Just starting DnD with some friends. What should I know?
- Thread starter crepesack
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d20srd.org
This website has most of the "numbers" of all 3 core books (player's handbook, dungeon master's guide and monster manual). It won't tell you how to run a campaign or how to build a character, but if you're looking for that obscure rule (like grappling) or some ability, then searching there will save you a LOT of time.
As for readings, your players need to read about how to build their character, what their race does, what their class does (Force them to not play a sorcerer or wizard. Honestly, if you're just starting they WILL be useless/unfun to play. Druids and clerics are OK, but still less recommended, and require more reading), how basic combat works, what their skills do, what the items they want to buy do, and what the spells they want to cast do (if applicable). You should read everything each of your players has to read (you have to know what they can do. You should also read the adventure you're going to play in advance, so you don't spend half the session reading it while your players wait, and then ret-con what you said since it was the wrong thing. I also recommend the first few chapters of the dungeon master's guide (as many as you can without falling asleep on it)
This website has most of the "numbers" of all 3 core books (player's handbook, dungeon master's guide and monster manual). It won't tell you how to run a campaign or how to build a character, but if you're looking for that obscure rule (like grappling) or some ability, then searching there will save you a LOT of time.
As for readings, your players need to read about how to build their character, what their race does, what their class does (Force them to not play a sorcerer or wizard. Honestly, if you're just starting they WILL be useless/unfun to play. Druids and clerics are OK, but still less recommended, and require more reading), how basic combat works, what their skills do, what the items they want to buy do, and what the spells they want to cast do (if applicable). You should read everything each of your players has to read (you have to know what they can do. You should also read the adventure you're going to play in advance, so you don't spend half the session reading it while your players wait, and then ret-con what you said since it was the wrong thing. I also recommend the first few chapters of the dungeon master's guide (as many as you can without falling asleep on it)
Go with the flow. Depending on the people you're playing with, chances are that things will go way differently then you expected. Do not try to rail road the party.
for 3.5 rules, the following web site will be your best friendcrepesack said:
http://www.d20srd.org/
ESPECIALLY the "monster filter" for your first few DM games I recommend a more "monster of the week" type approach (filter monsters for challenge rating)
remember if you double the number of monsters you add 2 to the challenge rating (the exception being fractional CRs, and insanely large groups)
i.e. 2 7's would be a 9,
2 3's plus a 4 is probably about a six
however 16 zombies is not a CR 7 because a low level character will mess their stuff up too fast
-Don't attempt to predict what your players will do, you will be wrong every time.
-Don't try to force them to do anything (this is why Monster of the Week - hereafter referred to as MOTW - works so well, because whether they go into a mine, or a school of mages, there's a chance an earth elemental will show up in either situation so you don't have to prepare extra combats)
-If you don't know a rule, and no one else knows it off the top of their head, look it up, if it takes more than a minute or so to find, make up a rule and find it after the session. Following consistent rules is important but not interrupting the flow/fun is more important... you can always start the next session with "last time we played that _____ the rules say _____ instead, I prefer my/the real rules so we will use that from here on out"
One Forum I liked when I was learning (recently) was http://www.giantitp.com/ (home of the order of the stick comic) they gave me some good advice back in the day.
As for your question about group size (bottom of the first page, not op) I prefer a group of 3 not including myself, however all DMs are different. In larger groups I find that dominant personalities can make those who are more timid feel left out, where as in a smaller group, even if someone is like that it's easier to make sure all members feel like they're included. 2 players is probably not quite enough, 6 is a large group. 4 players is what CR's are designed for (CR 2 should use up 1/4 of hp/spells/other resources of a party of 4 2nd level characters)