D&D 3E/3.5 New to gaming - Should I wait for 4E or should buy the 3E Core Rules?
Ry
Explorer
Also, if you're just dipping your toes there's some great games available for free online. These are both by established game designers who have sold their products for money:
Clinton R Nixon has a few, including Donjon which I hear is awesome:
http://open.crngames.com/
S John Ross made Risus
http://www222.pair.com/sjohn/risus.htm
Clinton R Nixon has a few, including Donjon which I hear is awesome:
http://open.crngames.com/
S John Ross made Risus
http://www222.pair.com/sjohn/risus.htm
MoogleEmpMog
First Post
Do you have an established group you're going to join?
If so, they'll pretty much decide this for you. Expect to reference a Player's Handbook or the System Reference Document, but you won't need much else.
If not, and you're likely to be running the game, I strongly recommend you look into some of the simpler systems on the market. The days when D&D was a good choice for a new gamer pretty much died when TSR cut off "Basic" D&D to focus on "Advanced." If you can find a copy, look into Spirit of the Century or Savage Worlds (both much simpler systems that have a lot of good advice for a new game master). Or, if you can find a copy of Basic D&D (either the "Red Box" or the "Rules Cyclopaedia," both out of print from TSR Incorporated), that's a game very friendly to new game masters.
Alternately, if you're at all interested in Star Wars, consider the recently released Star Wars Saga Edition, which is a really excellent, somewhat simplified implementation of the "d20 system" that underlies D&D. It should be easier to pick up, being a simpler game and one for which you have very strong media 'hooks' to grasp concepts with and then explain them to players. It's also widely touted as being a sort of 'testbed' for D&D 4e, so in a certain sense it's a chance to get used to 4e before its release.
If so, they'll pretty much decide this for you. Expect to reference a Player's Handbook or the System Reference Document, but you won't need much else.
If not, and you're likely to be running the game, I strongly recommend you look into some of the simpler systems on the market. The days when D&D was a good choice for a new gamer pretty much died when TSR cut off "Basic" D&D to focus on "Advanced." If you can find a copy, look into Spirit of the Century or Savage Worlds (both much simpler systems that have a lot of good advice for a new game master). Or, if you can find a copy of Basic D&D (either the "Red Box" or the "Rules Cyclopaedia," both out of print from TSR Incorporated), that's a game very friendly to new game masters.
Alternately, if you're at all interested in Star Wars, consider the recently released Star Wars Saga Edition, which is a really excellent, somewhat simplified implementation of the "d20 system" that underlies D&D. It should be easier to pick up, being a simpler game and one for which you have very strong media 'hooks' to grasp concepts with and then explain them to players. It's also widely touted as being a sort of 'testbed' for D&D 4e, so in a certain sense it's a chance to get used to 4e before its release.
Stormtower
First Post
As others have said, 3.x is not the most accessible system to teach oneself as a new tabletop gamer. The 3.5 SRD plus waiting on 4e might be your best choice, since the designers of 4e have raved about its ease of play and accessibility (that has yet to be seen, but I have confidence in the design abilities of Mearls, Wyatt et. al.).
However, as a 3.5 fan I'd urge you to find a group that's still playing 3.5 and try it out with the SRD as your primary reference. The game seems much easier to master when it's taught from the ground up (i.e. 1st level forward with a new party) by an experienced DM.
However, as a 3.5 fan I'd urge you to find a group that's still playing 3.5 and try it out with the SRD as your primary reference. The game seems much easier to master when it's taught from the ground up (i.e. 1st level forward with a new party) by an experienced DM.
Seriously: buy this for $4.00 (or, if you prefer hardcopy, you should be able to get one off of ebay or amazon for $10 or less). This edition is easy to understand for players and DMs alike, and by the time you've exhausted its possibilities 4E will be released and you can either move on to it or to one of these: Expert Set, Rules Cyclopedia. Much better idea than either trying to teach yourself to play via the SRD or dropping $90 on a set of books that will be obsolete in 6 months (or waiting 6 months to start playing).
Philotomy Jurament
First Post
I'll second that.T. Foster said:
That particular version of the D&D Basic Set is, hands-down, the best edition for learning the game, especially if you're starting your own group, rather than joining an existing one. The writing is aimed at younger readers, but it's an excellent introduction to how the game, and with that under your belt you'll be in a good position to move on to the edition of your choice.
wedgeski
Adventurer
If you intend to move on to the newest edition next year, then you probably don't want to spend you money on 3.5 as you won't really digest it all by the time 4ed rolls around. However 3.5 will give you an excellent taste of D&D, and it's probably what all the groups you'll encounter will be playing. The SRD is your best bet, for sure.
Turanil
First Post
Wait for june. When 4e is released, try to read through both 3e and 4e and see what you seem to prefer best. If you happen to prefer 3e, its books will be at a discount when 4e is released. IMO, the best option for you is to wait. But this doesn't prevent you to join a game of 3e as a player, and see how it plays...Kida said:
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