Tequila Sunrise
Adventurer
It was D&D for me, and that's how I introduce others to rping. In high school I used Magic, but just to introduce people to Magic. [No money to buy cards makes TS sad. 
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Was D&D the game you introduced role playing with?
- Thread starter Hussar
- Start date
Wombat
First Post
I was introduced to rpgs via D&D ... mainly because it was, quite literally, the only game in town. 
Back in 1976 ... well, I had access to D&D; as such, my early players (none of whom knew about rpgs either) were also introduced via D&D.
Over the years, however, I have introduced people to rpgs via many systems: D&D(OD&D & 3e), RuneQuest, Paranoia, and the most common for "newbies" Over The Edge -- since the character generation is so quick and intuitive, I have found it incredibly useful for introducing people to gaming in general.
Back in 1976 ... well, I had access to D&D; as such, my early players (none of whom knew about rpgs either) were also introduced via D&D.Over the years, however, I have introduced people to rpgs via many systems: D&D(OD&D & 3e), RuneQuest, Paranoia, and the most common for "newbies" Over The Edge -- since the character generation is so quick and intuitive, I have found it incredibly useful for introducing people to gaming in general.
Well, what sort of prepared me for things to come were the Fighting Fantasy books, or to be more specific The Warlock of Firetop Mountain. When Das Schwarze Auge was released in Germany I was ready for some real roleplaying - or almost.
It really only started for real after an overheard conversation and being introduced to AD&D...
These days I don't have to do anything to introduce new players to roleplaying, they just have to ask me what I'm talking about when I'm discussing it with someone or ask me what these strange books are that I keep reading everywhere...
The only annoying thing for me is to explain how computer rpgs or MMORPGs like WOW are _nothing_ like REAL roleplaying
It really only started for real after an overheard conversation and being introduced to AD&D...
These days I don't have to do anything to introduce new players to roleplaying, they just have to ask me what I'm talking about when I'm discussing it with someone or ask me what these strange books are that I keep reading everywhere...
The only annoying thing for me is to explain how computer rpgs or MMORPGs like WOW are _nothing_ like REAL roleplaying
It depends on whether you mean "role playing" as a genre of games defined by the style of mechanics, or as in the act of making in-character decisions and actions.
I was exposed to RPG like games through *very* old computer RPGS. I didn't know the term RPG at first, I just recognized the style of game of exploring dungeons, leveling up, killing monsters, and doing quests. I started at about 8 years old, and continued from there.
Some of them were old text-only completely random and luck-based simple games on the TRS-80 Color Computer. I also played the Color Computer game Dungeons of Daggorath, which had crude vector style 3D graphics for dungeons, light RPG mechanics, puzzles, etc. I also played the slightly Ultima-like game Tunnels of Doom on the TI-994A.
I didn't just like the hack and slash, kill monsters and take loot games though, I also really liked the text adventure games with stories, puzzles, exploration.
Eventually I moved onto classics like The Bards Tale, Magic Candle, and the old silver and gold box TSR D&D games like Curse of the Azure Bonds and such. Up until these computer games (and we're still in the mid to late 80's here), I had only heard the negative stories about D&D, and how it was demonic and related to witchcraft. However, I loved those games. They mixed two types of games that I enjoyed playing.
I eventually found old copies of the core AD&D books and a few others, and read through them but with nobody to play with. I found another sci-fi RPG (whose name I don't even remember) at a used book store as well, and was very interested in the genre in general. They were like the CRPGs, but more free-form, more story potential, and more social.
Eventually I made friends with some guys in High School that played, and I started playing with them. One of which I have gamed with on and off (often in D&D, but not only in D&D) ever since.
Around the same time I started playing D&D, I was also exposed to the ElfQuest RPG, and being a Chasossium game, that led me to interest in Call of Cthulhu and RuneQuest. Honestly, I didn't get to play much of those at all. Not enough interest in folks, and not enough people with the right type of style for them. They kept trying to play those games like D&D, and it ruined it.
That's pretty much how I got started.
I was exposed to RPG like games through *very* old computer RPGS. I didn't know the term RPG at first, I just recognized the style of game of exploring dungeons, leveling up, killing monsters, and doing quests. I started at about 8 years old, and continued from there.
Some of them were old text-only completely random and luck-based simple games on the TRS-80 Color Computer. I also played the Color Computer game Dungeons of Daggorath, which had crude vector style 3D graphics for dungeons, light RPG mechanics, puzzles, etc. I also played the slightly Ultima-like game Tunnels of Doom on the TI-994A.
I didn't just like the hack and slash, kill monsters and take loot games though, I also really liked the text adventure games with stories, puzzles, exploration.
Eventually I moved onto classics like The Bards Tale, Magic Candle, and the old silver and gold box TSR D&D games like Curse of the Azure Bonds and such. Up until these computer games (and we're still in the mid to late 80's here), I had only heard the negative stories about D&D, and how it was demonic and related to witchcraft. However, I loved those games. They mixed two types of games that I enjoyed playing.
I eventually found old copies of the core AD&D books and a few others, and read through them but with nobody to play with. I found another sci-fi RPG (whose name I don't even remember) at a used book store as well, and was very interested in the genre in general. They were like the CRPGs, but more free-form, more story potential, and more social.
Eventually I made friends with some guys in High School that played, and I started playing with them. One of which I have gamed with on and off (often in D&D, but not only in D&D) ever since.
Around the same time I started playing D&D, I was also exposed to the ElfQuest RPG, and being a Chasossium game, that led me to interest in Call of Cthulhu and RuneQuest. Honestly, I didn't get to play much of those at all. Not enough interest in folks, and not enough people with the right type of style for them. They kept trying to play those games like D&D, and it ruined it.
That's pretty much how I got started.
Oryan77
Adventurer
I met a guy who got started by playing D&D in prison (San Quinton of all places). As soon as he got out he looked for a game to join. My friend brought him in a game he wanted to DM for us. The guy was upfront about his prison time and told my friend about it before they met.
I got started with 2e AD&D. I started dating more after I began playing D&D. I thought the opposite would have happened!
I got started with 2e AD&D. I started dating more after I began playing D&D. I thought the opposite would have happened!
Hussar
Legend
Funny you mention the prison thing. That was a pretty common editorial in Dragon from the print issues anyway - there is apparently a pretty large population of gamers in prison. I guess having large groups of (fairly) young men with very little to do makes for pretty large gaming populations.
That and the army apparently. I know when I was in the reserves, gaming was pretty widespread. Finding a group where ever I went was pretty easy. Lugging those damn books around wasn't though.
francisca
I got dice older than you.
So, how about you? How have you hooked people? D&D? Or other gateway goodies.
I've forged 6 new gamers, and brought 3 former gamers back to the table over the last 8 years, all with either Moldvay Basic or 1e AD&D.
D&D was my first RPG. Really it was my first hobby game. Boardgames more complex than Scrabble and Monopoly, miniatures, wargames, all came into my life post-D&D.
Mr. Wilson
Explorer
My very first roleplaying game was Rifts. I started playing Rifts in 6th Grade, then migrated to Star Wars d6, Teenaged Mutant Ninja Turtles, and then finally AD&D all in about 1 years time.
I'll even admit that through high school, we mostly played Rifts, Vampire, and Call of Cthulu. AD&D was played less frequently. It really wasn't until 3rd Edition came out and I was in college that we played DnD as our default game.
I'll even admit that through high school, we mostly played Rifts, Vampire, and Call of Cthulu. AD&D was played less frequently. It really wasn't until 3rd Edition came out and I was in college that we played DnD as our default game.
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