Dungeons and Dragons.

[CiB42]

RISUS. It's free, it's funny, it doesn't stifle player creativity with ridiculous numbers of rules. In fact, look here http://www.darkshire.net/~jhkim/rpg/freerpgs/fulllist.html . Should be something there that catches your fancy.

Reagrdless, just because some games have half a million books out, don't fall for the trap of thinking you need them all. In fact, many of the add ons end up adding things that make the game worse- stick with the core books as much as possible, and if you get supplements, cherry pick.

 

[kingcom]

Dark Heresy, I personally found it a little rule-heavy but that's just me.

I've heard people describe Dark Heresy as a more rules heavy CoC but I've never played CoC so I cant really judge. Any key points which rubbed you the wrong way?

It wasn't so much "more rules heavy CoC" (it really isn't personally), but rather rules-heavy generally compared to other systems I've played. I will admit, I didn't play it long since the DM only did it for about a month at most and stopped due to work. The character creation felt a little overly complicated for my liking, which I got confused a few times when doing it.

Really? Huh, I thought character creation was a really nice smooth affair. Interesting, any idea what you would do to change it?

 

[Bonecrusher]

Many people wrote here, but...

1- you don't need to know any books to play tabletop rpg. Dm handles everything for you. So, leave all the books and go find a group. Local warhammer stores, local con's can help you to meet with people, or people who knows other people.

2- if you insist to read the books or to become a dm, play in a game first. Then stay away from d&d 4e, its evil. I suggest you to read pathfinder if you want to play d&d stuff. Ad&d 2e was also good, but i wasn't liking thaco system that much.

3- world of darkness system is my favorite. You don't have to play wod worlds like vampire, hunter, werewolf etc, but it can ble flexible if you want (similar to special system of fallout pnp).

4- if you like sci-fi and fantasy, at least try warhammer 40k, planescape, cyberpunk and dark sun.

 

[Bonecrusher]

Dp sorry...

 

[Turing]

Hello, Escapians! I've recently gotten it into my head to learn how to play dungeons and dragons, and I was wondering what I should get to start myself off. For discussion value: What are your experiences with tabletop RPGs?

You might consider getting a D&D Insider subscription, if you're going to be a player.
If you're going to DM you'll need the Players Handbook, the DMs Handbook and the Monster Manual.
I'd recommend 4th edition, mostly because thats the one supported.

Alternately, I would suggest you forget about D&D entirely as its a clunky and rules-heavy system even in its new, streamlined 4th edition and get a hold of Savage Worlds and its fantasy variant instead as SW is easy, intuitive and very easy to use for modelling your own worlds, races, powers and such.

 

[LordDPS]

Yes, just that and you'll be set.

 

[Rafael Dera]

Hello, Escapians! I've recently gotten it into my head to learn how to play dungeons and dragons, and I was wondering what I should get to start myself off. For discussion value: What are your experiences with tabletop RPGs?

Get pathfinder (by Paizo). Easy to learn, fun, better then D&D4.0
(unless you want a tabletop mmorpg, that is. In that case: 4th all the way)
Pathfinder uses its ruleset to make the mechanics more atmospheric.
The core rulebook (goes for arouund 50? around here, for a 575p hardcover) has pretty much all you'll need; interesting races (each with their own strengths and weaknesses); revamped classes(comparad to 3.5 ed) which are massively more flavorfull; rebalanced feats and a simplified skill system (but not to the point of being insulting (CURSE YOU 4TH EDITION!1!!))

Have fun! regardless of the system. Try not to let the rules get in the way of a good time.

 

[JesterRaiin]

NnyTheV, to be honest - system isn't THAT important. There are many, many alternatives, deratives, variations and so on. For example : http://www.d20threshold.com/

More important than rules or supplements are scenarios/adventures.
Take Dark Heresy. System is nice, setting (world, universe) - quite unique. However there are only a few official adventures and most of fan made are "go there, kill that, return to learn you were betrayed, chase and burn traitorous heretic".

Many won't agree with me, but many modern tabletop rpgs are exactly like this. From fight to fight, from battle to battle. Even latest installment of D&D isn't free of that flaw. That's practically "hack and slash" not rpg. Think "Enhanced Diablo".

For a new player Pathfinder is really good choice. Why ?
- Good, matured mechanic.
- Easy to learn (for both players and Game Master).
- Many sourcebooks covering aspects of both gameplay and world.
- Professional, free guides (pdf files downloadable from official PF site).
- Very, very good scenarios, some of them are true masterpiecies.

There's a campaign called "Council of thieves" for Pathfinder. I don't know each and every adventure/campaign there is but i consider "Council" ultimate choice for newcomers. It contains almost everything what rpg's have to offer.

Whatever you pick, i wish you luck and good fun. RPG's are good fun.

 

[JesterRaiin]

Hmmmmmm, doubled post. Sorry

 

[MasterOfWorlds]

I prefer tristat system myself, as it's really easy to play since you only need 2d6 (that's 2 six sides dice for those who don't know) and you roll+skill+spec if you have it+relevent stat.

There's only three stats, mind, body, and soul, and the system is broad enough that it lends itself well to just about any setting, and while the rules in the book I use (I'll get to that in a minute) are a little too meh for me, I've made a lot of my own house rules for ease of gameplay for myself and my player(s) since one of the guys I run for is horrible at math and I end up doing a lot of simple conversions/formulas to help make it easier for both him and myself.

The book is BESM, which stands for Big Eyes, Small Mouth. It's technically an anime roleplaying game, but the system itself is so broad that you can use it in any setting, and the book actually has recommended skill point costs for different settings of games.

I started in 1st ed D&D, and I absolutely loved the thing. I didn't play another version until 3.5 and then 4, but prefered the 3.5 to the 4 as a lot of people seem to agree. Mostly because I didn't want an rpg that focused so much on simply killing things that I felt looked at me funny.

As time wore on, I got tired of the D20 system. Don't get me wrong, I like it and think it's good for what it tries to do, but for less hardcore gamers, or people trying to get into it for the first time, I recommend any tristat system game, I believe it's Palladium (sp?) that makes games based on %s, and is also fairly easy to pick up as well, although my experience with that is a lot less that either D20 or tristat, so I might not be remembering exactly.

 

[Clockwork Scarecrow.]

I would recommend World of Darkness. Modern horror may not be your first choice but a few games and you'll be hooked.

 

[Clockwork Scarecrow.]

Im a huge fan of tapletop rpgs, for me they are far more enjoyable than video games in that they offer a vast array of freedom that they offer. You get to be who you want to be, resolve the situation how you want to resolve regards of right, wrong, smart or stupid. You are your own person, something you dont get in the real world.

Agreed, can't beat a tabletop RPG.

 

[skrillbak]

That is in fact the book that you will need.

I actually JUST finished my first Dark Heresy game this last Saturday and I really enjoyed it a whole lot. I will admit the only problem that I kept running into, and one that you'll need to keep in mind about Warhammer 40k, is that if your players are not familiar with the setting there is "some 'splaining to do." My players are all Dungeons and Dragons veterans and knew nothing about the 40K universe so I had to spend one whole session bringing them up to speed and even then there was difficulty in them understanding the lore.

Dungeons and Dragons is a great starting point because by now, thanks to movies like the Lord of the Rings trilogy and others, we all have a better grasp on general fantasy.

If you and your players are all video game players and have extremely low experience with tabletop gaming in general, which I will assume you do, I would say download and try out Dungeons and Dragons 4th Edition.

Now, I still play 3rd and 3.5 because I personally like those rules and mechanics. DnD 4E seems to either hit and people love it or it sinks and people hate it. I personally like the 4th Edition BUT I like 3rd and 3.5 more.

Dungeons and Dragons is a great place to start just because, in my opinion, it is very easy to understand the rules and is quick to get into. If you go to the Wizards of the Coast Website you can download an adventure with pre-generated characters so you and your friends can try it out and if that works well then, PLAY IT!

Just because someone else dislikes something doesn't mean that you will also dislike it. Best thing to do is shop around for games and see what you and your group like.

 

[skrillbak]

That is indeed the Core Rulebook that one needs to run Dark Heresy. I just finished running my first DH game and the players seemed to enjoy it although they said, "If I knew more about the lore I would have had an easier time picturing and understanding things." Which is one thing to consider when picking a game. Pick something that everyone in the group knows a little bit about or is easy to picture.

Fantasy is usually the best place to start. We all know what an orc is, we all know what an elf is, and we all know what a dragon looks like (even all of the different variations of them by now). Which is why I like Dungeons and Dragons. The rules are simple and quick to pick up.

Now, if you're just starting out and have little to no experience with table top games then I would say start with DnD 4E. The reason why is because it is very good to players that are new to the whole thing. It actually runs JUST like a video game which some people like and some people dislike. I liked it because it was quick to pick up and since its a medieval fantasy world the imagery is easier to imagine. As a bonus, you can head to the Wizards of the Coast website an download pre-made adventures with pre-made characters and just give the game a whirl. No real preparation aside from the person being the DM (dungeon master) reading it before hand to know what's going to happen.

 

[Quaxar]

I have bought all of the core DnD 3.5 edition books I could find. And quite a lot of 3.0 supplements.
...I've never found anyone to play with.

I've got the same problem with Call of Cthulhu...

Incidentally, would RPG-experienced people recommend it as for a total starter group?

 

[BlindTom]

If you want to play 4th edition D&D just join a WoW guild on a RP server. You'll get pretty much the same experience. There's a suprising number of people quietly running games. You might even know a group, especially if you attend a college or something equally awesome.

I genuinely think that videogames are a good way to teach you the basic mechanics of these systems. I'm pretty sure Icewindale and Neverwinter Nights 2 both run on the 3.5 rules and once you create a few characters in those games you'll have a good feel for how everything works. The best way to dive in though really is to just dive in with some experienced players.

 

[skrillbak]

For those just starting I wouldn't pick call of Cthulhu for a starter group. For those just starting the table top adventure DnD is great because combat is simple, the game is not too rules intense, and after three years it is still a lot of fun.

 

[kingcom]

More important than rules or supplements are scenarios/adventures.
Take Dark Heresy. System is nice, setting (world, universe) - quite unique. However there are only a few official adventures and most of fan made are "go there, kill that, return to learn you were betrayed, chase and burn traitorous heretic".

Many won't agree with me, but many modern tabletop rpgs are exactly like this. From fight to fight, from battle to battle. Even latest installment of D&D isn't free of that flaw. That's practically "hack and slash" not rpg. Think "Enhanced Diablo".

I would disagree with that Jester. Scenarios and adventures are not that important, I cant stand running premades and just frankly prefer running my own stuff. Its easy to have a story or change an existing one to suit your needs, its harder to work with rules that just aren't fun.

I cant comment on all systems but Dark Heresy certainly isnt a go here, kill that type of game. Combat is very very dangerous, with regular humans being are capable of gutting your party without too much effort. Its all about the investigation, finding clues, talking to people, running around the 41st Millenium.

 

[WinkyTheGreat]

I started myself off with a 4th edition (Yeah yeah yeah, sue me) starters pack that I purchased from a board-games store so that's a good start. It came with dice, tokens, a small book of monsters and character archetypes, DM manual, gameboards and all for around thirty bucks.

But most of all you NEED a good crew. I tried to get my friends into it but they weren't really interested, I resapect their taste but I just wish that I had ppeople to play with

I have bought all of the core DnD 3.5 edition books I could find. And quite a lot of 3.0 supplements.
...I've never found anyone to play with.

I don't know about where you guys are but a lot of local game shops have nights to gather and play. You can probably just hang up a sign in there about starting or joining a campaign and you'll find a group.

OT: I play a lot of different systems. I'm currently running a 3.5 campaign and will soon be running a 4th edition campaign with another group all while working on a World of Darkness. There are a lot of systems out there.
D&D itself gives you a good fantasy system. 3.5 let's you do a lot more with your character but 4th edition is easier to learn and a bit more balanced (at least in my opinion. Crucify me if you must).
If you're a Star Wars fan, the Star Wars RPG is a lot of fun as long as you nerf the Jedi a bit (I separated them into three different categories like in KOTOR to do this).
If you are a fan of survival horror, I recommend World of Darkness. It's a modern world setting with supernatural elements and has several offshoot games (Werewolves, Vampires, etc).
So choose your poison. Tabletop RPGs are addictive and once you've played one, you'll probably want to branch out. I started playing 3.5 in high school and now I am 7 years later playing 4 to 5 different systems.