Newbe stew!

[Bloodstone de Troll]

Hello all!

This weekend I will be instructing people new to the world of D&D as to how to play the game. This present group is older (mid to late 20's) though there will be other groups for instruction that will be yonguer (mid-teens) later on in the summer. Do any of you have suggestions?

I am planning on giving them ready made characters, who are 3rd level (as I want to make them suffer for stupidity without killing them outright). The adventure will be simple, an ogre and some goblins (maybe a few trained wolves as well) raiding some outlying farms.

The younger group will have members that never even HEARD of D&D (is that scary or what?) one kid even said he didnt understand how to play the game without the computer!

Suggestions? Comments? Recipes?

 

[Mark]

...as I want to make them suffer for stupidity...

Suggestions? Comments? Recipes?

Good luck!

 

[Zog]

Keep it simple

Use props, maps, handouts - but keep the basic story and combat simple. NO grapples, no bull rushes, no damage reduction, etc. Make sure you describe the fights - the combat, the swings and misses, make it exciting, even fudging a bit to keep the excitment level up. Since you are using premade characters, make sure you have something for everyone to do - and a chance for everyone to shine. A spell or skill or item that will be not just vital, but vital in a heroic manner. Give them something bizzar, that they can use in a creative way, like an immovable rod or a Qyall's feather toekn: Tree or something. Toss in some other posabilities, like a pile of lumber and rope - hopefully the players will look at it, and think 'what can we build that will help us'.

Other tips to keep new folks interested: Play very rules light - if they want to do something, rather than say 'Okay, thats a bull rush, you don't have the feat, so one AOO, then opposed strength checks, and you move him 5 feet, etc, etc.' Just have them make a simple str. roll - After the fight, explain how the manuver actually works. Don't worry about AOO at first - after the first fight introduce them. Just make sure it is clear that the Ogre will get to smack someone as they move up to it.

 

[Leopold]

why start them at 3rd level? If your going to introduce them start from scratch and show them step by step how to create the pc's and deatail each one. Yes it is more work but heck 1st -3rd is the best levels to play with as you really can build upon your characters with story line and plot hooks.

 

[FungiMuncher]

Providing pre-made characters would get them into the game quicker; if you're tight on time, definitely do that.

Otherwise, I wouldn't be afraid of having them create their own. I've started out several early adolescent kids new to rpgs, and the idea of classes really makes it much easier. Creating your own character is one of the really fun parts of the game. Just stick to the basics, and suggest the starting packages if they need some guidance.

If they start above first level, understand that you'll be explaining those extra abiliites before they get the gist of the rules and your world. When I DM first level characters, I fudge like mad, but for absolute newbies, learning the rules is most important.

The real challenge I've had is getting them to think in terms of an adventurous fantasy setting. Keep in mind their classes and races, and remind before the consequences when they do something where their abilities would help. The rational being that their character would immediately know they could do something, even if the player forgot with all the new concepts flying around in their head. Eventually, you can wean them off of the advice.

I've found teaching newbies to be a lot of fun! Hope all goes well.

FungiMuncher

 

[Bloodstone de Troll]

The first one is free...

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why start them at 3rd level? If your going to introduce them start from scratch and show them step by step how to create the pc's and detail each one. Yes it is more work but heck 1st -3rd is the best levels to play with as you really can build upon your characters with story line and plot hooks.
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My objective is for them to learn the basics of how combat & skills work etc. Once they get the "feel" of the game, I am sure that they will want to create their own heroes. As the above statement says: The first one is free...

I dont know the "gaming temperament" of these guys, so I dont know how patient they would all be with character creation.
I also want them to see good examples of characters, both stat wise and character wise (some basic character info will be on the character sheets etc), as well as names and the like.

 

[hong]

why start them at 3rd level? If your going to introduce them start from scratch and show them step by step how to create the pc's and deatail each one. Yes it is more work but heck 1st -3rd is the best levels to play with as you really can build upon your characters with story line and plot hooks.

"Building a character" doesn't really have that much to do with the level you start at. It has to do with how much _real time_ you spend on the campaign, and how much detail you put into it. If you play one PC for a year, that character will probably have a stack of background and development, whether it went from 1st to 10th level, or 4th to 14th level.