Wanting to get into DnD

[Krivol]

playing with fire eh

Oh you have no idea. There's probably at least two more parts to this story until it concluded about 5 months ago.

Which I will post soon.

Bro, soon is today!

 

[Zep Zepo]

I remember my first "real" DND game, I was in the U.S Army...I saw a 3 or 4 nerds in the rec hall playing...something. I asked them what's it about, can I try?

So they let me play....about 10 minutes in...there was a cave or a room or some shit....so I was like "I throw my dagger into the cave"

DM: "Your dagger gets thrown back out andlands at your feet"

Me: "I throw it in harder"

DM: "Same thing happens...the dagger lands at your feet"

Me: "I ran into the cave with the dagger in my hand ready to attack"

DM: "You are in a small room with no obvious exits"

Me to the other players: "Help me out here!"

Other players: We leave the area of the small cave.

Everyone continues playing...after about 20 minutes...I realize...they really didn't want me to play after all. So I leave.

Nerds....can't trust them. Never played DND after that.

Zep--

 

[Zep Zepo]

And the reveal is...Cudgel was one of those butthurt nerds!

Zep--

 

[GarlandExCon]

playing with fire eh

Oh you have no idea. There's probably at least two more parts to this story until it concluded about 5 months ago.

Which I will post soon.

Bro, soon is today!

Sorry dude, been real busy lately. I've got too many epic threads going on in this bitch. I've got thrift threads, China ripping me off threads, Jailbird threads, prison threads... my SJW chick fling thread will come soon though!

 

[Old One]

The Frank Mentzer 1983 Dungeons & Dragons "Red Box" Basic Set contains extensive support for a beginning Dungeon Master, including a small sample dungeon. The Tom Moldvay 1981 D&D Basic Rulebook pictured above also has similar information, albeit in smaller quantity.

Yeah, I've got both of those.

The earlier version has a scripted example session set in a small dungeon (called "The Haunted Keep" IIRC). It gives a basic idea of what the GM and the players are supposed to be saying and doing at any given time, which is helpful. It's kind of fun to read too.

The later version has much more detail and hand-holding while it explains the most elemental concepts of RPGs in baby steps from the start of an adventure to the end. This can also be helpful, I'm sure. I already knew how to play by the time that came out, but I've read it and recommend it.

 

[Old One]

I think you're potentially referring to the 1991 basic DnD module of a similar name.

Nope. They're two completely different things. I've got The Keep On The Borderlands module too.

The one in the rulebook is just a small sample dungeon: a "keep" with two towers, one of which is in ruins. It's called The something Keep. Haunted Keep I think, or maybe Ruined Keep.

The early 1980s Advanced DnD Dungeon Master's Guide also has a sample dungeon like that with a scripted play session, now that I think about it.

 

[Zed Duke of Banville]

The small sample dungeon in the 1981 Moldvay Basic Rulebook is indeed called The Haunted Keep.

The AD&D (1st edition) Dungeon Master's Guide includes a map of a larger dungeon, but only has descriptions for the first three rooms.

 

[Zombra]

Why start with Dungeons & Dragons? The barrier of entry there is pretty high in terms of (unnecessary) complexity. Especially if you don't already have a gaming group, this is a long row to hoe. Take advantage of the decades of genre development and start with something you can recruit easily for. I found this article with some tabletop RPGs better suited to beginners.

I recommend Fiasco in particular as it's built specifically to be played with no preparation. It's almost more like a "party game", very beer and pretzels with minimal mechanics, but with real role-playing and conflict resolution. It requires a few hours, but other than that the barrier of entry is really low. You play one session and then the game is over, so no one has to commit to anything.

Once you have that under your belt, you can ask the people if they'd like to try something longer form: "What if we told a continuing story and developed the characters over a few months?" Then you can play something more substantial like D&D and know your players are invested. Or if they don't want something longer form, use Fiasco as a recruitment tool, inviting friends of friends and so forth.

Dungeon World is another really good "minimal mechanics" game with a more traditional "hitting and looting" thematic approach.