Teaching the spousal unit D&D

[Belen]

I got my wife into gaming. She grew up being taught the game was evil and I ended up sparking her interest on our first date.

She started off observing the game for a few sessions. I encouraged her to ask questions in and out of game. The real trick for us was to have her tell me the type of character she would play. She got to thinking about it and then she was off.

I am sure if had something to do with wanting to spend time with me at first, but she ended up GMing the last campaign!

I would just have some patience and then try to play up the story elements in your private game.

 

[Olgar Shiverstone]

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[Olgar Shiverstone]

I think an expedition into the Caves of Chaos might very well be in order (especially since I've converted them to 3.5) -- at least once I see how the first couple of "mini scenarios" work out.

That is great news, Olgar. Even if it does not work out, it will be fun for you guys. I'd be thrilled to have her join us, although throwing her into the middle of a campaign over 2 years old, where the characters are 10th level, might be tough on a newbie.

I'd planned on using Mistledale as the background setting, just in case, so the place names and personalities are familiar (plus I don't have to keep two different campaign settings straight that way). We'll see how it takes, though -- there's certainly a huge power curve to where the campaign is now. We'll cross that bridge down the road a ways, I expect, provided she maintains interest.

Of course, over the past couple of sessions I have developed the theory that you are looking for a TPK, to go out with a bang. Then we could all start at 1st level.

Not I. I'm not the one who decided to blow his cover and attack an entire drow outpost, am I? That's what free will in the campaign gets you ...

 

[talinthas]

heh. when third edition first came out, i brought my girlfriend along to a game that my friend was running, as a test of the new system and all. She made a rogue, and was hooked =) she's been in my dragonlance game as an elven rogue for nearly 3 years now. Though, during a one shot, she really wanted to play a "Hit things really hard" person, so i think the rogue hegemony is about to end =)

 

[howandwhy99]

Not I. I'm not the one who decided to blow his cover and attack an entire drow outpost, am I? That's what free will in the campaign gets you ...

Not I. Deposed drow prince was my cover

 

[Queen_Dopplepopolis]

A couple of hints from a female that hasn't been playing THAT long (release of 3e is when I first started):

1.) As for her first character, I would probably avoid the Druid-- my first character (only a few short years ago *fond sigh*) was a Druid and the sheer HUGENESS of attempting to play a spell caster nearly turned me off forever...

It wasn't until I played a rogue that had no spell casting abilities that I was able to wrap my brain around the rules completely... only then could I move on and learn the spell casting rules.

But, if that's really what she wants: go for it... just be sure to go through the spell casting stuff step by step...

2.) Low level characters are the ONLY way to go. Play an adventure or two at first level... then, go through the leveling up process very carefully. Leveling up is something that the guys that were teaching me just assumed that I would know how to do after I made my character for the first time. Took me quite a while to really understand what all I had to do.

3.) Make a little sheet with all of the steps to creating a character... very simplified... makes things easier on the first-timer.

Hope these help at least a little bit... my first experiences gaming were, for the most part, terrifying... and, these are the things that I remember being SO confused about... so, there you have it!

Have fun!!! I really hope she loves it... the time my husband and I spend gaming together is my favorite time... it's a wonderful thing to share.

 

[Belen]

A couple of hints from a female that hasn't been playing THAT long (release of 3e is when I first started):

1.) As for her first character, I would probably avoid the Druid-- my first character (only a few short years ago *fond sigh*) was a Druid and the sheer HUGENESS of attempting to play a spell caster nearly turned me off forever...

It wasn't until I played a rogue that had no spell casting abilities that I was able to wrap my brain around the rules completely... only then could I move on and learn the spell casting rules.

But, if that's really what she wants: go for it... just be sure to go through the spell casting stuff step by step...

2.) Low level characters are the ONLY way to go. Play an adventure or two at first level... then, go through the leveling up process very carefully. Leveling up is something that the guys that were teaching me just assumed that I would know how to do after I made my character for the first time. Took me quite a while to really understand what all I had to do.

3.) Make a little sheet with all of the steps to creating a character... very simplified... makes things easier on the first-timer.

Hope these help at least a little bit... my first experiences gaming were, for the most part, terrifying... and, these are the things that I remember being SO confused about... so, there you have it!

Have fun!!! I really hope she loves it... the time my husband and I spend gaming together is my favorite time... it's a wonderful thing to share.

Very good advice here. My wife has trouble with the leveling as well. Spellcasting is also difficult as first because each spell is yet another huge rule to learn.

 

[Hypersmurf]

I think an expedition into the Caves of Chaos might very well be in order (especially since I've converted them to 3.5) -- at least once I see how the first couple of "mini scenarios" work out.

"You are in a maze of twisty little passages, all alike..."

... no, wait, that's Colossal Cave. My mistake

-Hyp.

 

[Jarrod]

My friends and I hooked my then-girlfriend (now-wife) with a very simple procedure:

1) Start playing game (Cyberpunk, in this case).
2) Come up with cool NPC. Female. Lots of nifty tricks that aren't at all by the book, but are cinematic.
3) Get accused by said girlfriend that the NPC "is being played all wrong".
4) Offer to let her play said NPC, "but we'll handle the rules stuff".

And so it began...

 

[Methos of Aundair]

At least you all have a shot with your spouse’s. I took my wife (at the time we were still dating) to a game so she could understand what it was I did. What happened? She fell asleep. I tried again a few weeks later and again, she walked off. I have realized she has no wish to play so I don’t push her into it. Luckily, she is at least willing to here my tales of what my players did or how the game went that night. The bad thing is if I go into too much detail she gets that distant look in her eyes. Lol. Oh well, she has no problem with me playing DnD, no problem with my spending money on books, and even enjoys hanging out with the other gaming couples (so long as we don’t spend the whole night talking DnD).

The weird thing is she enjoys fantasy books. She also likes vampire books a lot so I might try and get her involved in World of Darkness or Vampire: The Requiem. Good luck and I hope she enjoys it.