The Guide for New Tabletop Players

[tanithwolf]

One of my biggest tips to anyone playing an rpg with a character they like is have an escape plan for when everything hits the fan. I as playing a game of dnd last week were this let me survive a hopeless situation. We had worked our way into an enemy's fortress that was surrounded by a sea of zombies and only had one entrance. We had actually bluffed our way in pretending to be allies, when one of our team members betrayed us. At this point about 4 people left our game for a few weeks. The remaining 3 party members including myself decided to go on with the campaign. This led to last week where the three of us were sneaking past an enemy patrol. I had decided to stay as far back as possible and told our dm that I would run at the first sign of trouble. I should also point out that my character has a hat of disguise and was using it to disguise himself as a zombie at the time. As we were sneaking out of nowhere the other two party members get attacked by enemies who had sneaked up on us. They were then hit by a second set of attacks which instantly knocked them down to dieing. At this point I started running from the impossible battle. What would normally happen in such circumstances, I would have to keep running until I either found a good enough hiding place or got killed. But because I was disguised as a zombie the dm offered me the chance to try escaping through the sea of zombies. I made it to the otherside only taking 20 damage, when one of my teammates was killed and the other was crucified.

 

[Mr.PlanetEater]

Love, the Guide really stellar.. Tomorrow I'm going to show it to some of my less Savvy Table Mates. I have a fail story that's really Delicious.. From a table top game me and my friends all made one boring Saturday and Sunday.

So it starts out any normal campaign, the Mutant Flies are infesting a tavern and we're hired to destroy them. So one of our players enters a battle with Three of the said flies, and our GM being the crazily awesome kid he is randomly yelled..

A submarine Approaches! We looked at him bewildered, and he simply told us "I don't know how it drove on land it just did, so get to fighting" So the battle person decided to roll to take out the Sub first, rolls a 20 then a 15 and takes it down.. when our GM decides "It was a soviet nuclear Sub, which explodes causing 4000 damage! Crits to all party" So we all died, but no one was pissed at the new guy because it was just too damn funny how our GM made a victory into a failure (which in my eyes was more fun then you gain 600 EXP)

 

[BobisOnlyBob]

Love, the Guide really stellar.. Tomorrow I'm going to show it to some of my less Savvy Table Mates. I have a fail story that's really Delicious.. From a table top game me and my friends all made one boring Saturday and Sunday.

So it starts out any normal campaign, the Mutant Flies are infesting a tavern and we're hired to destroy them. So one of our players enters a battle with Three of the said flies, and our GM being the crazily awesome kid he is randomly yelled..

A submarine Approaches! We looked at him bewildered, and he simply told us "I don't know how it drove on land it just did, so get to fighting" So the battle person decided to roll to take out the Sub first, rolls a 20 then a 15 and takes it down.. when our GM decides "It was a soviet nuclear Sub, which explodes causing 4000 damage! Crits to all party" So we all died, but no one was pissed at the new guy because it was just too damn funny how our GM made a victory into a failure (which in my eyes was more fun then you gain 600 EXP)

You must've been bored. That or I'm just jaded with regard to LOLRANDUMB roleplaying. Too much World of Darkness for me.

 

[PedroSteckecilo]

I have a work colleague who's expressed an interest in roleplaying, but she's not a video-gamer by any stretch of the imagination. In fact, I don't think she even has a home PC, let alone any consoles; she does have a large number of board games though. However, if someone wants to roleplay I say let them! But I'm a bit stuck as to how to introduce her to roleplaying. I'm not too worried about her grasping the concepts of fantasy worlds because she's probably read enough fantasy (and seen enough films) to be fine with all that. As for systems, it's kind of a toss-up between pulpy Savage Worlds (which is indeed fun, fast and furious with doddle-tastic char-gen, but I don't own the core book and I've only played it once) and D&D 3.5, which I have at least played lots of and GM'ed a few times. Plus I have all the books for that. I can rope in a couple of other people who've got more ttRPG experience to help out with the rules side of things (I hope!) and flesh out the party a bit. If anyone's got any good suggestions as to things I should consider and be aware of when introducing someone so new to RPGs, I would be very interested to hear them!

Thanks in advance!

I'd say start her on Savage, it's a friendlier system for Newbies and it's still a fun system for experienced players.

 

[XenoPenumbra]

me like these tips

 

[NezumiiroKitsune]

I only take issue with that you passively implied the party would have to entertain themselves while playing as though playing in itself wasn't an entertaining and rewarding enough experience. I know you meant in supplement to the fun you reap from dungeon crawling, but that just bugged me.

I've found if you're playing with first timers who are unable to take the game seriously (pay attention) you end up getting nowhere, often because they're too uncomfortable to roleplay and don't fall into their characters, so they distract themselves. They should probably read this.

You should write something for first time Game Masters too (because if I haven't said already, this was really awesome). It can be pretty tough if you have a lack of old neckbeards at hand all the time, and need to learn some guidelines for good "Dungeonmastering". Just sayin'

>..<

Maybe not 4th Edition(D&D). Maybe I'm biased. Maybe I'm right.

 

[Straz]

My friend and I are trying somewhat to get involved in Warhammer 40k.
I suspect if we asked around at our local hobby shop where we acquire all our miniatures we would be able to get into tabletop RPGs.

 

[L4Y Duke]

So what I learned from that moment is, as a GM, it's possible to turn botches into good results without fudging the rolls.

Spoiler: Sometimes, you don't need the GM

 

[Lunar Shadow]

Fun story from D&D a few weeks back. Our party is in a troll warren when we come across a blacksmithing room. Big troll boss with some minions, no problem. So I do my usual thing and do a flying kick across the room (love 4.0 monks) and do a bit of damage. Now it's the trolls turn. It throws me into a goddamn forge. Now, the sorcere is near by and grants me fire resistance of enough that natural fire doesn't do shit to me. So I am now on fire, with a troll who is next to a vat of pitch (it's what the forges are, this one is just not lie). So I run across the battlefield and kick and punch, shifting it and myself into the pitch. Now, the pitch EXPLODES, and I end up taking no damage due to fire resist and my absurdly high reflex save, and the troll get's roasted then smashed against the ceiling. Also lost a crowbar in our last campaign trying to pry open an extrademinsional gate (combined roll was somewhere around 70). It fucking sprouted tentacles and became a Cthulhu crowbar, which promptly got squished. God I love my group.

 

[Eleima]

I've always wanted to get into tabletop games (specifically, D&D). But here's the thing: back in high school, it was a "guys only" club, and now that I've shipped out for college & grad school, no one in my neighborhood plays (well, maybe some do, but there's no way I'm playing D&D in any other language than English). So thank you Mr. Tito, for making me yearn even more for something I can't have! (Kidding! I'm actually quite glad that you're saying something I've believed for years: it can't be *that* hard. Can it?)

Fun story from D&D a few weeks back. Our party is in a troll warren when we come across a blacksmithing room. Big troll boss with some minions, no problem. So I do my usual thing and do a flying kick across the room (love 4.0 monks) and do a bit of damage. Now it's the trolls turn. It throws me into a goddamn forge. Now, the sorcere is near by and grants me fire resistance of enough that natural fire doesn't do shit to me. So I am now on fire, with a troll who is next to a vat of pitch (it's what the forges are, this one is just not lie). So I run across the battlefield and kick and punch, shifting it and myself into the pitch. Now, the pitch EXPLODES, and I end up taking no damage due to fire resist and my absurdly high reflex save, and the troll get's roasted then smashed against the ceiling. Also lost a crowbar in our last campaign trying to pry open an extrademinsional gate (combined roll was somewhere around 70). It fucking sprouted tentacles and became a Cthulhu crowbar, which promptly got squished. God I love my group.

Oh. My. God. That sounds so frakin' awesome. I've always believed that monks rule,a nd now I've got proof (with a little help from sorcerers, which are a close second in my book).

 

[Altorin]

So thank you Mr. Tito, for making me yearn even more for something I can't have! (Kidding! I'm actually quite glad that you're saying something I've believed for years: it can't be *that* hard. Can it?)

I'm sure you could get into it if you want. There are probably hundreds of people in your area that think just like you do "Noone plays, so I can't play"

All you have to do is try, and you'll find that people are quite open to trying it themselves.

Hopefully Tito will write that column he hinted at about actually finding a group if you're in your situation where noone you currently know openly plays.

 

[Eleima]

So thank you Mr. Tito, for making me yearn even more for something I can't have! (Kidding! I'm actually quite glad that you're saying something I've believed for years: it can't be *that* hard. Can it?)

I'm sure you could get into it if you want. There are probably hundreds of people in your area that think just like you do "Noone plays, so I can't play"
All you have to do is try, and you'll find that people are quite open to trying it themselves.
Hopefully Tito will write that column he hinted at about actually finding a group if you're in your situation where noone you currently know openly plays.

Like I said, there's no way on Earth I'm playing in any other language than English, so unless I'm willing to swim across the English Channel every other weekend, that's a no go.
But yeah, I'm hoping he'll write that column about starting a group in which everyone's a total "noob". I'm sure I'd fit right in! =D

 

[Sinbeans]

You should write something for first time Game Masters too (because if I haven't said already, this was really awesome).

I agree, I would love to see some tips for GMing.

 

[Amazon warrior]

So thank you Mr. Tito, for making me yearn even more for something I can't have! (Kidding! I'm actually quite glad that you're saying something I've believed for years: it can't be *that* hard. Can it?)

I'm sure you could get into it if you want. There are probably hundreds of people in your area that think just like you do "Noone plays, so I can't play"
All you have to do is try, and you'll find that people are quite open to trying it themselves.
Hopefully Tito will write that column he hinted at about actually finding a group if you're in your situation where noone you currently know openly plays.

Like I said, there's no way on Earth I'm playing in any other language than English, so unless I'm willing to swim across the English Channel every other weekend, that's a no go.
But yeah, I'm hoping he'll write that column about starting a group in which everyone's a total "noob". I'm sure I'd fit right in! =D

Well, I managed to find English-speaking gaming groups in Japan and Germany, so it's just a question of looking in the right places. Try out Meetup.com - I've had some success with that in both Germany and Australia, or maybe stick a note up in a local games shop asking for English players. Chances are you're not alone and somebody else who's desperate to meet English-speaking players will respond. If there's an ex-pats network for France (like Toytown in Germany), hop on and make enquiries - you might shake someone out like that.

ETA: Don't disregard the workplace as a place to find players either, although that requires actually coming out of the gaming closet. Scary!

 

[Kater101]

I've always wanted to get into tabletop games (specifically, D&D). But here's the thing: back in high school, it was a "guys only" club, and now that I've shipped out for college & grad school, no one in my neighborhood plays (well, maybe some do, but there's no way I'm playing D&D in any other language than English). So thank you Mr. Tito, for making me yearn even more for something I can't have! (Kidding! I'm actually quite glad that you're saying something I've believed for years: it can't be *that* hard. Can it?)

Fun story from D&D a few weeks back. Our party is in a troll warren when we come across a blacksmithing room. Big troll boss with some minions, no problem. So I do my usual thing and do a flying kick across the room (love 4.0 monks) and do a bit of damage. Now it's the trolls turn. It throws me into a goddamn forge. Now, the sorcere is near by and grants me fire resistance of enough that natural fire doesn't do shit to me. So I am now on fire, with a troll who is next to a vat of pitch (it's what the forges are, this one is just not lie). So I run across the battlefield and kick and punch, shifting it and myself into the pitch. Now, the pitch EXPLODES, and I end up taking no damage due to fire resist and my absurdly high reflex save, and the troll get's roasted then smashed against the ceiling. Also lost a crowbar in our last campaign trying to pry open an extrademinsional gate (combined roll was somewhere around 70). It fucking sprouted tentacles and became a Cthulhu crowbar, which promptly got squished. God I love my group.

Oh. My. God. That sounds so frakin' awesome. I've always believed that monks rule,a nd now I've got proof (with a little help from sorcerers, which are a close second in my book).

If you play a monk in 3.5 / 4.0 correct, then yes you can be overpowerd and rule.
In 4.0 thought I prefer the Invoker or bard more cause those classes can make it really hard for a Gm and can turn the battle from complete disaster to more fun ^^.
For example the Bard gets a skills where he can roll 3d20 these d20 can be used
for other rolls, for your self, other players and ofcourse for the GM ^^ so if you roll 6,5,18 you can give 18 to other player's or if you hate your ally's to the GM.
"So roll your attack!" GM
roll 7
"7 ah thats to low" GM
"well here have a 18" Bard
"....." GM
Hit 18

 

[Amazon warrior]

Nice article. Mebbe next week beginners guide to rolling dice No really it confuses people. Try explaining Shadowrun to a beginner

One of my gaming friends suggested Shadowrun as a possible introductory game for my newbie co-worker. I fell off my chair laughing, but he was deadly serious.

 

[slimeonline]

Have seen these tabletop/role play games pop up every now and then but never really thought to try them.
People seem to enjoy them and have a lot of fun, so maybe one day I will have a go.

 

[Mr.PlanetEater]

You must've been bored. That or I'm just jaded with regard to LOLRANDUMB roleplaying. Too much World of Darkness for me.

I agree I typically hate Dipshit roleplayers in Table Top games, but it was just one of those days were you were feeling random.

 

[Kojiro ftt]

They need a RPG social network site where you can meet people. I'd love to play D&D again. I haven't played in 14+ years. But I would jump on an opportunity to play.