Ok, I am NOT a Gamer. So why did I join a Gamers Forum? Good question. Well I used to be a gamer...a long, long time ago, when D&D was synonymous with being a nerd. Yes - I played the original version, as well as 1st revision or AD&D I think it was called! You may correct me as my D&D History is not really any good. Anyways - The rules seemed so easy back then - basically you had this GM who created an adventure for you either on the fly, or with the help of a book. You'd map a dungeon, beat some monsters, grab some loot and then walk away a level or two higher...easy stuff. I played this Magic User who was a real scrooge, had a penchant for hidden daggers, and hated Orcs...a real fun dude to play.
I am guessing the idea is basically the same nowadays, though with hundreds of new versions. Which I must admit, seems kind of overwhelming. I mean what to play? Where to start? How on earth is someone supposed to know all the rules?!
In any case - I was recently talking to a friend of mine who is a regular role-playing enthusiast. We had this really interesting conversation about monsters, dungeons, versions, rules, etc. His honest appreciation of the community was kind of magnetic - almost hypnotic. From a non-gamers (or old time gamers) point of view - this stuff is still interesting and fascinating - but very intimidating. Game play seems more complex than it used to be...albeit much more complete and adaptable.
Ok, I am NOT a Gamer. So why did I join a Gamers Forum? Good question. Well I used to be a gamer...a long, long time ago, when D&D was synonymous with being a nerd. Yes - I played the original version, as well as 1st revision or AD&D I think it was called! You may correct me as my D&D History is not really any good. Anyways - The rules seemed so easy back then - basically you had this GM who created an adventure for you either on the fly, or with the help of a book. You'd map a dungeon, beat some monsters, grab some loot and then walk away a level or two higher...easy stuff. I played this Magic User who was a real scrooge, had a penchant for hidden daggers, and hated Orcs...a real fun dude to play.
I am guessing the idea is basically the same nowadays, though with hundreds of new versions. Which I must admit, seems kind of overwhelming. I mean what to play? Where to start? How on earth is someone supposed to know all the rules?!
In any case - I was recently talking to a friend of mine who is a regular role-playing enthusiast. We had this really interesting conversation about monsters, dungeons, versions, rules, etc. His honest appreciation of the community was kind of magnetic - almost hypnotic. From a non-gamers (or old time gamers) point of view - this stuff is still interesting and fascinating - but very intimidating. Game play seems more complex than it used to be...albeit much more complete and adaptable.
I was pretty much in the same boat and started in a few years ago with D&D 3.5. It was indeed a lot more complicated than it used to be, but once I got accustomed to the D20 system, the feel was the same. I kept my book handy at all times, which I did not previously have to do. Get used to that, whatever you choose!
I'd see your current best restart options (without getting into edition wars) as Pathfinder, which has one large core rulebook and has somewhat simplified D&D 3.5, or D&D Essentials, which has boxed sets with pared-down class choices, rules, adventure, and goodies.
Alternatively, you could go with the smaller publisher. For example, Green Ronin has "The Black Company" D20 RPG based on Glen Cook's books. It, like Pathfinder, is a one-book system. I have it, it looks cool, but I haven't actually run anything out of it yet. There are other systems based on various fantasy worlds which you might enjoy if you enjoyed that particular mythos.
Other folks might have better ideas. Frankly, if I were you and didn't have a gaming group familiar with the modern RPG rules, I'd probably try Essentials just to get back in the swing of things. Be warned, that takes you down the Wizards of the Coast Fourth Edition (4e) path, which is different from Pathfinder. People will fight all day about the relative merits of the two systems, for some reason.
EDIT: And welcome! Lilith should give you cookies.
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Welcome and we do so love OUR old schoolers here.
Please keep in mind the basic rules are online and rather simple easy to filter form, just rules not really any fluff. The PDF of the rules for Pathfinder are only $10 and include the fluff.
There are several places to find 1E clones of the worlds most popular RPG and if that was what you played, and who did not, then it might be best to familiarize yourself with one of those.
Hey thanks for the "Welcomes" AND the info. It's amazing how much there is to know in the RPG world.
Welcome to the Paizo boards. I hope that you enjoy your stay!
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Hey thanks for the "Welcomes" AND the info. It's amazing how much there is to know in the RPG world.
If you are looking for something that is very rules-lite and has a very old school feel you should check out Microlite20. It is a free downloadable set of rules that are based on D&D3.5/Pathfinder which has stripped away alot of extraneous rules and is really trying for an old-school feel.
Microlite20 Downloads is where you can download the rules, monsters, character sheets, expert rules, etc. to check out the game. For free you really have nothing to lose except printer ink if you want to print it out (maybe 30 pages or so total).Welcome to the community!
Welcome to the Paizo boards. I hope that you enjoy your stay!Ignore the Tilde Dragon, he upset cause we all walked off with his hoard!
He envies our smartness.
Welcome to the boards! Don't go to FAWTL. Avoid the poodles. Stay away from the Jacks. You'll be okay.
Hey thanks for the "Welcomes" AND the info. It's amazing how much there is to know in the RPG world.If you are looking for something that is very rules-lite and has a very old school feel you should check out Microlite20. It is a free downloadable set of rules that are based on D&D3.5/Pathfinder which has stripped away alot of extraneous rules and is really trying for an old-school feel.
Microlite20 Downloads is where you can download the rules, monsters, character sheets, expert rules, etc. to check out the game. For free you really have nothing to lose except printer ink if you want to print it out (maybe 30 pages or so total).Welcome to the community!
Hey thanks - I'll def check that out.
Ok, I am NOT a Gamer....
Welcome.
About your name...
Ya - I know - and I've been using U-D for a long while now - love that site.
Greetings, fellow old schooler!
Another thing...
I have always wanted to create my own campaign setting...Any ideas or advice that I should take into consideration? I have a pretty good idea of what I want, and how long it will take...I haven't checked out all the other msg boards yet...can someone point me in the right direction? It's been a long while - but I think I am creative enough to do it.
Thanks in advance!
Howdy, Hummerstorm. Quick go on eBay and get your Basic rulebook by Moldvay and Expert rulebook by Cook, then play like it's 1981!
Seriously though, you're right that Pathfinder (improved 3.5) is more complex. If you have the time and motivation and a friend to guide you, maybe you want to dive right in. But in addition to the old rules and Pathfinder, I second Microlite20 as a way back into the game. These are my three favorite rule sets right now. I wish you a "welcome back" to the game, and a welcome to wonderland that the Paizo boards, at there best, are.
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Another thing...
I have always wanted to create my own campaign setting...Any ideas or advice that I should take into consideration? I have a pretty good idea of what I want, and how long it will take...I haven't checked out all the other msg boards yet...can someone point me in the right direction? It's been a long while - but I think I am creative enough to do it.
Thanks in advance!
A few good RPG books that might help if you wish to spend money on them are:
I personally start small and work my way out with only as much detail as needed. Others start big and work down. Amounts to the same thing in the long term.
Also you might look at some of the paizo Dungeon magazines while they last. If only for ideas and some of the articles. You will most likely however find a few modules to use or outright steal ideas from.
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Welcome to the Paizo boards. I hope that you enjoy your stay!Ignore the Tilde Dragon, he upset cause we all walked off with his hoard!He envies our smartness.
Welcome to the boards! Don't go to FAWTL. Avoid the poodles. Stay away from the Jacks. You'll be okay.
Oh smurf you and the smurf you rode in on.
FAWTL 4 eva!
Another thing...
I have always wanted to create my own campaign setting...Any ideas or advice that I should take into consideration? I have a pretty good idea of what I want, and how long it will take...I haven't checked out all the other msg boards yet...can someone point me in the right direction? It's been a long while - but I think I am creative enough to do it.
Thanks in advance!A few good RPG books that might help if you wish to spend money on them are:
I personally start small and work my way out with only as much detail as needed. Others start big and work down. Amounts to the same thing in the long term.
Also you might look at some of the paizo Dungeon magazines while they last. If only for ideas and some of the articles. You will most likely however find a few modules to use or outright steal ideas from.
The Gamemastery Guide is high on the shortlist of the Best RPG Books of All Time. I have spoken.
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The Gamemastery Guide is high on the shortlist of the Best RPG Books of All Time. I have spoken.Another thing...
I have always wanted to create my own campaign setting...Any ideas or advice that I should take into consideration? I have a pretty good idea of what I want, and how long it will take...I haven't checked out all the other msg boards yet...can someone point me in the right direction? It's been a long while - but I think I am creative enough to do it.
Thanks in advance!A few good RPG books that might help if you wish to spend money on them are:
I personally start small and work my way out with only as much detail as needed. Others start big and work down. Amounts to the same thing in the long term.
Also you might look at some of the paizo Dungeon magazines while they last. If only for ideas and some of the articles. You will most likely however find a few modules to use or outright steal ideas from.
So what would the short list be?
I would add Ninja's and Superspies onto that list but only because it was the first book of its kind to cover such a range of options.
The Gamemastery Guide is high on the shortlist of the Best RPG Books of All Time. I have spoken.So what would the short list be?
I would add Ninja's and Superspies onto that list but only because it was the first book of its kind to cover such a range of options.
Never heard of those books.
Good question. AD&D DMG 1e?|
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The Gamemastery Guide is high on the shortlist of the Best RPG Books of All Time. I have spoken.So what would the short list be?
I would add Ninja's and Superspies onto that list but only because it was the first book of its kind to cover such a range of options.
Never heard of those books.
Good question. AD&D DMG 1e?
I could easily agree with that. Though it was very hard to find all that you wanted. LOL I ended up actually memorizing pages where info could be found as opposed to the actual info. Easier that way. Freaked people out though, back in the day.
I could easily agree with that. Though it was very hard to find all that you wanted. LOL I ended up actually memorizing pages where info could be found as opposed to the actual info. Easier that way. Freaked people out though, back in the day.The Gamemastery Guide is high on the shortlist of the Best RPG Books of All Time. I have spoken.So what would the short list be?
I would add Ninja's and Superspies onto that list but only because it was the first book of its kind to cover such a range of options.
Never heard of those books.
Good question. AD&D DMG 1e?
I bet some genius nerd wrote a guide to it, if we poked around online long enough. When I was looking at the two copies at HPB the other day, one was almost pristine, the other had a bunch of tabs added to it. If I bought that pristine one, would I have the heart to to put a bunch of tabs in it, I wonder.
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I bet some genius nerd wrote a guide to it, if we poked around online long enough. When I was looking at the two copies at HPB the other day, one was almost pristine, the other had a bunch of tabs added to it. If I bought that pristine one, would I have the heart to to put a bunch of tabs in it, I wonder.I could easily agree with that. Though it was very hard to find all that you wanted. LOL I ended up actually memorizing pages where info could be found as opposed to the actual info. Easier that way. Freaked people out though, back in the day.The Gamemastery Guide is high on the shortlist of the Best RPG Books of All Time. I have spoken.So what would the short list be?
I would add Ninja's and Superspies onto that list but only because it was the first book of its kind to cover such a range of options.
Never heard of those books.
Good question. AD&D DMG 1e?
Not anymore no.
Also I would add the Dungeoneers survival guide.