Hello, the entry to all of this is very daunting, can you help please ^_^

okay so i've always, always, alwaays been interested in playing some pen and paper RPG games, dungeon and dragons is the i obviously have heard of, and from there i heard pathfinder is really awesome. but the rules for all these things are quite complex, and ive never DMed before, nor have i even played before. None of the people i would play with have played any such things. the closest thing i have is the warhammer 40k tabletop game, and thats a bit of a stretch to relate them haha.  Also one thing to note is that my players are not comfortable with using microphones (For example we have a transexual friend who isnt comfortable with her voice), typing everything is still fine right? so my questions are this  1) which game to start in and have fun on? is pathfinder too complex? 2) where do i get the maps and tokens from, especially the tokens, that are fitting and i dont have to pay for (i am very poor and an unemployed uni student). i really want like, fitting tokens that all kind of work together. I'm an amateur painter (I'm studying at uni to become a concept artist) and i can try to paint the tokens myself but at this point in time thats a fair bit of work and ive got major assignments where i'll be painting already coming up and i just dont have the time to commit to that many little paintings that i'm not so experienced with yet. 3) tips for first time DM in these situations? also as a kind of final question - is it viable to play something like warhammer 40k using this program virtually? i actually know how to run one of those games, and i can teach my friend when theres only like 1 person available. Its a lot cheaper than buying the ridiculously expensive figurines too. Ive also been wanting to try Battletech because i got beta access to mechwarrior tactics a little while ago Thank you in advance for taking hte time to read my post regardless of if you respond or not, and thank you so so much if you respond.

1) Pathfinder can be daunting for the beginner. I love Pathfinder but it helps if you have 3.5 rules knowledge. However, the Paizo message boards (as well as our own here at Roll20) have a lot of people who will be more than happy to help explain rules etc.  2) There are a number of free resources online. In the Roll20 application you can search for artwork in the Art Library. Example: a search of "Dwarf" will bring up images of dwarves online. Final question: There are other people who play Warhammer 40k on Roll20. There are also people playing Battletech. You should not have much difficulty with either. But, if you need help setting them up feel free to ask the boards for advice. - Gauss

Speaking speeds up the process where as typing slows it down; however, you have a special case, and I won't tell you how to run your game. 1) If you want a simple and fun game, there are others besides Dungeon and Draongs or Pathfinder out there; however, taking in account of no speaking, it might be okay.  Role-playing will be rather slow though.  Fate is good choice for a simple and fun game. Light on rules, so it's perfect for a newbie group. 2) There's plenty of resources you can search up, and you can find tokens directly in game with Roll20 too. This is a good link . 3) Have fun, adapt, and say yes (impov it).

thanks for the responses so far i really appreciate them

Monday I'm having a session to teach newbies to play PF. 9 PM EST. You're welcome to join!

If you wishing to stay in the fantasy genre for the PnP roleplaying, try looking at the various retroclones like swords & wizardry or something written oldschool style. My favorite is basic fantasy roleplaying game. BFRPG is free and a good game to start on. I will post a link when i get a computer since I'm using my phone to post this. ----addon--- Ok at one of my computers :  Basic Fantasy rpg   is a rules-light game system modeled on the classic RPG rules of the early 1980's. Though based loosely on the d20 SRD v3.5, Basic Fantasy RPG has been written largely from scratch to replicate the look, feel, and mechanics of the early RPG game systems. It is suitable for those who are fans of "old-school" game mechanics. Basic Fantasy RPG is simple enough for children in perhaps second or third grade to play, yet still has enough depth for adults as well. I have been using this system for years and it is a good basic system and don't let the term old school turn you away from it. All it means it is less complicated in the core rules. It starts you out with 4 races and 4 classes, limited equipment list, and just the basics of the rules. There are free supplements that will help you shape your game to suit your desires. Now with the other games like Pathfinder and 4e, they have a good strong base also but they can be more complicated because of how they are written. Pathfinder has feats and skills (Bfrpg doesn't have feats and it's skill system id optional plus very simple) and 4e has, I think, powers and surges (Bfrpg has nothing like that) which I really don't know how to explain them. There are a lot of free games out there in different genres also( you did say you were a poor student) so you can google for some of them or just ask here. There are some cheep systems also - FAE (Fate Accelerated Edition) was going for $5 or donation aka free (not sure if it still is) and others. Now if you had the money to spare and wanted the main stream systems, they costs generally about $15-20 or more per book.

Oh I forgot to post a couple systems that are old but fun and are now free. Classic Marvel superheroes  : Play in the world of Marvel superheroes or create your own world. Talislanta  : The Talislanta universe differs strongly from other role-playing games of similar genre. There are very few references to Norse/Celtic mythology or the imagery of J. R. R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings novel. Instead the flamboyantly diverse setting is more akin to the Dying Earth novel series by Jack Vance. Indeed, Vance is listed by Sechi as a primary influence on the setting, and each edition has been dedicated to that author. Other stated influences include The Travels of Marco Polo, the journeys of Sir Richard Francis Burton, The Dream-Quest of Unknown Kadath and a host of other pulp-era fantasy fiction and works by other eclectic authors. As the game reviewer Rick Swan stated, "It's as if H. P. Lovecraft had written Alice in Wonderland, with Hans Christian Andersen and William S. Burroughs as technical advisors." The Talislanta rules system, called at various times the 'Action Table System', the 'D20 System' (before the term was used by Dungeons & Dragons) and the 'Omni System', is very simple relative to other role-playing game systems. Characters are defined by Attributes and Skills, the numerical ratings of which are added to the roll of a single twenty-sided die when a character attempts an action. The final number resulting is then looked up on an Action Table, giving one of five possible results: Mishap, Failure, Partial Success, Full Success or Critical Success.

Oh Clara, don't worry about it being text games. Most of my games are text based still and I run play by post games here also which are pure text based. One advantage text based games have over other game play styles is that the game never needs to actually stop. Everyone can be there for a session and typing away but after the session you can still game on but just having people show up when ever they get a chance to and make a post. It continues to play out but just at a slower pace.  I'm working on a text based game that will be doing that. Once a week there a live session but between those sessions everyone can continue to post as they have a chance. The GM would have to check the game at least once a day or more if they feel like it but the details (descriptions) can get very rich in content. So relax and enjoy your game because if no one is enjoying it then it is not a game but just work.

thank you so very much for the help metroknight! i'm really liking the sound of that basic RPG fantasy one because the rules are so simple that my players (all first timers) can learn them fast and have fun rather than taking ages to figure things out. I'll also be having to learn the rules and how to GM For the very first time haha. i can afford the mainstream systems if they are a lot more fun than basic fantasy RPG or anything, especially with players who have money that they are willing to pitch in to get a good system.

I usually tell people to get their feet wet with a free simple rule system then decide if you want more complication or not. Even though BFrpg is a simple system, you will discover it covers pretty much everything you want. More of the rule choices will fall on you as the gm then on the rules. If you have any question at all the forums at the bfrpg site is very friendly and supporting. I've been a member there for some time also.

My two cents: 1) I prefer a text only game.  It's slower than microphone play, but it also means that everybody sees everything that happens, even if they step away from the board for a moment to, say, use the toilet or get a snack.  Similarly, it lets you see exactly what was said should that ever matter. 2) D&D 3.5 is not a terrible beginner system.  Pathfinder introduces some small-feeling changes that a lot of people love, but I'm prone to the original, myself.  The best way to keep things simple in such games is to limit access to books.  In 3.5, for example, there's no need to go beyond Player's Handbook for the players, and Dungeon Master's Guide and Monster Manual for the GM.  Honestly, it's an amazingly fun experience if you can find a group that's never played before, and get them to actually only read the player's guide.  Magic treasure is a lot more magical when you don't know the entire gear table off the top of your head, and are actually surprised at, say, a pair of boots that doubles your speed.  Even if they look at the others, if you strictly limit the books, you avoid potential headaches later on.  As the three base manuals are actually reasonably well balanced, and play nicely with one another. THAT being said, 3.5 is still pretty rules heavy.  Easier systems would include, for example: Big Eyes, Small Mouth (BESM).  A single book these days has all the rules (unless you want a special anime setting from a series you like).  There are three stats, some skills, and that's about it.  At the simplest end is Nobilis - you play fragments of gods, basically.  As such, there are no dice: you're a god, and if you say you did something, you did it.  Honestly, a lot of the less common games are like that - Dungeon World is another I've had fun with with rather simple mechanics, and not too many dice. 3) DM/GM advice: start small, start easy.  Start at level 1, don't be tempted to give your players a higher level just yet, even if it does enhance survivability (one of the normal reasons to do so).  If you can find a low-level pre-made module online, that can be a decent place to start, since they have all challenges planned out.  If not, a good first adventure is always: goblins raided John Barner's farm, and he needs help!  Go find the goblins, recover his oxen (which the goblins took for food), and he'll reward you with his Uncle's sword, and a legend about a dead warrior's tomb... Then just draw a quick map (cave entrance, some windy tunnels, 4 to 8 rooms), mark 2 traps (a tripwire attached to some bells, and maybe some falling rocks right before the goblin treasure trove), stick some monsters in (a room with 6 goblins eating, another room with 4 goblins sparring, a room with 2 hobgoblins directing 4 goblins, a room full of giant rats eating garbage, etc.), and choose some treasure (nothing fancy, maybe a few gems, some gold and silver coins, a potion or two held by the head Hobgoblin).  And that'll get them a chance to learn the game, give you some easy encounters to learn how to run, and give everybody a nice dungeon crawl. 4) Maps and tokens...  roll20 has a decent selection of tokens available free of charge, though rarely will it be exactly what you want.  But the internet has bajillions more for the asking.  As for maps, I normally just sketch my own - lines on white background are perfectly reasonable.  But Wizards of the Coast has a map-a-day archive, full of maps of various things.  You still have to decide what's in each room and tunnel, but it gives you something to work with. As for Warhammer - trivial to play in roll20 I'd think, though finding tokens to suit each miniature might be rough.  Still, you could just photograph your collection, import that in low resolution, and have the tokens match the minis exactly.

Bill is right on what he said but I still feel that a more simpler system then 3.5 or patherfinder is the way to go to start out. The problem with BESM is that it is out of print since the company went out of business. I know white wolf technically picked it up but they have not supported it more than printing a short run. There are pdf copies floating about the net but you have to be willing to search for it. Your GM advice is very good advice. Start small and simple to learn the basics and then expand as the GM gets comfortable with the rules. I know nothing about warhammer so I can't comment on that.

that being said, there's also the question of mechanistically easy, vs. imaginitively easy.  D&D 3.5 is both the one in a setting she's familiar with, and honestly pretty easy to play via imagination: everything you can do is written on your sheet.  A lot of the simpler games demand a lot more imagination, on the fly, from player and GM both.  There's not much question of what a D&D encounter will go like.  There's a LOT of variation in the Nobilis encounter (where, again, no dice!  No mechanics beyond 4 stats with 5 ranks each!) And honestly, it all comes down to the GM, and the group.  Find something you're comfortable with, and go from there.  'Easy' is in the mind of the beholder, after all, and even the simplest system has its flaws.  Besides which - the system is a scaffold upon which you tell your stories.  It's not the story, and it's not the game in the same way a board game is.  It's just a set of rules so that everybody knows how to deal with the story as it unfolds.

you're all really awesome! i love getting such friendly responses on forums. It always makes me really happy. Sorry for the late response to this thread, i want to thank you Bill and metro especially for all this. At the moment my basic plan is Basic Fantasy RPG and the free Western Lands Campaign they have, i'm on holidays for uni when this week is over, so its something we're going to do this weekend or next weekend (this weekend most likely) since all i have to do before then is finish up a 3D modelling project and i'll have time to prepare.  we only have two players at the moment so i'm considering doing a really bad thing and putting either DMPC (i hear its frowned on for reasons that i've read and understand) in or a few NPCs that will join them at points in the campaign, just because only 2 players, both of which are a thief and a cleric (both elves) will cause problems when one of them takes an unavoidable blade to the skull. i'm hoping to find at least a third player before the weekend who i know, we HAD a third but he pulled out because he had a bad experience with Pen and paper games playing with some randoms like two years ago, and pulled out the moment i gave him a copy of the beginner essentials and asked him to make a character and offered to help him with it. i just want to thank you all for the help so far, you're awesome

Bfrpg assumes the group will hire or bring along npcs to boost their group strength so don't worry about that. If you have any questions about your choices just ask. I've ran the Western lands campaign a couple times so I have a copy of it and know it decently. Good luck and have a fun game.

does that mean if they neglect to bring along NPCs or hire retainers, they're going to get owned?

nope but the rules assume the group is going to play it smart and bring help. In my games the pc group don't bring npcs with and deal with stuff themselves. I've never told them not to hire npcs but they want the gold for themselves not to spread it to the npcs also.

I've ran one game for almost 6 months that had one player and he loved it as it was focused on his character and his actions. I have another game that there are 4 player characters and they are now 4th level. They are now about to embark on a very difficult quest to save an Elven empire. I can't put much more info out here for some of my players read the forums.

Hello Clara If you would like I would be more then happy to DM a small one shot game in Classic D&D 1.0 or the new D&D next Ruleset. These 2 rulesets are great for new players. I have plenty of premade characers done so everyone would just need to show up. Let me know or send me a private message. I am available any night or time on Sun, Mon, Tue, Wed.

pick a simple game system, read it thoroughly. don't focus too much on the mechanics, more on the story. If you get s chance read the books gary gygax wrote about running rpgs master of the game, and i think the other was dungeon mastery. great books. Have fun, it's not too hard, the toughest part is getting players to commit. Good luck. If you ever want to learn to play a hard core sci fi space exploration,