How were you first introduced to D&D?

[Pbartender]

3rd Grade. Isle of Dread. It's still my favorite adventure module.

I "borrowed" my big brother's books, when he wasn't looking. We taught ourselves, and didn't really know what we were doing until 5th grade.

 

[Mentat55]

In the summer of 1989, a friend of mine invited me over to his house. He introduced me to another friend (whom I befriended and played a fair amount of AD&D 2nd ed with in middle school), and we sat down and played Basic D&D (part of the Mentzner BECMI). I played a dwarf, and had a ton of fun. I've been playing D&D on and off ever since.

 

[Calico_Jack73]

I was given the red boxed (Easley cover) set for a birthday present when I was in 3rd grade. Two of my best friends were into it and I was really sucked in when they let me borrow the Companion Set over a weekend. My parents should have known something was wrong when I didn't touch my Atari 2600 and had my nose stuck in a book all weekend long.

Personally I think a good intro book should have an intro solo adventure like the old D&D basic set had. The intro should have brief explanations of the rules and cite page numbers where more info can be found. In today's modern age WOTC wouldn't necessarily have to include it IN the book but instead could publish it as a free downloadable PDF or perhaps better yet an interactive website that IS the solo adventure.

 

[EATherrian]

I was in elementary school and was really into Greek and Norse mythology. A friend of mine saw some of my arguably crude drawings of Perseus and Medusa and mentioned he played a game where you could be like Perseus. Intrigued I tried it out, and LOVED it. I had a major time convincing my parents to buy it as my mother thought it was satanic (yes, really). Finally, for my 8th birthday I got the Basic and Expert sets. I have yet to look back.

 

[Aus_Snow]

4th grade, Basic D&D, bunch of other kids, some of whom were friends of mine.

Isle of Dread here too.

However, I had read some RPG material before that, and got into some computer RPG things and Fighting Fantasy, and the like, beforehand.

 

[Grazzt]

I'm curious why did you ask for the game as a gift? I'm of course assuming you asked for it. If not, you owe your dad a beer (I do too because I like your products allot ) for introducing you to a great way to make a living.

We were out shopping at a local mall and wandered into the bookstore. I saw the red box on the shelves. Seemed cool. He bought it.

and thanks Jabba. Glad ya dig the NG stuff.

 

[Ahnehnois]

Friends dragged me into it. And I mean "dragged". When I was first exposed to D&D in middle school (shortly before the advent of 3e), I didn't know what it was and had no interest in finding out. Good thing I succumbed.

 

[Plane Sailing]

After reading Chris Pramas' review of 4e's ability acquire new players. I wondered how many current players actually learned how to play D&D by picking up some of the published product at the time? Without someone else showing the basics, that includes sitting and watching others play. It seems that Chris believes that D&D (or role playing ) can be taught simply by reading an introductory manual. I just can't see 5 people assume 1 DM and 4 players learning D&D simply by reading the books if they have no previous RP experience. It's just the nature of the type of game. Maybe I'm wrong.

I think you're wrong

Back in 1975 Games and Puzzles magazine ran a two page article on this new game from the 'states called "Dungeons and Dragons". It talked about it briefly and showed an example dungeon map. I was inspired, and although I couldn't afford the price of the rules (it was about 20 times my weekly pocket money!) I wanted to play, so I wrote my own rules (about half a page of A4), drew a dungeon and got to it.

When I got the opportunity I bought "Greyhawk" (supplement 1) because I could afford that )) and that plus some guesswork and some magazine articles got me going on D&D proper.

I've never had any problems just picking up the product and running with it.

Cheers

 

[Rechan]

I found books in the store, and looked at the art/fluff, going "Woah." Nothing ever came of that.

As a freshman in HS, I met a guy who didn't play D&D (his parents wouldn't let him), but played other games. He turned me on to fantasy novels and rpgs in general.

I bought the 2e PHB, and buggered around with it, but never really got any good "Play". A friend in HS dmed a very tiny bit, then we drove more heavily into Shadowrun territory.

When 3e came out, I just picked up the books and decided, "Screw it," and ran a game online.

 

[Mallus]

A friend's dad.