d&d beginner

Lefki · Post by **Lefki** » Fri Jun 05, 2009 8:15 pm

ok so im just getting into this whole thing of RPGs and such and i just bought the dnd 4th edition board game. i guess i got dnd coz its kinda popular since they show it in a lot of series and movies i watch. anw i really wanna learn how to play and i tried to understand by reading the booklet. i only got the basic idea but im still soooooo far away of understanding the game. so plssssss help me learn the game
cheers
Lefki

Siberys · Post by **Siberys** » Fri Jun 05, 2009 8:58 pm

What are you wanting to learn about it, and how much do you already know?

Lefki · Post by **Lefki** » Sat Jun 06, 2009 3:50 am

i know about the DM and the stuff that he does and i dont wann learn how to create players or creatures..the game has some already made...i just wann learn how to move, attack and that kinda stuff. coz the players have so many powers and stuff and i dont know how to use them and such..oh and how players gain levels and other stuff

GawainBS · Post by **GawainBS** » Sat Jun 06, 2009 4:03 am

It's all explained the in the Player's Handbook. Read through the basic rules, and then get a bunch of friends together to try out the game. You learn most of it by playing it.

Lefki · Post by **Lefki** » Sat Jun 06, 2009 4:15 am

we did but it didnt really work

Siberys · Post by **Siberys** » Sat Jun 06, 2009 5:22 am

GawainBS wrote:It's all explained the in the Player's Handbook. Read through the basic rules, and then get a bunch of friends together to try out the game. You learn most of it by playing it.

4th edition isn't written in the most user-friendly manner. Even with an experienced DM, it's hard to learn it right off the bat as to be honest, it's written like someone with Aspergers was the author.

@Lefki

Combat is rather complex, but here's a few things that'll help you understand how it works.

~A turn is one creature or player taking actions to do something in a round.
~A round is a six second time span with all players and creatures taking actions (effectively at once).
~For the most part, combat rules require a battle map with 1 inch squares and miniatures (or something to put on those squares at least).
~Moving is listed in either Feet or Squares (I forget which). If it's feet, 5 feet equals 1 square, meaning a speed of 30 feet is 6 squares. Diagonal movement is always counted as 2 squares/10 feet in 4th edition.
~Attacking works like nearly the rest of the game. You find all the modifiers to attack (base attack, strength or dexterity depending on weapon, bonus's from feats, magic items, etc) and roll a D20. Whatever you get on that D20, add the total of all your bonus's from magic items together.
~Critical hits occur if you attack and roll a natural 20 (meaning before any bonus's) on your D20. They usually do double damage, though you'll need to read up on how critical hits work in 4E.
~Your powers- Generally in combat, you'll be able to use one power per turn/round. At will means you have an infinite number of uses for that particular power. Per Encounter means you can use that power once per combat phase. Per day and Utility are all once per day (and you must rest for 8 hours before being able to use them again).
~After combat, you generally gain experience from fighting monsters. In 4E, each monster has a number of experience points it gives out, which it will say so at the top right of the table IIRC. For each monster, you simply add up all the experience points they give (if you defeat 6 monsters that all give 150 experience, that's basically 6 x 150) and then divide by the number of players in your party (if you have 3 players, 6 X 150 = 900, then divide that by 3 players, that's 300 XP per player).

Generally, that's the basics of combat in a nutshell.

GawainBS · Post by **GawainBS** » Sat Jun 06, 2009 5:37 am

Actually, wether you use STR, DEX, or something else to attack, depends on the power your using, not the weapon. A Wizard uses INT for his attacks, for example.
Criticals make an attack do maximum damage. No more doubling.

Lefki · Post by **Lefki** » Sat Jun 06, 2009 6:38 am

siberys that was quite helpful thx.ill gather some more info from the internet and try and play the game. if u have any more info let me know
cheers

Siberys · Post by **Siberys** » Sat Jun 06, 2009 3:31 pm

GawainBS wrote:Actually, wether you use STR, DEX, or something else to attack, depends on the power your using, not the weapon. A Wizard uses INT for his attacks, for example.
Criticals make an attack do maximum damage. No more doubling.

Glad you're here, I barely know any fourth edition. I only ever played it once for about a 10 hour session and never again, so I'm not too savvy on the rules.

Intelligence for an attack though is....kind of idiotic. Adding damage or a higher saving throw, perfectly fine, but aiming a ranged spell has always been dexterity and it made perfect sense for it to be DEX.

GawainBS · Post by **GawainBS** » Sat Jun 06, 2009 3:35 pm

Siberys wrote:Glad you're here, I barely know any fourth edition. I only ever played it once for about a 10 hour session and never again, so I'm not too savvy on the rules.

Intelligence for an attack though is....kind of idiotic. Adding damage or a higher saving throw, perfectly fine, but aiming a ranged spell has always been dexterity and it made perfect sense for it to be DEX.

I'm the last person to defend 4E, but that's the way it is. The Swordmage (think Fighter/Mage), a class from Faerun, even uses INT to attack & deal damage with swords.

As I see it, this is just another sign of 4E's dumbing down: each class has a stat tied to them for attack & damage and almost relies on it exclusively. Clerics use WIS, for example, while Paladins use CHA. What's that Paladin doing? Seducing his sword to strike harder?:speech:

Siberys · Post by **Siberys** » Sat Jun 06, 2009 4:30 pm

Actually...wouldn't that make the Paladin an Anime character? Think about it, a self righteous male or female wielding a big friggin sword who's attacks get stronger not by strength or skill but simple emotions like anger or sorrow.

"You stabbed my friend. I am so angry with rage that I can now go over 9000 to attack you!!!!!"

Lefki · Post by **Lefki** » Sat Jun 06, 2009 6:36 pm

see i dont even know a third of the stuff you guys are saying

GawainBS · Post by **GawainBS** » Sun Jun 07, 2009 1:52 am

Siberys wrote:Actually...wouldn't that make the Paladin an Anime character? Think about it, a self righteous male or female wielding a big friggin sword who's attacks get stronger not by strength or skill but simple emotions like anger or sorrow.

"You stabbed my friend. I am so angry with rage that I can now go over 9000 to attack you!!!!!"

It HAS to be something like that, no?

It gets even better if you take a close look at the Paladin's "tanking" mechanism. It says that this is a magical force that taunts the target to attack the paladin, wether or not the target understands a language or if it is mindless. However, we can't call 4E a Pen & Paper MMO.

Lefki, I never understood D&D after my first, second or third read-through. Keep reading & keep making characters and keep playing. That's the best way to learn it. If you have specific questions, ask away.

Siberys · Post by **Siberys** » Sun Jun 07, 2009 2:03 am

Yeah...don't get discouraged if you don't get it right away. Most people don't, it is a LOT of information to absorb all at once.

After a while though, if you keep playing, you will remember it. Right now I've been playing long enough that I don't even need the player's handbook to play one of the more complex class's like a Wizard or Rogue. I'm sure with 4th edition, it'll work the same way (though I still refuse to play it).

Impure13 · Post by **Impure13** » Mon Jun 08, 2009 8:02 am

Feel free to check out our other threads. They are all made to answer questions, to share ideas, and to help players enjoy the game even more.