New, Looking for Teacher

I really do want to learn how to play DnD, I'm willing to work really hard. I've always wanted to learn and I'm done waiting for friends who say they will teach me, but never get around to it. I already have a character sheet, have a cam and mic and all that, I just need a teacher who would be willing to work with me. Any suggestions or someone who would be willing to take me under their wing would be much appreciated. 

<a href="http://app.roll20.net/forum/post/70586/stellar-winds#post-70606" rel="nofollow">http://app.roll20.net/forum/post/70586/stellar-winds#post-70606</a>

I'm looking more for a teacher, but sounds awesome none the less.&nbsp;

We'll teach you how to RP. Though wont' be d20 / or 4.0, we rolling with GURPS now.

I'll be honest, I don't even know what that means...

we may have a spot for pathfinder. &nbsp;We play every other week, usually around 7pm MST to about 10:30-11:00pm, on Wednesdays. &nbsp;Most of our players used to play DnD alot, and are now getting back into it, so they are are learning the rules as well.&nbsp;

Sent PM (private message)

I'm not sure what pathfinder is? And I'm looking for something of a small group if posisble?

I am also new to the game and looking for a group. I'm a bit further behind however, as I don't have a character sheet yet...Don't know where to find one. In short, supernoob here wants to play some D&amp;D.&nbsp;

Here is some advice I gave another new person: "I'd suggest sharing a little more information with any experience you have, such as what systems and versions you've played, unless you're completely new to tabletop rpg and roll20? If that is the case and you are the type that learns by reading, then you could check out something like <a href="http://www.d20srd.org/" rel="nofollow">http://www.d20srd.org/</a> for the basics of the d&amp;d 3.5 system.Then... If you're new to roll20 and experienced with tabletop rpg systems, there is an overview video <a href="http://help.roll20.net/player-overview/" rel="nofollow">http://help.roll20.net/player-overview/</a> and help section <a href="http://help.roll20.net/" rel="nofollow">http://help.roll20.net/</a> you can browse until you find a group.&nbsp; Up top there is a looking for group search that can help you find a group available similar times to you and your friend and geared towards new players. Put in key words (such as D&amp;D or 3.5) that match your interest, times if your scheduled is restricted, and keep an eye out for ones geared towards new players. When you apply, let the GM know the experience levels I'd said to share up top, also if you have a specific play style (roll playing, kick in the door/hack and slash, if you enjoy puzzles, etc...). A single game session geared towards new players will get you on your feet and started. It takes more prep work and familiarization with tools to DM, so I'd get some experience with the interfaces before launching your own full scale campaign."

Also, if you want to join a newb group, check out this thread: <a href="http://app.roll20.net/forum/post/69245/d-and-d-3-dot-5-for-beginners-one-off#post-70320" rel="nofollow">http://app.roll20.net/forum/post/69245/d-and-d-3-dot-5-for-beginners-one-off#post-70320</a>

I'd probably be very roll playing style, I'd prefer puzzles over hacking and slashing.&nbsp; Krev said: I am also new to the game and looking for a group. I'm a bit further behind however, as I don't have a character sheet yet...Don't know where to find one. In short, supernoob here wants to play some D&amp;D.&nbsp; Hey Krev, if you wanna pair up with me, we could try and find a DM that will work with us Newbs haha. I have a friend who might also want to join us too, but he's farther ahead then both of us.&nbsp;

Hope this helps Rules Pathfinder rules: <a href="http://www.d20pfsrd.com/" rel="nofollow">http://www.d20pfsrd.com/</a> D&amp;D version 3.5 rules: <a href="http://www.d20srd.org/" rel="nofollow">http://www.d20srd.org/</a> Core mechanics are very similar between the two. 4th edition doesn't have a free rules site I believe due to licensing. Character sheets If you have Microsoft excel, make sure to enable macros <a href="http://www.nzcomputers.net/heroforge/" rel="nofollow">http://www.nzcomputers.net/heroforge/</a> Pathfinder character sheet <a href="http://www.pathfinderdb.com/character-sheets/static-character-sheets/93-official-pathfinder-rpg-character-sheet" rel="nofollow">http://www.pathfinderdb.com/character-sheets/static-character-sheets/93-official-pathfinder-rpg-character-sheet</a> 3.5 / D20 character sheet <a href="http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/dnd/charactersheets" rel="nofollow">http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/dnd/charactersheets</a>

Michael M. is throwing out a lot of good resources, but in my opinion the best way to learn how to play D&amp;D is to learn by doing with a patient DM. Once the daunting task of making a character for a new player is done I feel the rules are a lot more organic to teach a player as they try to do something and what they tried to do would fit into the rules. For Example: DM will give you an example of the surrounding with battle map usually (unlikely in non threatening situations), and a &nbsp;description of the area you're in. &nbsp;"You're in a cavern 20 feet long with torches lightning the path every 10 feet. You stand on a ledge 5 feet wide with a dark chasm over it. As you go further and further into the cave the path narrows for about 5 feet. What do you do?" -dm "Ok my monk, Hercules, the monk, will just try to jump the narrow part and continue along." -player "Roll a 20 sided die and add your jump skill (Athletics if you're playing 4e aka the newest edition)" -dm *Player rolls a 20 sided die to try to beat a DC (Difficulty Check) made by the dm. In this case a 5 foot jump isn't a big deal a DC of 10* "Ok I got a 13 with my skill modifier!" -Player "You Succeed" -DM&nbsp; "Hercules leads the narrow part of the cave and continues on into complete uncertainty!" -Player

I agree with Zachary concerning having a patient DM or gamemaster. It has been my experience that players generally learn better by doing. Do a little homework on the genre (horror, sci-fi, fantasy, etc..) and system (d20, Pathfinder, 4e, star wars, etc..) you want to play. Most rpg systems are built around a specific genre. There is no "right" system, all rpgs have their strengths and weaknesses. Pick one and roll with it. In the past I have told potential players to come up with a character concept that fits the genre your playing. A peasant girl developing strange magical powers, a disgraced squire, a paranoid scholar, an daring pirate; find something you want to play. Flesh out the character concept. What do you love/hate? What does your character desire? Money, power, fame? Give your character some personality to such a degree that you could take a personality and answer questions as the character. Once you get a handle on what you want to play find a way to build it in the system you are going to play. Most DMs and gamemasters have their own specific rules for character creation, but the basics are usually the same. Pick a race and a class in any order. Assign ability scores and skills. Buy some equipment. So in short, find what you want to play, do a little homework on the system and jump right in. The DM and other players should be able to get you playing with little or no diffculty.

D&amp;D 3.5 is a very complete set of rules that may be daunting to learn at first, like Zachary said, most of us started of raw and oblivious with a DM asking us to pretend to be someone in a set of circumstances and eventually telling us to roll a die whenever we wanted to "do stuff" I find that to be the very best way to begin. After this introduction period it is not that difficult to pick up the Players handbook and read the rules. Despite the fact that many "veteran" players never done any of that outside of reading anything that makes their character more powerful. Reading the rules is not a good way to start playing but it is an excellent way to understand how things happen after you do. Its about 35 pages the part that deals with skills, combat and how magic works, which makes me amazed that so many people i know avoid it like they would an assignment on nuclear physics. Anyone interested in getting that first hand experience can send me a PM, i'll also clarify any doubts you may have regarding the rules once you get to that stage.

Michael brought up a great point too in concept. Concept is what role playing games are about. Think of your character as if he/she was a character in a show/movie, make them interesting! What their motivations are, much like a real person gives them this "depth" so to speak. Things like this will make your game much more enjoyable for you and your game master because without these flavorful details that actually help tell the story in role playing games it's all just mechanical dice rolls. (Which hell I've seen some people say they like playing just the dice)

A lot of people have sent me things about joining in games and stuff like that, but honestly, I think I just need a DM and a few others to play with at this time. I already have a character sheet set up, I just need help with the michanics first. Will someone just take some time to teach me (and maybe ONE or TWO others) the basics?&nbsp;

Do you know which version of DnD you have a character sheet for ?( I didn't see it mentioned, probably 3.5 or 4 ) &nbsp;A DM will need to know that because some DMs will only use certain versions. &nbsp;You also might want to mention your time zone. &nbsp;Usually has a big impact on whether you can find a group or DM.

Those things Warren asked are rather important, but regardless, i'll teach you, np.

Player since 1979. D&amp;D has changed a lot over the years, but the fan base is ever growing. I am new to roll20 and got turned onto it by a friend who moved out of state but wanted to continue playing. The hardest thing about gaming is finding people you click with, so your introduction to a game with/without a doubt be an experience you might not soon forget, even 30 some odd years later. You might play with Game Masters or Dungeon Masters you really like and other you really won't like. Things you should look for in a GM/DM (1) Are you there to be part of the story or are you there to drive the story. I've found most players want to be entertained throw some dice, do a little combat and call it a night. But the player who strives to change the world around them get into their characters and bring them to life help drive a game into a campaign that I've seen last for several years. (2) Does the GM/DM work with you to develop you character or does he have a better idea of what your character should be doing. GM Input is nice and hopefully he won't just kill you to teach you that "separation&nbsp;kills". In other words when your in a group stick together as much as possible. Does the GM/DM try and change your character's character? Example: You write up a Paladin (highly morale fighter type) but all the GM/DM tries to do is tell you how much better it is to run an Anti-Paladin (fallen paladin). Both character's can be&nbsp;absolutely&nbsp;fun to play, but the decision on which way you want to play your character should be yours. Too much GM/DM&nbsp;interference and you start to feel that you're&nbsp;fulfilling&nbsp;his/her fantasy not your's. (3) Find like-minded players: This is the hardest aspect to role-playing games for most people including myself. It can be hard to find fellow players that after a few hours you don't feel like wacking over the head with a sword yourself. I've booted more then a couple from my home for several reasons, and I've been asked to leave a game or two as well or just not invited back. Role-playing a character should start with a character background. Who is he? What made him that way? What drives him? And anything else you can think of to add meat to your character's background. Then during game play you'll better know how or what your character would do when faced with a wide&nbsp;variety&nbsp;of decisions. Most new players try and be "good" because that's the way they want to be treated, specially while learned the rules and general gist of the game mechanics. "Evil" characters are easier to play when all you care about is yourself and nothing and no one else matters. Not great to group with usually as rpg's are typically more about social challenges rather than selfish ones.&nbsp; Initially when you find a group the GM/DM will tell you this is the world system I'm running and he will tell you what classes and races are&nbsp;available. Once you pick one, say you want to play a little female halfling&nbsp;sorceress. Then you need to do a little research about halflings and about sorcerers. Than you are almost ready to start rolling stats and&nbsp;fleshing&nbsp;your character out. But before you throw any dice you should think more about why you want to play that character, what do you hope for her. Does she long to be a creator of golems so she can ride atop one and be a destructive force to be&nbsp;reckoned&nbsp;with? Or does she want to make golems to plow her farmlands and scare away, well just about everyone and everything? &nbsp;Now roll your dice or assign your stats or however your GM/DM wants to set you up to start filling out your character sheet. But your character should always be more to you than a page or two from a character sheet. Your character should have hopes and dreams, successes and failures, and always try and have your character grow whenever possible. Try not to pigeon hole your character at level 1, and remember to always try and change the world your character lives in&nbsp;rather&nbsp;than just be affected by it. I'm looking forward to learning the in's and out's of this virtual tabletop format, maybe I'll be able to reunite with gamers from back in the old days even though we're hundreds of miles apart now. &nbsp;

I'm CST, and 4 :) Thanks Warren!&nbsp;

Hi, Im running an predominantly 3.5 ongoing Forgotten Realms campaign. I have an opening for 2 Sundays a month from 7pm to 12 Midnight Eastern Standard Time. The characters are pre-generated. We'd love to have you join and we'll teach you the ropes. Private Message me if you are interested.