Excited but a little lost..

Hi there everyone! I am new here on this website and new to the community! I have a real life group of friends but besides one of them they do not seem as enthusiastic about D&D as I am. Thats why I came here! However... The immense amounts of information on the website make it very hard and very intimidating to start. In fact, I have no idea how to start. I tried to do the tutorial but it seems like a lot of information provided in a short timespan, contributing to the sheer intimidation. Is there anyone who could help out with some pointers? I would love to start a simple game (I am not new to DnD, only to Roll20) and start learning how to handle this website and perhaps even find a group I can stick with for longer periods of time. Im sorry if I posted in the wrong section, again it is quite confusing for me to find out the right ways.

Welcome to roll20 Gallahan.  You have a leg up since you are already familiar with D&D.  My suggestion is to create your own "test" campaign to experiment with.  Try running through the tutorial again.  Refer to the wiki and use the forum's search feature.  Post questions as they come up.  Lot's of helpful/knowledgeable people here.  What would you do to run a game in real-life?  Try to emulate those preparations using roll20's tools/features.  ie maps, characters, notes, dice rolls, etc.  You will find there are some things that roll20 has that can make running games easier. ie dice rolling, auto-calculating character sheets, fog of war, initiative tracking, dynamic lighting, music/sound, and more advanced features like creating custom macros or Pro features like custom character sheets and running API scripts, etc...  You also might try getting into a game using roll20's  Looking for Group feature.  There is a good series on yotub Roll20 Tutorial : Master Series - Become a Master of Roll20 as well. Good luck.

Hi!  Welcome! Roll20 can be a bit daunting at first.  However, it's organized in such a way that you can use as much or as little of it as you need.  I'd suggest not getting bogged down in all the features and just focus in on a few that are necessary.   There's a wealth of information on the wiki, it sounds like you might want to start with: Finding a Gaming Group --  Tour of how to get connected to other players. What Should I Know About Roll20 -- Tour of the basic features you'll likely be using most and some links to other pages. Feel free to ask lots of questions, we're a helpful community!

(gah! Ninja'd by Vince!!! =D )

Thank you guys for the swift replies :) this will help me getting started! I have applied to a game now, will see if I get chosen. It does feel a little like a job application haha, hope theres enough DMs out there to make the barrier for entering a game easy to get through.

Well, from what I've heard (I've never actually LFG'd before), it can take a while, so don't get discouraged. 

Is there a module or something that I can download? Something that would let me see what is possible with FREE version?

I believe The Crow's Nest is free.  When you create a game, just choose it on the right side.  Probably going through the tutorial would be a better tour de force, but that would certainly get you something to click around in.

The Master's Vault is&nbsp;also a free module. (<a href="https://marketplace.roll20.net/browse/module/23/the-masters-vault" rel="nofollow">https://marketplace.roll20.net/browse/module/23/the-masters-vault</a>)

Welcome Gholayat! It takes a moment to adjust from P&P to Roll20, I've been where you're at!! It's way different clicking "initiative" on a character sheet than it is simply rolling dice from your hand, I completely empathize! For that reason, I try to be as attentive as possible with my players. The best I can say is just hang in there because it definitely gets better! It looks like you've already been given a lot of really great advice, I don't honestly think there is anything more that I could add. :) I wish you all the best in your Roll20 journey! &lt;3

Love the vault. I have two of the rarest types of gaming newbies in my group, fresh females, and this has really helped me give them quality content while nurturing the budding role player in them. As a long time player, first time GM, it's been a pleasure using the vault. Thank you goes out to anyone that had a hand in creating this module.&nbsp;

Agreed. I am new to the site and to RPG (granted I have done text only RPs that do not involve dice or complicated systems, literally just a group story writing RP). I know that everyone is recommending the tutorial, but honestly I don't even understand what you are supposed to do with the grid. What is the purpose? How does it have anything to do with the game? I simply can't focus on reading about how to make circles or rectangles when I have no clue how that relates to playing the game.&nbsp; I know that my frustration is bleeding out here and I don't want to seem judgmental or angry, but I have wanted to learn how to RPG for years but have always been intimidated by the way experienced players seem to hold back their knowledge all elite-ist style.,...Okay, yeah, I'm feeling a little mad.&nbsp; Is there anyone out there that can spare some time for a Q&A with a total newb?

Hey Wisteria, shoot me a PM and I'll answer questions to your heart's content!

Wisteria L. said: &nbsp;I know that everyone is recommending the tutorial, but honestly I don't even understand what you are supposed to do with the grid. What is the purpose? How does it have anything to do with the game? I simply can't focus on reading about how to make circles or rectangles when I have no clue how that relates to playing the game.&nbsp; Think of Roll20 as a tabletop (like the table in someone's house, where you might play any kind of tabletop game like RPG, cards, or board game). &nbsp;The tutorial is just showing you what you can do on the table. &nbsp;It shows you how you can do anything on the Virtual tabletop, that you could do on a real table at home. Things like drawing, writing, keeping notes, rolling dice. It doesn't teach you about the RPG, the game system rules. Roll20 can work with any game system (and there are 1000's of games). &nbsp;Just use the tutorial to learn how to move-do things on the tabletop. &nbsp;To learn a game system, read the rulebooks of the game system, or watch youtube, or get into some games on Roll20 that are marked "Welcomes new players".

Gold said: Wisteria L. said: &nbsp;I know that everyone is recommending the tutorial, but honestly I don't even understand what you are supposed to do with the grid. What is the purpose? How does it have anything to do with the game? I simply can't focus on reading about how to make circles or rectangles when I have no clue how that relates to playing the game.&nbsp; Think of Roll20 as a tabletop (like the table in someone's house, where you might play any kind of tabletop game like RPG, cards, or board game). &nbsp;The tutorial is just showing you what you can do on the table. &nbsp;It shows you how you can do anything on the Virtual tabletop, that you could do on a real table at home. Things like drawing, writing, keeping notes, rolling dice. It doesn't teach you about the RPG, the game system rules. Roll20 can work with any game system (and there are 1000's of games). &nbsp;Just use the tutorial to learn how to move-do things on the tabletop. &nbsp;To learn a game system, read the rulebooks of the game system, or watch youtube, or get into some games on Roll20 that are marked "Welcomes new players". Thanks! That makes a lot of sense. I appreciate it!

Hey, I know I'm a little late, but PM me and I can run you through a quick dummy game, how I works, how to roll etc....