Dungeons and Dragons - Help Find A Group

[Toasty Virus]

So I'm intrigued by this old and mystical game, and want to try it for myself.

The problem however, is that I know NOBODY who plays it, So what advice would you give to someone looking to get started, and how to find a group.


and to add some side discussion, anybody got any funny DnD stories they'd be willing to share?

 

[Jamboxdotcom]

best bet is to try to get a couple of your buds into it with you. seriously. a big part of the fun of that game is playing with your chums.

 

[Arluza]

I recommend buying either the Red Box or one of the D&D board games that are out there. I know you can buy the Red Box for $20 U.S. Those are GREAT ways for newcomers to get into the game. As for a group, talk with your friends and find if anyone else is interested. IF you have local comic/RPG shops, they MAY have D&D Encounters, which is where you can play with other random people to get into it.

For discussion, I DMed for the first time in December, and we were playing under the 3.5 rules, and the rouge in my game was roling Natural 1s and 2s for about an hour. This was in my trap room. Every single time he did, the Monk that was in the game did a saving throw and PASSED each one for an hour. Finally the nat 1 let me kill the monk. the only fatality in the game.

 

[Ghaleon640]

I too, am looking for a group. Thing is, I'm in college and anime club takes a little bit of my free time...

One of my friends was setting up a round for us all (at my home away from college.) and since it was to be a quick game, I could only pick a few things. What character did I want and then smaller things. All the stats and spells for the most part were picked by him, because they were recommended.

So my brother is our fearless leader, and we run into some monsters. He says, "I'm going to attack them." one of our friends says it may not be the best idea, but doesn't actually try to pursuade him. My brother, not realizing that the other members weren't going to back him up because, hey, they were silent, jumps into a hole to attack. He fails a die roll and falls onto the ground. He then gets hit by some spell that keeps him glued to the ground. Essentially, he stayed on his stomach almost the entire round because stuff just kept happening to him, or because if he would get up, he'd waste a turn, so once he cast a spell on some nearby opponents. Not all that fun for him.

I was a warlock and the first thing I did was grab an opponent with diabolic grasp and try to drop them down a hole. They grabbed the edge so the archer shot him and finished him off.

I had a blast because each of the warlock's spells were really cool and fun, such as one that if I hit an opponent, and then they hit back, they are dealt additional damage after their attack.

 

[ComNetCom]

As far as I know, I've only ever met someone (IRL) who knew what D&D was. I don't think there are any shops that sell this stuff here (Being Belgium).

I just read about D&D from time to time, that's the extent of how far I can get. (And RPGs like NWN2 I suppose, if those count)

 

[Ghaleon640]

Pick friends that won't be loud or obnoxious... they slow the game down for everyone if they won't shut up.

Try D&D tower of doom and its sequel, Shadows Over Mystara, two arcade games. Classic arcade hack and slash. (I've only played Shadows, but its awesome.) I'm new to the emulator scene, and for the most part have only started for this game since its out of production and it looks hard to find... you know, if you like that sort of thing. If you can get multiplayer working, its great with friends... (something I'm currently working on, since I'm technologically inferior. (It looks like MAMEHUB is the way to go? I don't know, when I tried to get Kailara or whatever it was called, it looked like I would have to get something that would make me pay 15 dollars a month, so I'm ignoring that option.))

Now a concept I love that no one would allow is this: In certain games you can revive your old character. Well, what if your old body is just lying there? I'm a wizard, and I want my friends to drag my body the next time I die, and when I come back, I will take my old skull and spine, dip it in liquid metal, (or find some way to hold it together) and use that as my new staff.

 

[crimson5pheonix]

Local groups would be best, but if you can't, we have a group here on the Escapist dedicated to playing DnD and other pen and paper games online using a virtual tabletop.

 

[Oisin XD]

Ask your friends, even if they haven't expressed prior interest. There are bound to be some nerdy ones among the people you surround yourself with, although almost anyone can be persuaded. The campaign that I play with my friends was initiated by a single person, and a very simple question: "Hey guys, how about we start a D&D campaign?" Almost none of us had played it before, but it's now one of our regular weekend things to do. It makes for fun evenings of jokes, beer (or whatever strikes your fancy) and shouting at your DM about the rules.

Download some player's handbook PDFs off the web, buy some dice or a starter kit or whatever, and you can get started in a week or two.

 

[Toasty Virus]

Local groups would be best, but if you can't, we have a group here on the Escapist dedicated to playing DnD and other pen and paper games online using a virtual tabletop.

This sounds interesting, Got any more info

 

[crimson5pheonix]

Local groups would be best, but if you can't, we have a group here on the Escapist dedicated to playing DnD and other pen and paper games online using a virtual tabletop.

This sounds interesting, Got any more info

http://www.escapistmagazine.com/groups/view/The-Escapist-Online-RPG-Group

We currently have 2 games going (D&D 4e). You can try jumping into an ongoing game, starting one of your own, or getting someone to start one. The discussion is usually on what's happening in the current games.

 

[Irony's Acolyte]

Local groups would be best, but if you can't, we have a group here on the Escapist dedicated to playing DnD and other pen and paper games online using a virtual tabletop.

This sounds interesting, Got any more info

Here ya go. [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/groups/view/The-Escapist-Online-RPG-Group] Take a look for yourself.

We have a couple sessions going right now where we (try) to meet up on a weekly basis. Right now it's all DnD, but I'm sure there are some who want to start up another tabletop RPG.

Edit: Curse you Crim and your ninja ways.

 

[uncanny474]

A few tips from a veteran dungeon master.

1. 4th edition sucks. Unfortunately, it's the only edition that Wizards of the Coast (the publishers) are making anything for right now. My advice: Look up some basic tutorials and then use this site. http://www.d20srd.org/

2. Play with people you know. The game is so much more fun if you play with friends.

3. Find someone who knows how to play (even if they're not one of your friends) and ask them to DM for you. Don't worry if you don't know what it means--they will.

Off-Topic: This online D&D intrigues me. Does anyone require a DM? I've DMed several games, and I've learned how to do it well. Message me or something with responses.

 

[Fishtie]

If you're looking to play with your friends then you need to get a book or two yourself and experiment around.

However, if you're looking to literally roll the dice and join a more experienced group then try asking around a local gaming/card/comic store. Even if they don't run something of their own they probably know someone who does and may be able to point you in the right direction or get you in contact with a group. If you don't have any such stores then try book stores.

Alternatively you could join my group if you were in the area. (not a good idea)




As for stories, there are just way too many. I think I'll tell you a little general one though. I have a friend who is sometimes our DM (I am these days), anyways, EVERY time he DMs and I play my character is outrageously poorly built.
For my first game ever I played a paladin (who eventually became a Neo-paladin, but that's another story) who was an excellent horseman, and most of the adventuring was in caves where a horse can't really operate.
Another time I played a 'librarian' (bard) who had all the knowledge skills very high so he would be well informed about whatever he faced. Except that in the part of the world he was in they had never even heard of monsters at all, not even legends.
In his most recent campaign I play a rogue who specializes in traps, alchemy, and poison; this means my main methods of attack are fire, acid, and poison. The problem is that the campaign is mostly about fighting demons... who are virtually immune to fire, acid, and poison. Rats.

It's not that he does it on purpose, he generally designs his scenarios long before we make characters, it's just hilarious how it happens every single time.

 

[Floppertje]

I have the same problem, it seems interesting but I have no idea how to go about finding a group. my roommate might be interested, but he's the only one I know. most of the other people I know are of the frat persuasion...

 

[El Danny]

I';m in the same boat, really want to give it a go, actually a couple of my friends want to as well, but I don't know anyone who's DMed before.