Classes for new players

[Stormborn]

I am about to run a game that will include a few people who have never played an RPG before.

1) They have asked for help in choosing classes. I told them one way to do it is to pick a character from fiction to imulate. Can you help me think of examples for the Core Classes from pop culture? I don't want this to turn into a grand debate of who is what, just some hooks for new players.
(Especially from TV/Movies)

Barbarian = Conan, He-man
Bard = Lorne from Angel
etc.

2) They have also asked if there are any classes/races that are harder to play than others. I have recommended Fighter and Rogue as the easiest to get into, and if they want to play a magic user, the Sorcerer >pop, the sound of a can of worms opening<. Suggestions?

BTW, this is probablly a one-shot introduction campaign. The couple has a new baby, wants to learn to play, but doesn't have time to join the regular group. I have established a setting that will allow for any of the core races and classes. We will be starting at first level. The adventure will likely be a short wilderness/dungeon combo, but they may change depending on their choices.

Thanks.

 

[your father is]

^Not sure what kind of background they have, but if they watch any anime I'd describe the thief as being like "The Wolf," the main character from the Lupin series.

 

[Voadam]

I would avoid paladins with their codes, wizards with spellbooks, and clerics and druids with their huges selection of spells as they unnecessarily complicate issues for people learning the base system. Sorcerer is not a bad starting one if they want magic because the magic use and choices are more straightforward. Fighter (knight, samurai, medieval soldier) and barbarian (conan, viking berserker) are straightforward as is the rogue (think Bond or Indiana Jones). Bards are idiosyncratic to D&D as are the presentation of monks and paladins.

I would not overload them with animal companions or NPC comrades, let them learn the system through the eyes of their own characters instead of through your NPC's interactions with the challenges of your world.

 

[Talmun]

I am about to run a game that will include a few people who have never played an RPG before.

1) They have asked for help in choosing classes. I told them one way to do it is to pick a character from fiction to imulate. Can you help me think of examples for the Core Classes from pop culture? I don't want this to turn into a grand debate of who is what, just some hooks for new players.
(Especially from TV/Movies)

Barbarian = Conan, He-man
Bard = Lorne from Angel
etc.

2) They have also asked if there are any classes/races that are harder to play than others. I have recommended Fighter and Rogue as the easiest to get into, and if they want to play a magic user, the Sorcerer >pop, the sound of a can of worms opening<. Suggestions?


Thanks.

I'd stick with the basics, suggest fighter, rogue, cleric and sorcerer or wizard (which ever you feel comfortable with).

As for drawing on fictional charecters, you can't go wrong with LotR...rent Fellowship, show them the Moria sequence and relate what's happening on the screen to a game session. Gandalf is a wizard, Boromir a fighter, the hobbits are rogues (that may not be entirely proper, but it'll do for your purposes), and so on. You can also point out the way the group uses tactics, i.e. Aragorn and Boromir standing up front, etc.

There are few things I enjoy as much as teaching this game to someone who is truely interested in learning it...Good Luck!

 

[sidonath]

Barbarian -
Bard - Gandalf
Cleric -
Druid - Beorn
Fighter - Boromir, Gimli
Monk -
Paladin -
Ranger - Aragorn, Legolas
Rogue - Bilbo
Sorcerer - Galadriel
Wizard -

Why I put Gandalf as a bard? Well, through all of the books he sings (not as much as halflings though), tells long-forgotten stories and inspires courage in his allies. He is not bad in fight (has two-weapon fighting feat ) and he is able to cast cantrips (light)

I couldn't think of famous barbarian in LotR, but you can throw in some orcs or those barbarians Aragorn picks on his way to Minas Tirith. I don't remember any clerics, monks, paladins or wizards.

 

[kenobi65]

I agree, the LotR movies give some excellent prototypes for a lot of the classes. I like the suggestion of Gandalf as a bard, though one could also view him as a cleric (after all, he's an agent of the gods).

I agree with the previous advice on steering beginners away from spellcasting classes, unless they really seem set on it, at which point Sorcerer is probably the easiest for a beginner to digest. I'd also steer clear of bards unless you have someone who's likely to really get into the role-playing aspect -- they make great support characters, but are too often the second-best at everything.

If someone wants to play a monk, that's easy for inspiration: Every martial arts movie ever made.

It's too bad that "Ladyhawke" seems to have passed out of the pop-culture memory, as it has several great prototypes in it. Navarre (Rutger Hauer) is a great fighter, Phillipe the Mouse (Matthew Broderick) is clearly a rogue, and Father Imperius (Leo McKern) could be a cleric, although he isn't a spellcaster (not too many examples of spellcasting holy men in fantasy movies.)

"The Princess Bride" has some good examples, too. Inigo Montoya and Count Rugen are definitely fighters. Fezzik is probably a barbarian, Wesley is likely a fighter / rogue (though you probably don't want to be introducing the idea of multiclassing quite yet).

You could also use some more historical sources for inspirations:
- Depending on who you talk to, Robin Hood could be a rogue, a fighter, or a ranger. Friar Tuck is a cleric (though, again, without spellcasting). Alan a Dale is a bard.
- The Arthurian legend is full of paladins and fighters, and a few wizards in Merlin and Morgan.

Hope this helps!

 

[kenobi65]

As for drawing on fictional charecters, you can't go wrong with LotR...rent Fellowship, show them the Moria sequence and relate what's happening on the screen to a game session.

Definitely -- when I first saw that scene (especially the initial melee at Balin's tomb), I leaned over to my wife and whispered, "that's a classic D&D combat!"

 

[BiggusGeekus]

Don't go with barbarian. Their attributes jump up and down all over the place when they rage.

I agree that a sorcerer is a better pick than a wizard. When new players play a wizard they get overwhelmed by all the spells they can pick from every day. With sorcerer they only have to pick when they level up.

 

[Talmun]

Definitely -- when I first saw that scene (especially the initial melee at Balin's tomb), I leaned over to my wife and whispered, "that's a classic D&D combat!"

When I first saw the opening scenes of Sauron laying waste, I turned to a friend of mine a said something like "Divine Cleave..." while giggling with glee.

 

[youspoonybard]

I would strongly advise against Druids.

They are a lot of work. A lot of work. Wild Shape stats, what change, what stays, what abilities do you get, etc.

Lotsa work.