Is D&D an entry level game?

[JoeGKushner]

I'd say no.

If it was, we wouldn't need a dummies book and a basic boxed set.

If you're a good teacher, you can teach someone to play D&D certainly but I don't see a game with so many complexities in terms of number of stats and number of options bein entry level.

 

[diaglo]

as written. no. HELL NO would be more like it for my answer.

but it has a mallable enough learning curve.

so if you "learn" the game you may not be playing it "officially correct" but you can still play it. it will just take you time to learn all the "official" stuff.

 

[Kuld]

Nope. I am a perfect example; I started playing in the eighties…

 

[Maggan]

I'd say no.

If it was, we wouldn't need a dummies book and a basic boxed set.

I'd say yes. D&D 3.5, as expressed in the Basic Set and the D&D For Dummies, is an entry level game.

But that's because I think the Basic game and the Dummies book are variant presentations of D&D 3.5.

Are the three core books an entry level game? Well, I've seen them picked up by new players, so they can be. But the Basic version and the Dummies version of D&D 3.5 are better entry level games than the three core rulebooks.

/M

 

[thalmin]

I voted yes, but I am also thinking of the Basic set, which is also 3.5. The 3 core books are not entry level, that's why there is an entry-level set.

 

[Psion]

By design, it's not it's central goal.

In practicality, yes. I taught my daughter to play when she was *7*. I tried to simplify things for her, frex, using what essentially amounts to the true 20 system for skill allocation (before there was a true20, bid). She quickly caught on to the thought that you should be able to allocate your skill ranks, so I pulled out my simplifications.

AFAIAC, arguments that 3e is some grossly complex game are not in line with reality. It's just a bunch of manufactured complaints by people who are trying to validate their tastes in games as somehow objective.

Further, I find claims by such folks that simplifying things makes the game more suitable for beginners rather dubious. Freeform games are really for EXPERIENCED players who have a strong conception of what they want to accomplish with a character or game. People forget that those new to the game rarely have such strongly formed conceptions, so structure that helps facilitate character conception is a boon in these sorts of situations.

So I voted yes.

 

[jdrakeh]

I taught my daughter to play when I was *7*.

You might want to fix that typo...

On topic, I voted 'no' - only because I've seen people try to use it like that on numerous occassions and only scare away new players. I admit that it's possible to use it as an introductory game, but it wasn't designed to be used as one and so it's functionality in that regard is extremely limited.

 

[Psion]

You might want to fix that typo...

 

[Bullgrit]

What are some examples of current "entry-level" RPGs? (Games other than D&D, whether you think D&D is or is not entry level.) What does required in an entry-level RPG? What should be left out of an entry-level RPG?

Bullgrit

 

[Aust Diamondew]

I having trouble thinking of any 'entry level' games. I learned how to play an RPG from Shadowrun 3rd edition and D&D 2e (although I only played it for about a year).