Hey all and I know I know google it blah blah but I'm asking here because I want to talk to an actual person about it. I haven't played D&D before and am starting with a table of players who also haven't played D&D before, they're picking up the player's handbook(I think) but I'm not totally sure what I'm supposed to do. Should I have the Dungeon Master guide? Should I have both? Moreover- where am I meant to even start? Is there a way I am supposed to go about setting it up or do I just wing it? Sorry if I'm not being clear, but I really don't have any idea of what to do.
I have bought the "Stormwreck Isle" or such adventure as I thought that may be a good place to start, but I'm not really sure what I'm supposed to do with it haha. Thanks for any help guys.
Hi, welcome to the wonderful world of Dungeons and Dragons!
the Dungeon master’s guide, while useful, isn’t necessary at all. It contains lots of tips and advice for playing, but things are a lot easier when you are playing a premade adventure (such as Stormwreck Isle)
if you plan on starting with Stormwreck isle, you should probably quickly skim over it to get a general sense of what it’s about. Each of your players should have a character to use when playing the game, which might be a bit difficult if you haven’t played before (it can be a bit overwhelming) but there are plenty of guides you can find online for character creation. (Stormwreck isle may also come with premade characters, but I’m not sure.)
Adventures like Stormwreck isle basically give you a story for the player’s characters to follow, divided into chapters (probably, again, I do not personally own Stormwreck isle and I know it’s a shorter adventure) and you, the DM, will sort of run the story for the players, describing what happens when they do something, and playing as npcs and monsters!
when it comes to preparing, you should probably know generally what is going on in the adventure, what you’re planning on having your players do, and just make sure you understand what is going to be happening in the adventure.
This is very long, but if you have any more questions/ I didn’t cover everything, I can answer them!
Hi, thankyou so much! Stormwreck Isle does come with a few premade characters which I thought about making them use, but I think everyone felt a little creatively shut-down as a result so I might just let them make their own characters. Do you think I should be picking up the player's handbook, then? And if you wouldn't mind I noticed that the 2024 edition of the game is currently being released, should we be using that and its books? Or would 2014 be a better choice. I know some people prefer 2014 but I thought if we were going to have to swap in the near future it might be better to bite the bullet now? Either way, thanks again for your help!
Stormwreck isle was made before the 2024 editions of the player’s handbook and dungeon master’s guide came out, but the versions are compatible and very similar.
if one of your players has the player’s handbook, you might not need it, but if nobody else does then it might be good to get it. A lot of the stuff is free online (and on dndBeyond) but the handbooks do have a lot of stuff exclusive to them.
I Personally like both the 2014 and 2024 versions, but other people do prefer 2014, some prefer 2024.
Stormwreck isle and everything coming with it is the 2014 version, but either edition should work mostly alright with it.
If I run my campaign through dndbeyond, and I purchase the player's handbook do you know if my player's will be able to read it? or is it totally exclusive to my profile? I heard someone discuss it awhile ago but don't remember the answer.
I’m actually not entirely sure how sharing works, you might have to have a paid account for that (which I don’t have) but I could be entirely wrong, sorry!
If I run my campaign through dndbeyond, and I purchase the player's handbook do you know if my player's will be able to read it? or is it totally exclusive to my profile? I heard someone discuss it awhile ago but don't remember the answer.
If at least one of the group (doesn't have to be you as DM) has a master tier subscription to DDB you can all share the books any of you have bought, so one can pick up the digital Players Hand Book, another the digital Monster Manual, one an adventure and so on. Helps to spread the costs. Things to stress though for a first timer is that buying physical copies doesn't unlock the digital copy on here (separate products, like buying a novel and not getting the audio book) and you all need to be in a D&D Beyond campaign together to share. You'll also need to be in a campaign to create characters using shared material, if you create a character outside the campaign you'll just get the basic free material.
As for the 2014 versus 2024 question if you're all just starting out I'd honestly get the 2024 books. As Archfey said the two versions are mostly cross compsatible and very similar but I've personally found the 2024 books much better laid out and they do a better job of walking new players through things like character creation
Yes, I wish you luck sir, though you do not know me, have playing quote on quote "The world's greatest rolpelaying game!" May your Monday session be fun! It sounds like you have a great set up, and it is very i would say noble of you to be a DM. For many, you don't want to be a DM, you just become one. Good luck and remever above all, it is meant to be a good time.with friends, so while rules and stuff are there to help.play be more organized and fun, don't get to flustered if things start to go off book story wise. Creativity and imagination are what make D&D what it is, so enjoy the story you tell your players, but also enjoy the story they tell you as you help them discover.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
I have made a huge homebrew setting that I am still working on putting here in DDB. Please give me feedback, I want to know all of what I am doing wrong, and what I am doing right. The thread is a huge work in progress, so everything in it from content to layout is subject to change. Please check this forum:Welcome to Zionderia
Also I have a fun thread that explores an idea about dreams based off the movie Inception. I still need to add the link but stay tuned.
At least, that is on the less technical side and more on the heart and soul side lol.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
I have made a huge homebrew setting that I am still working on putting here in DDB. Please give me feedback, I want to know all of what I am doing wrong, and what I am doing right. The thread is a huge work in progress, so everything in it from content to layout is subject to change. Please check this forum:Welcome to Zionderia
Also I have a fun thread that explores an idea about dreams based off the movie Inception. I still need to add the link but stay tuned.
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Hey all and I know I know google it blah blah but I'm asking here because I want to talk to an actual person about it. I haven't played D&D before and am starting with a table of players who also haven't played D&D before, they're picking up the player's handbook(I think) but I'm not totally sure what I'm supposed to do. Should I have the Dungeon Master guide? Should I have both? Moreover- where am I meant to even start? Is there a way I am supposed to go about setting it up or do I just wing it? Sorry if I'm not being clear, but I really don't have any idea of what to do.
I have bought the "Stormwreck Isle" or such adventure as I thought that may be a good place to start, but I'm not really sure what I'm supposed to do with it haha. Thanks for any help guys.
ProdigalClancy
Hi, welcome to the wonderful world of Dungeons and Dragons!
the Dungeon master’s guide, while useful, isn’t necessary at all. It contains lots of tips and advice for playing, but things are a lot easier when you are playing a premade adventure (such as Stormwreck Isle)
if you plan on starting with Stormwreck isle, you should probably quickly skim over it to get a general sense of what it’s about. Each of your players should have a character to use when playing the game, which might be a bit difficult if you haven’t played before (it can be a bit overwhelming) but there are plenty of guides you can find online for character creation. (Stormwreck isle may also come with premade characters, but I’m not sure.)
Adventures like Stormwreck isle basically give you a story for the player’s characters to follow, divided into chapters (probably, again, I do not personally own Stormwreck isle and I know it’s a shorter adventure) and you, the DM, will sort of run the story for the players, describing what happens when they do something, and playing as npcs and monsters!
when it comes to preparing, you should probably know generally what is going on in the adventure, what you’re planning on having your players do, and just make sure you understand what is going to be happening in the adventure.
This is very long, but if you have any more questions/ I didn’t cover everything, I can answer them!
Hi, thankyou so much! Stormwreck Isle does come with a few premade characters which I thought about making them use, but I think everyone felt a little creatively shut-down as a result so I might just let them make their own characters. Do you think I should be picking up the player's handbook, then? And if you wouldn't mind I noticed that the 2024 edition of the game is currently being released, should we be using that and its books? Or would 2014 be a better choice. I know some people prefer 2014 but I thought if we were going to have to swap in the near future it might be better to bite the bullet now? Either way, thanks again for your help!
ProdigalClancy
Stormwreck isle was made before the 2024 editions of the player’s handbook and dungeon master’s guide came out, but the versions are compatible and very similar.
if one of your players has the player’s handbook, you might not need it, but if nobody else does then it might be good to get it. A lot of the stuff is free online (and on dndBeyond) but the handbooks do have a lot of stuff exclusive to them.
I Personally like both the 2014 and 2024 versions, but other people do prefer 2014, some prefer 2024.
Stormwreck isle and everything coming with it is the 2014 version, but either edition should work mostly alright with it.
If I run my campaign through dndbeyond, and I purchase the player's handbook do you know if my player's will be able to read it? or is it totally exclusive to my profile? I heard someone discuss it awhile ago but don't remember the answer.
ProdigalClancy
I’m actually not entirely sure how sharing works, you might have to have a paid account for that (which I don’t have) but I could be entirely wrong, sorry!
All good, thanks for all your help. There will be a goblin named in your honour
ProdigalClancy
Glory to the Goblin!
wait, what name would you give them if you were to honor me?…
I don't know... Barnaby?
ProdigalClancy
Perfection.
hope your game goes well!
If at least one of the group (doesn't have to be you as DM) has a master tier subscription to DDB you can all share the books any of you have bought, so one can pick up the digital Players Hand Book, another the digital Monster Manual, one an adventure and so on. Helps to spread the costs. Things to stress though for a first timer is that buying physical copies doesn't unlock the digital copy on here (separate products, like buying a novel and not getting the audio book) and you all need to be in a D&D Beyond campaign together to share. You'll also need to be in a campaign to create characters using shared material, if you create a character outside the campaign you'll just get the basic free material.
As for the 2014 versus 2024 question if you're all just starting out I'd honestly get the 2024 books. As Archfey said the two versions are mostly cross compsatible and very similar but I've personally found the 2024 books much better laid out and they do a better job of walking new players through things like character creation
Thanks for your help, I have picked up the 2024 handbook (and a master subscription trial) and we'll see how things go from there.
ProdigalClancy
Have fun, let us know how it goes
Will do.. we are starting monday :)
ProdigalClancy
Yes, I wish you luck sir, though you do not know me, have playing quote on quote "The world's greatest rolpelaying game!" May your Monday session be fun! It sounds like you have a great set up, and it is very i would say noble of you to be a DM. For many, you don't want to be a DM, you just become one. Good luck and remever above all, it is meant to be a good time.with friends, so while rules and stuff are there to help.play be more organized and fun, don't get to flustered if things start to go off book story wise. Creativity and imagination are what make D&D what it is, so enjoy the story you tell your players, but also enjoy the story they tell you as you help them discover.
I have made a huge homebrew setting that I am still working on putting here in DDB. Please give me feedback, I want to know all of what I am doing wrong, and what I am doing right. The thread is a huge work in progress, so everything in it from content to layout is subject to change. Please check this forum: Welcome to Zionderia
Also I have a fun thread that explores an idea about dreams based off the movie Inception. I still need to add the link but stay tuned.
At least, that is on the less technical side and more on the heart and soul side lol.
I have made a huge homebrew setting that I am still working on putting here in DDB. Please give me feedback, I want to know all of what I am doing wrong, and what I am doing right. The thread is a huge work in progress, so everything in it from content to layout is subject to change. Please check this forum: Welcome to Zionderia
Also I have a fun thread that explores an idea about dreams based off the movie Inception. I still need to add the link but stay tuned.