_314
Mar 23, 2009 20:48:25 Sadly when you're at school you're usually stuck with the hand fate deals you. There's a few things you can try, like inviting everyone except the DM to a game you run, and showing them your interpretation of the rules by way of example. But of course when you're seeing these people at school every day the personal politics can get tricky and if it means backstabbing your DM when he's otherwise your friend it's possibly just not worth it.

If you're really hankering for a fix of D&D done right, you might ask at your local games shop whether the staff know of any safe, age-appropriate groups who might be looking for a new player. Many game stores have a space with tables that groups can use after school or at evenings to hold games with people they might not know so well in a neutral, supervised space.

Or you could try online play either through play-by-email, play-by-IRC, or one of the various virtual tabletop applications.
#6
crossblade
Mar 23, 2009 20:55:42 When he says he knows how to play, ask him why no dice are involved. Then ask how you all go up levels each fight. THEN ask even if he knows how to play, why can't the others know/learn how to play.

As for helping the others learn to play... use the SRD (send them the link via email or online messenger)
http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=d20/article/srd35

But as said above, you DM'ing would likely be THE BEST solution.
#7
networkzero
Mar 23, 2009 21:14:59 I'm baffled at how combat is run without dice, but it does sound pretty far from D&D. Although it does sound similar to how i played around solo to figure out the combat for the new system. Put some dungeon tiles down, make a character (or some) with the builder, pick a random encounter then go to town. With a group though, it would be more like a dungeon delve, quick one off type thing, not a bad time really.

Sounds like your "DM" is pretty stubborn and refuses to admit he's wrong, so that's a block. How about just getting together with the others when he can't play and suggest you run it? Might give them a chance to see how different it can be.
#8
trei
Mar 24, 2009 17:08:07 Since he gets so defensive over which is the RIGHT way to play, don't market it as such. Tell him you know a DIFFERENT system that you'd love to show the group sometime soon. Call it "Three Point Five E System," -- not like he'd get it anyway.

And since it's the DM's job to make sure everyone has fun, let the players decide which system they like better. They've seen lame-o's way, and they should play a few sessions "your" way, and then vote.

Hopefully being able to roll their own dice and such will sell them, but I know there are those types who are strongly opposed to so many rules.

But here's your backup, since you are at school: Start a club. We made one in highschool. (In hindsight, though, we shouldn't have called it the Dungeons and Dragons club. Maybe it's better to have called it "Gamers Club"...) All it took was a quick talk with the principal (These games make strong use of algebraic and statistical math skills, so it's not only fun, but reinforces our mathmatical educations, sir), and a quick chat with our favorite teacher (Hey, we just started a club. Can we use your room after school for two hours? We just play board games and stuff like that, sir.) and bam!

Now that you're the leader, things go your way. And you can recruit new members. I got three new people on the first day of the club who already knew how to play -- and I didn't even know they existed.

Be creative!
#9
arashikage
Mar 26, 2009 6:22:56 I get the feeling that most of you haven't picked up on the fact that this guy is in HS at best, maybe even Jr. High.
Or elementary school from the sound of it.

All the sneaky ways to try to get the players to choose the OP as DM will only start a popularity contest.
It's pretty certain the DM knows that he doesn't know how to play.
Any attempt to call him out will result in a power play and the OP is not in a strong position.

Besides, we don't know anything about the dynamic of the situation.
Maybe the other kids don't care.
Maybe it kewl enough for them.
Maybe they just like the DM and don't care what they do as long as they get to hang out with him.

OP- If you don;t think you can talk to the DM separately and say 'Hey, you know I was reading the rules and, well....' and have a discussion, then you are pretty much gonna hafta suck it up.
Let him know that you DO know the rules and calmly inquire how he plans to introduce them, all the while letting him know that his plan to slowly introduce the game was actually probably a good idea
(I know that's not his plan, but you hafta give him an out, other wise you're calling him stupid).
if he's not game, then back off and say 'hey, what ever'. Then either play his way or find something else to do.

But if you make it a power play in front of the other players not only will you be out of a D&D game(such as it is) you will likely be out several friends in the process.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 neotyguy40 Mar 23, 2009 17:20:18	Every few days, I and a group of about 5 friends join together and play the 3.5 version of D&D. I like to play with them, yet they have no idea how to play! The only person in the game who has a rulebook is the DM, and I have a virtual one on my computer. I have been playing the game for 2-3 years, and they all just started playing. I understand if they want to learn about it, but the DM is sort of the leader of the entire group, and he has no intentions of letting me explain how the game works. This is how the game goes: 1. He pulls out his monster book and picks a random creature to fight. 2. We all get our own creature to fight and we don't even roll dice. 3. After we all finish, he gives everyone extreme amount of experience (enough to raise an entire level per fight). 4. Repeat until we get bored and leave. Whenever I try to explain it, he just tells me that he knows how to play. And there are no other groups around my school that plays D&D.
#2 Shiftkitty Mar 23, 2009 17:34:31	I take it he is loathe to let you DM?
#3 dalzig Mar 23, 2009 19:10:55	Ask if they want to try another game. If they agree, make them D&D characters (without ever saying D&D) and walk them through a simple adventure. At the end, ask them if they had fun. Then, spring on them that THIS is what D&D truly is.
#4 newyorkrick Mar 23, 2009 20:10:08	Hit them over the head with a club and yell "I am the Orc King!" Doubt it will help, but it would be funny to see. :D
#5 gregt_314 Mar 23, 2009 20:48:25	Sadly when you're at school you're usually stuck with the hand fate deals you. There's a few things you can try, like inviting everyone except the DM to a game you run, and showing them your interpretation of the rules by way of example. But of course when you're seeing these people at school every day the personal politics can get tricky and if it means backstabbing your DM when he's otherwise your friend it's possibly just not worth it. If you're really hankering for a fix of D&D done right, you might ask at your local games shop whether the staff know of any safe, age-appropriate groups who might be looking for a new player. Many game stores have a space with tables that groups can use after school or at evenings to hold games with people they might not know so well in a neutral, supervised space. Or you could try online play either through play-by-email, play-by-IRC, or one of the various virtual tabletop applications.
#6 crossblade Mar 23, 2009 20:55:42	When he says he knows how to play, ask him why no dice are involved. Then ask how you all go up levels each fight. THEN ask even if he knows how to play, why can't the others know/learn how to play. As for helping the others learn to play... use the SRD (send them the link via email or online messenger) http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=d20/article/srd35 But as said above, you DM'ing would likely be THE BEST solution.
#7 networkzero Mar 23, 2009 21:14:59	I'm baffled at how combat is run without dice, but it does sound pretty far from D&D. Although it does sound similar to how i played around solo to figure out the combat for the new system. Put some dungeon tiles down, make a character (or some) with the builder, pick a random encounter then go to town. With a group though, it would be more like a dungeon delve, quick one off type thing, not a bad time really. Sounds like your "DM" is pretty stubborn and refuses to admit he's wrong, so that's a block. How about just getting together with the others when he can't play and suggest you run it? Might give them a chance to see how different it can be.
#8 trei Mar 24, 2009 17:08:07	Since he gets so defensive over which is the RIGHT way to play, don't market it as such. Tell him you know a DIFFERENT system that you'd love to show the group sometime soon. Call it "Three Point Five E System," -- not like he'd get it anyway. And since it's the DM's job to make sure everyone has fun, let the players decide which system they like better. They've seen lame-o's way, and they should play a few sessions "your" way, and then vote. Hopefully being able to roll their own dice and such will sell them, but I know there are those types who are strongly opposed to so many rules. But here's your backup, since you are at school: Start a club. We made one in highschool. (In hindsight, though, we shouldn't have called it the Dungeons and Dragons club. Maybe it's better to have called it "Gamers Club"...) All it took was a quick talk with the principal (These games make strong use of algebraic and statistical math skills, so it's not only fun, but reinforces our mathmatical educations, sir), and a quick chat with our favorite teacher (Hey, we just started a club. Can we use your room after school for two hours? We just play board games and stuff like that, sir.) and bam! Now that you're the leader, things go your way. And you can recruit new members. I got three new people on the first day of the club who already knew how to play -- and I didn't even know they existed. Be creative!
#9 arashikage Mar 26, 2009 6:22:56	I get the feeling that most of you haven't picked up on the fact that this guy is in HS at best, maybe even Jr. High. Or elementary school from the sound of it. All the sneaky ways to try to get the players to choose the OP as DM will only start a popularity contest. It's pretty certain the DM knows that he doesn't know how to play. Any attempt to call him out will result in a power play and the OP is not in a strong position. Besides, we don't know anything about the dynamic of the situation. Maybe the other kids don't care. Maybe it kewl enough for them. Maybe they just like the DM and don't care what they do as long as they get to hang out with him. OP- If you don;t think you can talk to the DM separately and say 'Hey, you know I was reading the rules and, well....' and have a discussion, then you are pretty much gonna hafta suck it up. Let him know that you DO know the rules and calmly inquire how he plans to introduce them, all the while letting him know that his plan to slowly introduce the game was actually probably a good idea (I know that's not his plan, but you hafta give him an out, other wise you're calling him stupid). if he's not game, then back off and say 'hey, what ever'. Then either play his way or find something else to do. But if you make it a power play in front of the other players not only will you be out of a D&D game(such as it is) you will likely be out several friends in the process.