New to all this

[Lochness]

First I'd like to apologize if all of this was explained elsewhere but for the life of me I couldn't find a search function for the forums (i don't know if you guys don't have one or if Seamonkey isn't rendering the page right).

Now for the general introduction: "Hi I'm me...uh...nice to meet you all?"

I'm a complete table top newbie who wants to get started playing D&D(4e). I picked up a used players handbook (honestly it looks brand new) the other day and have been reading it. At the same time I don't learn rules and such very well by simply reading but rather by actually doing.
Now this would be fine and dandy but due to work and social constraints going to a regular group in person is impossible for me. Really what I want to know is in my situation how best to being playing.

 

[wedgeski]

Hi and welcome.

You won't see a search function unless you become a community supporter, which means ponying up a little cash to keep the hamsters that run the servers fed and watered. Hopefully if you stick around long enough you'll find out for yourself that it's well worth supporting ENW in this way.

If you can't get to a group then there's still plenty of ways to play. Check out this forum for a start.

Good luck!

 

[Lochness]

thanks!

 

[Rechan]

Is there a local gaming store in your area? Any place that sells dice/minis/cards/gaming books?

If there is, you should try to see if they have regular D&D games there. Or, if anything, if they have D&D events that happen there whenever there are events (like Gaming Day, or Demos, etc).

If not, there are ways to try and get a group. There are forums on this website, on WotC's website where you can post seeking people in your area. I actually have met a lot of players by posting on Craigslist. Also, print up some fliers, and tack them up on bulletin boards around your local campus - college is a rife with gamers.

And if that doesn't work, there are ways to play online. Play By Post (which is just doing things via a messageboard). THere are map programs and voice chat programs that let you talk with your voice over the internet, and move your character on a map program. (The best one is here).

 

[garyh]

Welcome to D&D and EN World!

Let me also recommend Play By Post gaming. In additon to lots of individual games in the Talking the Talk and Playing the Game forums here, EN World is also host to Living 4th Edition, which lets you play a character in a living, breathing member-created campaign world full of dozens of other player characters. There are links to Living 4th Edition in my sig.

Also, we have Character Reviewers who will help you get your character rules legal. And you can learn a lot about how the game works in play by reading the currently active adventures.

 

[Mouseferatu]

Welcome.

Let me add a bit of advice to the others: Don't let the apparent complexity of the rules discourage you!

When first reading through the book, or playing your first game--and especially when looking at some of the discussions that happen on these forums --it can seem like the numbers and mechanics are overwhelming.

But in fact, once you start actually playing, you'll find that the basic rules come to you pretty quickly. And while some of us on the boards like to discuss (read: argue) the finer points, the fact is that in 99.95% of cases, if you don't have a perfect understanding of this minor rule or that, it won't really interfere with the game.

The rules are there to facilitate the imagination, not to constrain it.

 

[Rechan]

Let me add a bit of advice to the others: Don't let the apparent complexity of the rules discourage you!

...

The rules are there to facilitate the imagination, not to constrain it.

What the Mouse said. He makes a good point. Don't be bogged down.

Think of it like chess. You have to learn the rules, the limitations that each piece has. There's a lot you have to learn initially. Then, it's not only really easy, but simply a matter of combination. This move + that move + the next = checkmate.

 

[Lochness]

I would find a local group but right now thats not a possibility for me. Decided to go the PBP route.

Thanks for the advice though.