Honestly, most of the time players just have like 3 or 4 sentences for a backstory. Which is really better most of the time as it lets you build out the character over time in the game. If that’s the only thing holding you back, you should give it a try!
You can get the Basic Rules online for free, which are enough to get started. If you want to get deeper into D&D though you’ll have to buy the Player’s Handbook, and probably also Tasha’s Cauldron and Xanathar’s Guide.
Then you should figure out if you want to play online or in-person. It’s much easier to find people to play with online but they don’t have the “vibe” of in-person games.
To find a group, there are several Discord servers, including the official one; there’s also r/LFG, though I’m not sure if they’re participating in the blackout or not; and you can look on Roll20 for online games, though from what I’ve heard that’s not a good option. For in-person games I can’t really help you.
If you’re going to play online, you’ll have to pick a VTT- virtual table top. Roll20 is the most popular one, and is quite simple. Foundry is the best one, but costs money. I don’t know much about the rest.
I think that for a beginner, a “one-shot” is a good way to learn the game. Basically a one-shot is an adventure that you’re supposed to finish in one session, instead of a campaign that might take dozens of sessions over months. It lets you dip your toes in without too much commitment. I’m part of this discord server for one-shots that is pretty good.
Also, consider that D&D is far from the only TTRPG (Table Top RolePlaying Game) system out there. Pathfinder 2E is the main competitor to D&D, it’s a pretty similar D20 based system, but it’s rules are more comprehensive and it’s run by a much better company (D&D’s parent company has done a lot of shady shit, including charging 3rd party creators ridiculously high royalty fees, mistreating their staff, and sending Pinkerton mercenaries to threaten a Youtuber who leaked a new expansion.)
Oh and also all the rules for PF2 are available completely for free with no strings attatched on Archive of Nethys.
This is really good information, thank you for taking the time to fill an outsider in :) I will definitely be going through this and investigating once I get home from work!
People to play with are the main issue, local game stores and hobby shops might have groups that are open to new players. As far as learning the game, the core rules are free in the 5th edition SRD. And there’s tons of material on YouTube for learning the game. Once you get a grasp of the basics, I find it best to watch YouTube games like Critical Role or Dimension20. Just keep in mind that these people are professional players/actors, so while their games are unscripted, they kind of set an unrealistic standard for the amount/level of roleplay in a normal game. It’s also worth looking into other game systems like Pathfinder2e to see what fits you the best.
Level 2. Most of the backstory regards learning about various scientific things like how to extract cholrine gas, the creation and use of gunpowder and cannons, crude biowarfare, anatomy and physiology, etc. Also the details of my pact and some of the interactions I’ve had with my patron, who I am slowly growing to distrust
Also created a short list of the various war crimes I was involved with between the ages of 8 and 12, as I was learning alchemy on the job
For my other characters I’ve played, I either don’t do a backstory or do a paragraph with potential plot points highlighted. A long backstory that nobody will read is more about maintaining the ritual circle of play, so we can all stay immersed when I decide to invent zeppelins or machine guns. I don’t pull shit like this in Adventurer’s League lol
Seconding Lutz’s point! I’m a pretty casual player so I tend to focus more on rolling dice for fun and interacting with NPCs. Other party members actually will attempt voices sometimes or have more integrated back stories with the actual places in the campaign. It’s definitely what you make of it!
I have never DND’d but this is Hilarios, It is actually part of the reason I have never participated. Too much stuff. Bravo though!
Honestly, most of the time players just have like 3 or 4 sentences for a backstory. Which is really better most of the time as it lets you build out the character over time in the game. If that’s the only thing holding you back, you should give it a try!
Hey! I appreciate your posts! Let’s say I want to get into DND, Are there any resources for such a person to peruse? It’s a big game after all.
You can get the Basic Rules online for free, which are enough to get started. If you want to get deeper into D&D though you’ll have to buy the Player’s Handbook, and probably also Tasha’s Cauldron and Xanathar’s Guide.
Then you should figure out if you want to play online or in-person. It’s much easier to find people to play with online but they don’t have the “vibe” of in-person games.
To find a group, there are several Discord servers, including the official one; there’s also r/LFG, though I’m not sure if they’re participating in the blackout or not; and you can look on Roll20 for online games, though from what I’ve heard that’s not a good option. For in-person games I can’t really help you.
If you’re going to play online, you’ll have to pick a VTT- virtual table top. Roll20 is the most popular one, and is quite simple. Foundry is the best one, but costs money. I don’t know much about the rest.
I think that for a beginner, a “one-shot” is a good way to learn the game. Basically a one-shot is an adventure that you’re supposed to finish in one session, instead of a campaign that might take dozens of sessions over months. It lets you dip your toes in without too much commitment. I’m part of this discord server for one-shots that is pretty good.
Also, consider that D&D is far from the only TTRPG (Table Top RolePlaying Game) system out there. Pathfinder 2E is the main competitor to D&D, it’s a pretty similar D20 based system, but it’s rules are more comprehensive and it’s run by a much better company (D&D’s parent company has done a lot of shady shit, including charging 3rd party creators ridiculously high royalty fees, mistreating their staff, and sending Pinkerton mercenaries to threaten a Youtuber who leaked a new expansion.)
Oh and also all the rules for PF2 are available completely for free with no strings attatched on Archive of Nethys.
This is really good information, thank you for taking the time to fill an outsider in :) I will definitely be going through this and investigating once I get home from work!
People to play with are the main issue, local game stores and hobby shops might have groups that are open to new players. As far as learning the game, the core rules are free in the 5th edition SRD. And there’s tons of material on YouTube for learning the game. Once you get a grasp of the basics, I find it best to watch YouTube games like Critical Role or Dimension20. Just keep in mind that these people are professional players/actors, so while their games are unscripted, they kind of set an unrealistic standard for the amount/level of roleplay in a normal game. It’s also worth looking into other game systems like Pathfinder2e to see what fits you the best.
This is great info, thank you! I might have to head to the local card shop and see what kinds of groups we have out in my area ;)
Normally I’d point you to Reddit, but uhhh
😂 totally understand that. I hope the community grows here so I can see what’s up!
I’ll look around later to see if I can find some resources to send your way!
I have a 7 page backstory that is still growing. This is mostly to justify why my character knows certain things.
What level are you starting at? If it’s a decently high level, then that’s understandable.
Level 2. Most of the backstory regards learning about various scientific things like how to extract cholrine gas, the creation and use of gunpowder and cannons, crude biowarfare, anatomy and physiology, etc. Also the details of my pact and some of the interactions I’ve had with my patron, who I am slowly growing to distrust
Also created a short list of the various war crimes I was involved with between the ages of 8 and 12, as I was learning alchemy on the job
I mean, you do you, but that’s like a lot of backstory for a level 2. If it’s fun for you and your table, then more power to you.
For my other characters I’ve played, I either don’t do a backstory or do a paragraph with potential plot points highlighted. A long backstory that nobody will read is more about maintaining the ritual circle of play, so we can all stay immersed when I decide to invent zeppelins or machine guns. I don’t pull shit like this in Adventurer’s League lol
Yeah man, I wasn’t hating. Like I said, if your table is having fun then more power to you.
Seconding Lutz’s point! I’m a pretty casual player so I tend to focus more on rolling dice for fun and interacting with NPCs. Other party members actually will attempt voices sometimes or have more integrated back stories with the actual places in the campaign. It’s definitely what you make of it!
That sounds cool. I just don’t have any experience with it. The barrier to entry seems high. Kinda like Lemmy to begin with.