|
4 months ago ::
Jan 17, 2013 - 7:18AM
#1
|
Date Joined:
May 24, 2012
|
I had an interesting convo with the daughter of a buddy that played a PC through a D&D campaign I ran back in the early 80s. It was either basic or 1e, I don't remember.
She has no idea how to play and has only heard her pop mention our games back in the day and she is very interested in learning the ropes. I am actually eager to invite them to a game, however, I am figuring out what system I should introduce to her at the table.
I have lots of basic, 1e, and 3.xe. I have one 4e PHB. I have a ton of house ruled notes. And then I have what, four or so, iterations of this playtest. Additionally, I have the PDFs of almost every early edtition clone thanks to the old guarde.
Without an edition war, I was wondering what y'all thought would be the best version to use in the induction ceremony?
Right now I am leaning toward the first playtest packet.
What suggesteth ye?
|
|
|
|
4 months ago ::
Jan 17, 2013 - 7:38AM
#2
|
Date Joined:
Dec 11, 2006
|
Personally, we run everything in 5e playtest, including our 1-3 adventures, Pathfinder and 4e. 4e doesn't work as well, without gutting it and just using the maps and story, but it still works.
However I'd recommend the most recent playtest and, if you have something your not fond of, just remove it or alter it.
Browncoats Unite...
|
|
|
|
4 months ago ::
Jan 17, 2013 - 7:40AM
#3
|
Date Joined:
Dec 21, 2012
|
Since shes new it probably doesn't really matter. I'd start with 3.xe since you've got much material for it and there is also an srd for it on the web. Its easier to learn something new if there is an easy way to get to the material for it. However with 5th coming out soonish it may be nice to introduce her to a playtest since all that will be needed is pdfs. Alternatively there is Pathfinder which is really 3.5 with things named differently. Its really your choice though.
|
|
|
|
4 months ago ::
Jan 17, 2013 - 7:41AM
#4
|
|
|
She has no idea how to play...
I have lots of basic...
That's what I would do, espeically if you have the Red Box. I don't think I would use the 1st Playtest. The Basic Rules are pretty much unmutable at this point, whereas the 1st Playtest rules are almost certainly not going to be the endstate for 5e. Just let her know there are a lot of versions of the game and that the company is working on a new one, but you figured it would be best to start with one of the earliest and most basic versions.
|
|
|
|
4 months ago ::
Jan 17, 2013 - 8:23AM
#5
|
Date Joined:
Jan 17, 2012
|
agreed, basic is best for a young, new player assuming you dont have major problems with running basic.
"The secret we should never let the gamemasters know is that they don't need any rules." Gygax
|
|
|
|
4 months ago ::
Jan 17, 2013 - 9:02AM
#6
|
Date Joined:
May 25, 2012
|
BECMI is the way to go. And she will likely love it! yep, Do Basic. Run the Red Box set for her.
|
|
|
|
4 months ago ::
Jan 17, 2013 - 9:14AM
#7
|
Date Joined:
Dec 13, 2006
|
New, experienced, either way the same rules apply. Go for the game that gives the best compatibility with how you run your games.
Want the game to focus more on trying to avoid combat, sneak into the dungeon, get the loot, etc? Want player skill and wit to be as important as system rules? That'd be your oldest versions of D&D, BECMI included.
Want more combat, but still gritty, dangerous low-fantasy? 2e.
Want a game focused more on the rules (especially spell rules) and how your players can exploit those rules for fun and profit? 3.5/PF.
Do you want high-fantasy action-adventure, like a movie? 4e.
Want an unfinished product that is still in a state of flux with many rules not hammered down, pure placeholders, or otherwise non-existant so you can test and experiment with an experienced group to find out what works and what fails? DDN.
I promise you any interested person can learn any edition of D&D - everybody had to learn at some point, and somebody started playing in every edition. Some editions are easier to learn, yes, but more important than how easy or hard it is to learn is how fun the experience at the table is (and that is a direct product of how well the game supports the style of gameplay you and your group find most entertaining).
Want the tl;dr of my posts? Read the bold text; I put it there to highlight the main points for ease of skimming.
|
|
|
|
4 months ago ::
Jan 17, 2013 - 9:22AM
#8
|
Date Joined:
May 25, 2012
|
I think the DDN playtest is a better introduction to the essential conceits of D&D than the old Basic set (my primary intro experience was through the Holmes Blue box, prior to Moldvay and BECMI). If you teach her an older system, you may end up having to unteach her a lot when it's time to move on. I think DDN at present is as close to a stripped-down-but-with-interesting-options set as I've seen. I've had great success introducing two complete newbs to D&D with it.
Oh, and toss the post above which suggested 3.anything as an introduction to the system. I hardly think it's useful to go for the most complex possible approach.
|
|
|
|
4 months ago ::
Jan 17, 2013 - 9:24AM
#9
|
|
|
I suggest savage worlds. It is fast, furious, fun. Character creation is quick and easy, the rules are easier to learn than 5e (or any version of D&D really), PCs get to feel like heroes which is important for newer players to remain interested, and the game has a lot of subtleties and nuanced complexity that doesn't get in the way of RP.
|
|
|
|
4 months ago ::
Jan 17, 2013 - 9:30AM
#10
|
Date Joined:
Dec 10, 2008
|
4e Essentials or 13th Age. I wouldn't suggest DDN yet. Or Hackmaster. 
OD&D, 1E and 2E challenged the player.
3E challenged the character, not the player.
Now 4E takes it a step further by challenging a GROUP OF PLAYERS to work together as a TEAM.
That's why I love 4E.
"Your ability to summon a horde of celestial superbeings at will is making my ... BMX skills look a bit redundant."
|
|
|
