New Player Looking to Learn

Apologies if this is not the correct place to be posting something like this, or if similar questions have been answered hundreds of times, but I wanted to know what the best way to learn all this tabletop RPG stuff is. Currently I know of one friend who has played these types of games before, but I think there would have to be much more than just 2 players in order for this to be fun. Given the free nature of the games I've seen in the LFG area, I'm really not sure where to look for info on how to play anyways. I'd like to be at least prepared to play a game on the site without making things not so fun for the more experienced players. If possible, I'd be happy to simply sit in on a game and spectate to see how things go, but it looks like most of the games in the LFG area are scheduled at inconvenient times and probably wouldn't want to bother with me anyways. Thanks for any advice you might have, I appreciate the help. UPDATE (2/8/2013, 2:32am EST) Advice has been bestowed. I've decided to gather all the valuable sources of information people have posted into one spot to help other newbies like myself for as long as the thread is still in sight. And of course, a big thank you to those who kindly chipped in and posted sources and advice for us newbies. You've all been very helpful. First of all, there looks to be a very accessible group on the site called The Pathfinder Adventure Guild (or PAG). As the name suggests, it's a guild full of people who play Pathfinder. Members seem to suggest that the GMs should be friendly enough to newbies like myself, even if you're not familiar with the game. I would suggest that, if given the opportunity, let people know that you're new so that other players and the GM will know what to expect of you, and what you might expect of them. I haven't actually tried this yet so don't automatically expect positive results in playing a PAG campaign whilst being new, but so far I have little reason to doubt it'll be a reasonably pleasant experience. There's an online rulebook for Pathfinder here .&nbsp;I suggest you try to grasp the basics, but you can at least use it as a reference hopefully. For a brief overview of how RPGs work (less on gameplay mechanics, more on fundamentals), click the following link and scroll to the bottom to see two guides. They are obviously named. <a href="http://www.gregstolze.com/downloads.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.gregstolze.com/downloads.html</a> A few threads from your friendly neighbors with RPG game footage: <a href="http://app.roll20.net/forum/post/4094/roll20-video-series-d-and-d-3-dot-5-for-new-users-and-people-that-like-to-watch-dnd" rel="nofollow">http://app.roll20.net/forum/post/4094/roll20-video-series-d-and-d-3-dot-5-for-new-users-and-people-that-like-to-watch-dnd</a> <a href="http://app.roll20.net/forum/post/56002/d-and-d-4th-ed-gameplay-with-roll20" rel="nofollow">http://app.roll20.net/forum/post/56002/d-and-d-4th-ed-gameplay-with-roll20</a> Various Game SRDs (System Reference Documents) For Pathfinder <a href="http://paizo.com/pathfinderRPG/prd/gettingStarted.html" rel="nofollow">http://paizo.com/pathfinderRPG/prd/gettingStarted.html</a> <a href="http://www.d20pfsrd.com/" rel="nofollow">http://www.d20pfsrd.com/</a> For d20 and d20 Modern SRDs (Correct me if I'm wrong about these) <a href="http://www.d20srd.org/" rel="nofollow">http://www.d20srd.org/</a> <a href="http://www.12tomidnight.com/d20modernsrd/Home.php" rel="nofollow">http://www.12tomidnight.com/d20modernsrd/Home.php</a> <a href="http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=d20/article/srdarchive" rel="nofollow">http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=d20/article/srdarchive</a> For Dungeons and Dragons 4th Edition <a href="http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=d20/welcome" rel="nofollow">http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=d20/welcome</a> A link containing many more SRDs <a href="http://www.systemreferencedocuments.org/index.php" rel="nofollow">http://www.systemreferencedocuments.org/index.php</a> User T M. has also suggested that you determine your player archetype, as it may help you find out what you're looking to get out of playing a tabletop RPG. He has posted the following links. <a href="http://www.seankreynolds.com/rpgfiles/gaming/BreakdownOfRPGPlayers.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.seankreynolds.com/rpgfiles/gaming/BreakdownOfRPGPlayers.html</a> <a href="http://www.darkshire.net/jhkim/rpg/theory/models/robinslaws.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.darkshire.net/jhkim/rpg/theory/models/robinslaws.html</a> <a href="http://quizfarm.com/quizzes/do+you+liketo+get+into+wars+with+your+character/CharlesRyan/what-rpg-player-not-character-type-are-you/" rel="nofollow">http://quizfarm.com/quizzes/do+you+liketo+get+into+wars+with+your+character/CharlesRyan/what-rpg-player-not-character-type-are-you/</a> <a href="http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/PlayerArchetypes" rel="nofollow">http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/PlayerArchetypes</a> <a href="http://www.enworld.org/forum/showthread.php?331599-The-Ten-RPG-Player-Types" rel="nofollow">http://www.enworld.org/forum/showthread.php?331599-The-Ten-RPG-Player-Types</a> Lastly, here's the link to the thread I made in The PAG. <a href="http://app.roll20.net/forum/post/60882/optimum-knowledge-for-new-players" rel="nofollow">http://app.roll20.net/forum/post/60882/optimum-knowledge-for-new-players</a> Once again, thanks for all the help, and I hope this thread helps out some more newbies before slipping off of the front page.

I just joined as well, and I am in virtually the same boat as the poster above. I'm very interested in tabletop roleplaying, but being in a small town with no real access to other players, there's no way for me to learn how to play. Gabriel: Perhaps we ought to find a DM to teach us the ropes in a real game? ;D As a side note, would D&amp;D based games on here be difficult or impossible to manage without buying the Red Box?

That would be great, Robert. It'd be even better if we could find more people in the same situation. I'm curious as to how difficult it actually is to get a game going considering scheduling difficulties and such. Gotta find a bunch of people who all want to play the same game at the same time, possibly recurring for a while. It honestly sounds like a bit of a headache unless you have people you know won't bail and whose schedule you know is comparable to your own. I'd also like to know how broad tabletop RPGs are. I'm not sure if D&amp;D was the first or merely the spearhead, or somehow a cult hit of sorts, but it looks to me like D&amp;D is merely one way to play tabletop RPGs, which is why I'm so lost. I'm not sure which rules would be specific to that game and which ones are common among all in the genre. @Kristin: Is this handbook specific to D&amp;D or does it show you how to play in general?

Well, I hate to just jump in, especially when it looks like this discussion is beginning to head in the right direction and my joining might just disrupt it, but I would like to say that I face much of the same difficulties that both, Gabriel and Robert seem to. Though I'd like to take part in a tabletop RPG, I've never done so before and I'm none too certain of the more intricate workings of the systems or games. However, I do possess a relatively flexible schedule, so that's a plus, at least. All in all, I think the main issue that beginners like us face is the problem of finding GMs who are both experienced enough to teach us what we need to be taught, yet, are patient enough to stomach our, no doubt, floundering attempts at role-playing.

@Rick: The more, the merrier. That's at least 3 people who could use some help in this area. I'm not sure how complicated these types of games are, but I suppose it wouldn't be absolutely necessary to have a GM that knows the game. So long as we have what we need to learn the game, I suppose it'd be possible to just play and get some experience on our own. An experienced GM to help guide us, however, would be a big help in getting us up to speed.

<a href="http://app.roll20.net/forum/post/4299/the-pag-and-what-it-means-to-players-looking-for-great-times-without-commitment#post-58879" rel="nofollow">http://app.roll20.net/forum/post/4299/the-pag-and-what-it-means-to-players-looking-for-great-times-without-commitment#post-58879</a> You're welcome?&nbsp;

Thanks for the link, T. I don't think I would have found that otherwise unless by accident. I could still really use a finger in the right direction as far as actually playing goes. I did find a link on google for an online Pathfinder guide ( <a href="http://paizo.com/pathfinderRPG/prd/gettingStarted.html" rel="nofollow">http://paizo.com/pathfinderRPG/prd/gettingStarted.html</a>) that ought to help me understand some things, but it looks a little raw and more of reference material for certain things than an actual guide to playing. The folks in this PAG group might know of some sources for learning material, so I think I'll probe them for info. Unless, of course, someone wants to spoon feed me the rules 'cause that's fine too.

Yw. I'm not really a Pathfinder type of dude, but I'll do my best to answer any questions you may have. Been doing RPGs from the get. &nbsp;More of a writer though. &nbsp;Feel free to send it. Skype may save you some clutter. However, once you kick Frosty down the slope , so you may want to keep it here as well. Your call. Clarifying intent helps w/just about anything. The following may help ID who you are, gamer wise, as well as what you are and are not looking to get out of gaming. <a href="http://www.seankreynolds.com/rpgfiles/gaming/BreakdownOfRPGPlayers.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.seankreynolds.com/rpgfiles/gaming/BreakdownOfRPGPlayers.html</a> &nbsp; <a href="http://www.darkshire.net/jhkim/rpg/theory/models/robinslaws.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.darkshire.net/jhkim/rpg/theory/models/robinslaws.html</a> &nbsp; <a href="http://quizfarm.com/quizzes/do+you+liketo+get+into+wars+with+your+character/CharlesRyan/what-rpg-player-not-character-type-are-you/" rel="nofollow">http://quizfarm.com/quizzes/do+you+liketo+get+into+wars+with+your+character/CharlesRyan/what-rpg-player-not-character-type-are-you/</a> &nbsp; <a href="http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/PlayerArchetypes" rel="nofollow">http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/PlayerArchetypes</a> &nbsp; <a href="http://www.enworld.org/forum/showthread.php?331599-The-Ten-RPG-Player-Types" rel="nofollow">http://www.enworld.org/forum/showthread.php?331599-The-Ten-RPG-Player-Types</a> &nbsp;

Oh boy, eye lids are getting heavy. It's 2am here so I think I'll call it a night before I fall asleep somewhere&nbsp;embarrassing. Thanks again for the additional resources, T, although I think determining what my "player type" is will be far more important once I actually figure out how this all works, which I'm beginning to think won't happen fully until I actually get into a game. My biggest fear is simply dragging a group down due to awkwardness. I don't want to kill the fun by not knowing the basic rules and all that.&nbsp; In the meantime, until someone pops in with a miracle-guide to tabletop RPGs, I'll google a bit and see if I can find a good place to get an overview of the tabletop RPG process. If at some point anyone here wants to discuss starting a newb-friendly game, let me know either here or via PM. And of course, if I find anything useful, I'll be sure to post it here.

They call that analysis paralysis. The PAG page says that new players are welcome. It is a game, not a job. Take them at their word, and if they break it, then it is on them. You play games, you don't work them. Out.

For what it's worth, I think I read into the PAG thread a bit differently. I tend to assume "new player" is generally accepted as someone who knows how a game works, and the basic core principals behind it, but nothing more. Gabriel and I, however, are not even to that point yet. It seems that short of dropping a rather large amount of cash on multiple rulebooks and the like, that there is no (legal) way of figuring out the most basic aspects of tabletop RPG gaming, short of finding a local group of gamers willing to invite you into their campaign. While this probably works for the majority of members here, being from a small Southern town, with hardly any of the population being able to discern D&amp;D from Checkers, that's rather out of the question. I've found that most game's rulebooks are available in torrent form, but this is little more than a temporary solution, simply to get your feet wet enough to make you want to purchase the physical copies when you can. The only advice I can offer you from my uneducated lips is to find someone (on IRC, Skype, etc.) willing to take you under their wing and very slowly walk you through the process. Also, T M., you have to realize that I (and presumably Gabriel and Rick) don't even understand the most basic aspect of character creation, meaning joining directly into a PAG game isn't really an option to even consider yet.

Robert Theodore B.:&nbsp; Pathfinder is free (legally) on the Paizo website or on the d20pfsrd website. You can get most of your knowledge there. :) If you have any questions about the game the messageboards at Paizo are quite friendly to newbies. I am also willing to help with PF questions (assuming I have the time, which I usually do) so if you ever need help send me a PM.&nbsp; - Gauss

Gabriel, Where are you from?

Gauss said: Robert Theodore B.:&nbsp; Pathfinder is free (legally) on the Paizo website or on the d20pfsrd website. You can get most of your knowledge there. :) - Gauss Is it? Admittedly, I probably didn't look as closely as I should have, but I could only find a $50 hardcover Corebook, or a $10 PDF version.

Robert:&nbsp; Check the Paizo PRD found here:&nbsp; <a href="http://paizo.com/pathfinderRPG/prd/gettingStarted.html" rel="nofollow">http://paizo.com/pathfinderRPG/prd/gettingStarted.html</a> Or check the D20pfsrd found here:&nbsp; <a href="http://www.d20pfsrd.com/" rel="nofollow">http://www.d20pfsrd.com/</a> The Paizo website has the main (hardback) books and rules on the PRD while the pfsrd website has pretty much everything Paizo has published that is not specifically intellectual property. Because Paizo is publishing under the Open Gaming&nbsp;License&nbsp;(OGL) all rules they publish are completely open and free. Only the non-rule elements such as story, setting, iconic characters, pictures, and proper names are intellectual property. Most people that buy the rulebooks do so because they want to support Paizo and have an easier to access set of rules (compared to a website). Still, many people play (legally) without ever purchasing a Paizo rulebook.&nbsp; Paizo's&nbsp;business&nbsp;model is to support themselves with Adventure Paths and world-specific material. The rules are the support system for that rather than the main focus. Some other companies (no mentioning names) use a rule focused model with adventures as a secondary money source. As a result, some of those other companies publish a new edition of the rules every few years in order to generate a new money stream - Gauss

Depending on which SRD you want to use, here is my collection of SRD links. D20 Modern SRD Repository The Hypertext D20 SRD WoTC D20 SRD Archive WoTC 4E SRD The pathfinder srd's Gauss posted above.

deivid p. said: Gabriel, Where are you from? I live in southern Maine. Robert Theodore B. said: Also, T M., you have to realize that I (and presumably Gabriel and Rick) don't even understand the most basic aspect of character creation, meaning joining directly into a PAG game isn't really an option to even consider yet.&nbsp; Yeah, this is what my mindset is. I'm not worried about being a newbie as long as I know what the rules are. It doesn't look to me like anything in PAG is made to teach new players how to play on a large capacity. I'm sure the more experienced players are willing to give advice when applicable but not tutor us. Gauss said: Check the Paizo PRD found here:&nbsp; <a href="http://paizo.com/pathfinderRPG/prd/gettingStarted.html" rel="nofollow">http://paizo.com/pathfinderRPG/prd/gettingStarted.html</a> Or check the D20pfsrd found here:&nbsp; <a href="http://www.d20pfsrd.com/" rel="nofollow">http://www.d20pfsrd.com/</a> I actually wasn't sure if those links were much more than reference for people already acquainted with the rules, but if you say I can get most of the knowledge I need from there, I'll take your word for it and dive in. I should be able to, at least, get a character made. I'm going to make a thread in the PAG group asking exactly what and how much knowledge players should know before applying for a campaign to give me and anyone else an idea of what is expected of us.

DOUBLE POST POWER ACTIVATE Metroknight said: Depending on which SRD you want to use, here is my collection of SRD links. D20 Modern SRD Repository The Hypertext D20 SRD WoTC D20 SRD Archive WoTC 4E SRD The pathfinder srd's Gauss posted above. Wow, that's a lot of SRD's. Had no idea there were so many different kinds of tabletop RPG. I'm assuming the "SRD's" are basically rule books for any given game, yes?

Robert Theodore B. said: For what it's worth, I think I read into the PAG thread a bit differently. I tend to assume "new player" is generally accepted as someone who knows how a game works, and the basic core principals behind it, but nothing more. Gabriel and I, however, are not even to that point yet.&nbsp; It seems that short of dropping a rather large amount of cash on multiple rulebooks and the like, that there is no (legal) way of figuring out the most basic aspects of tabletop RPG gaming, short of finding a local group of gamers willing to invite you into their campaign. While this probably works for the majority of members here, being from a small Southern town, with hardly any of the population being able to discern D&amp;D from Checkers, that's rather out of the question. I've found that most game's rulebooks are available in torrent form, but this is little more than a temporary solution, simply to get your feet wet enough to make you want to purchase the physical copies when you can.&nbsp; The only advice I can offer you from my uneducated lips is to find someone (on IRC, Skype, etc.) willing to take you under their wing and very slowly walk you through the process.&nbsp; Also, T M., you have to realize that I (and presumably Gabriel and Rick) don't even understand the most basic aspect of character creation, meaning joining directly into a PAG game isn't really an option to even consider yet.&nbsp; I believe that the other, more knowledgeable, people 'here' have adequately addressed the major concerns. There is one thing though. Problem solving, an almost ubiquitously required process. You've ID'd the problems, both real and imagined. 3 basic courses of action. 1. Backwards i.e. walk away 2. Circular. Keep mulling over the already identified problem AKA "Wheelspinning" or "Handwringing" 3. Forward.&nbsp; Crayon and&nbsp; finger paint problem solving. Big part of RPGs no matter what ruleset. You implicitly, if not consciously go a crash course in facts and assumptions f/ Mr. Railgun.&nbsp;

Gabriel S. said: Wow, that's a lot of SRD's. Had no idea there were so many different kinds of tabletop RPG. I'm assuming the "SRD's" are basically rule books for any given game, yes? System Resource Documents is what SRD's stand for and they are all OGL or Open Gaming License. I listed various ones that people have asked me to locate for them at Mayhem Gaming forums which I'm an Administrator for. I listed d20 modern, d20 fantasy which is basically D&amp;D 3.0 /3.5 and the 4th edition one. You listed the Pathfinder ones so I didn't bother with them. Some of them are Wizard of the Coast owned and others are independents.

What KC said. &nbsp;80/20 rule. Sometimes a small investment pays big dividends over time. It really does save a lot of grief knowing who you are, and what you want, and communicating same to prospects. Repost/generalizations follow... <a href="http://www.seankreynolds.com/rpgfiles/gaming/BreakdownOfRPGPlayers.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.seankreynolds.com/rpgfiles/gaming/BreakdownOfRPGPlayers.html</a> &nbsp; <a href="http://www.darkshire.net/jhkim/rpg/theory/models/robinslaws.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.darkshire.net/jhkim/rpg/theory/models/robinslaws.html</a> &nbsp; <a href="http://quizfarm.com/quizzes/do+you+liketo+get+into+wars+with+your+character/CharlesRyan/what-rpg-player-not-character-type-are-you/" rel="nofollow">http://quizfarm.com/quizzes/do+you+liketo+get+into+wars+with+your+character/CharlesRyan/what-rpg-player-not-character-type-are-you/</a> &nbsp; <a href="http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/PlayerArchetypes" rel="nofollow">http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/PlayerArchetypes</a> &nbsp; <a href="http://www.enworld.org/forum/showthread.php?331599-The-Ten-RPG-Player-Types" rel="nofollow">http://www.enworld.org/forum/showthread.php?331599-The-Ten-RPG-Player-Types</a> &nbsp;

Hey Gabriel, Rick and Robert - welcome to the hobby. &nbsp;We all hope you stick around for a while. &nbsp;Don't feel like you ever need to apologize for being new to gaming, we all had to start from somewhere. If you don't mind me asking, what was each of your exposure to gaming prior to posting here? &nbsp;I think knowing a bit about your background &nbsp;would help the rest of us tailor a strategy to you a little better. &nbsp;Was this something you saw on Penny Arcade that looked cool? &nbsp;Did that episode of Community interest you? &nbsp;Let us know. &nbsp;Also, what kinds of media do you enjoy? &nbsp;Fantasy? &nbsp;Sci-Fi? Crime? &nbsp;If you love Star Wars, but hate Lord of the Rings, that's also going to shape our answers. If you're coming to this with a blank slate, I'd encourage you to pop over to YouTube and search for "D&amp;D session" or "RPG session" just to get a feel for the ebb and flow of what goes on at the table. &nbsp;I don't have one I can point to as a particularly good example, unfortunately, but its a start in the interim.

I'm tacking onto this thread because I suspect you don't want this place filled up with 'hey, I'm new' threads - but hi, I'm new, I have a similar problem to Gabriel, Rick and Robert. I have a little experience with RPGs, I guess - I used to be a LARPer (I have no idea if that's a dirty word or not here, gonna take the risk) and I went to a couple of AD&amp;D 4th Ed games run by a gaming shop in the nearest city until transport costs and the shop owner's personality turned out not to be worth putting up for for one game a month. So... I guess what I'm looking for is the role-playing aspect - I like character interactions and stories and seeing the characters grow and find out about each other, and maybe be not OK with what they find out, and end up getting really messed up by the whole thing or possibly getting killed off because it served the story. I'm a fantasy or sci-fi kind of gal, maybe sometimes with the odd superhero story. If I learn enough to GM then my campaigns will be INSANE. Since I already know something about AD&amp;D I'd like to keep going along that path (although someone tell me when they stopped letting you have chaotic neutral and evil PCs, and I'll go back to before then, because where's the fun in a character that the rest of the team actually trusts all the time, god...) - this PAG thing sounds interesting but I'm a long-distance storyteller and I'd like to set up with a game that's going to go for a good long time. How much character development can you really do in four hours? So yeah, that's me. Also I'm British. My hours often end up being late enough that this doesn't matter, but not reliably so.

Dave D. said: If you don't mind me asking, what was each of your exposure to gaming prior to posting here? &nbsp;I think knowing a bit about your background &nbsp;would help the rest of us tailor a strategy to you a little better. &nbsp;Was this something you saw on Penny Arcade that looked cool? &nbsp;Did that episode of Community interest you? &nbsp;Let us know. &nbsp;Also, what kinds of media do you enjoy? &nbsp;Fantasy? &nbsp;Sci-Fi? Crime? &nbsp;If you love Star Wars, but hate Lord of the Rings, that's also going to shape our answers. Hey Dave. First of all, I laughed when you mentioned that Community episode because, yes, that's what inspired me to actually attempt playing the game. And no, I don't think that's exactly how the game is played, it's just what gave me the push to find out more about it. I've had basically no exposure to an actual game save for references, which don't really count. I only really know the bare bones idea behind the game, which is that there's players who play as characters that they build, there's a dungeon master that moves things along and I assume moderates the game, sets up obstacles and whatever, and a board to play on (sometimes?) which I'm not exactly sure effects the game itself or just acts like a visual reference to what's going on. That's about it. I've played RPG games, as in video games, plenty of times, as well as action-RPGs, but of course that's not going to work quite the same way. Ironically, I've never played Baldur's Gate, which apparently uses D&amp;D rules as a base for the gameplay, but I doubt even that would have much bearing on this conversation. As for my interests, I'm interested in both fantasy and sci-fi genres. I'm not sure if there are other major ones, but I won't limit myself by saying I'd only play fantasy and sci-fi games. I really like anything with an interesting story and characters. I wouldn't be surprised if they could even be a driving force in the game for me. My main focus however is simply the gameplay. I like the idea of creating a character from scratch and setting him loose into a world, and that each character could have a unique experience based upon the campaigns played, the DM's running the show, etc. It looks to me that there's a huge potential for customization that video games cannot achieve, and I'd like to see how fun that can be. Oh, and simply because you mentioned them, I don't like Star Wars so much and if I had to choose, would probably enjoy LOTR more, but that doesn't mean I'm biased either way. I just like grand,&nbsp;imaginative&nbsp;stories. I've had some writing background. I used to participate in written roleplay, and was decent at it. I was used to creating characters and settings alike, and roleplaying those characters as deeply as I could. That might make me a bit more applicable to the types of games that are heavy on story and character development, or even ones where everyone is actually describing each action they take in great detail. While it's not my focus and I'm not sure if that would make me feel awkward or not, I'm not opposed to trying it. LizB said: I used to be a LARPer (I have no idea if that's a dirty word or not here, gonna take the risk)&nbsp; I think anyone that could possibly read that sentence is already disqualified from making fun of you.

"LARP is for dorks. Dude! Check out this pearlescent dice set and matching bag!" : ) "I think anyone that could possibly read that sentence is already disqualified from making fun of you." Gabriel S.&nbsp; Well said.&nbsp; (gl) ass houses...

T M. said: What KC said. &nbsp;80/20 rule. Sometimes a small investment pays big dividends over time. It really does save a lot of grief knowing who you are, and what you want, and communicating same to prospects. Repost/generalizations follow... <a href="http://www.seankreynolds.com/rpgfiles/gaming/BreakdownOfRPGPlayers.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.seankreynolds.com/rpgfiles/gaming/BreakdownOfRPGPlayers.html</a> &nbsp; <a href="http://www.darkshire.net/jhkim/rpg/theory/models/robinslaws.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.darkshire.net/jhkim/rpg/theory/models/robinslaws.html</a> &nbsp; <a href="http://quizfarm.com/quizzes/do+you+liketo+get+into+wars+with+your+character/CharlesRyan/what-rpg-player-not-character-type-are-you/" rel="nofollow">http://quizfarm.com/quizzes/do+you+liketo+get+into+wars+with+your+character/CharlesRyan/what-rpg-player-not-character-type-are-you/</a> &nbsp; <a href="http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/PlayerArchetypes" rel="nofollow">http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/PlayerArchetypes</a> &nbsp; <a href="http://www.enworld.org/forum/showthread.php?331599-The-Ten-RPG-Player-Types" rel="nofollow">http://www.enworld.org/forum/showthread.php?331599-The-Ten-RPG-Player-Types</a> &nbsp; Oh, I finally got to skimming through those links. I believe the first link had a category that described me best as in the center (of it's four categories anyways), which basically means I have no strong leaning in any one gamer type. That will probably change once I start playing, but the descriptions of each gamer-type in the different links seem to suggest that I like a little bit of each. The only prominent thing I imagine myself not doing is combing the rule-books for loop holes and leverage to gain and advantage over the game.

Low maintenance, easy to please.... You're no gamer! You're 5-O! j/k. Hopefully it will continue to help. You are correct though regarding "That will probably change", &nbsp;but it should at least narrow the search and select criteria.

@TM - Well, you never know, people - especially in geekdom - get hacked off about the weirdest things.

@LizB Yeah, I"m tracking. See "...low maintenance, easy to please..." &nbsp;prev. "Hacked off" + LizB = Borden?&nbsp;

No, although the town I live in does have an abandoned hospital where a serial killer doctor used to work. Better not derail, though, I bet that'd bring the Bordens out of the woodwork. Also, pearlescent? pff. I bought a set of dice because they look just like sea glass.

I've been doing some more poking around, by the way. Simply from exploring around in the topics in this forum, I've found a few useful things. This link &nbsp;has two guides if you scroll down to the bottom of the page. I'm unsure of exactly how useful each are, but they look like they're worth skimming through at least. Secondly, there's a couple threads I just saw that have gameplay footage of D&amp;D. I'm going to link them here in case they get lost. One of them at least has footage of this site as opposed to a real-life game. 1.&nbsp; <a href="http://app.roll20.net/forum/post/4094/roll20-video-series-d-and-d-3-dot-5-for-new-users-and-people-that-like-to-watch-dnd#post-60858" rel="nofollow">http://app.roll20.net/forum/post/4094/roll20-video-series-d-and-d-3-dot-5-for-new-users-and-people-that-like-to-watch-dnd#post-60858</a> 2.&nbsp; <a href="http://app.roll20.net/forum/post/56002/d-and-d-4th-ed-gameplay-with-roll20#post-60878" rel="nofollow">http://app.roll20.net/forum/post/56002/d-and-d-4th-ed-gameplay-with-roll20#post-60878</a> I think I'll eventually get all these links posted so far assembled in the opening post. This conversation has grown much larger than I thought it would.

Oh, man, that is so helpful. I am gonna check the hell out of those links tomorrow since it is now so late it's early and I'm supposed to be meeting my dad for lunch in five hours. Lovely to meet you all! *falls asleep in the doorway on the way out*

LizB said: No, although the town I live in does have an abandoned hospital where a serial killer doctor used to work. Better not derail, though, I bet that'd bring the Bordens out of the woodwork. Also, pearlescent? pff. I bought a set of dice because they look just like sea glass. Sea glass? That is the 'coolest' thing I've heard of since pocket protectors.&nbsp; @Gabriel S. Preesh the links. Clicking the first, next. &nbsp; Likewise @Ms. (not) Borden. Stolze...mbwAHAH! &nbsp;"Come play with us Gabriel. Come play with us, forever, and ever, and ever." Welcome to the Campaign California. "Only now, at the end, do you realize the power of the dork side."

Artist first, gamer second, darleenk. Anyone who gets heavily into a game with me will probably get their characters portraited to within an inch of their lives. Or unlives, depending. @Gabriel - couldn't open the zip file - you wouldn't happen to know what I need to open it in, would you?

Opened up a thread in the PAG group asking about how much reading needs to be done prior to a game. They appear pretty accepting so far and willing to help. <a href="http://app.roll20.net/forum/post/60882/optimum-knowledge-for-new-players" rel="nofollow">http://app.roll20.net/forum/post/60882/optimum-knowledge-for-new-players</a> LizB&nbsp; said: @Gabriel - couldn't open the zip file - you wouldn't happen to know what I need to open it in, would you? For the .zip file, I use 7zip. Shouldn't be hard to find on google. Inside is a .pdf, which you need adobe acrobat &nbsp;reader&nbsp;to open, and that's also easy to find on google. Both are free. Artist first, gamer second, darleenk. Anyone who gets heavily into a game with me will probably get their characters portraited to within an inch of their lives. Or unlives, depending. Oh that's cool, I happen to be an artist too. Though unfortunately waning passions have made me more gamer first, artist second but I'm working hard to change that.

I would factor 'artist' into search criteria were I you, to include preferred media. Not everyone means visual when they say art. Artistic leanings tie in heavily to how you xmit / recieve information effectively. Just a thought. &nbsp;

T M. said: I would factor 'artist' into search criteria were I you, to include preferred media. Not everyone means visual when they say art. Artistic leanings tie in heavily to how you xmit / recieve information effectively. Just a thought. &nbsp; I'm not sure I understand. Search criteria for what, exactly? And what do you mean by "Artistic leanings tie in heavily to how you xmit / receive information effectively"?&nbsp;

For instance, without going too far down weedy trail after the white rabbit, we just unwittingly had a lively exchange (i.e. 'click) amongst 3 people with a background in, presumably, the visual arts. If you see that, then I ask you, why might that be?&nbsp; This ties into the gamer 'archetypes' a bit, as well as the (is it still @ 9?) intelligences model. &nbsp;(Kinesthetic, Auditory, Visual etc.) &nbsp;"Birds of a feather" or "like produces".&nbsp; I'm not saying avoid the difference. What I am saying that it is typically easier / more efficient to operate from a base of commonality i.e. 'the known'&nbsp; We are comfy with 'the known', often to the point of boredom and apathy. That is the pitfall, and plug-in, for the different. 'Opposites attract" We have trepidation (fear) when dealing with the unknown, but at the same time are drawn to it. Example: Commonly for dudes, that NEW girl. &nbsp;Thick tongue, nervous etc. &nbsp;She is 'us' somewhat. (potential to 'relate') and yet 'not us' (strange, mysterious)&nbsp; Tracking?

I see what you mean. I guess if I were to put myself in a 'box' it'd be 'crafty nerd' - you know the people who make cosplay and stuffed Companion Cubes and enormous Minas Tiriths out of matchsticks? That's my file. Me and my eight-year-old niece are going to MCM Expo this year as Queen Elinor and Merida (we have the hair for it). Also re: the NEW girl thing - *rolls eyes* Yeah, if I get any of that 'hur hur Tits or GTFO' nonsense in my vicinity then I'm old enough and ugly enough not to put up with that crap. Might have bothered me when I was twenty but that was then.

I hear you. It was more of a crayola pic intended to provide the requested clarification from Gabriel S. We don't really 'know' anyone fully. That goes at least double 'here'. Low accountability + low direct sensory data = fertile ground for deception. I'm pretty sure that you're actually Russian mob.

LOL That is actually really flattering, thankyou. I kind of wish it were so, but I'm actually a thirty-year-old hand embroiderer from Yorkshire. Sorry to disappoint. I like to torture my characters a lot, does that help?

You embroider hands. Miss Borden would be chuffed. That tops my whole 'Serial killer who sews live goldfish into the stomach of his vics.' The aquarium killer. &nbsp; "Sweeny Liz"&nbsp; "Pudding?" No thanks. Trying to cut back, and urchins make me gassy.

*dies laughing* I made a five-foot-long fleece squid once? In fact, here. This is something I did that everyone liked. <a href="http://hypotheticaltextiles.deviantart.com/gallery/?offset=48#/d2t69o6" rel="nofollow">http://hypotheticaltextiles.deviantart.com/gallery/?offset=48#/d2t69o6</a>

" An error occurred while displaying this deviation: "No valid response received." Please visit&nbsp; the deviation page &nbsp;to try again." Two hands, ten legs.&nbsp; Point of order. May want to side bar this sort of thing. We're cluttering Gabriel's topic. Easy to fall into. Chatastrophe. Job hazard.

That is an excellent point. Apologies, Gabriel. Also <a href="http://hypotheticaltextiles.deviantart.com/art/Subversive-Sampler-1-169933686" rel="nofollow">http://hypotheticaltextiles.deviantart.com/art/Subversive-Sampler-1-169933686</a>

T M. said: For instance, without going too far down weedy trail after the white rabbit, we just unwittingly had a lively exchange (i.e. 'click) amongst 3 people with a background in, presumably, the visual arts. If you see that, then I ask you, why might that be?&nbsp; This ties into the gamer 'archetypes' a bit, as well as the (is it still @ 9?) intelligences model. &nbsp;(Kinesthetic, Auditory, Visual etc.) &nbsp;"Birds of a feather" or "like produces".&nbsp; I'm not saying avoid the difference. What I am saying that it is typically easier / more efficient to operate from a base of commonality i.e. 'the known'&nbsp; We are comfy with 'the known', often to the point of boredom and apathy. That is the pitfall, and plug-in, for the different. 'Opposites attract" We have trepidation (fear) when dealing with the unknown, but at the same time are drawn to it. Example: Commonly for dudes, that NEW girl. &nbsp;Thick tongue, nervous etc. &nbsp;She is 'us' somewhat. (potential to 'relate') and yet 'not us' (strange, mysterious)&nbsp; Tracking? That makes sense, I guess. I'm not sure what the context of this point is, though. Anyways, the aforementioned thread I made in the PAG group has proven fruitful. One person said he had a game I could join in on in two weeks. I don't know how many slots there are open, but I can ask him about that. Another said he might be able to host as GM eventually, which for all I know is months from now. There looks to be decent assurance that players like us will be able to play in a game right out of the gate so long as we have valid character cards, and with a little help from the GM of whatever game we play. Ajax is pretty confident that within one game session, we'll know what we need to play without having to rely on other players/the GM so much. He also mentioned that he has some more pre-generated class cards. You can pop into that thread and ask him about them if you like, though I'm not sure how many pre-gen characters he wants running around. I would assume he'd be willing to let you guys use some of his pre-gens too. So, it looks like there's nothing really stopping us. All you need is a valid character, then you can apply to participate in a campaign at your leisure. The Pathfinder SRD &nbsp;can be used for reference. That should allow us to get our feet wet.

Nice looking out man. The PAG peeps seem very squared away. I think you're good. However, I seem to have miscommunicated. I'm not a Pathfinder type of dude. All you man. You took the leap. Mission Complete.&nbsp;

T M. said: However, I seem to have miscommunicated. I'm not a Pathfinder type of dude. All you man. You took the leap. Mission Complete.&nbsp; I was actually talking to the other newbies like myself, those being Rick, Robert, and LizB. You are of course free to join in, but I wasn't assuming you were here because you were going to tag along. Speaking of which, thanks to everyone who contributed to the thread. You've all been a big help and answered my tedious questions thoroughly. I'm going to summarize the resources posted in this thread into a nice and tidy section up on the opening post so any new readers can quickly absorb the knowledge that has been assembled. Although it looks like the thread is coming to a close, anyone may feel free to continue discussing/asking related questions for as long as it's relevant.