Questions of a newb.

Guten Tag, ladies and gentlemen. First things first: I'm Noki and I'm new here. Unfortunately I don't have a lot of experience with PnP games (and most of the experience I do have is theoretical) and I'd like to ask a few questions, if that's okay. Oh, and I hope I didn't overlook an introduction thread- sorry if I did. So yeah, 1) as I said, I don't have any practical PnP experience to speak of. Are there games/groups for the greenest of players or something where new members can learn the ropes? 2) I'm not sure which games and settings are worth playing for a beginner. I've had some contact with D&D, although mostly via CRPGs and from my previous experiences with players of the 'real' D&D I gathered that many of them don't have a lot of kind words for the old Black Isle/Bioware games. Basically I don't know if my experience with these games is worth anything 'in the field', if you will. Furthermore (and for the same reasons) the only settings I'm at least a bit familiar with are Forgotten Realms and Planescape (although I read somewhere that Planescape was discontinued a few years ago) and even then a lot has changed I believe (for instance, I don't know a thing about the Spellplague). 3) Are there groups that don't use video or voice chat and rely on typing instead? My internet connection isn't the greatest and I'd like to practice my English writing skills while playing (and I really don't like talking via phone and the likes). Thank you and cheers! (I'm sorry if anything I wrote is unclear, it's been quite some time for me since I wrote in English)

Noki said: Guten Tag, ladies and gentlemen. First things first: I'm Noki and I'm new here. Unfortunately I don't have a lot of experience with PnP games (and most of the experience I do have is theoretical) and I'd like to ask a few questions, if that's okay. Oh, and I hope I didn't overlook an introduction thread- sorry if I did. Welcome to the community and don't worry about having no or very little experience. Noki said: So yeah, 1) as I said, I don't have any practical PnP experience to speak of. Are there games/groups for the greenest of players or something where new members can learn the ropes? If you go to the looking for Group listing (see the button in the blue banner) you can search for games that welcome new players and maybe in your native language. There is also a looking for group forum here. Noki said: 2) I'm not sure which games and settings are worth playing for a beginner. I've had some contact with D&D, although mostly via CRPGs and from my previous experiences with players of the 'real' D&D I gathered that many of them don't have a lot of kind words for the old Black Isle/Bioware games. Basically I don't know if my experience with these games is worth anything 'in the field', if you will. Furthermore (and for the same reasons) the only settings I'm at least a bit familiar with are Forgotten Realms and Planescape (although I read somewhere that Planescape was discontinued a few years ago) and even then a lot has changed I believe (for instance, I don't know a thing about the Spellplague). Mainstream D&D is now up to 4e with betatesting on the next edition which is called D&D next. There are alot of 3.5 and Pathfinder games which there is sites that let you read most of the rules for free. Here is Pathfinder and 3.5e sites so you can read them if you want. I'm not sure about Forgotten Realms and Planescape since I don't play mainstream D&D. Noki said: 3) Are there groups that don't use video or voice chat and rely on typing instead? My internet connection isn't the greatest and I'd like to practice my English writing skills while playing (and I really don't like talking via phone and the likes). Thank you and cheers! (I'm sorry if anything I wrote is unclear, it's been quite some time for me since I wrote in English) There are play by post games that are text based and there are live games that are text based also but they are scarce. I run and play in a few play by post and I'm lurking in a text based game also. Good luck and I'm making the assumption that you are german but I could be wrong.

If you are German there is caer-elassyr game but I don't know anything about it since I can't read it.

Metroknight has some good advice. Be sure to check out the Roll20 Wiki for all sorts of information on using the table top. The Looking For Group Listings do indeed include games that are looking for players who aren't experienced. We have some excellent GMs here who sometimes run one-shot or short campaigns designed to help new players get some experience. You can also check out the Looking for Group Forums for more postings about games. It's pretty common to find other people new to table top games looking to build or find a group. There are also plenty of play-by-post or text only games out there. Most GMs will let you know in advance. As for what game system to start with, I think it's actually easier to figure out what sort of genres you are interested in and go from there. Do you like standard fantasy games? Steampunk? Cyberpunk? Gritty, modern settings? There are hundreds, if not thousands, of game systems out there covering pretty much any kind of genre you can imagine. You can even find a number of systems that have their rules free on the web so you can take a look at them without sinking in the money to buy a book. Last, but not least, welcome to Roll20!

Thank you very much! Yes, Metroknight- I am in fact German but as I said I'd actually prefer English games. I guess it couldn't hurt to play a game in my native language just to pick up the basic mechanics. Thank you for the suggestions, I'll look into them. (@Sarah A.) Because I grew up with the Black Isle and Bioware games I'd like to play in the Forgotten Realms setting (simply for the fact that I know at least a bit about races, locations, alignments, factions and so on... even if the knowledge is outdated, it's a start). On the other hand I really enjoy post apocalyptic settings like the Fallout series (pre-Bethesda). I know that the great Chris Avellone worked on a Fallout PnP system although I have no idea if this was finished or is being played. I really liked Planescape: Torment for its atmosphere and the general emphasis on believing, willpower and all the philosophical themes. I also loved the way the settings were connected with each other. I can't think of anything else right now, but thank you! Edit: With its atmosphere I mean Planescape's 'strange' approach to fantasy, that is a more metaphysical and philosophical perspective (the examples of willing somebody out of existence or the Githzerai shaping Limbo with their minds come to mind) rather than the typical high fantasy themes of battling evil kings or sorcerers.

Noki, it sounds like you've got a pretty good idea of what you're interested in. Planescape is a really cool setting, and it's quite possible you might find some people playing in it here. I seem to remember spotting some Fallout RPG games on the Looking For Group Forums too -- though I confess I can't remember what system they were using. I definitely recommend taking a look around and seeing if you find something that catches your interest. Many of the GMs here are more than happy to help players learn a system as they go. Don't be afraid to ask if it's something that you're interested in.

Noki, if you don't find anything like a Planescape or Fallout game, I might have room in my upcoming D&D campaign re-boot. It's all European players, but it's also definitely a traditional medieval fantasy setting. So it may not be anything you'd be interested in. Let me know!

Noki, I encourage you to stop worrying about setting knowledge. Your background in the computer game version of certain settings really wont help with most tabletop games set in those settings. Most groups will be making stuff up more than they are referring to setting rulebooks. If you found a Planescape game for example, it's very likely the GM may have dropped or changed many of the things you are familiar with. Not to mention that the computer version will be different in significant ways from the tabletop version anyway. There's a huge variety of different tabletop games, with similar themes to those you are interested in, as well as wildly different ones. Try not to get locked into a too-limited idea of what you want.

When it comes to RPGs I like to think of what kind of character I want to play. I keep this simple, a sneaky cunning person, a big loud talkative person, a charming polite character. Don't worry about races or professions. Once you join a group you will be told the world they are set in and the types of character needed. Once you have that start to see the character. Start to invent a backstory, where did you come from, what do you want to achieve, what are you good at. Then you can talk to the person running the game and start adding numbers to it all. Almar the charming merchant is much easier to put numbers to then just a generic traveller. Think about who you want to be. Think about the kind of game you want to play. Try to find out what the other players will be playing as. If the others are geared for a combat game and you are set up for a political game, you might get frustrated with things. Also be flexible and be ready to experiment. Some of the most memorable moments come from trying something new.