Help me sell D&D to newbies!

[Nyaricus]

There ARE absolutely NO D&D movies!!!

Ni, their heads would explode long before they started laughing or got bored

cheers,
--N

 

[Nightfall]

Ny,

Yeah well I'm praying for less head explosions since people can tolerate a movie like Gigli without going into a mindless rage. That or Fishtar/Waterworld.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

My experience with new players generating PCs has led me to 3 conclusions:

1) If they are gung-ho, let them generate PCs with a little guidance from experienced players. Do your best to help them capture the PC's concept, even if it's suboptimal.

2) If the players are tentative, give them pregens.

3) If you have a mix, have the gung-ho types show up a little early, so everyone is ready to play at about the same time.

 

[Nightfall]

Danny,

I find giving them beer/alcohol helps too. Food, cholocate. You know stuff that increases people's susceptibility to suggestions.

Just saying.

 

[Nyaricus]

Ny,

Yeah well I'm praying for less head explosions since people can tolerate a movie like Gigli without going into a mindless rage. That or Fishtar/Waterworld.

Why all the Waterworld hate I always hear about? I thought it was half-decent, if overly campy.

 

[delericho]

I totally disagree. New players should start at 1st level. How do you expect them to understand all the options open to them at higher levels?

Given that I so strongly advocated using pregen characters, what options are open to characters of levels 2nd-5th that are so much more complex than those open to 1st level characters?

At that level, iterative attacks are not a factor, and the really complex spells haven't been introduced yet. The first real complexity comes into the game with the Fly spell - but your pregenerated Wizard doesn't need to have access to it.

The players will already need to understand different spell levels, since even at 1st level they need to be aware of the distinction between level 1 spells and cantrips (and you can't even just ignore cantrips as you could at higher levels, since at 1st level they represent a significant portion of the Wizard's capability).

The only major issue I see is with the Cleric and Druid, who have large spell-lists and the ability to change their memorised spells every day. But even there, the list of options is not so much greater than at 1st level - and can be mitigated with a 'recommended spells' list on the character sheet. It's not as if you're not going to have to guide them in that anyway.

The alternative sees you running the real risk of a character losing initiative in his first combat, being hit for sufficient damage to knock him out before he even gets to act, and proceeding to bleed to death. That makes for a sucky game experience, and probably leads to the player never returning to the game. Or, you can fudge the dice rolls, and start your players down the dark path towards munchkinism.

 

[Darklone]

The alternative sees you running the real risk of a character losing initiative in his first combat, being hit for sufficient damage to knock him out before he even gets to act, and proceeding to bleed to death. That makes for a sucky game experience, and probably leads to the player never returning to the game. Or, you can fudge the dice rolls, and start your players down the dark path towards munchkinism.

Use many small enemies with small weapons and no PC will die in the first few combats. Perhaps against the BBEG, but not before the last epic battle.

 

[delericho]

Use many small enemies with small weapons and no PC will die in the first few combats. Perhaps against the BBEG, but not before the last epic battle.

Maybe. But even a kobold does 1d6-1 with its spear, which can take a Wizard down in one hit even without a critical. On a critical, the creature does enough damage on average to take out the Wizard or the Rogue. (Obviously, assuming no Con bonus)

I'm not saying it's a terribly likely occurance, but it's one that I contend you would be better not having to deal with in that crucial first session.

Plus, I don't feel that epic battles against a couple of kobolds really showcases D&D at its best. YMMV, of course.

 

[Darklone]

Wizards and Rogues are out, but they'll survive for another 5-8 rounds. Just hand out some potions of CLW and no PC will actually die.

Besides: IME At low levels (without tumbling rogues etc.) most newbie players excel at protecting their spellcasters.

 

[delericho]

IME At low levels (without tumbling rogues etc.) most newbie players excel at protecting their spellcasters.

Ah, my experience differs. Perhaps the new players I've seen have been sold too thoroughly on the "be the heroes of your favourite novel/film!" bit, but what I've seen is that they've been a little too blasé over character mortality, and rushed in where they should not have.

In any case, what we have here is a simple difference of opinion. So, since I have no more counter-arguments to share, I shall bow out at this point.