Help for a D&D newbie

[ShamusEricks]

I've searched the forums, and I've googled it, and I've thus far been unable to find anything truly helpful for what I need to know.

I'm sixteen years old on a relatively small budget, and I want to start playing dungeons and dragons. I know a few people that would be interested in doing the same, all on the same, very small budget.

My question is, What should i buy? I'm not a stranger to most rpg concepts, but I'm very suspicious that there is a lot I don't know, as I've never done tabletop. I have a budget of around $40, if that helps.

 

[DeadlyYellow]

I have a budget of around $40, if that helps.

Well that will buy you maybe one core rulebook.

For 3/3.5 typical set is a Dungeon Master's Guide, Monster Manual, and Player's Handbook. Books themselves are $30 and up apiece. Or you could find the information online. There are sites that have the basic rule sets available, if not as good as the books themselves.

Mapsheet and miniatures will run you even more, if you play with them. I think they are required for 4th ed.

 

[ShamusEricks]

I suppose my next question then, one likely to stir some conflicting responses, should I go for 3, 3.5, 4? What edition?

 

[Bara_no_Hime]

I've searched the forums, and I've googled it, and I've thus far been unable to find anything truly helpful for what I need to know.

I'm sixteen years old on a relatively small budget, and I want to start playing dungeons and dragons. I know a few people that would be interested in doing the same, all on the same, very small budget.

My question is, What should i buy? I'm not a stranger to most rpg concepts, but I'm very suspicious that there is a lot I don't know, as I've never done tabletop. I have a budget of around $40, if that helps.

That'll get you a Pathfinder Core book (Player's Guide and Dungeon Master's guide in one) from Amazon.com (31 bucks, free shipping in the continental USA) or a similar online bookstore. You could also buy the PDF for cheaper from Paizo.com directly. The monster book runs about another 25 on Amazon, but you can also get those (for free) from the PRD on the Paizo site. Generally, Pathfinder is the cheapest way to play D&D 3.5, since the suplemental books, while nice, are totally unnecessary (unlike 4th Ed D&D).

I'm not saying that 4th Ed's bad - it's actually pretty fun - but Pathfinder is WAY cheaper.

 

[Melancholy_Ocelot]

I definitely recommend the DMG 3.5 and Monster Manual 1. 4.0 is a little rough in my opinion.

I also HIGHLY recommend http://www.dandwiki.com/ It's a great reference, though the search function can be a little crude.

My friends and I use graph paper instead of miniatures and map sheets. They're cheaper, and it's easier to map things out beforehand.

A good starting adventure is The Sunless Citadel. It was the one that got me hooked.

 

[ZtH]

It all depends on what you want in the game, 4th edition is by far simpler and easier to learn, however many people believe it lacks the depth to be as fun as 3.5. Most people seem to agree that 3.5 is an improvement over 3rd I've never tried it so I can't offer any realy experience with 3rd. 3.5 is is a strong system with an unbelievable amount of extra resources if you're interested in expanding your game, but its tougher to learn and certainly not as stream lined as 4th (grappling rules I'm looking at you...). Also in 3.5 mages and martial characters are extraordinarily different in playing as compared to 4th where there is very little distinction between a character who uses magically based abilities and one who uses martial abilities until you start exploring the rituals available.

 

[Rylot]

You don't need to buy dungeon tiles. I prefer a white board with one inch squares drawn in permanent marker, but you can do the same thing on poster board and just draw the maps in pencil so you don't have to keep buying tiles. Also don't bother with minis, just cut up your own tokens.

 

[Bara_no_Hime]

Actually, come to think of it, if you want the absoutely cheapest way to play D&D -

http://paizo.com/pathfinderRPG/prd/

That's the free Pathfinder PRD. That is, basically, the Core Rulebook and the Beastary... free. Online. In plain text. It's free - it's legal - it is the simplified upgrade of 3.5. I DM a Pathfinder game myself, so... yeah, big fan here.

There are other great systems out there, but none give you the rules for free on their own website. At least none of the ones I know about.

 

[Danceofmasks]

Actually, come to think of it, if you want the absoutely cheapest way to play D&D -

http://paizo.com/pathfinderRPG/prd/

That's the free Pathfinder PRD. That is, basically, the Core Rulebook and the Beastary... free. Online. In plain text. It's free - it's legal - it is the simplified upgrade of 3.5. I DM a Pathfinder game myself, so... yeah, big fan here.

There are other great systems out there, but none give you the rules for free on their own website. At least none of the ones I know about.

There was GURPS lite .. but as much as I like GURPS I don't recommend it to people who don't like the numbercrunching.

 

[Riobux]

My question is, What should i buy? I'm not a stranger to most rpg concepts, but I'm very suspicious that there is a lot I don't know, as I've never done tabletop. I have a budget of around $40, if that helps.

You will need a D&D book of your choice (there are tons of different types of D&D books depending on your flavour, I'm taking part in a D&D 3.5 campaign but trying DMing for the first time in Call Of Cthulhu since I prefer the horror setting) and some dice. What dice depends on what game you decide to play, but I ended up picking up 2 packs of 7-dice sets which includes 1D4, 1D6, 1D8, 1D10, 1D12, 1D20 and 1D100 each. For both the D&D 3.5 campaign I'm a part of and Call Of Cthulhu thing I hope to start, one pack is enough. If you wish to take part in Shadowrun...You may want to invest in a bucket of D6s.

 

[Flying-Emu]

Pathfinder is arguably the best DnD module around. All you really NEED to play are the Paizo Pathfinder core rulebooks, a full set of polyhedral dice (preferably one for each player), and a plan.