PHB2 classes too tricky for newbies?

[dragonstout]

Hi,

I've never DMed before, and none of my players have ever played an RPG before. However, we'd like to start. The main thing I'm wondering is: while the Bard, Sorceror, etc. look very cool, they look like they might put more of a rules burden on us, with more to keep track of: Sorceror with the even/odd thing, Druid with the shapechanging, etc. Based on the previews so far, do you think that the PHB2 classes will be good for total newbies, or should we stick to PHB1 classes for our first campaign?

 

[Sebastian1992]

From what I've seen, all the player needs to do is read their class. That's all anyone really need to do. Know and understand their class. If they have question's, they can ask you, if you don't know, you can ask here. If the question pops up mid-game, make something up for the moment, and ask here if it's a serious problem or something that will come up every session.

 

[Cadfan]

I do think that the PHBII classes tend to be a little trickier. But I also think that they're fine at level 1, and that the learning curve takes enough time that players should learn.

 

[Nymrohd]

The only thing I found is needed for 4E is to have a nice copy of PHB pg. 277 on the table at all times. Heck I think I will laminate mine.

 

[malraux]

The only thing I found is needed for 4E is to have a nice copy of PHB pg. 277 on the table at all times. Heck I think I will laminate mine.

You know they made a DM screen, right?

 

[Nymrohd]

Yeah but this way my players have ready access to the rules by themselves, without me having to call the conditions out or give them a peek.

 

[Glyfair]

I do think that the PHBII classes tend to be a little trickier. But I also think that they're fine at level 1, and that the learning curve takes enough time that players should learn.

Indeed, I believe it has been stated by someone from WotC that they deliberately held off any "tricky" classes for the later PHBs.

 

[Mistwell]

Given the PHB II classes are purely beta testing and incomplete, I would be more concerned about them not working so well yet, rather than being too complex. Even if they are equal in complexity to PHB I classes, they might not mesh as well as they should, or might teach your players to develop their game around powers that will eventually change anyway, or which were never working quite right.

Personally, if I were starting out, I'd try and get used to the PHB I stuff before moving on to the rest of it.

 

[arscott]

Honestly, the sorcerer looks to be the easiest class in the game, so far. His simple damage bonus is much more straightforward than any other striker's schtick (curse, quarry, sneak attack), and you can even ignore the even/odd thing if you stick with the dragon path.