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Dimmock
Acolyte
3 Posts |
 Posted - 26 Apr 2013 : 22:15:20
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Hi There
Me and a few friends have recently started playing many tabletop RPGs. I'm looking to start D&D and am just wondering what would I need to begin?
Would be greatly appreciated if someone could let me know!
Thanks,
George
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Kentinal
Great Reader
4694 Posts |
Posted - 26 Apr 2013 : 22:29:57
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Well to do D&D you tend to need the following:
Player Handbook
Dungeons Master Guide
Monster Manual
If looking for Forgotten Realms you also need source books for the Realms.
There however is a short cut of using the SRD 3.0 or 3.5 Open Gaming license (OGL) that provides most of the information needed in order to start a D&D game. The few things not available like level advancement can be learned by reading the web discussions concerning such matters.
The SRD is free, research is value of your own time. Purchase of the core materials required are something like 60 to 80 USD last I looked at prices. Currently only 4th Edition is supported by WotC, with a 5th Edition coming soon. There is limited free information available for 4th Edition, the is no OGL for that Edition.
Oh it clearly is possible 3rd, 2nd , 1st Edition and original material can be purchased at places like Ebay as used products. The price of course depending somewhat on how rare their are and condition.
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"Small beings can have small wisdom," the dragon said. "And small wise beings are better than small fools. Listen: Wisdom is caring for afterwards."
"Caring for afterwards ...? Ker repeated this without understanding.
"After action, afterwards," the dragon said. "Choose the afterwards first, then the action. Fools choose action first."
"Judgement" copyright 2003 by Elizabeth Moon |
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Dimmock
Acolyte
3 Posts |
Posted - 26 Apr 2013 : 22:37:11
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| Thank you for the reply. Helps a lot! |
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Hoondatha
Great Reader
USA
2450 Posts |
Posted - 27 Apr 2013 : 05:37:29
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That trio of books is accurate regardless of what edition you want to play in. All editions have a Player's Handbook, a Dungeon Master's Guide, and at least one Monster Manual. The current system is Fourth Edition, or 4e, which has not been very well received. Prior to that was (oddly enough) 3e and 2e. 3e is very rules-focused, and aimed at table-top miniature combat. 2e is a much more fluid, "theater of the mind" kind of system, where large chunks of the rules are optional, and even the stuff that isn't called optional can usually be made so.
Since you're just getting started, you can pick the system you want based on the playstyles of you and your group. 4e has been called a bad tabletop version of World of Warcraft. Probably only pick it if you can't get either of the older systems. 3e is good if you're numbers focused, want lots of ways to maximize characters, and have miniatures and the space to use them. 2e, which is my preferred system, has the combat and excitement without the anal-retentiveness.
Also, be aware that older Realms material is often just as useful, if not more so, than more recent things. If you're going the ebay/free downloads (not sure if they still exist)/used bookstore route, you're probably better off grabbing either the original Forgotten Realms campaign setting (the Old Grey Box, or OGB), or my personal favorite the Revised campaign setting for Second Edition.
As a general rule of thumb, the 1st and 2nd edition products contain more information ("lore") on the setting than their 3e counterparts, though later 3e products (ie: Power of Faerun) got a lot better about that. Partly that's because 3e is a more complex system and they felt the need to include character building options like new races and classes in the sourcebooks, which ate up page space. |
Doggedly converting 3e back to what D&D should be...
Sigh... And now 4e as well. |
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Diffan
Great Reader
USA
4469 Posts |
Posted - 27 Apr 2013 : 09:55:46
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The question is, what are you looking for D&D to do? Older systems, such as 1e amd 2e AD&D are a lot grittier than 3e or 4E. 3e is considered by some to be the simulationist system since it attempts to create "realism" via the rules. 4E has a much stronger player controlled narrative plus most of the rules revolve around combat, because many feel you dont need rules to roleplay.
From my experience, it's easier to DM/GM 4E at every level of play and designing adventures and encounters takes significantly less time with a better predictability for the outcome. Meaning a battle meant to drain party resources has a less likely chance of killing everyone in the group.
Additionally, it's my experience that 3E, while fun, tends to break down at approx. 7th level in terms of challenging players (or a few classes). Spellcasters often gain significantly more powerful in the mid- to late levels over non-spellcasters and the divide is often filled by dishing out lots of magical items. Also, there are ways for character optimization to completely ruin games, so be on the lookout for that.
Basically try out a bunch of systems and see which one fits for you and your group.
The |
Diffan's NPG Generator: FR NPC Generator |
Edited by - Diffan on 27 Apr 2013 11:44:35 |
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Jeremy Grenemyer
Great Reader
USA
2717 Posts |
Posted - 27 Apr 2013 : 10:31:49
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Besides the core rulebooks, it helps to have one or two starter adventures to get going.
Since the core rulebooks can be expensive, I would advise you to keep an eye out for the D&D boxed sets. These include some form of pre-generated characters, simplified rules and even game dice.
This way you can get a taste without having to fork over a ton of money.
The only other thing you need is a healthy imagination and a desire to have lots of fun.
Good luck! |
Look for me and my content at EN World (user name: sanishiver). |
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Markustay
Realms Explorer extraordinaire
USA
15724 Posts |
Posted - 27 Apr 2013 : 13:41:11
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The greatest amount of FR material was available in 3e, partly because the 1e/2e stuff was still applicable, but also because we had an immense amount of new information released. However, WotC does not currently produce a ruleset to go with that edition, therefor I would recommend Paizo's Pathfinder system, being the most compatible with the 3e era stuff. Pathfinder is not precisely D&D... its better.
Then you have three editions of stuff (fluff) to use, with an excellent ruleset.
Or you could just wait for 5th edition, rather then make a large investment now. Then you can use both the rules and setting guides for the current edition with no worries. The downside of that is no one can tell you what those will be like. If you go that route, just go back and start reading the novels - most of the ones still in print are quite good. |
"I have never in my life learned anything from any man who agreed with me" --- Dudley Field Malone
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Edited by - Markustay on 28 Apr 2013 13:36:28 |
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Aldrick
Senior Scribe
909 Posts |
Posted - 27 Apr 2013 : 18:51:03
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I agree with Markus. I recommend using Pathfinder, which you can more-or-less get for free. The SRD is located here. Pathfinder is just an upgraded version of the D&D 3.5 rules, some people even call it D&D 3.75 and a lot of 3.5 material is compatible with Pathfinder. (Even the stuff that isn't compatible is easily converted.) Pathfinder also has a very active community of people to help you out.
If you use the SRD it means you don't have to buy additional books.
The only book I recommend you buy for the time being for Forgotten Realms is the Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting. This contains pretty much all you need to run a game in the Forgotten Realms, everything else is just bonus material.
So, let's say you want to run a game in the Silver Marches (in and around Silverymoon). Well, then I'd recommend picking up Silver Marches. Or if you want to know more about the deities of the setting, I'd recommend Faiths and Pantheons.
However, something that is important to remember with all this lore information available at your fingertips... Don't let yourself get bogged down, or allow your freedom to be hijacked by the desire to conform to it. The setting belongs to you, so this means all you really need is the Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting. You can make up all the extra details. Of course, that doesn't mean the regional source books (such as the Silver Marches) isn't useful to you! On the contrary, it's useful for plot ideas as well as a more detailed look into the region itself.
But, let's say you don't like something, for example, you don't like the fact that Alustriel Silverhand one of Mystra's Chosen is the current leader of Silverymoon. It's a simple thing to simply wave your hand, and declare that Alustriel was slain five years ago by a powerful member of the Arcane Brotherhood... and the person you want in power in her place got there through whatever means you feel appropriate.
So long as you keep in mind that this is YOUR Realms, and you can do with it WHATEVER you want, you'll do fine. The vast amount of lore for the setting exists to make your life easier, not hinder or restrict your freedom in telling the stories you want to tell in the way that you want to tell them. |
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Dimmock
Acolyte
3 Posts |
Posted - 27 Apr 2013 : 19:47:44
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Thank you everyone for the great replies!
We've settled on Pathfinder, should be great!
Thanks again. |
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Newcomer, what do I need?
