Introducing newb into high level campaign.

[Aust Diamondew]

I'm currently DMing a campaign that has 4 players whose average party level is 13.5. One of my players wants to bring his girl friend into the game, which I have no objection to.

It's been a long time since I've taught anyone how to play d&d, and back then they were starting off at level 1 and not in the middle of a story!
I need tips on how to introduce someone into a high level campaign and how to teach them how to play with out going to indepth into the rules. She is going to be playing a level 13 rogue human (thank god she didn't choose a spellcasting class!).

Thanks!

 

[X-ray Crossbow]

My suggestion:

Start her off at a slightly lower level.
8th to 12th, maybe.

OR

Teach her something about D&D before she starts in with the "big boys." Teach her a "style of gaming" appropriate to your type of game--if you like RP, encourage her to RP, if you're a combat monster, hack n'slasher, emphasize that.

Run a lower-level session, maybe with the boyfriend as help, maybe not--when people teach people close to them skills, the teacher may become impatient/etc. while teaching the skill (I first was told of this in reference to firearms training, but it applies here also I suppose).

First impressions are big. Keep it simple and give her the basics, if she has concerns or problems when she "graduates" to the higher game, address them as best as you can.

 

[Blacksad]

Ask her if she wouldn't prefer playing a rogue-like race with an ECL 12 or 13.

Starting a character at high level means choosing many feats skills, having some combat strategy, and even veteran RPG player if they do not know well the class or the game system will need to change a lot of their character to make it work.

Something to watch whatever you choose is the magic item selection, it might be strange if you allowed the other player to trade some items they disliked for more useful ones, they'll have very useful items, and she might have difficulties choosing good items.

 

[Buttercup]

Aust, I would help her create her character so that you can be sure she has one that is functional. Make the character one level lower than the rest of the party. Then run a session just for her, so you can teach her the game the way you would like it to be played. If you have the boyfriend present, he can give her suggestions, or not, as you choose. X-Ray is right about the boyfriend possibly becoming impatient and ruining the experience for her.

In this one-on-one session, give her opportunities to spot, listen & search, traps to disable, and enemies to sneak attack. Has she ever watched a game? If not, be ready to coach her through this session, sometimes giving her hints a mile wide. You might also photocopy the Example of Play from page 130 of the DMG and let her read it. I did that for my husband before his first session, and I think it really helped him understand how the whole game works.

In this introductory session, plant some decent magic items for her. This will avoid the problem Blacksad mentioned.

 

[Ciaran]

If you want to help her "get her feet wet" without overwhelming her with game rules and character options, you might consider running a solo session (or one with just her and her boyfriend) in which she plays her character at the start of her career (say, at 1st or 2nd level). This allows her to experience the game's basic rules without having to figure out how all of her feats and magic items work at the same time. And if she likes it, she'll also have a bit of backstory for her character that makes the character seem deeper and more real when she actually starts playing.

- Eric

 

[Mathew_Freeman]

I'd suggest that everyone is reminded before she joins the group that she's a new player, and they shouldn't worry too much about the fine parts of the rules with her.

And ban anyone from looking at her character sheet. Because if they do, they're guaranteed to say "Oh, you shouldn't have done THAT..."

 

[Ravellion]

Furthermore, I'd say you select her equipment completely, with her parhaps suggesting something, but that's it.

Rav