Hand outs for new players?

[Corsair]

Spoken like one who can only be satisfied running a homebrew campaign setting.

Perhaps, but I have to admit that using a pre-made setting helps me give the players a background that they can understand, and everyone knows where we're coming from. I am playing in two homebrew games right now with most of the same players (who will also be participating in my games) and while both of the other DMs are doing good jobs, its tough when you realize that in some cases you can't go certain places simply because the DM hasn't finished them yet. Or that your character should know a lot of things you don't know, etc.

Using a pre-built setting, the players eventually get a feel for the basic information, and I have to admit, WotC has done a pretty kick ass job with both the FR and Eberron hardcovers. So much useful information crammed into one book in both cases.

I never use everything straight out of the book, and rarely use pre-made adventures. Those that I do use tend to diverge in plot after about 10% of the way in anyways. So in that sense, my games still end up being radically different from other people who even run the same module.

Now back on the Eberron topic, playing it simply because of the "new campaign smell" is only part of the drive. Ever since I picked up the setting, I've loved everything about it (with the possible exception of the Lords of Dust and Daelkyr. They will be playing a very minor role, if anything, in my game. I've never been a big fan of extraplanar stuff.) so I've been itching to get involved in Eberron for months.


Oh and Maverick, I'm not even sure when we'd be starting. I won't even be trying to figure who I'll have playing until I manage to get my work schedule changed (as the anticipated schedule change is the only reason I figured I might have the time to start the game). That should be figured out by mid-september at the latest. At that point, I'll be rounding up players, starting with the usual suspects from my current group. I expect to have 3 or 4 from that crew, and while I tend to prefer smaller groups, I'm willing to go up to a max of 5 or so. I'll have to check with the others to see who is interested first. (I have 2 yes's and 2 strong maybes right now) If you want to keep in touch, drop me an email:

corsair@thecatacombs.net

 

[Ed Cha]

I'd limit any handout to one or two pages. As a player, I don't like reading more than that before getting interested in the game itself.

 

[jollyninja]

i basically just described sharn as i saw it and said "play whatever you want as long as it's from sharn, i just got the book." as my campaign goes, it will expand their and my understanding of the world.

 

[Corsair]

i basically just described sharn as i saw it and said "play whatever you want as long as it's from sharn, i just got the book." as my campaign goes, it will expand their and my understanding of the world.

I guess that's ONE way to handle it...