Back after a brief 33 year hiatus. At the request of my kids we sat down the other night to play a game. I ran out and picked up a set of the big 3 books at a used book store and sat down to try and refresh the old grey matter. Turns out I grabbed a set of 4th edition books. WOW! Big changes from my day. I’m old enough to remember the change of the original Dungeon Masters book cover art, so you can imagine my surprise at some of the new rules. We always played a pretty fast and loose version when I was a kid, so this really seemed much more structured and table top oriented.....almost board-gamey? I grabbed what I needed out of the books and from online, canned the rest, and they LOVED it. So mission accomplished, but I was curious what version of the game many of you all are running? I just located an estate sale online and they had all the old versions of each of the books, so I am working on rebuilding the library I lost to a flooded basement 16 years ago.
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Chaotic Good- Doing the right thing even if that means killing everyone else in the process.
If you’re coming from 1st edition, you’re going to find 5th much simpler to learn and to play (it’s also probably what your kids warned to play, even if they didn’t know it, since it’s the standard right now and if they are watching streams online, that’s what the streamers are playing). 5e is more streamlined and lends itself better to a big arching story, rather than the meatgrinder dungeon crawls of 1e. That is, it’s designed to let you do that more easily, you can still just run dungeon crawls if you like.
There are a lot of options for books. There are boxed starter sets, with simplified rules and fewer character options, depending on your kids age/level of engagement/your budget, this can be a good intro to make sure they like it. Otherwise there’s the classic trio of players handbook, DMG and monster manual. Xanathar’s Guide to everything will give you more player options. They have a few published, hardcover campaigns out there if you prefer that to home brewing. The Internet has decided that the one beginning with Horde of the Dragon Queen isn’t good, but you never know, you might like it.
The current edition, (and 3, 3.5 and 4th) tend to depend more on using a battle mat (plastic sheet with a 1-inch grid on it) and miniatures than 1st and 2nd did. While it’s very possible to play 5e theater of the mind style, it really works better with minis. Minis can also help pull the kids in more, since they can see what they’re doing and where their character is and what it looks like.
Awesome! Minis were really coming into their own as I was exiting the game. Glad to hear that 5e is a little more user friendly. They are wanting to play an ongoing game, so I managed to tie two adventures together from a Sly Flourishs book I picked up from Amazon. We are planning on continuing the game every couple of weekends so I’ve tried to leave some of the story facets open ended to keep the connection. I’ve hit up a few streams as well just to get an idea of how the game is being played now. Thanks for the advice!
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Chaotic Good- Doing the right thing even if that means killing everyone else in the process.
Your return experience sounds like fun. I will add that even though this site is geared towards 5e -- I know many people (including myself) who still enjoy 4e. 4e gets a lot of criticism (long story) and it does feel different. 5e -- to me -- feels like an improved version of 1e/2e. (3/3.5 were my least favorite edition from a DM's perspective).
Regardless,
If you don't go out an buy 5e and decide to stick to 4e, then I suggest you find a copy of the 4e's Dungeon Master Guide 2. It has a lot of utility independent of edition.
I.T.
- Monthly game play: 5e -- Tier III DDAL (Once in a Blue Moon V. Human Storm Sorcerer/Tempest Cleric 13th/1st lvl); Tier II Homegame Ravenloft: (Once in a Blue Moon (Eldritch Knight/Rogue 8th/1st lvl)). Weekly D&D 4e Homegame -- Kalashtar Star Pact Warlock (5th lvl). Former 4e PC (late 2015-late 2018 -- Storm Sorcerer and Avangion - 24th level).
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Hi all,
Back after a brief 33 year hiatus. At the request of my kids we sat down the other night to play a game. I ran out and picked up a set of the big 3 books at a used book store and sat down to try and refresh the old grey matter. Turns out I grabbed a set of 4th edition books. WOW! Big changes from my day. I’m old enough to remember the change of the original Dungeon Masters book cover art, so you can imagine my surprise at some of the new rules. We always played a pretty fast and loose version when I was a kid, so this really seemed much more structured and table top oriented.....almost board-gamey? I grabbed what I needed out of the books and from online, canned the rest, and they LOVED it. So mission accomplished, but I was curious what version of the game many of you all are running? I just located an estate sale online and they had all the old versions of each of the books, so I am working on rebuilding the library I lost to a flooded basement 16 years ago.
Chaotic Good- Doing the right thing even if that means killing everyone else in the process.
5th edition is the current version. This is what most people here will be playing and what content D&D Beyond sources.
Welcome back to the hobby.
If you’re coming from 1st edition, you’re going to find 5th much simpler to learn and to play (it’s also probably what your kids warned to play, even if they didn’t know it, since it’s the standard right now and if they are watching streams online, that’s what the streamers are playing). 5e is more streamlined and lends itself better to a big arching story, rather than the meatgrinder dungeon crawls of 1e. That is, it’s designed to let you do that more easily, you can still just run dungeon crawls if you like.
There are a lot of options for books. There are boxed starter sets, with simplified rules and fewer character options, depending on your kids age/level of engagement/your budget, this can be a good intro to make sure they like it. Otherwise there’s the classic trio of players handbook, DMG and monster manual. Xanathar’s Guide to everything will give you more player options. They have a few published, hardcover campaigns out there if you prefer that to home brewing. The Internet has decided that the one beginning with Horde of the Dragon Queen isn’t good, but you never know, you might like it.
The current edition, (and 3, 3.5 and 4th) tend to depend more on using a battle mat (plastic sheet with a 1-inch grid on it) and miniatures than 1st and 2nd did. While it’s very possible to play 5e theater of the mind style, it really works better with minis. Minis can also help pull the kids in more, since they can see what they’re doing and where their character is and what it looks like.
Have fun.
Awesome! Minis were really coming into their own as I was exiting the game. Glad to hear that 5e is a little more user friendly. They are wanting to play an ongoing game, so I managed to tie two adventures together from a Sly Flourishs book I picked up from Amazon. We are planning on continuing the game every couple of weekends so I’ve tried to leave some of the story facets open ended to keep the connection. I’ve hit up a few streams as well just to get an idea of how the game is being played now. Thanks for the advice!
Chaotic Good- Doing the right thing even if that means killing everyone else in the process.
I'm sure there are plenty of other sources out there, but Matt Coleville has a long running 5E How To? style series that is informative
I also recommend How to be a Great Game Master and Taking20 to learn a thing or two and get some input.
Let chaos rain... uh, reign!
Your return experience sounds like fun. I will add that even though this site is geared towards 5e -- I know many people (including myself) who still enjoy 4e. 4e gets a lot of criticism (long story) and it does feel different. 5e -- to me -- feels like an improved version of 1e/2e. (3/3.5 were my least favorite edition from a DM's perspective).
Regardless,
If you don't go out an buy 5e and decide to stick to 4e, then I suggest you find a copy of the 4e's Dungeon Master Guide 2. It has a lot of utility independent of edition.
I.T.
- Monthly game play: 5e -- Tier III DDAL (Once in a Blue Moon V. Human Storm Sorcerer/Tempest Cleric 13th/1st lvl); Tier II Homegame Ravenloft: (Once in a Blue Moon (Eldritch Knight/Rogue 8th/1st lvl)). Weekly D&D 4e Homegame -- Kalashtar Star Pact Warlock (5th lvl). Former 4e PC (late 2015-late 2018 -- Storm Sorcerer and Avangion - 24th level).