DND Rules/Game Summary for Newbie?

[GodPhoenix]

Is there a DND rules and/or game summary for newbies? I have a friend who's interested in playing but doesn't know much about it. I've explained a bit, but she'd rather read something. I'm looking for something like the Exalted Quickstart PDF...or a good website...with a brief intro to the game itself and maybe a few rules.

I've already ruled out the "Learn about DND" from the Wizards DND homepage...it's too hokey.

Thx!

 

[MerakSpielman]

No, I haven't seen anything like that for D&D.

The traditional method is to hand-hold them through character creation, then run them through a few increasingly complex combats.

 

[tenkar]

OGL-Fantasy Lite: Basic Player's Guide

try here: http://www.rpgnow.com/product_info.php?products_id=2748&

5 bucks at RPGNOW

 

[dcollins]

A few suggestions:

(1) Just have them start playing. Back in the old days, the amazing thing about RPGs was that you could be a player without actually knowing the rulws of the game. A newbie should be able to describe their actions in real-world terms, and have the DM adjudicate on how success happens or not.

(2) One of the most key items I've found is to photocopy and hand them the one-page summary of "Combat Basics" from near the start of the PHB. (p. 117 in 3.0, not sure where in 3.5)

(3) I have a summary of rules I wrote when starting with 3rd Edition, called "Thumbnail Rules", here: http://superdan.net.home.comcast.net/dnd3.html