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7 months ago ::
Dec 05, 2012 - 8:21AM
#1
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I'm new to tabletop RPGs, and I'm seriously thinking about starting. My other hobby, miniature wargaming, is getting far too expensive for my liking (try running three games, two made by Games Workshop!).
D&D look really good. I've heard so much about the game. But I want to get a few things clear first:
1 - Do I need miniatures and stuff to play the game? Can I play the game orally?
2 - If I do need miniatures, can I easily use non-WOTC miniatures for the game?
3 - How complex is the game in comparison to Warhammer 40k?
4 - Are there any substitutes for the d20s and stuff?
5 - Are the AD&D reprinted rules better?
Thanks.
EDIT:
6 - What should I buy?
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7 months ago ::
Dec 05, 2012 - 9:08AM
#2
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I'm new to tabletop RPGs, and I'm seriously thinking about starting. My other hobby, miniature wargaming, is getting far too expensive for my liking (try running three games, two made by Games Workshop!).
D&D look really good. I've heard so much about the game. But I want to get a few things clear first:
1 - Do I need miniatures and stuff to play the game? Can I play the game orally?
2 - If I do need miniatures, can I easily use non-WOTC miniatures for the game?
3 - How complex is the game in comparison to Warhammer 40k?
4 - Are there any substitutes for the d20s and stuff?
5 - Are the AD&D reprinted rules better?
Thanks.
EDIT:
6 - What should I buy?
1. you can play the older editions orally, but i would always advise having some sort of visual aid available. we used to use buttons and graph/hex paper
2. yes
3. never played warhammer, but classic editions are pretty simple
4. you could draw pieces of numbered paper from a hat, but honestly, a set of dice is pretty standard
5. no. they introduced new errors and are just absolutely, absurdly overpriced. id say they are for collectors only. otherwise download a free clone of a d&d ruleset or buy the originals off of ebay or amazon
6. correct me if im worng, but it sounds like you want a simple version of the game that can be played orally if need be. if thats the case, you need:
-buttons or minis (some call this optional)
-graph/hex paper, can be downloaded for free online (some call this optional)
-pencils and paper
-dice
-this free clone of the original dungeons and dragons boxed set from the 70s
www.swordsandwizardry.com/whiteboxpdf.pd...
and you are good to go
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7 months ago ::
Dec 05, 2012 - 9:13AM
#3
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Date Joined:
Jun 19, 2004
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I'm new to tabletop RPGs, and I'm seriously thinking about starting. My other hobby, miniature wargaming, is getting far too expensive for my liking (try running three games, two made by Games Workshop!).
D&D look really good. I've heard so much about the game. But I want to get a few things clear first:
1 - Do I need miniatures and stuff to play the game? Can I play the game orally?
2 - If I do need miniatures, can I easily use non-WOTC miniatures for the game?
3 - How complex is the game in comparison to Warhammer 40k?
4 - Are there any substitutes for the d20s and stuff?
5 - Are the AD&D reprinted rules better?
Thanks.
EDIT:
6 - What should I buy?
0) Yes you should play.
1) You do not need miniatures to play the game, however if you play for any length of time in 4th edition you will definately want one or more.
2) Of course. Typically anything with a 1inx1in base is good
3) The game is a lot less referential to individual pieces than Warhammer 40k if that makes any sense. There are a lot of rules to learn to get basically how to play, but the action-to-action is fairly simple. While Warhammer doesn't have as many rules it has a lot more minutia on the action-to-action rules.
4) Not sure what you mean. Do you mean can you substitute dice with other things? Sure, there are dice rolling apps and programs online. Even excel or openoffice spreadsheet can do a random function.
5) There are lots of different editions of the game, and they each have a slightly different take on things. 4e and DnD Next are probably the easiest for a new player to pick up and play. If you are in a decently populated area go to the main site and search for "DnD Encounters" near you. While people who have been playing a good while might thumb their noses at Encounters, it is a decent intro to the hobby. Encounters is designed to be for new players, be completely non-commital (as in, you can show up however often you like), have everything you need at the event and is generally free.
6) I would go check out Encounters first and foremost. If you find you really like that, work at getting a group or starting a group of your own. Once you have a group make sure you have access to the monthly subscription of the DDI account and maybe pick up a Dungeon Master's Guide or a Players Handbook for 4th Edition depending on whether you will be playing or running the game. If you don't like that, come back and tells us what you didn't like and we might be able to suggest a different setting or edition you would like better.
Hoped this help.
Currently working on making a Dex based defender. Check it out hereSpoiler:
Show
Need a few pre-generated characters for a one-shot you are running? Want to get a baseline for what an effective build for a class you aren't familiar with? Check out the Pregen thread here
If ever you are interested what it sounds like to be at my table check out my blog and podcast here
Also, I've recently done an episode on "Refluffing". You can check that out here
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7 months ago ::
Dec 05, 2012 - 9:43AM
#4
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It's been extremely helpful, thanks!
We were planning to play during boring lessons/free periods at school, so it would be easier not to carry miniatures and stuff.
I'll have to start a gaming group of my own, the only game shop I know only recently started stocking D&D - they're more used to selling 40k, WFB and Warmachine/Hordes.
By the dice, I don't mean programs online but instead I mean using six sided dice - for a D20, I was thinking we could roll four D6s and take away 4 from the result? Non-standard dice are pretty hard to find in these parts.
Thanks for the help guys, I really appreciate it!
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7 months ago ::
Dec 05, 2012 - 9:56AM
#5
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Date Joined:
Jul 17, 2010
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If your'e looking for a quick game to run during free periods/breaks at school, that don't require minis or maps, and you really only have access to d6's, I'd highly suggest checking out MouseGuard.
It's created by Luke Crane, who also designed "The Burning Wheel", and MG uses a simplified ruleset of Burning Wheel.
MG is fairly simple, using only d6's for all checks. It doesn't require maps or minis. The basic rules are printed on the character sheets, which you can D/L from the MouseGuard forums. However, the sheet doens't explain skills, traits, character creations, etc.
There's only 1 book to buy- there is no separate player's guide and DM's guide or Rule Book. You can order the Rulebook form Amazon, or see if our local gaming store can order it for you. Oh, sessions are meant to run with 3 players and the Game Master, and should take 60-90 minutes to run.
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7 months ago ::
Dec 06, 2012 - 2:32AM
#6
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Date Joined:
Jun 19, 2004
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It's been extremely helpful, thanks!
We were planning to play during boring lessons/free periods at school, so it would be easier not to carry miniatures and stuff.
I'll have to start a gaming group of my own, the only game shop I know only recently started stocking D&D - they're more used to selling 40k, WFB and Warmachine/Hordes.
By the dice, I don't mean programs online but instead I mean using six sided dice - for a D20, I was thinking we could roll four D6s and take away 4 from the result? Non-standard dice are pretty hard to find in these parts.
Thanks for the help guys, I really appreciate it!
Your Friendly Local Game store will order dice for you if they ask.
Also, ask if someone in your area can start up Encounters if there isn't one near you. Having a game store get things rolling by getting the materials for you, and giving you a place to play can be a huge boon especially if it is new to the area.
Simming D20s with d6 is going to be nigh-impossible just because when you roll multiple dice instead of one it throws off the curve dramatically. While it would still pretty strongly throw off the curve the best bet for a random situation like that is a stop watch for a d20, rolling twice but you have to change the numbers around slightly to get a 1 and a 20 out of that (and it will still be weighted to the middle).
Another thing you can do, if you want to play tactically minded, is use maps that are on normal graph paper and colored pins (you know, the ones people use for bulliten boards and the like). The DM can draw the map out and use little scraps of paper for the monsters and the players can stick onto the "board' with their pin.
Currently working on making a Dex based defender. Check it out hereSpoiler:
Show
Need a few pre-generated characters for a one-shot you are running? Want to get a baseline for what an effective build for a class you aren't familiar with? Check out the Pregen thread here
If ever you are interested what it sounds like to be at my table check out my blog and podcast here
Also, I've recently done an episode on "Refluffing". You can check that out here
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7 months ago ::
Dec 06, 2012 - 2:05PM
#7
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Date Joined:
Jun 15, 2004
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We were planning to play during boring lessons/free periods at school, so it would be easier not to carry miniatures and stuff.
The D&D ('Red Box') starter has everything you need to start out: rules, dice, miniature tokens, maps, etc.
I recommend it if you're just starting.
Non-standard dice are pretty hard to find in these parts.
Odd. fwiw: if you use average damage (which I even recommend), each player then only needs a single d20 (which they could probably share).
d6's can't really be used to simulate a d20 though: the probably curve would be completely off. A blindy pressed stop watch might be viable though.
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7 months ago ::
Dec 06, 2012 - 2:14PM
#8
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Not interested in carrying around minis and only using d6? May I suggest checking out West End Games? The original Star Wars Role-playing Game was excellent for the short-run, quick&dirty, mostly dialog&description game. Want fantasy? no problem. Just change the theme. WEG has a downloadable set of rules for generic and fantasy settings using mostly the same d6 mechanics. Plus there are lots of available fansites and other online help. Oh, and you can probably pick up the plastic minis for pretty cheap from ebay or such-like. Metal minis are going to be harder to find and more expensive.
If you specifically want D&D, I would suggest picking out the 24 or so minis you need for each session and putting them in a small case. You're having trouble finding dice sets? really? I'm sure you can order those online from just about any gaming store. Heck, I'm sure WotC probably has them. I do recommend buying a set with high contrast and easy-to-read numbers. It's just faster.
Colors
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Bow down, my subjects, for I am your master! Yesss.....
Show
For some reason, none of my friends were surprised by this...
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7 months ago ::
Dec 06, 2012 - 2:29PM
#9
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Date Joined:
Jun 15, 2004
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If you specifically want D&D, I would suggest picking out the 24 or so minis you need for each session and putting them in a small case.
fwiw: 4e has been doing pretty well with tokens (and they take up hardly any room). As a compromise: try using tokens for the monsters, and miniatures for the PC's. It's pretty light-weight, and players can even supply the mini for their own PC (which is usually what they care most about anyway).
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7 months ago ::
Dec 06, 2012 - 4:26PM
#10
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I'm an old AD&D player from my high school days, and then reclaimed painting and playing all kinds of Games Workshop stuff in my 30s. I now DM my old high school group (we are in our 40s) with minis drawn from Games Worskshop, Privateer Press (Warmachine, Hordes, Iron Kingdoms) and Reaper. I enjoy painting, and my friends prefer playing encounters with miniatures on the board. If you have that skill set, I'd say by all means use it.
D&D is fun, but because it is party based, small scale combats is what the game is really well designed for. Warhammer handles large battles well, but D&D gets into a narrative style on the personal level. Go for the Red Box to start with as others have... It even has dice and cardboard counters to get you started... But in terms of miniatures, you're fortunate to draw on a large number of sources to play it. GW Mordor Orcs make for great Hobgoblins, and their Moria Goblins are perfect Goblins. The Uruk Hai make good "true" orcs.... And you can go on, and find almost any D&D monster as a miniature drawing from any 28-30mm miniature line.
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