How did you start?
- Thread starter Mercule
- Start date
Note that on these boards, you've probably got a pretty hefty grognard population - folks who started playing before there was such a thing as a "FLGS" (we went to "hobby shops", which were a rather different animal), and for whom the computer games of the time were Pong and "Hunt the Wumpus", and online retail didn't exist. These folks could strongly skew your results towards the "word of mouth" options.
How we used to come by the game may be different than how folks do so these days. And both of those may differ from the optimum.
I got started gaming as a little kid, when my brother brought Tunnels and Trolls home to play with his siblings. Later, he got us our first DMG and PHB.
How we used to come by the game may be different than how folks do so these days. And both of those may differ from the optimum.
I got started gaming as a little kid, when my brother brought Tunnels and Trolls home to play with his siblings. Later, he got us our first DMG and PHB.
PieAndDragon
Duncan T
When 11, I used to talk constantly to a friend about Fighting Fantasy books, and he got me to play the board game Heroquest. From there it was a quick slide into Games Workshop games and rpgs.
Our nearest LGS was about 50 miles away.
Our nearest LGS was about 50 miles away.
Growing up in rural southwest Michigan back in 1978 I used to ride the bus every morning for about an hour or so. My best friend was on the same bus and we spent that time talking about comics, sci-fi and all the other geeky kid stuff.
One morning he started telling me about this game he had played over the weekend at house of another kid in our grade. As he described the adventure I knew I was hearing about a game that would take playing make-believe to a new level. My best friend and I used to make our little brothers and sisters play super heroes for hours at a time.
I just started showing up to the room where other kids played during lunch. I talked my way into the game (Gamma World) and got an invite for the first overnight game that Halloween. We played the Basic game, not sure which one. I made a halfling thief named Frodo, stayed awake for 24 hours for the first time and became best friends with all the guys in that basement. We are still a close knit group to this day, connected by the internet.
One morning he started telling me about this game he had played over the weekend at house of another kid in our grade. As he described the adventure I knew I was hearing about a game that would take playing make-believe to a new level. My best friend and I used to make our little brothers and sisters play super heroes for hours at a time.
I just started showing up to the room where other kids played during lunch. I talked my way into the game (Gamma World) and got an invite for the first overnight game that Halloween. We played the Basic game, not sure which one. I made a halfling thief named Frodo, stayed awake for 24 hours for the first time and became best friends with all the guys in that basement. We are still a close knit group to this day, connected by the internet.
bento
Explorer
1978
I was in sixth grade and this mad rumor went through Lakewood Elementary that there was an awsome new game that let you kill monsters and get cool loot like swords and magical wands. After school about every 12 year old showed up at one of the kid's house to roll up characters and play "In Search of the Unknown."
Within a week I went to "Hobbies for Dads and Lads" in North East Mall and plunked down by $15 (?) for a box with a dragon on the cover (no red, blue or gold).
I was in sixth grade and this mad rumor went through Lakewood Elementary that there was an awsome new game that let you kill monsters and get cool loot like swords and magical wands. After school about every 12 year old showed up at one of the kid's house to roll up characters and play "In Search of the Unknown."
Within a week I went to "Hobbies for Dads and Lads" in North East Mall and plunked down by $15 (?) for a box with a dragon on the cover (no red, blue or gold).
Lanefan
Victoria Rules
I also started long before ever hearing of such a thing as a FLGS, in 1981, via friends in college already playing the game. Though, that said, I seem to recall there *was* an attempt at a gaming store here surprisingly early on for such a relatively small city; various friends got their gaming goods there.
Lanefan
Lanefan
Allandaros
Explorer
Started from a TSR choose-your-own-adventure book, "Return to Brookmere." It cast you as an elven fighter returning to his homeland, now overrun by nasties. I took special note of the "Dungeons and Dragons" label on the top.
First day of fourth grade, coming home on the bus, we were assigned seats. Kid next to me asked if any of us were interested in a D&D game. I was a mage who "got to shoot lightning from his hands like the Emperor" (my description, not his).
Once you head down the geek path, forever will it dominate your destiny.
First day of fourth grade, coming home on the bus, we were assigned seats. Kid next to me asked if any of us were interested in a D&D game. I was a mage who "got to shoot lightning from his hands like the Emperor" (my description, not his).
Once you head down the geek path, forever will it dominate your destiny.
I had heard about it, and saw an ad for it in an astronomy magazine, i found out one of my friends from boy scouts had it, and we did a little slavers stockade, he ran while i played a gnome fighter, and found the secret entrance into the temple, and i had so much fun at the great Wind-O-Ree, here in new mexico. The next year i finally got the red box, a PHB, and crimson edition of the Palladium fanatsy RPG.
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