Taking the First Step

[Uchiha Blood]

I plan to start a D&D campaign over the summer. I have only just gotten into D&D and have never even played a game. I'll be DMing for my group, all of which are new to RPGs, except for one, who has only a slight idea of what D&D is about.

And I'm not exactly sure how to start. I already have a basic story outline that should take them from heroic to epic. I was thinking that I would start out by playing a scenario with characters I've already created. Since I plan for the main villain to be a master assassin who was raised as a thief on the streets, I think I was going to give a glimpse into his past (without telling the players they are playing the main villain and his old friends). Then, after they've experienced how the game worked, they would start making characters for the actual campaign.

Any ideas to help a newbie take the first step?

 

[Taed]

Reading the books is one thing, but you don't get a feel for the flow of the game. Playing the game as a player with an experienced DM would be a great place to start. Finding a location should be possible using the Wizards Store/Event Locator. If that's not possible, at least watch others play it, such as the "Robot Chicken Plays D&D" videos. Both are available on the D&D web site (Dungeons & Dragons Roleplaying Game Official Home Page).

 

[Uchiha Blood]

Yeah, I watched the whole Robot Chicken D&D videos. After just reading the books, they completely changed my perspective on how the game would be played. I have looked for groups in my area, but since I'm a teenager, it would awkward to play in a group of people that are much older than me.

Thanks for the advice!

 

[Taed]

I have looked for groups in my area, but since I'm a teenager, it would awkward to play in a group of people that are much older than me.

I really don't think that it will be. D&D is played by all ages and is generally friendly to new players of any age.

For example, my current group consists of a wide range: 8-year-old boy, 14-year-old girl, 20-year-old man, 21-year-old woman, 23-year-old man, 35-year-old old man, 42-year-old man, and a 55-year-old woman. We didn't know each other previously (though the two youngest each have a parent in the group), we have fun, and I don't think anyone finds it awkward (though the youngest one does get distracted by other things sometimes).

So, find an open group and at least try it once. D&D Encounters is exactly what you need!