New Roleplayers - What game should they start with?

[Harlock]

I don't disagree... but I would like to limit this discussion to games readily available today.

Cheers!

Actually i just picked up the Moldvay 1980 editions of Basic and Expert sets with modules in near perfect condition sans one expert box and a really beat up Basic box for $13.49 US including shipping and everything off of ebay. I see Aussies selling stuff all the time. Check it out.

 

[BlackWych]

I'll agree with PirateCat that it should be something the person has been exposed to d20 Modern or Spycraft certainly fits that bill.

With the many RPG's available now I'd suggest finding out what the person is interested in. Fantasy, Horror, Arnold S. and go from there.

As an all around fun game and great system goes I'm gonna stick my neck out here and back the Buffy the Vampire RPG. C. J. Carilla and Eden Studios have done a fantastic job with Buffy. Highschool setting or not. I'm 38 years old and my friends and I had a blast with Buffy. The skinny is it's too kewl!

 

[Kamard]

For a game that teaches roleplaying and DMing, and is reasonably simple, you can't go wrong with Sorceror.

 

[Sammael99]

Well, in the olden days, my favourite was the WEG Star Wars. The system was dead simple, everyone knew the setting and it was usually a great fit. Before they croaked, they released an excellent Men in Black with the same system which would also make a perfect introduction. Now neither of these are available.

I second the idea that starting on either a known licence or a modern setting is best. My recommendation, failing the above, would simply be the original Call of Cthulhu (not the d20, way too complicated for newbies). Character creation is a breeze, it's ideal for one-offs (you don't want to scare newbies with campaign concepts) and everyone can relate to a horrible tentacled blob driving you nuts !

 

[MerricB]

CotC for a newbie DM? That's somewhat brave. Great game, but difficult for new players, I feel.

I'm going to make this more specific:

You have a 10-14 year old person who has never played any RPG. They will be the DM/GM, whatever. They have 4 or 5 friends of the same age who also have never played RPGs.

They haven't seen other people play RPGs either.

What current game should they get?

(What's "Sorcerer", Kamard?)

Cheers!

 

[jonesy]

I would have to recommend Call of Cthulhu as well.
Everyone can relate to horror, and you don't have
to spend hours explaining the game world, which
can be a major problem with many rpg's.

 

[Buttercup]

I'd agree that D20 Modern is a good choice. In one book you have all the mechanics, some monsters, advice on DMing, and adventure seeds. But perhaps better than expecting a newbie to create their own adventures would be to recommend that they download the three adventures available on the D20 Modern official site. That will take the party to around 5th level, supposedly. At that point, our fledgling DM should be ready to fly on his or her own wings.

 

[ScyldSceafing]

Two coppers

As far as recent RPG product for absolute beginners go, I'd recommend the D&D Adventure box as the best - heck, it's practically the only product designed for the absolute newbie in the last 10 or 15 years. Everything else assumes that at least one member of the group - most likely the DM - has played and is introducing the game to the players.

I compare it to the Portal game that WotC put out to introduce new players to Magic. Magic players thought it stank because all the crunchy bits that they loved were simplified out of it - but it was extremely effective in introducing concepts like 'tapping' and 'buy cards until your bank account ruptures,' which was of course the idea.

I know of two different groups of junior-high school age kids who are now into 3e very seriously - and play it pretty well - because they got the adventure box set and tried it. And they were dubious about the fantasy thing at the time ... this is the market segment that got missed rather badly during the late 80s and 90s, iirc.

But Pkitty, I hear your concern. Kids relate much more easily to a modern high-action campaign. It's my thought that d20 Modern might be a bit much to swallow at one shot, though. <shrug>

Anyway, as usual I've gone on at greater length than was necessary.

 

[MerricB]

Nonsense! A detailed explanation of your views is most appreciated!

It's nice to hear that people have successfully been introduced to the RPG genre by ways of that Adventure box - I bought it myself, and consider it pretty good, although I wonder at the lack of character generation rules.

Cheers!

 

[kengar]

I think one of the reasons that many people are recommending CoC (non-d20) is that Chaosium's d100 system is pretty easy to learn. Way back when, I bought their Runequest rules and had a game up & running within an hour or so (granted, I had already played D&D).

Chaosium puts out a "mini-book" called BASIC ROLEPLAYING for about $15 USD. It's more of a primer to gaming than a complete system though.

Another option might be GURPS. You can download the GURPS Lite pdf from SJGames for free. It has everything you need to play except the dice and GURPS only uses d6's.

Decipher puts out a "basic box" for the LOTR RPG which -if the burgeoning gamers are interested in fantasy- would give them some familiar characters and settings to learn within. The CODA system works on a similar model to d20 (roll the dice, add your bonuses, try to beat the "Test Number") and they've done a great job of capturing the Middle Earth feel.

Personally, I think d20 is a good system to learn from the start. It is fairly straightforward and plays quickly. GURPS is good too, but the GM needs to have a genre/setting in mind before you start making up characters, which means more prep work. I guess I'll cast another vote for the D&D Adventure Game boxed set.

BTW Chauzu, Hackmaster is based on the 1st & 2nd editions of AD&D. Which is not the same as Basic D&D. Easy to confuse, I know.