Teaching a big group

[ultron87]

So me and a fairly large group of friends, eight of us in total, have all decided to start playing DnD 4th edition. This, for almost all of us, is going to be our first tabletop game. I'm going to be DM because I have the free time to do it and of all of us I have a fairly decent grasp on the rules already.

I just need to figure out what to do for our first session. I have Keep on the Shadowfell, but I feel like just throwing everyone into character creation right away and then into a full adventure would be a mistake.

My current plan is to pregenerate a character in each of the normal PHB classes and allow my players to pick from them. Then I'll lead them through a small sample dungeon I will put together with a couple of sample fights and traps and whatever.

I feel like this will give them a proper grasp on how the combat works and allow them to make far more informed decisions when making their actual characters. It will also make explaining all the mechanics a much more fluid and natural process.

Anyone have any experience with teaching a large group of new players how to play?

 

[Plissken]

Looks like you have it down. Starting with pre-generated characters is a good idea. Keep on the Shadowfell comes with 4 doesn't it? Just make 3 more.

 

[Piratecat]

Big groups can be tricky. To make combat flow faster, read some of the threads here on speeding up play, including using monster attacks in waves. That way you don't have to handle a jillion beasties all at the same time.

Be aware that the ddi Character Builder is fabulous, and the demo version works for PCs up to 3rd level. Download it from Wotc and use it to build characters up to 3rd level. It'll save you a ton of time. Heck, you can subscribe for one month once a year, update it with all the most recent options, and have a fantastic tool for $5.