D&D Q&A
1. I heard there's role-playing. Is there role-playing?
Yes and no. There's as much role-playing as you want to put in to it. At first, it can be weird talking as your character, especially if you aren't used to it or if the rest of your party isn't willing. As your DM (dungeon master), it's my job to encourage role-playing from the whole group, but I won't go so far as to stress you out or make you talk "in character" the whole game. D&D is fun because it gives us time to relax and have fun; it shouldn't be the equivalent of Acting 101 at the University of Phoenix. Also, don't feel like your character needs to have a deluxe voice. My best advice: Do what feels comfortable to you.
2. What are the rules?
Oof. This is the complicated part. Your character can do whatever he/she wants...but within reason. As the DM, I will help steer you in the right direction until you feel comfortable. Also, an actual rule from the D&D Handbook is that the DM can change the rules to whatever she feels like, so there's that.
One of the biggest parts of D&D, however, is the adventuring (in a dungeons, for example) and the monsters (dragons, for example). While adventuring, your character will be faced with a series of challenges and/or obstacles. It is up to the group to make decisions about where to go and what to do.
Fighting monsters is a little tricky, especially if your character wields magic. See the "How to Combat" tab for more details on this aspect of the game.
One of the biggest parts of D&D, however, is the adventuring (in a dungeons, for example) and the monsters (dragons, for example). While adventuring, your character will be faced with a series of challenges and/or obstacles. It is up to the group to make decisions about where to go and what to do.
Fighting monsters is a little tricky, especially if your character wields magic. See the "How to Combat" tab for more details on this aspect of the game.
3. why Star Trek? I don't know Star Trek.
That's okay. You really don't have to be a Trekkie to play this particular campaign with us. The big Star Trek things I've sampled from are the races, the starships, and the planets. I'm even using D&D classes and monsters.
4. What are all these dice for?
Everything in D&D is based off of chance. The easiest way to determine if you succeed in an action is using dice. Your best friend will be your D20 (a dice with 20 faces). You will use this dice to determine everything from whether or not an attack succeeds to whether or not you climb a cliff face. Your skills and ability modifiers help you become more successful in different actions. For example, someone with a high strength ability will be more likely to swim across a great lake than someone with a low strength ability. Other dice (for example a D6 or a D8) will be used for other things, such as calculating the damage your weapon deals on a creature.
5. Wait, wait, wait. You're saying I have to buy dice now?
No, absolutely not. (Unless you want to. I, personally, have four sets of dice: red, yellow, green, and purple. They're pretty :D) In addition to the website we will be using (roll20.net), there are hundreds of dice roller websites online.
6. Do I have to download anything?
Nope! Roll20.net is a free-to-play website. However, I would recommend saving the player's handbook to your computer. It's quite useful. Here's one: http://www.aegisoft.be/costa/data/roleplay/D&D%203.5%20-%20Players%20Handbook%20%5BOEF%5D.pdf
7. I'm ready to make my character. Now what?
Great! Your character sheet can be accessed in the back of the player's handbook, or you can find one on your own online.
Here's the official one on the Wizards of the Coast website: http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/dnd/charactersheets
Next, e-mail me ([email protected]) and I can walk you through the process.
Then, go ahead and get your roll20.net account set up. Send me an e-mail ([email protected]) from that e-mail account and I'll invite you to our game.
Here's the official one on the Wizards of the Coast website: http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/dnd/charactersheets
Next, e-mail me ([email protected]) and I can walk you through the process.
Then, go ahead and get your roll20.net account set up. Send me an e-mail ([email protected]) from that e-mail account and I'll invite you to our game.
8. When do we start?
I don't know. September some time. And is Saturdays at 6 o'clock good for everyone? If not, we have some room to play around with that time.