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Just getting into DnD, tips/help?
So I have a group of Discord buddies that we just had our first session last night, and it went pretty well. I used a pregen character that they had on Roll20, but feel like I missed out on creating a character. No one I know IRL really plays consistently, but after that session I am hooked. I want to get into it more, but don't know where to really start. If anyone has any newbie friendly tips/tricks on what I can read/get to learn more, I'd really appreciate it!
EDIT: Thanks for the tips everyone! I'll try to stop by my LGS this week and see what they say.
Who you play with makes all the difference, some groups are great, some not so great. Finding a good group will get you most of the way there.
As far as learning goes, you can check out the basic rules for free online. If you plan on continuing to play, you'll want a copy of the Player's Handbook aka the PHB. It can be found for relatively cheap on Amazon, but if you can spare the money, I recommend buying it from a local game store.
You can usually check your local tabletop games shop to find groups playing DnD nearby. In all likelihood, at least one of those groups will be more than happy to bring you into their campaign and introduce you to the game.
I was thinking that, but I guess I just feel dumb for just walking in and being like "hey cashier, know anyone willing to teach someone new to DnD on how to play?" I guess I just need to get over it. Can you recommend a book I can read or look into so I'm not completely retarded going in?
There was some good advice for finding groups in a previous topic:
https://tildes.net/~games/13a/the_quest_for_dungeons_dragons_groups
And if @LetsTalkAboutDnD doesn't drop by this topic of yours you can probably PM them. They have been pretty active in all the DnD related topics. dropped some really good advice and seem pretty dang helpful too.
Thanks for the shout-out, cfabbro!
Unfortunately for these general "how do I get into D&D?" questions, I've resorted to repeating much of my advice, although I'm still happy to pitch in.
-LTADnD
Many gaming shops and other nerdy hangouts run a service called "Adventurers League". It's designed for people to just drop in and play when they want and is very beginner friendly. You wouldn't be joining a personal game, you'd be joining a game that's purposely open to the public. They have a few extra rules for character creation, but the intent is an AL character can be played at any AL table anywhere.
As far as I know, there aren't any books you can read to help you be a player, besides the Player's Handbook itself (or the free basic rules). Most sources of D&D help and inspiration are focused around being the Dungeon Master rather than a player. You shouldn't need it though.
The best way to learn is to play. Don't worry about not knowing rules - even the long-time players need the book handy for some things.
My advice really just boils down to: Don't worry about anything. We don't bite. We're happy to help you along.
-LTADnD
Thanks man! I'll check out my LGS and hopefully have a report back about how I found a cool group of people!
I think you might be surprised how receptive they would be. Every game shop hosts events the cashier should be willing to point you to even if only for doing their job. Most folks that work at game and comic shops do it because they love games and comics.
Of course, this may not apply if said cashier is super-busy. If so, wait for a lull.
Watching a D&D podcast like critical role can be hugely useful in gaining a passive awareness of the mechanics and understanding the more social flow of the game.
Although, I think it's very important to include the side note that CR is played entirely by professional actors who have known each other for years - one with decades of experience as DM.
Critical Role is like the porn of D&D: It's great to watch, but don't use it as a standard of what D&D is like or you'll probably be disappointed.
-LTADnD
Totally true, great point.
I do still think it’s super useful for passively picking up the mechanics of things (perception vs investigation for example) but you will definitely be disappointed if you expect your game to run as smoothly.
CR is great. So is the A.J. Picket Monster Ecology series on YouTube.
I've started to watch Drunks and Dragons, and it's hilarious! I'll have to check out that one, although like @LetsTalkAboutDnD said, I won't put it as a standard when looking for a local group.
Wishes seem like wonderful things. If you should ever encounter anything that grants wishes, leave it be. Your DM has supreme discretion in fucking with the wish. It always ends badly.
LMAO I'll keep that in mind!
I'm old school having played since the late seventies. I like D&D "Basic" and AD&D (no gen...). I've tried playing 2nd-5th and they just got to complex for my taste.
For the most part, I like DM's who aren't rule-nazi's. Spells are spells and prepped the night before, and rarely do we worry about cast time. But you only get so many before needing to sleep or pray. Never really required components. Just too much time taken out of the point of D&D/AD&D and that is adventuring.
I've DM'd before, but it's just not something I enjoy. I second finding a local game store and seeing if they have game nights. Go hang out, watch, pay attention to how people act and interact and what the DM does. Then ask to join in. Most groups you watch are mid-adventure and won't want some newbie just dropping in and killing the flow. It's not being mean, it's being practical. Imagine some newb just jumping onto the field of a football game...
Whichever RPG and version you aim for, go buy the books. At least the DM and Players handbooks. READ them. Try to understand them. You don't need to know the monsters as a major fun part of playing is encountering the unknown.
If you get a bad DM, find another. And remember, it's about having fun. It's not a second job.
Oh, I actually have a question for you Stromm!
I'm planning on running an AD&D 1st Edition game fairly soon. Do you have any advice for someone unfamiliar with that system, or things I should specifically take note of?
-LTADnD
Get a published model. Read it till you know it inside and out. Then run that as your first DM job.
Even if your players have played that module with another DM. In fact, that'd be better.
Ask your players to keep notes during the game of what they like and what they don't like. Notes... "please keep all comments till the end of the presentation" Unless you just sucks :)
Then read all of them before everyone leaves and ask any questions. Think about them and if they make sense, change how you DM.
I really hate a DM who thinks "I'm god, you have to like who I DM". No. No I don't.
Once you've DM'd a half-dozen or so modules, then you'll have a good start on how to create a good adventure. Decide if you want a dungeon crawl adventure or a more complex and multi-night long campaign. Ask your players what they would like.
PC is Player Character are your real life player's characters. NPC is Non-Player Character, which are characters in your town, wilderness, dungeon. The ones you control to interact with your PCs.
So for generating your player's characters, you can either monitor that process or let them create them in advance. it all depends on how much you trust them. Since we played mostly for fun, we would roll 4d6 and pick the top 3 (e.g. 6, 3, 4, 5 = 15). Low stat characters tend to die pretty quick... Plus, creating your character can take a good bit of time (30-60 minutes in my experience). Set quidelines like how much money to buy weapons and equipment when creating their characters, etc. Right before starting the adventure you can even surprise one or all with a magic item/weapon. Low level of course, maybe a +1d sword or dagger or a ring of invisibility with X-number of charges that only you know.
It's OK to make your rolls behind a blind. You can buy DM blinds with common charts on one side and player stuff on the other. It's also fun to just randomly roll some die/dice and go "hmmm". Then move on. better to ask your players to roll a die (especially a d20), nod and then move on. Do that so they don't really know when a roll is actually needed by you.
Remember, the important part is to have fun.
Ah sorry - I'm an experienced DM; I was specifically asking about running/playing AD&D 1e, as I'm unfamiliar with that system's oddities.
That's some good advice for OP though
-LTADnD
Ah, gotcha.
I would say just don't over complicate the rules. I've played many intentionally more complex RPGs like GURPS, RoleMaster, Palladium and others. It seemed like when those first came out, AD&D DM's started complicating it.
I'll agree with everyone else and say finding a good group is key. A group who's all on the same page about what they want from the game and a dungeon master who's willing to oblige them is the biggest thing that's going to make things go well.
Other than that, try to get your hands on the player's handbook. It'll teach you everything you need to know to play the game with lots of options in it. Since you've already played, I'd really suggest the player's handbook over the basic rules guide since you probably already know the basics after a session and the players handbook goes more in depth.
Lastly, have fun with your character. Start with them as a character first, with their background, their motivations, their personality first. Then figure out what kind of class and race fits them. That leads to a much better character overall and it'll make role-playing as them far easier in game.
Have fun! DnD is awesome and it's one of the best games out there. Good luck!
Apart from my "Adventurer's League" advice I mentioned elsewhere, have you considered running the game yourself? The DM sets who plays and when, so while nobody you know plays consistantly, you could change that.
There is certainly a learning curve for DMing, but to quote the one video series I recommend to everyone in your situation:
"It's fun, it's creative, and it's not that hard".
That would be the "Running the Game" series, which is a fantastic guide for beginner DMs which gradually increases in complexity to the point that I regularly use advice from his new videos today.
The only thing I can really say that isn't covered in the first few videos in that series is to try to get at least one player who plays already. Fumbling through the first session, barely knowing the rules and with players in the same boat is fairly unpleasant. Trust me - that's how I started.
Whether you end up being a player, or a DM: Have fun! This is a great hobby and is incredibly rewarding.
-LTADnD
Added the playlist to my playlists for when there's a lull at work or home. THANK YOU!