New to D+D. Questions...

[irdeggman]

Tell your DM that the PHB has the rules for combat in it so that it the primary book used for most playing - that and the MM.

The DMG really has information on how a DM can/should run the game, things to consider, how to develop "settings", and of course magic items (but at 1st level that is really not a big deal since 1st level characters generally have nothing more than perhaps some potions and scrolls.

The SRD is handy for electronic reference and should fill the gap until you get the hard cover books.

The reason the MM is really important, other than the data on monsters themselves is that it has a lot of information on "types" and monster special abilities.

As pointed out before paladins and monks have a restriction on multiclasing.

Prestige classes are a special kind of multiclassing that does not count towards the xp penalty associated with multiclassing (see PHB 60 covers the penalty).

There are many, many electronic character sheets out there. I suggest using one of them for character generation.

Most are free, some are free for a while, some cost (usually only around $15 or so US dollars).

My personal favorite sheet is The One Sheet. You can use it for free up to level 6 and it has imbedded into it all the information from the SRD (that is the OGC stuff). It is very easy to use and full of detail. It is an excel sheet though, so if you don't like (or have acess to that software) then this isn't for you.

Here is the link to its site:
http://theonlysheet.com/


Here is a link to a site that is pretty much “The” depository for character sheets of genres. You can search through it to find one that you like better.

http://www.rpgsheets.com/cgi-bin/arcdb.cgi?cat=79&sec=1

 

[Lukeee]

Tell your DM that the PHB has the rules for combat in it so that it the primary book used for most playing - that and the MM.

The DMG really has information on how a DM can/should run the game, things to consider, how to develop "settings", and of course magic items (but at 1st level that is really not a big deal since 1st level characters generally have nothing more than perhaps some potions and scrolls.

The SRD is handy for electronic reference and should fill the gap until you get the hard cover books.

The reason the MM is really important, other than the data on monsters themselves is that it has a lot of information on "types" and monster special abilities.

As pointed out before paladins and monks have a restriction on multiclasing.

Prestige classes are a special kind of multiclassing that does not count towards the xp penalty associated with multiclassing (see PHB 60 covers the penalty).

There are many, many electronic character sheets out there. I suggest using one of them for character generation.

Most are free, some are free for a while, some cost (usually only around $15 or so US dollars).

My personal favorite sheet is The One Sheet. You can use it for free up to level 6 and it has imbedded into it all the information from the SRD (that is the OGC stuff). It is very easy to use and full of detail. It is an excel sheet though, so if you don't like (or have acess to that software) then this isn't for you.

Here is the link to its site:
http://theonlysheet.com/


Here is a link to a site that is pretty much “The” depository for character sheets of genres. You can search through it to find one that you like better.

http://www.rpgsheets.com/cgi-bin/arcdb.cgi?cat=79&sec=1

Ok but in that case it's gonna get real confusing, I'm not taking on a prestige class for a while. (Maybe when I become a REALLY high level as a Paladin.)

Is there a special character sheet designed for prestige classes? I think it would be easier if there were 2 spots, one that says class and the other that says prestige class. Mayve the 3.5 revised? I don't know I'll go check it out...

As for those electronic character sheets, I don't like the idea. I don't want anything premade, that's why I only took part of the starting package (only because armor is very expensive, and for first level?)

I'd like to do it all myself.

 

[Lukeee]

It is best for new players to start out with an expierenced DM, but if you are all starting out together...well, I suppose you might be in for some laughs at least!

And to answer your newest question: yes. If you started out as a paladin, switched to a prestige class, you can still switch back to levels of paladin. There are a few exceptions but...no need to get overly complicated.

For example, if my PC started with 5 levels of barbarian, and then I took 5 levels of Frenzied Berserker, I would be a 10th level PC with 5 levels of barbarian and 5 levels of Frenzied Berserker. Next, say, I wanted to continue on the path of barbarian, I could take another 5 levels of barbarian, so now I would be 15th level, with 5 levels of frenzied berserker and 10 of barbarian.

EDIT: Check out this link for a little more on Prestige Classes.

http://www.d20srd.org/srd/prestigeClasses/prestigeClasses.htm

Yeah, things are going to get REALLY messed up prestige classes are listed in those "Complete" books right? (ie. Complete Divine, Complete Mage, ect.) Otherwise I don't know where else to look. the WotC website confuses me sometimes so I don't plan on using that for reference. Thank you so much for all the help everyone, and sorry this got so long. One question just always leads to another, so things go pretty far. This is probably the last question that will come up, so that's about it, I guess. Sorry this post has been going so far and sometimes I didn't respond immediatley.

 

[Krel]

Well, there are a few on the website I just gave you...best website ever by the way...otherwise, your going to have to buy the books.

 

[irdeggman]

As for those electronic character sheets, I don't like the idea. I don't want anything premade, that's why I only took part of the starting package (only because armor is very expensive, and for first level?)

I'd like to do it all myself.

Before you assume that they are "premade" check them out. Especially the excel ones. The don't have the "packages" that are listed with the sample characters after each class in the PHB.



They have drop down menus for choices which automatically fil in the adjustments to for BAB, saving throws, etc.

They (well The One character Sheet anyway) has the number of skill points available per class in pretty easy to find location and calculates how many are left after picking the ranks.

The sheet also has a locations to show levels of each class taken and the overall character level too.

These kind of tools are widely available in several other excel-based character sheets too.

They make things a lot easier for a newbie when creating a character and help prevent forgetting to add in bonuses and penalties to the various weapon attacks, skills, and movement.

Here is the "Free" version of The One Character Sheet (available on the RPG Character cheets site). It is an older version, but you can get the idea of how a sheet like this can be real useful for someone new.

 

[Nail]

Good suggestions.

Still, it's probably in Lukeee's best interest to NOT use the automatic PC sheets.

Do it by hand. You'll learn more, and you'll learn it faster. New players in my games that use them often have a far weaker undrstanding of the rules than someone who actually used the book(s) to make a PC.

 

[Lukeee]

Before you assume that they are "premade" check them out. Especially the excel ones. The don't have the "packages" that are listed with the sample characters after each class in the PHB.



They have drop down menus for choices which automatically fil in the adjustments to for BAB, saving throws, etc.

They (well The One character Sheet anyway) has the number of skill points available per class in pretty easy to find location and calculates how many are left after picking the ranks.

The sheet also has a locations to show levels of each class taken and the overall character level too.

These kind of tools are widely available in several other excel-based character sheets too.

They make things a lot easier for a newbie when creating a character and help prevent forgetting to add in bonuses and penalties to the various weapon attacks, skills, and movement.

Here is the "Free" version of The One Character Sheet (available on the RPG Character cheets site). It is an older version, but you can get the idea of how a sheet like this can be real useful for someone new.

Oh. THAT'S what you meant by electronic. That's helpful sorry about that. I think that I'm gonna try the newer version of it. How much do you have to pay for this?

 

[Lukeee]

Good suggestions.

Still, it's probably in Lukeee's best interest to NOT use the automatic PC sheets.

Do it by hand. You'll learn more, and you'll learn it faster. New players in my games that use them often have a far weaker undrstanding of the rules than someone who actually used the book(s) to make a PC.

Ok, then. Jeez, who am I gonna side with?

Well, I still will need a multiclass character sheet when I take on a prestige class, (which I am planning to do eventually) so where do I get those? I'll try the WotC website...

 

[Festivus]

I just wanted to hop on here and offer a bit of advice. I just started playing 3rd edition just over a year and a half ago, and took on the big job of DMing to boot. My suggestions are as follows:

1. Play in a game with an experienced DM if at all possible.

2. Pickup a copy of the older D&D Basic Game and play through that. It's a vastly simplified version and a nice introduction to D&D. I haven't read through the new version of the basic game yet but just scanning the contents the older one looks like a better package.

3. Keep it simple. Stick to the core 3 books for your initial gaming, until you get more comfortable. Only use the Players Handbook, Dungeon Masters Guide and Monster Manual. Beyond that, wait for the comfort to come. There is plenty to offer in the core 3 books for a lifetime of adventuring. Your head will be swimming with just that content.

4. Run a packaged adventure designed for low level parties, such as what you might find in Dungeon Magazine or Dungeon Crawl Classics. These will help give you a feel for how an adventure is constructed.

5. Pick up D&D for Dummies and Dungeon Mastering for Dummies. These are both very good books.

6. Ask questions here... everyone has been very helpful for my questions.

7. Have fun, it's all about fun.

 

[Nail]

I just use a blank peice of paper, writing stuff down that I need to have written down, and leaving off those peices I don't need.

It's far more flexible and adjustable than a "fill in the blank" PC sheet. ....And you don't need to print off a different sheet for each class.

Still, YMMV, so use what you like. Just remember: those that know the rules the best generally do the best.