So i am interested in tabletop rpgs.

[Mr.Amakir]

Well i have decided to start playing some old-shcool tabletop RPGs (or Pen and Paper RPGs if you prefer that term) and are somewhat unsure were to start. I have some experience with AD&D rules thanks to Baldur's Gate but i doubt that the fourth edition rules are anything like the second edition and besides it's pretty much only character creation you learn from Baldur's Gate.

I am thinking that the new Dungeons and Dragons Red Box, the Gamma World starter set (Gamma World looks awesome), or the Dragon Age box (though i have yet to play the video game). The red boc seems to be a great entry pint into D&D but i would have to buy the Rules Compendium and one of the new Players Handbooks if i want to be able to play/host games with characters over level 3, Gamma World seems to be packaged with everything you need to play for along time in one box that costs slightly more than the red box, the setting seems to be really unique too. The Dragon Age box is apparently a great starting point ad although it only takes characters to level five you wont have to buy a bunch of books to keep playing just new boxes (and i love boxes).

SO which one of these games is good for someone who is new to tabletop RPGs? If you have another game to recommend feel free to do it. Oh and i have some friends to play with so that should not be a problem really .

 

[AlohaJo]

The D&D Red Box is a very good way to get started in the game, the only thing you'll need to watch out for is that some of the various powers and items that are given in the Red Box aren't in the actual handbooks. A bit of a pain, yes, but it's easy enough to look over.

Ultimately, if you really want to get into D&D or Gamma World, you will have to pick up the handbooks. Try to see if you can get them used, or on sale, as they can be rather pricey, but don't let the prices be a deterrent. The game is tons of fun, especially if you can get a group of friends to join you.

 

[Axolotl]

What sort of game do you want? 4th edition DnD is probably the easiest to get, but it's rules are somwhat clunky, if you want tactical combat it's the way to go (although you really do need minis to play it). 3rd edition (or Pathfinder) is harder to get (but it is all online for free) will probably have more players and has far more material than any other system, but it's rules are hard to learn without an experienced players help and when you fully understand them the game does fall apart. The older editions are hard to get and even harder to find groups for, but for something like Planescape or Hackmaster it might be worth it.

Beyond DnD World of Darkness is an okay system for a very good setting, it's more story focused but if you like it's style it can be alot of fun. Of all the Sci-Fi systems floating about Traveller is probably the easiest to learn and has the best overall system, I don't know how easy it is to get the books though. Oh and I'd also reccomend the various Warhammer RPGs they're rules are fiarly complex and pretty hardcore but with a group that "gets" the setting, it's limitless fun.

 

[Grey_Focks]

My friends and I semi-recently got into DnD, and I strongly recommend picking up the red box. It was just a fantastic jumping off point for us. Just FYI, the actual "gameplay" of DnD, ends up playing like a turn-based strategy RPG, to use video game terms. If that isn't your thing, you probably won't get too much enjoyment out of it. Really though, it's just a blast thinking "outside the box" doing stuff you normally wouldn't even think to do.

 

[Chibz]

I'd recommend checking out Pathfinder. It's what D&D 4th edition should've been. Mostly in that it's a fixing up of the D&D 3.5 rules.

 

[Imperator D]

DnD 4th is pretty easy to pickup and the system is fairly strait forward, if you remember what all your powers and items do for you, something only practice can do for you. White Wolf products (WoD, NWoD) are also fairly easy to pick up using a fill in the dots method for character creation. Shadowrun has always been a favorite of mine, though character creation can become lengthy there are generators available to make it easier. NWoD and Shadowrun 4th use all the same size dice (d10s for NWoD and d6s for Shadowrun) and the same concepts. Shadowrun tries to emulate physics more accurately, but they are both based on dice pools. Any system you get into is going to have some means built in to get more money from you (nature of the game) and most systems also have fan created content. The final determining factor should be: what kind of stories do you and your friends want to play.
My friends and I jump from system to system, world to world as suits our mood. In the last two years we've played 3 NWoD games (one set in LA modern nights, one set in Frankfort, Germany 1933, the other in Las Vegas modern nights), Warhammer 40K (we played the adventure in the main book first, then one I developed), Serenity, Legend of the Five Rings (which we later adapted WoD rules for use in the setting as the GM was more comfortable with the rules, and we both liked the system better than the L5R system), a world of my creation using the Shadowrun system I call 4th World, and soon we will be playing a fallout inspired game I've been developing using the Shadowrun system. Battlestar Galactica was also sugested, but I've been too busy with the Fallout development to even consider a story for Galactica.

 

[Mr.Amakir]

The World of Darkness books are quite pricey actually so i don't think i will get those (yet). Both Traveller and Pathfinder seems to be impossible to find.

Ultimately, if you really want to get into D&D or Gamma World, you will have to pick up the handbooks. Try to see if you can get them used, or on sale, as they can be rather pricey, but don't let the prices be a deterrent. The game is tons of fun, especially if you can get a group of friends to join you.

The new D&D essentials rulebooks are surprisingly cheap actually, i managed to find the Rules Compendium and the two players handbooks for only 25,24 (converted from Swedish kronor). With Gamma World Wizards of the Coast seems to have taken a different approach by selling everything in boxes. Right now there are a starter set and two expansion sets and well i like boxes.

The older editions are hard to get and even harder to find groups for, but for something like Planescape or Hackmaster it might be worth it.

So they are not making Planescape books anymore? Shame really.

 

[Chibz]

SNIP

I'm super, duper serial. Give Pathfinder a look over before going to D&D MMORPG edition. It's well worth looking over.

 

[Mr.Amakir]

I just read through a free Gamma World module from Wizards website and it seems like a really good game. For example the module took place in Canada and some of the hooks they recommended the GM to use for the characters to be in Canada were the healthcare, the beer and the hockey.

I'm super, duper serial. Give Pathfinder a look over before going to D&D MMORPG edition. It's well worth looking over.

Well i managed to find the Pathfinder rulebook but it was really pricey so i think ill pass for now. I might try it later though.

 

[Daedalus1942]

Well i have decided to start playing some old-shcool tabletop RPGs (or Pen and Paper RPGs if you prefer that term) and are somewhat unsure were to start. I have some experience with AD&D rules thanks to Baldur's Gate but i doubt that the fourth edition rules are anything like the second edition and besides it's pretty much only character creation you learn from Baldur's Gate.

I am thinking that the new Dungeons and Dragons Red Box, the Gamma World starter set (Gamma World looks awesome), or the Dragon Age box (though i have yet to play the video game). The red boc seems to be a great entry pint into D&D but i would have to buy the Rules Compendium and one of the new Players Handbooks if i want to be able to play/host games with characters over level 3, Gamma World seems to be packaged with everything you need to play for along time in one box that costs slightly more than the red box, the setting seems to be really unique too. The Dragon Age box is apparently a great starting point ad although it only takes characters to level five you wont have to buy a bunch of books to keep playing just new boxes (and i love boxes).

SO which one of these games is good for someone who is new to tabletop RPGs? If you have another game to recommend feel free to do it. Oh and i have some friends to play with so that should not be a problem really .

All flesh must be eaten is a pretty good beginner rpg, and it's like role playing Left4Dead too.
the rules are quite simple and anyone can pick it up within about half hour.
You need basic math skills though.
-Tabs<3-

P.S http://www.allflesh.com/flesh.html

 

[BVBFanatic]

...wait.

There's a Dragon Age tabletop game?

 

[Mr.Amakir]

...wait.

There's a Dragon Age tabletop game?

Yes there is actually.

http://greenronin.com/dragon_age/

 

[Chibz]

Well i managed to find the Pathfinder rulebook but it was really pricey so i think ill pass for now. I might try it later though.

www.d20pfsrd.com

That's the pathfinder SRD. It has all the content you could possibly need for character generation, and more. Use it well.

 

[LogicNProportion]

A lot of the 3.5 D&D stuff is free and online.

Go for it.

 

[Fanghawk]

Beyond DnD World of Darkness is an okay system for a very good setting, it's more story focused but if you like it's style it can be alot of fun. Of all the Sci-Fi systems floating about Traveller is probably the easiest to learn and has the best overall system, I don't know how easy it is to get the books though. Oh and I'd also reccomend the various Warhammer RPGs they're rules are fiarly complex and pretty hardcore but with a group that "gets" the setting, it's limitless fun.

Almost the entire Traveller catalogue (all editions including supplements) can be ordered on CDs from a website set up by creator Marc Miller: http://www.farfuture.net/cdroms.html

OP - If you want to get a feel of what's out there, I recommend DriveThruRPG ( http://www.drivethrustuff.com ) which has a huge collection of games in PDF format, usually for a discounted price from the hard copy books, including the WoD library. It really does help to have an actual book with you during the game though, so you may want to just browse the site for ideas and then pick up a hard copy (the site does offer print copies on selected titles). If you'd rather save money you can always print off key chapters or stick it on an ebook reader so you have an easy reference.

 

[Fappy]

I'd recommend checking out Pathfinder. It's what D&D 4th edition should've been. Mostly in that it's a fixing up of the D&D 3.5 rules.

This. This. So much THIS.

Pathfinder is an excellent rule set and offers an incredible reworking of the 3.5 DnD classes. As far as tabletop games I have played it definitely ranks among the best. If you are looking for fantasy over any other genre/setting you can't get much better than Pathfinder.

Exalted is a great game too, but far too complex for a new gamer imo.

 

[Chibz]

A lot of the 3.5 D&D stuff is free and online.

Go for it.

On this note, here's the D&D 3.5 srd: http://www.d20srd.org/

Pathguy has a character generator for D&D 3.5: http://pathguy.com/cg35.htm

Again, you're welcome.

 

[Mr.Amakir]

Anyone here who have actually tried the new edition of Gamma World? I would really like to know what it's like before i buy it.

snip

Well i will probably not buy the rules as PDF documents but i miht pick up some modules from there. Thank you for the tip.

snip

Thank you for the help as well, really appreciated.

 

[Chibz]

Thank you for the help as well, really appreciated.

You're very welcome. It's always good to have new people to the tabletop RPG scene.