What was your first D&D session like?
- Thread starter Oryan77
- Start date
1981, I was 13 years old and my uncle had come over for visit. He brought over a one of the original box games of D&D (complete with a really bad painting on the cover). He said he and his roommate tried it but didn't really get into it, so he thought I might like it. I saw the little strange blue plastic dice (what the heck is as d20?) and started going over the books. I managed to scrounge up one of my friends to roll up a character. I ran Keep on the Borderlands (which came with the game) and we were totally hooked. Since then I haven't looked back. The cool thing is, I'm 36 now, I have a wife and 3 year old daughter, and I still play D&D (3.5 now). That same uncle came and visited me last week and saw all of my D&D books. And amongst them, was the same original box he gave me 23 years ago. He was amazed that everything was still in it (including the charcter he rolled up originally). I guess I should really thank him. He was partially responsible for introducing me to a much more imaginative world. Thanks Bill!!
Tolen Mar
First Post
Freshman year in high school, about 15 years ago.
Now, my parents and my dad's brothers picked up 1E as son as it came out. They had some of the basic DnD before that. I was born in '74. So from pretty much the day I was born, I went to sleep once a week to the sounds of my dad, the DM giving my uncles hell. (Ask me some day about the chest with the cat statue on it, or the ever increasing teleport.) So it was natural that I would take an interest. I think I learned to read on those books...
So by the time I got to high school I had read and re-read those 1E books. I had been attending a christian school, so playing was out of the question before then. Anyway, one day at lunch a friend of mine mentions he likes to play DnD, and I told him I'd like to as well. So next week, he brings his books.
I chose an Elven Thief (which would set the tone for the next several years). We were captured and put in an arena to fight for our lives. Just the four of us. The arena doors opened on the other end, and a dozen goblins came pouring out, plus a hill giant. The other characters squared up for a fight. My character ran for the hills. I kept trying to climb the arena walls to get away. The audience kept pushing me back in. So I eventually turned, knocked an arrow, and rolled a critical hit. (This on the very first attack roll I ever made.) Speared the giant in the eye, which fell and crushed several of the goblins. Only my character and the wizard survived the fight, the fighters were dead. We got commendations for our fighting prowess and bravery and offered a job. Unfortunately, this was during lunch at the high school. The principal came by and told us we couldn't play that here. that group never did get anything going, but I was inspired enough to start inviting my friends over to use my dad's books to play after that.
Then I started playing any game I could get...
Now, my parents and my dad's brothers picked up 1E as son as it came out. They had some of the basic DnD before that. I was born in '74. So from pretty much the day I was born, I went to sleep once a week to the sounds of my dad, the DM giving my uncles hell. (Ask me some day about the chest with the cat statue on it, or the ever increasing teleport.) So it was natural that I would take an interest. I think I learned to read on those books...
So by the time I got to high school I had read and re-read those 1E books. I had been attending a christian school, so playing was out of the question before then. Anyway, one day at lunch a friend of mine mentions he likes to play DnD, and I told him I'd like to as well. So next week, he brings his books.
I chose an Elven Thief (which would set the tone for the next several years). We were captured and put in an arena to fight for our lives. Just the four of us. The arena doors opened on the other end, and a dozen goblins came pouring out, plus a hill giant. The other characters squared up for a fight. My character ran for the hills. I kept trying to climb the arena walls to get away. The audience kept pushing me back in. So I eventually turned, knocked an arrow, and rolled a critical hit. (This on the very first attack roll I ever made.) Speared the giant in the eye, which fell and crushed several of the goblins. Only my character and the wizard survived the fight, the fighters were dead. We got commendations for our fighting prowess and bravery and offered a job. Unfortunately, this was during lunch at the high school. The principal came by and told us we couldn't play that here. that group never did get anything going, but I was inspired enough to start inviting my friends over to use my dad's books to play after that.
Then I started playing any game I could get...
Henry
Autoexreginated
I DM'ed a very freeform game at age 10, because I didn't understand the dice or the probabilities completely. The players picked characters, and I ran them through adventures. I'd make up whether they hit or not, I'd make up things like "OK, the 3rd level cleric brings everybody back to life, and you continue." In short, it was cops and robbers with swords and spells.
As I played more games, the rules came more clearly to me, and I began using dice.
The first time I ever PLAYED, I played a Cleric/Fighter/Magic-User that couldn't hit the broad side of a barn with a boulder. My sword attacks missed, my bow attacks missed - hell, if I had to roll for it, my magic missiles would have missed, too. The only thing I did was cure light wounds and color spray a lot.
I had a blast.
As I played more games, the rules came more clearly to me, and I began using dice.
The first time I ever PLAYED, I played a Cleric/Fighter/Magic-User that couldn't hit the broad side of a barn with a boulder. My sword attacks missed, my bow attacks missed - hell, if I had to roll for it, my magic missiles would have missed, too. The only thing I did was cure light wounds and color spray a lot.
I had a blast.My introduction to the hobby was as a senior in high school. I was a jock, but had a few friends who would be classified as "cool nerds". I happened to stop by one of their houses on a Sunday afternoon, and they all happened to be there playing Dungeons and Dragons. After I finished laughing at them, they convinced me to give it a shot.
One of the players rolled up a Ranger for me, whom I named Robin, sadly enough, and we set off to tackle the original Ravenloft adventure. Within hours, I was hooked. The DM was a master storyteller, and he spun a web that was both engrossing and terrifying.
Many shoulder rolls and bow shots later, we ended up making Strahd bits.
Fourteen years have passed and I'm still playing weekly.
One of the players rolled up a Ranger for me, whom I named Robin, sadly enough, and we set off to tackle the original Ravenloft adventure. Within hours, I was hooked. The DM was a master storyteller, and he spun a web that was both engrossing and terrifying.
Many shoulder rolls and bow shots later, we ended up making Strahd bits.
Fourteen years have passed and I'm still playing weekly.
Chimera
First Post
Have already given my experience above.
Chose this quote only because it was the last one.
I note with amusement how many of our experiences could only be described as "Craptacular", but we somehow not only managed to enjoy them, but came back for more.
Ah, how jaded we've grown.
Henry said:The first time I ever PLAYED, I played a Cleric/Fighter/Magic-User that couldn't hit the broad side of a barn with a boulder. My sword attacks missed, my bow attacks missed - hell, if I had to roll for it, my magic missiles would have missed, too. The only thing I did was cure light wounds and color spray a lot.
Chose this quote only because it was the last one.
I note with amusement how many of our experiences could only be described as "Craptacular", but we somehow not only managed to enjoy them, but came back for more.
Ah, how jaded we've grown.
The Grackle
First Post
My older brother was about 12(?) when he got the red boxed-set for christmas, and after that he began investing in every AD&D book he could he could get his hands on. He played with some friends of my parents who let him in their group as a novice/apprentice. I wanted to go with him so bad, but I was way too young.
He told me that I had to memorize the players handbook and dungeonmaster's guide and when I turned 8 he'd let me play; that rat-bastard. I don't remember my first game exactly, but we would map out dungeons by putting masking tape down on the basement floor to mark out walls and rooms. Usually he'd DM me until he got bored and then kill my character in some gruesome way, and then make me clean up the tape.
What I remember the most is the painting of the City of Brass on the old DMG cover. I'd stare at it and think how I could totally go there in a game.
He told me that I had to memorize the players handbook and dungeonmaster's guide and when I turned 8 he'd let me play; that rat-bastard. I don't remember my first game exactly, but we would map out dungeons by putting masking tape down on the basement floor to mark out walls and rooms. Usually he'd DM me until he got bored and then kill my character in some gruesome way, and then make me clean up the tape.
What I remember the most is the painting of the City of Brass on the old DMG cover. I'd stare at it and think how I could totally go there in a game.
AIM-54
First Post
The first time I played was in 7th grade ('93-'94) with some friends in my class who already played. Having grown up on Arthurian legend and a general love of knights and chivalry and all that, I thought it would be a blast to actually play some of that out. So I rolled up a dwarven fighter that had a triceratops mount. Oh, I was a bit of a dinosaur nut in those days, too. We played at recess and lunch, which is probably one reason why it didn't last, and I have no real memories of what we did or what happened, other than my triceratops ran away for some reason or other during the last session.
That was that until 9th grade when I once again fell into similar company, only this time I brought the game home to some of my closest friends and that was that.
This was all in the glory days of 2E, after the reprint, with the black covers and shiny new art. Well, it was better than the blue motif of the other 2E books...
That was that until 9th grade when I once again fell into similar company, only this time I brought the game home to some of my closest friends and that was that.
This was all in the glory days of 2E, after the reprint, with the black covers and shiny new art. Well, it was better than the blue motif of the other 2E books...
baradtgnome
First Post
In spite of that they let me DM again....
over 20 years ago. It was a dark and stormy night...
Ok not really. We were all over 20, I was the youngest and somehow elected to be DM. We were all aquaintences that barely knew each other that had intended to get together and do a hex war game and agreed to purchase one we all didn't know to equalize the field. But I found this box set at the gaming store.... D&D Keep on the Borderlands. What the heck is that? Well we all didn't know it so it met that criteria. I took it home and read it - - and my reaction was, you do what!? And their reaction was, you do what!? In spite of that I somehow convinced them to play that night.
Well, they kept travelling off the map no matter how hard I tried to keep them in the right direction, and finally materialized a raven on a sign post that read "You have travelled off the game map" and the Raven said to them, "Go back if you want to play" or some other such silliness. When I finally got them to the caves... well lets just say it was the shortest combat I have run in 20+ years of gaming. They didn't get more than 30' before TPK. (my first and last btw)
Somehow we decide to try again. And they even let me DM after that... though not right away
And if anyone cares, all of those folks became life long friends and 3 of us still game together nearly 25 years later.
over 20 years ago. It was a dark and stormy night...
Ok not really. We were all over 20, I was the youngest and somehow elected to be DM. We were all aquaintences that barely knew each other that had intended to get together and do a hex war game and agreed to purchase one we all didn't know to equalize the field. But I found this box set at the gaming store.... D&D Keep on the Borderlands. What the heck is that? Well we all didn't know it so it met that criteria. I took it home and read it - - and my reaction was, you do what!? And their reaction was, you do what!? In spite of that I somehow convinced them to play that night.
Well, they kept travelling off the map no matter how hard I tried to keep them in the right direction, and finally materialized a raven on a sign post that read "You have travelled off the game map" and the Raven said to them, "Go back if you want to play" or some other such silliness. When I finally got them to the caves... well lets just say it was the shortest combat I have run in 20+ years of gaming. They didn't get more than 30' before TPK. (my first and last btw)
Somehow we decide to try again. And they even let me DM after that... though not right away
And if anyone cares, all of those folks became life long friends and 3 of us still game together nearly 25 years later.
diaglo
Adventurer
Oryan77 said:
it was like Hand meet Glove.. a perfect fit.
i'd been playing wargames with minis before i ever played D&D. but i was always one to imagine being one of those minis...
and then i played D&D and it just made sense.
nowadays it is like:
OJ Simpson... if it doesn't fit you must acquit... they have so butchered the game i love i don't even recognize it.
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