Looking for learning opportunities.. to start

Hey All! I joined up here a year-ish ago and was intending to use the site for a D&D game within another virtual community I enjoy with family and friends, but many people's lives changed somewhat abruptly. My Mom was diagnosed with Leukemia and my schedule got really difficult for a while. The person who was going to run our games wound up going back to school, and so our "beginning" never really began. So what I'm looking to do now is first, get acquainted with RPG tabletop games overall, being that I'm pretty much a newbie. I purchased the 3.5 books and much more 3.5 related items, around 15 years ago. At that time some family also wanted to get into D&D. We tried getting started, but had 2 GM's bail on us, or game nights started to be about drinking and chatting more than gaming which was frustrating because I really wanted to get into it. At this point, I'd just like to see what it's like, because I really think I'd get into it, and probably want to be a regular. But, being really inexperienced, I'd like to honestly just observe an active game, with people who role play and hear how it goes. Rather than jump in and play first, in order to get acclimated, I'd like to just observe a game or a few that are fun, to see if it's my thing. I'm hoping it will be though, and hope to (when I feel more comfy) look for a game / group. So here are some specifics I'm looking to mostly check out D&D 3.5, but I've heard a lot about D&D 5, so I would be interested in knowing what the difference is, and see that, and hear about what players like/dislike about them who've got experience with both. I'd like to listen in on a game as either a silent observer (some players might not like that option if it feels stalker-ish LOL) but I don't mind voicing over discord, I use it already when I play other games so I could chime in only when it is appropriate or allowed. I'm not looking to be in anything that is pay to play. I'm not looking to be a DM, but I'd like to be able to ask questions, both of players and the DM, so that I can really understand the game, or aspects of it, and understand it from a well rounded place. I really want to see how Roll20 works as well, watch it in action. I'd like to hear a fun, creative, active game. Preferably with ideas that are unique, rather than stuff that's themed to popular movies / books / tv.. etc. This is purely to see how someone can make the game their own or unique, rather than being like a fan version of one of the mentioned media formats. I get that they're popular and people get super interested in things like Marvel or Star Wars etc, but I want to see how people do this when they're not trying to do things according to how it was set up for some writer's story. I'm NOT looking to do this to get ideas for my own game, I know after reading the above part some might be speculative of my motives, but I do not have the time nor interest when it comes to running my own thing. I have WAY too many responsibilities as it is. I just want to see how people.. sort of fly by the seat of their pants, if that makes sense? I'm available PST evenings most days after 8 pm, and if you and/or your group decide to let me listen in sometime to learn, I'd be really grateful. If you might also be interested in asking me to join at some point, that'd be neat too and something I'd definitely consider when I'm ready. I'd also be willing to watch videos if you guys have them and are willing to share. I realize I could look up vids on youtube, but I'm looking for real everyday games, not people who are professional youtubers for the subs or cash. Here are some specifics about me in general in case you want to know. I'm mid 40's (GASP, yep I'm "mature" by this I mean old-er LOL than most people I know who are into this sort of thing. I'd prefer to be in a more mature crowd because I connect better with people who are more mature, this does not necessarily mean older people, you know? I'm female, have discord and prefer it for voice because Skype bogs my pc down hard. I play games like WoW, The Sims, Minecraft, and am a virtual creator in and and enjoy the world of Second Life immensely. I like reading books, my favorite series is Outlander, but I like Harry Potter, Twilight, and many others. I enjoy movies of many types, loads of TV shows. I'm really not super interested in getting into anything Sci-Fi, (this applies also to zombie only, or vamp/lycan only, I like variety). I've seen Star Wars, but it's just not super appealing to me. Though, there are alien races in WoW that I enjoy, I'm just not super into robots, or flying crafts, etc. Flying mount is a totally different story, love that. I really enjoy fantasy, magic, medieval worlds etc. But I also enjoy some modern day or time travel (just really not doctor who), and supernatural stuff also, not super into hordes of zombies but I'd be willing to check it out. I'm Wiccan in the real world so that's an interest for me too. Also, when I voice, you may frequently think someone let a pirate in the room...  by this, of course I mean.. I like to let my curse words flow freely. I often talk at characters I am killing in games, much to the delight of my family who for some reason think it's hilarious to hear me calling imps or demons horrible things, an telling them "Good dead ugly, Stay!" so if I were to join a game at some point and be a player, you've been warned about my foul mouth. Just sayin'.  :P I also absolutely don't mind input here in posts, feel free to give me insight here as well. Thanks! So.. there's that. I don't post my discord publicly, but you can post here, or message me privately, and I'll reply. Sorry for the novel. I just like to be thorough :) Thanks for reading! ~Jewel

absolutely interested

Great post! I am also interested in looking for a 5e group.  I have not played 3.5 but i have heard its quite easy to break and 5e is much simpler and good for new players.  I have LOTS of pathfinder experience although I want to give 5e a shot since you can focus more on the story and roleplaying which I'd like to give a real try.  I have a little 5e experience and have watched ALL of Critical Role, which I love.  If you decide to do 5e and we can get more players/ experienced GM then count me in!

Kiba, I sent you a PM :) thanks for the reply! Kevin, Thanks for the kudos. :)  I wish I had gotten to try 3.5 more when I originally was going to play years ago. If I'd had more experience with it I might have thoughts to share, but we really just never got to get through much. In regards to v5, I've heard something about magic items not meant to be part of the game, and I'm not entirely sure what that means to be honest because I've never tried 5e. However, I tend to like the magic side of things, and don't really have tons of interest in tactical battle planning. My interest is more in the story and hopefully the RP, and getting to try things out. I think magic fits or should fit into that. But then, like I said I'm not sure what was meant when I heard that 5e wasn't meant to be played with magic items. So I really dunno if my perception is off kilter, hence my wanting to do some observing of the different game versions to see what they're like. I also heard that 5e was simpler, and the rules were more fluid, and that certain aspects were removed from it that 3.5 had. So yeah, I just don't know. To me 3.5 up to the point where we were at wasn't hard or confusing, I just never got the chance to try it more than 4-5 brief times, and we had bad luck with DM's. Maybe you can give me a bit more insight about 5e? I honestly know zip about pathfinder, what's the difference there? I haven't watched Critical Role myself, but I've heard of it. I have been looking at a few videos, I love those Tabletop Terrors dudes, they make it seem easy, simple and fun, and they crack me up. If I do get into a game at some point I will definitely hit you up, but before I get there I really want to observe some games and see the differences and whatnot first. I hope I get the opportunity to!

There is magic in 5e but you dont end up with like 100 magic items and there aren't thousands of magic items like in pathfinder 

I see, that's interesting! Can you tell me more about pathfinder? Also, if you know more about 3.5 being easy to break, could you elaborate a bit  on that please?

Pathfinder is VERY complicated in terms of how many rules there are but at the same time allows for much more customized rule-based character creation.  I love the complexity although if players are not wanting to sit down and do lots of reading on their own time I would not suggest new players start with this.  There are more than 30 classes and each has 20 or so arch types.  This means that there is almost zero chance you will create the same character as someone else.  Numbers go much higher in PF than 5e which makes combat take longer. For 3.5 I have mainly heard about how broken crit can be since you can get a crit weapon with 11-20?? A 50% crit chance is nuts lol...  Granted most games can be broken and it's up to the players to decide if they want to break it.  As someone who started out in Pathfinder trying to be optimized, I found how broken I could make myself and how not enjoyable it makes the game for myself and other players.  I have since moved away from this and I think that is why I like 5e, because it's harder to break and less time is spent following flow charts to figure out how grapples work or watching people add up 20 dice.  I suppose that is not an issue though if you are using roll20 hah.  Ultimately I think I have decided that it is on the players and I'd prefer the temptation of breaking the game not exist if possible.

Wow! Pathfinder does sound interesting, and the details you gave are really great, and good to know! It does pique my interest though, the idea of the possibility of not having the same character as another player. Though you're totally right it does sound different than the other versions also. Yeah if 3.5 makes getting a crit half the time possible, that'd feel too easy. I'm thinking in terms of my video game experience, and when you get crits like that, usually it's when the level of the player vs the environment is imbalanced, like when you're helping a lower level friend powerlevel. You miss a lot of content that way, and while the point is to get the friend up to your level, the point is also to get them to your level so you can enjoy the content together.. so if that's the case with 3.5.. I can see why that'd not be very fun in terms of enjoying the game with the balance of things being possibly off or the ability for it to be that way. This definitely gives me some things to think about. A battle is supposed to be a battle after all. I do very much appreciate the input! It's made me think more seriously about looking into 5e more, and getting a better idea about pathfinder in the future as well. I appreciate the insight you've given me :) thanks so much!