D&D 5E What have you found to be the hardest thing for new players to understand about 5e systems?

[Gavin O.]

I've been a part of a few campaigns now and every single one of them has had players who have never played DnD (let alone 5e) before. On a whole, I’ve been pleasantly surprised as to how many players seem to understand the game after a short explanation and a first session. The two big exceptions I’ve noticed are spells and hit dice. I very often see new players confuse spells known, spells prepared, and spell slots (a level 1 Wizard with 16 Int has 6 spells known, can prepare 4, and has 2 slots to cast them with). New players also seem to have a hard time understanding what a hit dice is, where it comes from, and how it can be spent and regained.

So I ask you:

How do you teach new players about the spellcasting system? How do you explain to them how hit dice work? Are there any other aspects of the game system that you notice new players struggling with?

 

[ConflictGames]

I remember having to repeatedly mention that they can do "ONE ACTION AT A TIME". that is, one move, then one standard. Otherwise, new players say things like: "I flip over the goblyn, climb the tree and backstab the orc."

anyone else seen this?

 

[Swarmkeeper]

I agree that the “spells known/prepared/slots available” concept seems to take a while for new players.

I also find that many new players simply get lost just trying to find something on their character sheet. “What’s my initiative?” Or “where do I find Perception?” Etc. This one usually sorts itself out after a few sessions.

 

[Coroc]

Did this only with experienced Players.

We had some Trouble with the Action economy, Action, Bonus Action, move, reaction, with move splittable in fragments everywhere between.

Well flipping over the goblin climbing the tree is a movement with an acrobatics and an athletics check backstabbing the orc does work too (attack Action), if the conditions for a sneak attack are still met (if not a rogue with cunning Action might hide as a Bonus Action). I do not see a Problem in the sequence [MENTION=82596]ConflictGames[/MENTION] mentioned in his post.

Agree to you all on new Players getting into the Vancian casting, it is highly probable that they have experience with Computer games who use a Point based casting, which is addign to their confuision.

 

[Nevvur]

Readied actions and reactions: the order of events (action->reaction or reaction->action), readying a spell expends the slot even if you don't cast it, you can't ready an action outside of combat.

Bonus actions: Only 1 per turn and only on your turn, period (Action Surge "possible bonus action" is a big source of confusion), dual wielding and wanting to use a bonus action to make an offhand attack without first making a mainhand attack, can only cast a cantrip if you cast a bonus action spell.

 

[Leatherhead]

Hardest parts for new characters?
Remembering how to use dice for ability checks or attack rolls(seriously)
Remembering class/racial powers.

And how to fix this? Honestly, I think they just need to pull their heads out of their sidebars and phones for about a month to watch the other people play the game, they will rack up approximately 4 times the game experience if they pay attention to the game. About the only thing I could change to help them at this point is to somehow rework a character sheet so that a picture of the physical dice are located near the checks. And I'm not about to do that, as it would require learning how to code the automated sheet we are using at this point.

 

[Gardens & Goblins]

Team work, to be honest - not so much the intent to work as a team, rather the knowledge of how the various class and character choices can better support each other - because it relies on a fairly hefty knowledge of the system.

A session 0 where new players discuss their characters' abilities, powers and the like, along with some brain storming of how they could work together really help with this.

 

[DRF]

Finding stuff on their sheet
This one is fine, sheets are definitely overwhelming in the beginning. I have noticed, though, that surprisingly many players get lazy and turn off their brain if they get too much help. One of my friends, who's smart and doing a PhD, keeps asking the same inane, irritating questions because he just doesn't retain the information. That I was so helpful in the beginning (with everything) is now biting me in the butt.

Remembering what to roll
Related to the above. I cannot fathom how people are confused about whether to use a D20 when it's the 500th time they swing the same old sword. That it takes time to learn the different smaller dice is definitely understandable.

Magic
This one definitely takes time. It helps watching other people play magic users. The best option would be if people read the book, but that's never going to happen...

Using their imagination
This one surprised me the most. Not everyone grew up with video games and a passion for Lord of the Rings. I have met a few players who simply don't know how to engage their imagination, and who are confused and overwhelmed by the idea that they can do (or try to do) anything. Regular games have clear frameworks, but D&D doesn't in the same way. It takes getting used to. I found these people would often desperately ask for the "right" thing to do, or what specific options they have available.

 

[Voi_D_ragon]

Remembering what to roll
Related to the above. I cannot fathom how people are confused about whether to use a D20 when it's the 500th time they swing the same old sword. That it takes time to learn the different smaller dice is definitely understandable.

This. I sometimes just want to take all their dice away, only letting them keep the d20. Let them ask what they have to roll then.

 

[GlassJaw]

Ahh, this topic is near and dear to my heart because my group is almost entirely players new to D&D (or at least very little experience).

Magic is up there but it hasn't caused as big of a stumbling block as I anticipated. I'd say that sumply remembering what their options are at times, especially class abilities. The Battlemaster player seems to forget he has them at times or at least has difficultly deciding when he should use them.

Also, some players still get hung up on when to apply their proficiency bonus, or why it gets applied for some things and not others. I don't know how to explain that any more clearly.

The short rest/long rest rules seem to get explained (by me) every time they come up too.