Don't quite understand this :(

[Konyaha]

Sorry to bother y'all, but I am playing D&D for the first time (well, reading the players handbook anyway), and have gotten myself slightly stuck .

It's the 3.5 edition...

On page 6, under Assign and Adjust ability scores, in paragraph 2, it says "put high scores in abilities that support your class selection". It says that each class description has an abilities section, which I should refer to for advice. But, when I looked at the Barbarians abilities section, it just tells me what abilities they are proficient in and use often. But that's it. It doesn't tell me how high I should put the scores or anything? For example, it says "Strength is important for barbarians because of its role in combat, and several barbarian class skills are based on strength.". Sorry if i'm missing something, i'm no good at understanding stuff like this :/. I also don't know any D&D players, which is why i'm posting here.

Also, about skill points, if I have 28 skill points, I can spend 4 points in each skill, and will automatically gain 4 ranks in them?

Sorry, i'm not sure how complicated people usually find this, but I know i'm having a hell of an adventure just doing that itself.

Thanks for any help

 

[fredramsey]

If it says strength is important for Barbarians, then put your highest roll in strength.

Skills are separate from Ability Scores. You have a maximum number of ranks you can put in to any one skill - 3+ your level (4, then, at 1st level).

I can't imagine trying to learn D&D from the Player's Handbook. You should try to hook up with someone over the boards that is local to your area.

 

[Piratecat]

No worries, Konyaha. I think it's cool you're learning the game.

In general, a barbarian wants a high strength and constitution score; str so that they can hit things really hard, and con so that they don't keel over dead while fighting. "High" sort of varies from person to person, but I'd say that "sota high" is 14 and over, and "high" is 16 and over. If you like, give us the ability scores you roll up and we'll give you some examples of how to distribute them.

For skills, you've got it right; each "point" can buy a rank of a class skill. A barbarian gets 4 ranks to spend at each level... if you're a human add 1 to that number, and your intelligence bonus adds on too. At first level, you multiply the whole number by 4.

So, let's say you're a human barbarian with a 12 intelligence (a +1 bonus). You'd get 6 skill points every level, or 24 at first level. Since you can buy a class skill up to your level+3, that means that at 1st lvl this barbarian could have six class skills all maxed out at 4 ranks.

Hey, this is technically a rules/character optimization thread, so I'll slide it over to our Rules forum. Welcome to EN World, and the game!

 

[John Q. Mayhem]

There's probably some good tutorials online. It probably won't come out for a while, and I'm not trying to be insulting at all, but there's a D&D for Dummies book coming out. I've heard that the Dummies books tend to be good as introductions. Really though, fredramsey's right; the best thing is to find someone who already knows how to play. You might consider picking up the D&D Basic Game: http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=products/dndacc/966470000

 

[Konyaha]

Thanks alot. Would anyone mind doing a huge favour and walking me through the game over instant messenger? Perhaps just like a dungeon master/one character game? I know it's asking alot.

Thanks for the support you've given so far, anyway! I was beginning to think noone would reply

 

[Thanee]

The point with ability scores is, that while you can choose freely how to put them, certain classes will be less enjoyable, if you do not at least put some decent scores into the abilities they use the most.

For example, the barbarian is obviously a warrior. To be good in combat, you need good scores in Strength and Constitution mainly.

But it doesn't force you to put your best scores there, it's just a recommendation (and it's a good idea to follow it).


About skill points: One skill point buys you one rank in a class skill (skills you are good at) and one-half rank in a cross-class skill (skills you are not so good at). At 1st level, where you start, you can put up to 4 skill points into a single skill, therefore a class skill starts at 4 ranks then (and a cross-class skill at 2.0), if you put the maximum amount of skill points into that skill.

Bye
Thanee

 

[Narfellus]

I'd walk you thru something Konhoya, no big deal. IM is a pretty good idea. But like everyone else has mentioned, DnD is a COMPLEX game, not just the ruleset necessarily, but the nitty gritty details that can only come from experience. The best way to get that is to learn from others, sort of like an apprenticeship. No one picks up a hammer and anvil and starts cranking out nice swords...

 

[Lord Judas]

A decent score in Dexterity(DEX), IMHO, is not a bad idea for warriors either. It will help if you want to use a ranged weapon and avoid enemy blows. The heavy armor does impact this, but a DEX of 12-14 gives you a little bit of extra protection/bow ability.

 

[Thornir Alekeg]

It all comes down to what you want to do for a character and how you want to play it.

For example:

Barbarians usually use brute strength as their way of dealing things
Bards need high charisma because so much of what they do is influencing others.
Rogues need high dexterity to be able to use slight of hand and tumble and things like that.
Wizards need high intelligence to have access to higher level spells which are harder to save against.

Of course that is for the "typical" class. Sometimes people like to play atypical characters, like the clumsy rogue etc. but I would not recommend that for starting out with the game.

As for skills, each point spent in a "class" skill buys you one rank (up to a maximum of three plus your character level). Every two points spent on a "cross-class" skill buys you one rank (up to a maximum of three plu you character level divided by two). One rank = a bonus of +1 on a die roll when trying to use the skill. In your example you could max out 7 class skills, or you could take a few less ranks in some skills have have ranks in more skills.

I will agree with fredramsey that it is probably most helpful to try and find someone with a working knowledge of the game and let them teach you. I can't speak to how easy it is to learn from the books since I've been playing for 25 years. To me the books are well written, but to someone unfamiliar with the rules, it may be very challenging to understand. Personally I learn much better by doing than by reading.

 

[Narfellus]

i agree. roleplaying games are an old concept for me. I've forgotten how it can be for a newbie churning into the rulebooks. if you think skills are tricky, wait until you try your first AoO! The thing about Dnd is that there are SO many different ways to play. Different groups whittle the rules to the design they like best, and then most use house rules on top of that. But the core of the game is always the same: your 6 stats, your skills, your feats, and the d20 mechanic.