I can see the temptation as a DM of getting everything all sorted out in advance, but from a player perspective, I have to say I don’t want to see most of that before playing even one game. Sure, any necessary guidelines on creating an appropriate character, and directions or contact info., obviously. The rest, though...a lot of it should only be covered if and when it actually comes up, in my view. Let people play together and see how it goes, then start fleshing out various details of how the game will go, and how you will DM. If no player violates your 20 second rule, why even introduce it? Just keep it in mind in case there is a problem. The same goes for almost all the rest. Let people play once without all of that material, and take it from there. A new game is a bunch of people getting together- they should all agree on how to behave, or work out compromises. The DM’s power starts when the game starts, I don’t think they should start by going into details like what happens when a session is missed! Maybe there won’t even be a second session, or a missed session. Don’t write a manual- deal with your group as it actually turns out to be, and settle on any group rules then, is my take on it.
Player handouts for new group?
- Thread starter DarkJester
- Start date
Ranes
Adventurer
I don't give player handouts to new groups, unless they are for IC use.
I tell the players to create PCs, if they want, and give them to me, to check. If they don't want to create their own PCs (and often I DM total newbies and others who prefer me to create their characters), I ask them to tell me if they have a preference for any particular archetype or style of game, before creating characters for them. Otherwise I let them select from one of the infinite number of pre-rolled PCs at my disposal. I always do this before the first game session.
I have not, as yet, house-ruled, so there are no rules handouts.
I explain my table rules at the beginning of the first session. These are few in number and fairly common practice, so this takes less than five minutes.
Then I explain the world as understood by their first level characters. This exposition takes about five minutes. (Would that it only took five minutes to precis...)
The game begins.
I tell the players to create PCs, if they want, and give them to me, to check. If they don't want to create their own PCs (and often I DM total newbies and others who prefer me to create their characters), I ask them to tell me if they have a preference for any particular archetype or style of game, before creating characters for them. Otherwise I let them select from one of the infinite number of pre-rolled PCs at my disposal. I always do this before the first game session.
I have not, as yet, house-ruled, so there are no rules handouts.
I explain my table rules at the beginning of the first session. These are few in number and fairly common practice, so this takes less than five minutes.
Then I explain the world as understood by their first level characters. This exposition takes about five minutes. (Would that it only took five minutes to precis...)
The game begins.
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