LF All New Players

I have been playing and DM'ing RPG's for many many years. I took a long break due to real life and challenges finding people to play with, but thanks to Roll20, I have returned to the warm embrace of gaming. I am currently active in games that have been running over the last year, and while I'm not very active on the forums I do try to keep up on the discussions taking place. Recently, I worked through the new tutorial created by the Roll20 team (kudos by the way) and loved it. What a great tool. However, I notice that there are a lot of new players coming to the site (either new to Roll20, or new to table-top gaming in general) and I can't help but think how it would be nice for these new friends to have an opportunity to learn both the ins and outs of the site, and the basics of RPGs from someone. I used to be into play by post games and on the site I used they had a training academy. A mentor GM would walk new players through a short game and help them with questions. No pressure on the player, or worries about slowing the game down. I think that's a super idea, so here's what I propose.... I would like to start a game where I take a group (or multiple groups if it becomes popular) through the use of the table top, character creation, and a one-shot adventure before turning the new player out into the wilds of roll20 gaming. With winter coming on and my boat put up in storage, I have time on my hands and am looking for something to occupy my time. This would give me a chance to pass on to others some of the things I have learned, and continue to hone my craft as a GM. I will be using the Basic Fantasy Role Playing Game (BFRPG) rules for these games. I use this system for a couple of reasons. First, all the rules and supplements are completely free to download from their  website . Second, The BFRPG is a rules-light game system based on the d20 SRD v3.5, but heavily inspired from early role-playing game systems. BFRPG is simple enough for children in perhaps second or third grade to play, yet still has enough depth for adults. I think this should give new players a quality introduction to table top gaming without drowning them in a sea of rules. With this primer, a player should be able to work into many other systems with a solid foundation to build on.  One other thing to make mention of, I only work in text. For a variety of reasons I just don't get into either video or voice, so be aware that we will only be playing through a text medium. If anyone's interested in this or have questions, please either post in this forum or shoot me a PM. Since this game is not like most, and is more a gathering place for people to talk and learn, we will work out the fine details once we get a few folks in the game.

Just gonna bump this

Hi Josh, Your suggestion is just what I need. I have just started playing Pathfinder Society Organized Play and have been devouring Critical Roll streams and listening to a multitude of live play podcasts. I am completely new to Roll20 and find it somewhat confusing. I would love to be in your training academy. It is hard to find a game with no experience with so many players. I am playing Kyra the Cleric in pathfinder but am interested in the archer and sorcerer classes as well. i look forward to hearing from you.

Hey there Josh! I am brand new to the entire concept of Tabletop games, as well as Roll20. I just got done going through the tutorial, and while I feel decently confident in how it all works, my glaring ignorance to the genre in general has me a bit frozen at the moment. This sounds like a perfect icebreaker, and I would love to participate.

Cherryl and R!O I have sent you a link to join the game through PM. Welcome and I look forward seeing you all there. 

I appreciate it bud! I'll do some reading up on the rules and such that will be used while we look for a few more folks and figure out times/dates/etc.

Great idea, but I'm GMT plus 11, Sydney Australia, if the time & dates along I will be there too,

I wouldn't worry about the time zone. I don't actually see this as a normal game with a set game time and all that. I see this more as a group of players coming together and learning, something that will continue into the future. If the idea takes off I will likely recruit more GM's to help us out.  So Stephen A. if you want I can shoot you a PM with the link to the game.

Just want to let everyone know how we're looking. There are like 8 or 9 folks joined up already, and I plan to conduct a training class this afternoon at 1pm pst (about 30 minutes from now). I call this first step "Introduction to Roll20, Role Play, and Text Fundamentals." I'm also thinking of doing the same thing again at 8 am pst in the morning. If this sounds like something you might be interested in hit me up and I'll shoot you the link. I see the whole academy idea finishing up in like 3 or 4 short training and discussion sessions and culminating in a one-shot adventure date and time to be determined by everyone once there are a few that have been through the rest. Also, since it looks like there might be a fair number of people interested, a good friend of mine has volunteered his time to help GM with me. Might be an opportunity to get some more folks involved. Thanks all

Well, the first Adventurer's Academy training session is complete and was a success I think. This morning at 8am pst (about 2 hours from now) we will start the second in our series called "Character Creation and Development." Don't worry if you missed session one you would still be able to participate. You will just have to catch session 1 the next time it is offered. Anyone interested got me up, I expect it to take 1 to 2 hours.

Hi josh, very good of you what you're doing here! This is just what I need, Cheryl w pointed me to your adventure academy. I would love to join the next session if there's space, I easy with times I'll be there when you're ready to go! Hope to speak soon, Brett 

Hey Brett, I'm doing a session much like Josh's starting in about an hour or so if you're interested. Drop me a PM and I'll send you the Join Link.

Roll20 is completely new to me so I'd be interested just to get a feel for the online environment.   With that said, I'm not new to gaming.  I've played old World of Darkness for a very long time, but I'm still kind of a novice-intermediate player of D&D.    I've had a couple of real life Forgotten Realms games that were fun as well as Neverwinter Nights years ago.   

Hi.  I'm interested in this concept and think it would be very useful to me.  I played a couple of campaigns many years ago, but I don't recall much other than broad concepts.  Now, Married with two kids my time is more limited, but I'm looking to get back into it.  How long are the sessions and is there anything possibly being scheduled for working folks?  Thanks a lot for putting this together for those looking to learn more.

PJ and Anibal, I shot you a PM with the link. Welcome, I hope you find something useful in our little group.

We have added another GM for this group. He is willing to run training sessions in voice chat, although the one-shot will still be by text. We have a few upcoming sessions. Mike is running character creation in about 1 hour 10 minutes using voice, and I am going to run the full intro to roll20 and role playing in the morning starting at 7:45 am pacific time (this will be in text). Anyone interested hit me up and I'll get you a link. Thanks

Hi I am new to roll20 and have never played a tabletop game before in my life so I would love to participate in these sessions. However I have an odd schedule where I am off most weeknights and work most weekends till 6pm EST. Do you think we can work something out?

Good Day to all. I am new to Roll20 but not to DnD.  Though i have been away from table top gaming for quite awhile. With a new found urge to play after watching CritRole and other such streams on twitch. It is awesome to see how modern tech has brought one of my old passions to a new level.  I am not sure if this is the place to post, but i am looking for a new expericence and would love to be pointed in the right direction.

Jody and Aaron, I shot you guys a PM with a link to the game. Check it out and see what you think. I'll be on the table tonight around 5 pm pacific if you want to pop in. If I get enough to show I'll walk those that want through one of the sessions. Thanks for your intereste.

Hi, my name's Brandon. I'm actually a friend of Jody's. I'm new to tabletop RPGs though not RPGs themselves. Though I know video games aren't as fluid and often as unique as a tabletop experience. I've been watching a lot of Counter Monkey and just heard people's stories over the past couple of years, plus I recently started watching Critical Role myself. It's made me really want to try it. Plus I've wanted to try it with my buddy Jody and roll20 gives us a way to do that (we live in different states). My only issue is my work, I work late a lot. I'm still on a job site now. I should be able to make it but if for some reason I'm a bit late, can I still observe?

Sure thing Brandon, and it will get run again so you can participate more in the future. There are 4 parts to this Academy and we will run them again and again until we run out of people that want to hear us talk. I'll PM you the link to the group. Welcome aboard.

Heya, this experience would be great for myself. I'm new to the tabletop experience completley and found roll20 by a chance on a google search. Was wondering if I could possibly sit in on this the next time the sessions start over and learn what there is to learn from this experience.

Hi all! I'm new to Roll20 but a long time RPG player. I'd like to participate (as long as being in a different time zone allows me), learn how to use the site and eventually play (and even GMing) a lot. Even if I cant play I'd like to observe how it works.

Hey Shadowlarax, Good to hear you're interested in joining up. We are always looking for people that are new to both Role Playing and Roll20 because they might benefit the most for what we're doing so welcome aboard. Invite sent,

Hey Dret, You may not benefit as much from this as you're already familiar with how role playing games work and what to expect from them. As the posting states we're looking for people new to both role playing and roll20. If you work your way though the tutorials you should be able to find a new group in no time instead of waiting for us to teach you things you already know. You see this isn't a standard campaign there are only going to be 4 sessions  and then that's it, but if you're willing to join up feel free. Invite sent. Peace --Mike

Hey guys (and Mike), Myself and two friends would like to sign up and hopefully get a chance to play with you as our DM (even if only briefly). We're all avid RPG players but haven't really explored the Role-Playing (in this style, at least) aspect that TableTop RPG offers. We are, however, excited to try it out and I'm sure we'll like it. All 3 of us are completely new to Roll20 and would greatly appreciate the session(s). To note: All 3 of us are Scots, so within the GMT time zone. Thanks, Dan

Hey Daniel, Glad to hear you and your friends are interested in joining up, and we'd be happy to have all of you. Your friends will need to contact us so we can send a join link to them however. I'll shoot you an invite.

Hey Mike, Sounds awesome! Will get them to see about sorting that out asap.

Hey, One of Daniel's friends here, thanks for doing this.

Hey Scott, I sent you a link to join the game. You should be getting it very soon. Peace --Mike

Hey, Daniels other friend here :)

Hey David, welcome to the group. I sent you a link in PM so just click on it and join. Take your time to poke around the groups forums and stuff, and keep your eyes out for the next set of training sessions.

This sounds ideal I'd be interested in joining if there is opportunity. I used to do a ton of play by post rp and stuff as well but never had more than few drunken attempts at pathfinder. Trying to get into roll20 but it can be quite confusing, I'm not sure where to start if I'm honest, tried posting the add in the appropriate game threads but it feels kind of like a fruitless personal ad. You must gather your party before venturing forth.

Glad to have you on board RSB. Join us and we'll see what we can do to help. So far we have quite a group of folks that are in various stages of completion. I sent you the link to the Academy in a PM. Enjoy.

Hello Josh. After many hours of youtube and twitch vidz on DnD i really am getting hooked on table games. So my ask is might your grps be something i may be a part of, coz i know i can join open "newcomer" games, but i dont really have the naves to do it, do to i dont want to have the other players have a bad time do to i am a newcomer. I am from Denmark (CET timezone) but do to i dont have a job, i can move my sleep around to fit your games. Cheers Fluffy

Hey Fluffy, I'll shoot you a link and you should be able to join up as soon as you get it.

Hey again Mike Sorry i diden got the time last night to swing by, i got cord up in an inn, where i got some basic roll training and a bit of stats rolling. But i am more then happy that you offered me the chanse to enter your game, and if you are making one at some other point, i now fill like i have the basic know how to enter my first "real" game. Cheers Fluffy // Jeff

I'd love to join in if this is still going.

Sure, we are still going strong. I will PM you a link for the group. Thanks for your interest.

Hey! I've been really interested in fantasy tabletop games for years now but I've never had the opportunity to join in on an adventure. I would love to join in on your group and learn the ropes. I'll be home from work in three hours and if you guys are doing anything tonight i would really apppreciate an invite! Please let me know when I can hop in.

Casey, I'll send you an invite, but we won't be doing anything tonight. I have my regular game this evening, but check the forums in the game for upcoming sessions. Hope you find something useful from this.

Hello everyone. I have zero experience with table top gaming but am interested in participating in one and this group sounds like a perfect jumping off point. let me know if there is room for me to join at anytime.

Hi Josh would love to get in on this sometime. Been into rpgs my whole life but never had the people or resources to play pen and paper. Im in Australia so hope that does not conflict with times Cheers

Welcome aboard all. I sent you both links by PM. You'll be able to look around and keep watching the game forum's for the next sessions when they run. Hope you have fun.

Hi Josh, I like what I see you doing on here. I would love to join and learn the system.

Cool, I sent you a PM Justin. Join up and enjoy.

Hello Josh! I have pretty much 0 experience on the whole tabletop RPG thing. Mind if I join the group as well?

Hi Josh, Do you mind if I join as well, I have been wanting to get into tabletop games and found this site. I am pretty much a noob when it comes to games like this.

Hey Josh, I am a total beginner with zero experience, but with much interest into tabeltop RPG. Your concept seems very promising and I would like to join your group. If it is important i am from Germany, GMT +1 time zone.

So Welcome to ToraYasha, Mikey S. and Jak92. I have sent each of you a PM with the link to the game. 

I would like to join thing please.