Dragon Of Icespire Peak is an excellent starter module that does a good job of introducing how to play both as a PC and DM. Just don’t get too worried about rules, don’t be afraid to adjust the story on the fly, encourage people new to tabletop gaming to think beyond fighting (“would you like to investigate the room or check for traps?”) and make whatever adjustments you feel are right to make sure everyone is having fun.
The basic rules can be downloaded for FREE. Give them a brief once over.
It's cooperative play, not a contest between you and the players. You set the scene, and the players give you their reactions. Let them do silly things. Kids are used to games that have limits and rails so giving them the opportunity to do whatever they want will be new and exciting.
I suggest searching YouTube for the series "D&D with high school students." This is a series in which a high school teacher who has played D&D since the 70s teaches teenage kids who have never played D&D before, how to play. It will give you a sense of how D&D is actually played, which can be helpful before you try to run a game.
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WOTC lies. We know that WOTC lies. WOTC knows that we know that WOTC lies. We know that WOTC knows that we know that WOTC lies. And still they lie.
Because of the above (a paraphrase from Orwell) I no longer post to the forums -- PM me if you need help or anything.
The Starter set kit is also another great way to get started. Both the Starter set and the Essentials Kit/set include: a rules booklet, an adventure, one set of dice.
The Starter set also includes pre-generated characters. The Essentials Kit does not, but guides new players in making their first characters.
I know that the Starter set adventure (Lost Mines of Phandelver aka LMOP) is written for new DMs: it “holds you hand” more in the beginning and gradually hands the reigns more over to you. Your final goal in that adventure is known/stated from the beginning; it will take many hours to reach the end. Not sure if you could get through it in a week, which might leave the players disappointed.
The Essentials Kit adventure (Dragon of Icespire Peak) is set in the same town/region, but as I understand it is more about individual quests that aren’t as tightly story driven; ending in the “middle” likely wouldn’t feel as unfinished. Unlike the Starter adventure, I’ve not run the Essentials Kit adventures, so I don’t know how much help it provides new DMs. The essentials kit also contains “sidekicks,” which are companions for the players’ main characters. These are helpful for smaller groups.
If you choose the Starter Set, be sure to read the backstories for the pregenerated characters, as all of them have hooks/connections to some part of the adventure. Pay particular attention to the Rogue’s backstory: you will need to do some thinking ahead of time about how to work with that backstory. This is one downside of an other wise excellent starter set: DMs are not warned about this fact, nor are they given ideas about how to navigate the challenges the rogue’s backstory presents. There’s actually a ton of role-play potential there, so the backstory is not a bad thing, just something you have to plan for. I can provide more details and some suggestions if you decide to go that route.
One thing I allude to above, but should spell out: which of these two adventures to go for (if you are thinking of one of them) also probably depends on how many players there will be. I am assuming from your post that you will be the DM. If only 2 or 3 grandsons are coming, I’d suggest the Essentials kit, because it is designed to accommodate smaller groups and offers the sidekicks option. The Starter kit adventure, while excellent, assumes 4-5 players and doesn’t provide any help for scaling down for fewer players.
You can start with the free content available on DDB. That includes the Basic Rules & SRD as well as the content from the Elemental Evil Players Companion. Here are also some free adventures you can use:
If everyone is having fun, even if you are not following the rules, you’re doing it right.
During a game session, if you cannot find a rule in under a minute, don’t worry. Just make a decision, let your players know that’s what you’ve done and tell them you’re going to look it up before next session.
it’s okay to make mistakes, everyone makes mistakes.
It turned out great we are all waiting for our next game. The Boys didn't get to come( because of the virus) but we found someone to DM a game on the computer for us and now we are all hooked....lol
I have my Grandsons coming for a week and we all want to start a game but none of us have played before. Any Suggestions on how to get started?
Dragon Of Icespire Peak is an excellent starter module that does a good job of introducing how to play both as a PC and DM. Just don’t get too worried about rules, don’t be afraid to adjust the story on the fly, encourage people new to tabletop gaming to think beyond fighting (“would you like to investigate the room or check for traps?”) and make whatever adjustments you feel are right to make sure everyone is having fun.
The basic rules can be downloaded for FREE. Give them a brief once over.
It's cooperative play, not a contest between you and the players. You set the scene, and the players give you their reactions. Let them do silly things. Kids are used to games that have limits and rails so giving them the opportunity to do whatever they want will be new and exciting.
And of course:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-YZvLUXcR8&list=PLlUk42GiU2guNzWBzxn7hs8MaV7ELLCP_
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1wV-KWE3e9jDXFUWCSDfVmc708QTU1fPl/view
"Sooner or later, your Players are going to smash your railroad into a sandbox."
-Vedexent
"real life is a super high CR."
-OboeLauren
"............anybody got any potatoes? We could drop a potato in each hole an' see which ones get viciously mauled by horrible monsters?"
-Ilyara Thundertale
My advice would be to first read this: https://www.dndbeyond.com/essentials
It's a quick reference sheet for the most commonly used rules
Everyone should read the second chapter of the basic rules, if the first link didn't help explain enough: https://www.dndbeyond.com/sources/basic-rules
Because none of you have played before, I'd suggest starting with a pre-written adventure
I suggest searching YouTube for the series "D&D with high school students." This is a series in which a high school teacher who has played D&D since the 70s teaches teenage kids who have never played D&D before, how to play. It will give you a sense of how D&D is actually played, which can be helpful before you try to run a game.
WOTC lies. We know that WOTC lies. WOTC knows that we know that WOTC lies. We know that WOTC knows that we know that WOTC lies. And still they lie.
Because of the above (a paraphrase from Orwell) I no longer post to the forums -- PM me if you need help or anything.
Thank you will check it out now
thank you
Thanks Wysperra will check them out. have untill the 14 th of August to get ready.
Sounds good Margaret22 thank you
The Starter set kit is also another great way to get started. Both the Starter set and the Essentials Kit/set include: a rules booklet, an adventure, one set of dice.
The Starter set also includes pre-generated characters. The Essentials Kit does not, but guides new players in making their first characters.
I know that the Starter set adventure (Lost Mines of Phandelver aka LMOP) is written for new DMs: it “holds you hand” more in the beginning and gradually hands the reigns more over to you. Your final goal in that adventure is known/stated from the beginning; it will take many hours to reach the end. Not sure if you could get through it in a week, which might leave the players disappointed.
The Essentials Kit adventure (Dragon of Icespire Peak) is set in the same town/region, but as I understand it is more about individual quests that aren’t as tightly story driven; ending in the “middle” likely wouldn’t feel as unfinished. Unlike the Starter adventure, I’ve not run the Essentials Kit adventures, so I don’t know how much help it provides new DMs. The essentials kit also contains “sidekicks,” which are companions for the players’ main characters. These are helpful for smaller groups.
If you choose the Starter Set, be sure to read the backstories for the pregenerated characters, as all of them have hooks/connections to some part of the adventure. Pay particular attention to the Rogue’s backstory: you will need to do some thinking ahead of time about how to work with that backstory. This is one downside of an other wise excellent starter set: DMs are not warned about this fact, nor are they given ideas about how to navigate the challenges the rogue’s backstory presents. There’s actually a ton of role-play potential there, so the backstory is not a bad thing, just something you have to plan for. I can provide more details and some suggestions if you decide to go that route.
One thing I allude to above, but should spell out: which of these two adventures to go for (if you are thinking of one of them) also probably depends on how many players there will be. I am assuming from your post that you will be the DM. If only 2 or 3 grandsons are coming, I’d suggest the Essentials kit, because it is designed to accommodate smaller groups and offers the sidekicks option. The Starter kit adventure, while excellent, assumes 4-5 players and doesn’t provide any help for scaling down for fewer players.
Trying to Decide if DDB is for you? A few helpful threads: A Buyer's Guide to DDB; What I/We Bought and Why; How some DMs use DDB; A Newer Thread on Using DDB to Play
Helpful threads on other topics: Homebrew FAQ by IamSposta; Accessing Content by ConalTheGreat;
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You can start with the free content available on DDB. That includes the Basic Rules & SRD as well as the content from the Elemental Evil Players Companion. Here are also some free adventures you can use:
https://www.dndbeyond.com/quarantine
My top three pieces of advice for a new DM:
Welcome to D&D!!
Creating Epic Boons on DDB
DDB Buyers' Guide
Hardcovers, DDB & You
Content Troubleshooting
HOLY SHITE!!
None of us prior mentioned that you're going to need DICE.
You Need Dice. Get a set for everybody. It's going to cost a little bit but it really is best for everybody to have their own.
"Sooner or later, your Players are going to smash your railroad into a sandbox."
-Vedexent
"real life is a super high CR."
-OboeLauren
"............anybody got any potatoes? We could drop a potato in each hole an' see which ones get viciously mauled by horrible monsters?"
-Ilyara Thundertale
The DDB character sheet has an integrated dice rolling feature now. One only need buy mathrocks if one actually prefers them.
Creating Epic Boons on DDB
DDB Buyers' Guide
Hardcovers, DDB & You
Content Troubleshooting
That's making the presumption that all the players will have a device. And the DDB dice are slow as hell.
"Sooner or later, your Players are going to smash your railroad into a sandbox."
-Vedexent
"real life is a super high CR."
-OboeLauren
"............anybody got any potatoes? We could drop a potato in each hole an' see which ones get viciously mauled by horrible monsters?"
-Ilyara Thundertale
It turned out great we are all waiting for our next game. The Boys didn't get to come( because of the virus) but we found someone to DM a game on the computer for us and now we are all hooked....lol