DM in way over my head

[rakeleer]

For a few months, my World of Warcraft guild has toyed with the idea of playing a pen and paper rpg over the 'net. I only encouraged this, explaining how amazing pnp is. I even offered to DM (I'm a tabletop gamer vet going back to my childhood in the 80s).

Then, suddenly, they took me up on it. Now I have 8 people who want to play 4th edition D&D over the Internet. I know that's way too many, even for an in-person game, but I am loathe to turn anyone away.

I've got a basic PDf character sheet, that I wish was better, ScreenMonkey and Ventrilo.

I've also got about 4 days to be ready and the barest familiarty with 4th ed.

I'm looking for any advice, tools or aides that might help keep this from being the train wreck that I think it might be.

 

[Innocent Bystander]

You could run through that Keep on the Shadowfell intro module. Here's the link to it on wizards site D&D Test Drive. On that link there's the rules inrto, as well as a character generator.

 

[Jack99]

Download and read the quickstart rules (and KotS) available for free at wizards.com.

Create two groups of 4.

Find the appropriate software (I know nothing about this, sorry)

Run the kobold hall part of KotS - once for each group.

 

[mudbunny]

Have you checked out the 4E Test Drive rules??. You might also considering pointing them towards the Character Builder. It is free for levels 1-3 and will help them to ensure that they have built their characters "legally".

 

[Dausuul]

"Keep on the Shadowfell" is a wretched intro to tabletop gaming. It has a few good points, but it's mostly just a hackfest, and a sloggy, tedious one at that. If I were an MMO player and my first experience with tabletop was KotS, I'd be left wondering what the point was - if all I'm going to do is hack my way through monsters, why not play a game that handles the number-crunching for me?

Unfortunately, from what I've heard, most published 4E adventures are similar. If anyone here can suggest one that isn't, go with that; otherwise, pick up a good adventure from a different edition, and convert on the fly (4E makes this very easy). I recommend "Red Hand of Doom."

 

[Perram]

Download and read the quickstart rules (and KotS) available for free at wizards.com.

Create two groups of 4.

Find the appropriate software (I know nothing about this, sorry)

Run the kobold hall part of KotS - once for each group.

This is a great suggestion. Breaking big groups into two smaller groups is ideal.

 

[Gort]

Doesn't Kobold Hall end with a black dragon that kills everyone? That'd turn anyone off D&D.

 

[Rechan]

My advice: Tell them "OK, but give me a little time to work on it". You cannot rush yourself.

Especially given that you not only have to learn the rules, you have to learn the programs that you're going to be using. You have to schedule the games.

They'll cut you slack if you say "I need another week".

Personally, I'd prefer a group of 6 (meaning you exclude 2), rather than 2 groups of 4. You'll likely have some people who bow out due to time or disinterest. But two groups of four, if you want to tackle that, is certainly doable.

I would run a condensed (three room version) of Kobold Hall for each group. This lets you teach everyone how the rules work, while you try to get the program to work. Then, after everyone understands the rules, you proceed to the actual adventure.

Doesn't Kobold Hall end with a black dragon that kills everyone? That'd turn anyone off D&D.

Yes, but the module in the back of the DMG has a White Dragon (LVL 3), not a Black Dragon. So it's doable. Although I would not put a group of 4 against the White Dragon.

Here's some free adventures:
4EYes – Roleplaying
http://www.enworld.org/forum/4e-fan...-d-4th-edition-adventure-ennie-nominated.html
http://www.enworld.org/forum/4e-fan-creations-house-rules/220679-return-burning-plague-updated.html

 

[rakeleer]

Thank you all, for the great advice!

 

[Stoat]

Be prepared to lose a lot of time setting up your VTT.

I'm not familiar with Screenmonkey, but in my experience (Klooge, Fantasy Grounds and d20 Pro) the first time you use a VTT it takes a few hours to get everybody hooked up and running. Figure out you what you need to do to let your players connect -- all three of the VTT's I've tried required me to work around my firewall with a DMZ or port forwarding. Some VTT's will crash out if everybody isn't using the same version. Be prepared to repeat your IP address over and over.

Make sure you know the basics of how your VTT works. How do you import maps? What about tokens for PC's and monsters? Does it have fog of war? Does it have a dice roller? Does it use lots of macros? Expect your players to spend a while just fooling around with the program.

I've been playing online for several years now, and I really enjoy it. But the initial setup period is a real pain in the butt and carries a high learning curve.