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Corrupted One
2008-08-30, 01:35 PM
Forgive me if there is a thread that answers this but I couldn't find one. Anyway my questions is this. For someone who has never played d&d, but desperately wants to, how do you begin? What books do you need? Which do you reccomend? Any tips for finding/recruiting players in your area? Do I need a board to play? Any good online stores or should I make the trip to Berkely to get my supplies? What supplies will I need? Basically, I know nothing and would simply like the tools to learn.

MisterSaturnine
2008-08-30, 01:46 PM
Fortunately, the 3.5 rules and...pretty much everything you'll need to start (the ancient Phoenicians called it the "system reference document") is on the internet, right here (http://www.d20srd.org/). :smallsmile:

If you're looking for 4ed, then I suppose you'd have to buy the books.

EvilElitest
2008-08-30, 01:48 PM
if you just mean play D&D entirely, 4E is a good starter game for just general dungeon running and play. But if you want to get into more complex games (IE, character creation and options) you can just start with the core 3E. It really depends on waht you like from a game
from
EE

Eldariel
2008-08-30, 01:48 PM
For those interested, A Guide to Free D&D (http://brilliantgameologists.com/boards/index.php?topic=1109.0). More than just SRD there - in fact, you can have a very elaborate game with just those sources, much more than most actual playgroups even have.

http://www.amazon.com is probably the best source for the books. I suggest Core 3 (Player's Handbook, Dungeon Master's Guide, Monster Manual) + Expanded Psionics Handbook + Player's Handbook II + Tome of Battle as your first 6 books, if you don't plan on using SRD.

Corrupted One
2008-08-30, 01:49 PM
Fortunately, the 3.5 rules and...pretty much everything you'll need to start (the ancient Phoenicians called it the "system reference document") is on the internet, right here (http://www.d20srd.org/). :smallsmile:

If you're looking for 4ed, then I suppose you'd have to buy the books.


Thanks. But are there books I can buy? I would hate having to reference these every time I need to look something up. I mean can you reccomend any good online stores?

Tempest Fennac
2008-08-30, 01:49 PM
http://www.crystalkeep.com/d20/ is poor for PrCs due to only detailing the first 2 levels for each one (apart from a few specific racial ones), but it's brilliant for races, spells, feats and base classes. http://realmshelps.dandello.net/index.shtml contains a few things which aren't on Crystal Keep as well.

RTGoodman
2008-08-30, 01:50 PM
I'd suggest going online and looking up gaming stores in your area. Looking at your area, I'd think there are probably a lot of people in the area. In fact, I know of at least a few people from the forums in the Berkeley or Oakland areas or other close places. If you can get to a gaming store, there are probably people around that can teach you the basics in a couple of hours, will let you look through some books, and maybe even get you into a regular game with others from the area.


Thanks. But are there books I can buy? I would hate having to reference these every time I need to look something up. I mean can you reccomend any good online stores?

Yeah, there are hundreds of books for D&D 3.5. You can find them at any gaming store, a lot of normal bookstores, and on Amazon and so on. Basically, to start out you'll want the Player's Handbook v3.5, and eventually the Monster Manual or DM Guide if you plan to run games. 4th Edition just came out and doesn't have many books out yet, but you'd still just want to start out with the Player's Handbook. Which you choose is basically just personal preference and what your local groups are partial to.

Corrupted One
2008-08-30, 02:33 PM
if you just mean play D&D entirely, 4E is a good starter game for just general dungeon running and play. But if you want to get into more complex games (IE, character creation and options) you can just start with the core 3E. It really depends on waht you like from a game
from
EE

Well I was hoping to get into character creation and dungeon running but wanted to start out simple to get a good idea of how to play first.

Edit: Feel free to say how you got your start that would proubably help alot also.

CASTLEMIKE
2008-08-30, 02:39 PM
Two more useful free links at WOTC:

3 & 3.5 Adventures (By level):
http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/oa/20030530b

Previous editions (Great for the fluff if nothing else (Volo's Guides, Guide to the North, City of Raven's Bluff........)

http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/dnd/downloads

RPGA Archive:
http://www.rpgarchive.com/index.php?typeid=1&page=adv&sort=Alpha

I like RPGNow for downloadable PDFs for $5

Amazon is good for purchasing used hardcover books, many of the Eberron Campaign Setting source books are very inexpensive under $5 and $4 shipping.

Lot of rules so consider starting off with a less complicated class like the Fighter or Sorcerer that are a little easier to play initially and start off at Level 2 for a few more hit points.

monty
2008-08-30, 02:42 PM
If you join an established group, you can probably get by without any books for a while (you'll probably want to pick up your own copy of the Player's Handbook before long, though). Check out gaming stores in your area; see if there's a game you can join.

sonofzeal
2008-08-30, 03:01 PM
Imporant Books

Player's Handbook - all the standard race/class/feat/spell stuff. Get it, you'll need it constantly. Even with the SRD, having a PHB to flip through is a very good thing. In a standard 5-6 person group, you'll pretty much need to have at least 3 hardcopy PHB's around during your sessions.

Dungeon Master's Guide - experience rules, some Prestige classes, all the standard magic items. Your DM will need one, everyone else can get by just fine on the SRD information.

Monster Manual - all the awesome playable races are in here, from Wild Elves to Minotaur to Goblins to Vampires. Also some good feats and other character options. You'll need one bumming around any given session (usually sitting up by the DM), but otherwise you can make do from the SRD.

Player's Handbook II - three awesome new classes, a whole pile of variants for old classes, a whack of new feats and spells, and general awesonemess. This is the standard "expand your options" choice, no matter what your playstyle or campaign type. Nothing too groundbreaking, but a solid choice for any player.

Tome of Battle - awesomely potent system for martial combat. It's almost universally agreed that, past lvl10 (and possibly much earlier), your typical Fighter-type becomes nigh-useless in the face of the overwhelming power of the Wizards and Clerics. If you plan to play games in the lvl10+ range, and want the melee types to stay compeditive, ToB is almost a necessity.

Dungeonscape - everything you need to delve into the deepest dungeons. Not all that much use for social high-court games (although the Factotum class presented will still function just fine), but all sorts of material on customizing monsters, how to set them up in combination to maximize effectiveness, devious trap designs, new monsters, a new rogue-ish class with a totally unique and fun mechanic behind it, and generally awesome writing and balancing. If you plan to spend much time under the earth's surface, this book is awesome for DMs and still useful for players.

Magic Item Compendium - exactly what it says. Always a good choice for players who can put in the extra effort and find what they really need.

Spell Compendium - exactly what it says. Always a good choice for mage-playing players who can put in the extra effort and find what they really need.

Prometheus
2008-08-30, 03:07 PM
I got into D&D as a family tradition. My father and older sister both played it. But I myself have introduced many people to the game simply by inviting them to the group. IF they wanted to start immediately, they did a little homework by reading the PhB, had help with rolling up a character, and were added to the campaign. If they preferred to wait and see, they sat at the table, watched and listened and figured out a lot from that.

monty
2008-08-30, 03:18 PM
Personally, I did it sort of backwards. It started when a friend introduced me to OotS. I hung out on the forums for a while, and the D&D references started to intrigue me. Then I came over here and started to learn the rules and stuff over the course of about a year, before I ever actually played a game (I learned that another one of my friends played and joined his group).

Knaight
2008-08-30, 03:51 PM
I got into D&D from free form rules less roleplaying(not that I had any idea that thats what I was doing at the time), because it was the only game I knew existed. I could easily see this being the case here, so you may also want to take a look at other free games. So check out GURPS Lite(stupid spelling in my opinion, but the game is solid), Fudge, and Basic Fantasy RPG, which is similar to early D&D, although not as similar as OSIRIS. Here are the links I could find to said games.
http://e23.sjgames.com/item.html?id=SJG30-6094
http://www.fudgerpg.com/
http://www.basicfantasy.org/downloads.html

I couldn't find anything on OSIRIS, but ask around, and someone should be able to provide a link. As for those games my personal favorite is Fudge.

EvilElitest
2008-08-30, 04:41 PM
Well I was hoping to get into character creation and dungeon running but wanted to start out simple to get a good idea of how to play first.

Edit: Feel free to say how you got your start that would proubably help alot also.

well i started in 3E. with the PHB and talking to friends about it . I kinda self taught myself the rules from the MM and DMG and just went with it from there.
from
EE

shadow_archmagi
2008-08-30, 04:50 PM
I woke up one morning and said to myself "Hey, I'm a nerdy bastard. I really ought to be playing D&D."

I logged onto the SRD, bought a player's handbook, and convinced my friends to buy Tome of Battle, Monster Manuals, and whatever else looked good to them.

Corrupted One
2008-08-30, 09:27 PM
Thanks for the help. You all have been extremely helpful. One last question. Is there a thread for people to ask for d&d groups in their area? If not would it be appropriate for me to start one?

Gwyn chan 'r Gwyll
2008-08-30, 09:34 PM
You could probably start one in the Recruiting section.