D&D General How to Start a New Player?

[Whisper-Kitten]

Unfortunately I don't really know anyone. I live in a small town in the Bible Belt of the U.S. South. There's not a lot of players here. There's the occasional RPG day event at the comic store, but there's no promise that they're any better.

Put an ad on craigslist.

 

[Scribe]

I mean is the hook to 'enjoy RPGs' or to 'enjoy the current branded edition of D&D'.

If the former, I would lean towards SD or (I'll be honest) Daggerheart, if the idea is to integrate into the most common denominator, then obviously D&D.

I would then listen to Payn or Reynard, as I would just go play Shadowdark.

 

[Reynard]

Put an ad on craigslist.

Oof. I can't imagine a more fraught way to find a GM...

 

[Tigris]

Put an ad on craigslist.

Or facebook or discord groups local ones can also help if you find some. The people in the local stores might now something if you ask them.

The problem is thst especially discord is not googleable and you need to find the groups via other people.

I am sure this also exist for your reagion. Else ask some computer science students from a local university. Most universities have some events with rpgs

 

[Spellslinging Sellsword]

Is she specifically interested in D&D or just in trying out roleplaying? Are you running it for her alone or with a few others? Is the idea to do a one shot or a short campaign?

 

[Shiroiken]

First, I'm a jerk. I have strong opinions about D&D and the TTRPG hobby. Most of the time my opinions are unpopular even amongst the most enthusiastic fans. Sometimes it's questioned if I even enjoy gaming at all.

To jump to the current situation and topic at hand. I've been asked to introduce a new player to D&D. She is enthusiastic about the hobby, watches Critical Role, etc., but has never played. It's important to me to try to put my biases aside and give this person a fair chance to fall in love with this hobby. I don't want my grognard, anti-WotC, anti-5E mentality to push away someone who could become a lifelong fan.

You on here wouldn't want that either, I'm sure. So I want to listen to your feedback and tips to help me get out of my own head and be welcoming to this enthusiastic new player. (She is a coworker of some of my other players.)

Hail fellow jerk!

I get it. The hobby has changed a lot over the decades, and some of us got stuck in the past. This person obviously trusts you to help, so I wouldn't worry too much about the differences in playstyle between then and now. I've been DMing a bunch of young whippersnappers with my 1E style for decades, regardless of edition.

Some specific questions...

5E or 5.5E?

Whichever one you are most comfortable with. Since there's a significant divide in groups about which to use (which reminds me of the 1E/2E divide), she's going to have to learn whichever system her regular group uses. I'd make sure to clarify which one you're using, so that she knows the difference.

Or Shadowdark?

No. She's going to want to learn how to play D&D, because that's what she's been watching and what she's most likely going to find a group playing. She can jump into OSR and Indy games later.

Start at 1st level or 3rd?

I always start new players at level 1. I've heard arguments to the contrary, but it's easier to learn when they don't have too many abilities, and when they actually have to start a game, they won't be disappointed at a level 1 character.

Should I try to streamline the character sheet?

Here's where my old school grognardness comes in... absolutely not. I hate the idea of dumbing down the game for new players, because it assumes that they're stupid. Twelve year olds were expected to be able to figure out how to play a Magic-User back in 1E and BECMI, and the game rules have largely gotten simpler since then. She's going to struggle at first, but realize that if you use a streamlined sheet, she's just going to get confused later when she has a regular sheet.

Pregens?

I know a lot of players hate pregens, but I feel that they have a purpose with one-shot adventures. If she describes the kind of character she wants to play, you could easily make a pregen for her, allowing her to skip character creation. If she later decides she wants to continue to play, you can go over the rules on how you made the character.

Should I try the Starter Set? (I'm concerned because it's not really like how the actual game is played - with cards and components that don't really support the rest of the experience outside the starter adventure.)

I'd use The Lost Mine of Phandelver, regardless of using 5E or 5.5E, although you'd have to make some slight modifications for 5.5E. As a starting adventure, the first 2 chapters are solid, and I've used it a couple of times to introduce 5E (some new players, some from older editions). If you can't get a copy of it, I've heard Dragon of Icespire Peak is also good, but I haven't run it myself. In either case, I'd limit your plan to just a single session to give her a feel of what the game is like.

Are you running her solo, or do you have other players? If solo, I'd give her a 2 NPC pregen allies. You can go over their actions and abilities during the session, giving her an idea of what other characters can do. If a group, I'd probably limit it to only 2-3 other players, and let them know that it's primarily to teach the new player (so the adventure likely won't be completely played out).

 

[Stormonu]

I personally did not like the lost mines of phandelver at all starting with the stupid ambush, and many other old dndisms.

Easy enough to change it so the goblins are already waiting, clearly visible and demanding a toll.

Don't want to get too much further in this, but I really loved Phandelver; after my battle against 4E, it felt like coming home.

I think the biggest takeaway though is if you yourself aren't fond of 5E, don't run it using 5E - your dislike will seep through. Either run an edition you do like or let someone else run it and play along as a Sam to their Frodo and help teach them the ropes.

The idea is to make it a fun experience they'll want to come back to, not to prove a point.

 

[MichaelSomething]

Ouch.
I do appreciate the honesty from our site owner (and others) who have suggested I leave the hobby.
Thanks for all the suggestions, folks, but this might be the main takeaway.

You need to find a group with the same TTRPG desires as you. Surely Enworld, the greatest TTRPG community in the world, would have players whose taste matches yourd??

 

[Whisper-Kitten]

Oof. I can't imagine a more fraught way to find a GM...

"WANTED: GM that likes cats and chips, but not yogurt. Please contact me at fredyourneighborhoodpaladin@lycosmail.com for inquiries. Must provide all dice,books,maps,tables,chairs,banjo players,and roof."

 

[Tigris]

Easy enough to change it so the goblins are already waiting, clearly visible and demanding a toll.

Don't want to get too much further in this, but I really loved Phandelver; after my battle against 4E, it felt like coming home.

Thats the thing Phandelver is made for ooold DnD players. Its not good for beginners. From our group with mostly new players all 8 people (including the GM) stopped playing DnD for a while and or forever, after Phandelver.

They will not have this "going back in time" feeling just the "wow this is bad gamedeisgn" feeling. There was not a single well balanced fight for our group in the whole campaign. It was always either impossible and needed GM fiat (like making goblins flee, or help come etc.) Or, most of the time, a complete walk in the park. Also there is soo much random stuff thrown into it (like the dragon) which makes no sense from a gamedesign point of view and is just there for nostalgia.


And "its easy to change" sure, but you also need to know what to all change and the first time you run it this might not be easy.

I think the biggest takeaway though is if you yourself aren't fond of 5E, don't run it using 5E - your dislike will seep through. Either run an edition you do like or let someone else run it and play along as a Sam to their Frodo and help teach them the ropes.

The idea is to make it a fun experience they'll want to come back to, not to prove a point.

An adult human being should be able to do something they dont like without it showing through, else people could not work in service.

And a GM not enjoying it and 100% focuses on that the player enjoys it will be better than one of the many adversial DMs who like 5e but look first for their own enjoyment and do things like force players to be level 1 and 2 for several sessions etc.