Questions regarding players who are new to a specific system or to RPGs in general.
16
votes
4answers
440 views
How do I, as a DM, help a girl integrate into a group of all male role-players? [closed]
We have recently had an addition to our gaming group. She is very bright and has picked up the rules quickly and seems to have enjoyed herself. We have had one session with her involved and she has ...
17
votes
6answers
626 views
How can I screen new players to make sure they are a good fit for my game?
I'm looking to start a new Savage Worlds campaign and I need a full set of players for it. I've played in games before and ran a couple of one-shots, but I've never GMed a full campaign. There's ...
-1
votes
0answers
64 views
Where can I learn more about minotaurs? [closed]
I do plan to read up on general player character interaction. For now that I lack wisdom into the content I would be playing from (perspective maybe).
My character is a minotaur. A wizard has placed ...
16
votes
6answers
430 views
I'm fairly new to D&D but want to GM; where do I go from here?
I'm a 16-year-old male, and I have been interested in tabletop RPGs for a long time, especially D&D. I sorta dove into D&D really fast and hard by buying the Red box, Dungeon Master Kit, ...
4
votes
4answers
170 views
3 novices, 1 Warhammer Fantasy. How do I make sure my friends don't have a bad first experience?
I recently convinced my friends to try out a table-top RPG. Now, being an almost complete novice to table-top RPGs, and adding the fact that I will have to take point and GM this campaign... Is there ...
15
votes
9answers
524 views
Does GMing diminish or detract from being a player in games?
I started playing RPGs last year with the Pathfinder Beginner Box. I have been GMing and writing a campaign, but have also encouraged members of the party that are interested to run a one-off Beginner ...
4
votes
0answers
77 views
I am a novice, so are my friends. What should we start out with? [duplicate]
Lately I've been wanting to get into the whole table top RPG scene. I briefly played Dungeons & Dragons with very little understanding of the game; it was rather fun, even if it was over Skype. I ...
21
votes
6answers
776 views
Is it normal that players share their characters' thoughts?
I am totally new to RPGs and haven't participated in a single game yet. However, I'm interested in the topic and today, I found a link to Dungeon World on this site and started reading.
There's ...
16
votes
7answers
523 views
What's a good class and race for beginners?
I'm a newbie GM and I have a new player at the table. He wants to play and I'm letting him (despite his loud, overly energetic behavior, and has a short attention span). Whats a good 3.5 class for ...
6
votes
4answers
231 views
Good games for inexperienced players and GMs?
I have been the GM for my little circle of friends for a few months. We are having trouble finding an RPG system to be comfortable with.
On my part, I seem to be unable to settle on any particular ...
3
votes
1answer
185 views
What to buy to start out 4e D&D (DM and PC) (Complete Noob, no previous experience) [duplicate]
So we're a completely new group of people, none of us have experience, and I've been assigned DM, which I think is a good idea. But we don't know where to start, or what to buy to get started on our ...
15
votes
1answer
251 views
What is the definition of a natural roll on dice
So I am starting in the world of pen-and-paper RPGs, and sometimes the material I read mentions a natural roll, like a natural 1 is always a miss, and a natural 20 is always a hit.
I understand that ...
2
votes
0answers
26 views
Get started with RPGs [duplicate]
I don't know anything about RPGs, but I would like to start with Dungeons and Dragons. Where do I begin, what do I have to do?
24
votes
5answers
353 views
Spoilt for choice: helping traditional-system players adapt to narrative-control games
My group teethed on D&D 3.5 and loved 4e, but now we're eager to take advantage of FATE's more narrative- and character-driven philosophies. However, on our first (DFRPG) game last night, my ...
12
votes
2answers
129 views
Is there an RPG or RPG setting for Un Lun Dun, and if not, how and how easily would one go about making one?
I'm honestly a complete noob to tabletop RPGs, having only read the manuals for DnD 4th edition and never having played, but I'd like to know if an RPG or setting for one exists for China Miéville's ...
23
votes
6answers
330 views
Non native speakers and Pen & Paper Role-Playing Games
I'm among a group of people which doesn't share the same mother tongue. We are speaking English every day and can communicate very well in daily situations and even in an academic way.
Some of them ...
13
votes
7answers
281 views
Advantages and disadvantages in using a one-shot pre-gen to introduce a new system
In questions about how to learn new systems, or teach them, a common suggestion is to run a single-session game with pre-made characters and a pre-made scenario.
In your experience as a GM and/or ...
21
votes
4answers
598 views
How do I explain stress to a d20 crowd?
In the next month or so I'm going to start running the Dresden Files RPG soon with a group that has most of its experience in D&D 3.5 and 4e. We're all new to FATE, and I tried to explain the ...
0
votes
0answers
109 views
Newbie Q: How to get started with a 7yr old [closed]
I'm very interested in RPG, and so is my son. I created some simple RPG with only dices and a map for him when he was 6. Now, I'd like to approach that fascinating world again.
I doubt that there is ...
1
vote
2answers
261 views
Good RPG System/Game/style for just a single DM and single Player? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
1 GM and 1 Player games and game systems?
I am looking for a system or style of play (or even contained game/game module) which would be fun for just one player---myself ...
13
votes
6answers
466 views
Introducing System Mechanics to new players
Context
Hello, I'm assembling a DnD/Pathfinder group, and all the players are new to tabletop rpg. All they know is rpg is about storytelling, dice rolling [ and macabre rituals <- just kidding, ...
0
votes
0answers
99 views
Platform to design Role playing games [closed]
I just now began to deveop games with the help of construct-2. I plan to deveop a role-playing game. Which will be the best platform for developing role=playing games?
6
votes
1answer
251 views
Running a one shot session in Dungeon World. How?
I'm going to GM a session of Dungeon World this saturday. My problem is that the book doesn't really deal with one-shot sessions in any detail. It discusses how to make sessions in great length ...
16
votes
6answers
795 views
What role-playing games should I pick for an absolute beginner group?
I've always wanted to play Dungeons and Dragons, but where I live it's more of an underground thing, so it was difficult to find other players. After recently moving to a new school, I made a few ...
23
votes
3answers
1k views
Is there a core campaign setting for DnD 4e?
I'm completely new to RPGs in general, so I apologize in advance if this is an odd question. There's such an overwhelming abundance of lore on all the different campaign settings for DnD that I've ...
3
votes
1answer
157 views
When should hit locations be determined randomly in GURPS 4e?
I may, once again, be drowning in the details, but would like to know when GURPS 4e calls for random hit determination. Do attacks always default to torso?
I have run a combat with hit locations ...
1
vote
2answers
1k views
Assassin or Rogue for high DPS?
I'm making my second-ever character in D&D 4e and I want him to be a not-so-good guy (my first character being a Dragonborn Fighter who worships Bahamut) that can do a ton of single-target damage. ...
35
votes
6answers
1k views
Did I do a bad job as a GM?
Last night we played our first RPG (ever!) and I'm not sure if it went well.
The basic story was to find someone. There were three possible places where he could be; then the players hot wire a ...
9
votes
3answers
345 views
As a complete newcomer - what do I have to look out for?
I just orderer the D&D Red Box 4th edition. I plan to play it with my GF and maybe I can convince my flat mate as well. None of us has any experience playing Pen and Paper games (I have Baldur's ...
14
votes
4answers
255 views
I have read the D&D PHB but am still having trouble grasping some of the basics, how can I learn more?
With credit to one of the more experienced members on the site, mxyzplk, I thought I'd ask where noobs like me should ask or find answers to basic questions about Dungeons & Dragons mechanics if ...
13
votes
3answers
1k views
How does an opposed (stealth) check work?
I was reading the Players Handbook 1 and I don't understand how the opposed check works, especially in context of a stealth check.
1
vote
1answer
686 views
How do I use at-will powers? [closed]
How do powers work? I'm unclear on how to actually use at-will powers during combat. For example, when can I use Nimble Strike (as an Elven Ranger) and how do I make it happen?
-1
votes
1answer
169 views
How do I read this basic attack notation? [closed]
I don't know how to read this notation for attacks. It seems to be how people normally write down basic attacks on their character sheet:
+6 vs AC longbow 1D10+4
I'm guessing that the +4 is to ...
21
votes
15answers
865 views
I am looking for a game to ease my friends into role playing
Let me start with saying it's been many years since I played D&D. I have a group of friends that meet every week to play board games like Descent, Heroquest, etc. The thing is, none of these ...
6
votes
4answers
451 views
Need a player guide for D&D 3.5
There's a fair chance I'm about to join a friend's 3.5 online campaign and I am frankly overwhelmed by the options and possibilities for characters spanning across all the books.
Are there any ...
6
votes
3answers
2k views
Choosing DnD 4th edition or Essentials for a new group and DM?
Recently I've got interested in roleplaying. My background is more or less hardcore boardgamer, I have played quite a large number of board games, even some of the most complicated ones and found it ...
10
votes
3answers
2k views
How do hit points work?
I'm about to start my first D&D game, and I just noticed that my character sheet has four different hit point values. I assume maximum is how many you have before you're dead, but how do Bloodied, ...
27
votes
7answers
743 views
Acting role vs Player personality
I am new to RPGs and can't figure this out: should I act as my character or should I be me - in the sense of thinking and making decisions?
For example, what if I am a senior cop involved in ...
5
votes
3answers
384 views
Which is the best rpg to introduce people to role playing? [closed]
I'm also kinda new, but I understand the idea of a RPG and its basic rules.
21
votes
6answers
630 views
How can I treat old and new players fairly, without upsetting anyone?
The last time I ran a game of D&D there was a lot of tension between new players (both to the group, and D&D) and old players. It stemmed partly from oldbies not wanting their ball taken away, ...
51
votes
8answers
4k views
I'm at a loss with “Dungeons and Dragons.” How does one play it, anyway?
I'm no gamer at all, so this could be like a very silly, basic question for you guys. The thing is that I always read about "Dungeons and Dragons" game (not the video game, but the normal game to play ...
9
votes
4answers
315 views
What should be included in a 'getting started' player handout?
When playing a new RPG system and setting, it is helpful to have important game information in front of you. For my free RPG Icar, I intend on having a single side of paper with reference rules and ...
11
votes
5answers
1k views
How to introduce a pen-and-paper RPG to family?
My brother and I have dabbled in D&D when we were younger. Also, at the last place where I worked, we had a weekly Pathfinder game session, which was fun.
Usually at our family get-togethers my ...
9
votes
7answers
457 views
Character-driven fantasy adventure with infrequent combat?
I'd like to try one-on-one RPGing with my partner and am looking for an initial high-fantasy adventure to get started with.
My original plan was to adapt the Fighting Fantasy gamebook, 'The Warlock ...
15
votes
5answers
2k views
How can I create an introductory D&D encounter intended for teaching the rules?
For my next D&D campaign, I want to introduce the players to the ruleset by having them play through a sample combat encounter. All of them have prior RPG experience, but they haven't played any ...
12
votes
4answers
347 views
What should I look out for during my first game of Apocalypse World?
I am coming close to playing my first ever game of Apocalypse world. This will mark my first post-apocalypse based RP, and will see me trying to transition from a combat heavy D&D 4e background ...
9
votes
4answers
542 views
Where can I find a couple “wife-friendly” adventures?
Some background:
My wife and I have always played computer games (we actually met on one) but it's been a lot of years since I did any table-top. A few months ago, we ran through a Tolkien-based ...
13
votes
7answers
385 views
How should a GM handle novice players?
In our game, we have 5 players - two are completely new to roleplaying, and one is new to the system we're playing (Pathfinder).
At the moment, the GM grants the new players no leeway - if the player ...
4
votes
2answers
301 views
Final Fantasy Style/Tales of Symphonia Style Summoner in 4e
I’m trying to build a character for a 4e game but I’m having trouble picking a class and powers that go with the feel I’m looking for.
I want to effectively play a Final Fantasy style or a Tales of ...
18
votes
6answers
868 views
How do I explain the concept of “staying in character” to a newly starting player?
I've always had difficulty trying to explain the concept of "staying in character" to newly starting players. Typically, what we end up doing is just start playing the game. Sooner or later (often ...
