My daughter was giggling listening to something on her iPad, so when I asked her what it was, she showed me. Some kind of D&D podcast.
I pointed her to the Acquisitions, Inc. podcasts from Penny Arcade and the PAX videos on YouTube, as they are highly entertaining.
Then she told me she wants to play D&D. And her friends might want to play. Keep in mind we're talking about 14-year-old girls here. I really, really do not want to be the 40-something guy DMing a game with 14-year-old girls.
I figure the best solution is to buy her a Basic set, but it's 150 goddamn dollars on Amazon. What. The. Hell?!?
Any recommendations from you more experienced D&D players? I still have my 1978 editions of the Player's Handbook and DMG, but nothing else.
Dunno what's up with the new D&D boxed reprints.
But you can find the D&D 5th Edition stuff on Amazon below retail prices. From what I gather, the 5th edition is much like the old pre-v3 AD&D stuff. I'm not an expert as I've not bothered with tabletop D&D since 3.0.
Notably, there is a 5th Edition "Starter Set" of the type that eases newcomers into it all with minimal reading, quick play scenario, dice, etc:
http://www.amazon.com/Dungeons-Dragons-Starter-Set-Roleplaying/dp/0786965592/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1432674413&sr=8-2&keywords=dungeons+%26+dragons+5th
Then the usual Player's & DM Guides, Monster Manual, etc is also easily available there at good prices ($25-$30 each).
Thanks, Nefaro. Just what I was looking for. I didn't even think about looking for '5th edition.' :-[
Quote from: Banzai_Cat on May 26, 2015, 04:55:35 PM
Thanks, Nefaro. Just what I was looking for. I didn't even think about looking for '5th edition.' :-[
5th Edition just came out. Maybe even less than 6 months ago..
Nearly all the reviews praise it for being a mix of the old 1st/2nd Editions with the best additions from later versions, without getting bogged down too much.
I'm not in a hurry to buy yet
another D&D edition after my last set (3.0) because the WotC jackanapes turned around and re-released it as 3.5 in almost no time and my set was already dated. But from the sounds of it, 5th Edition may be the rule set that sticks.
I believe there is a 100-page Starters guide pdf available for download from WotC so I will eventually check it out. Just bought a handful of other unusual RPGs so those will keep me busy for awhile. :)
this sounds like a podcast topic :)
Quote from: bayonetbrant on May 26, 2015, 05:59:13 PM
this sounds like a podcast topic :)
D&D is probably a popular podcast topic. You might draw some extra attention, here, if you hosted it.
"D&D for 14-year old girls. And how?" ;D
I had been eyeballing the 5th Edition Starter set at Walmart for several months. About a month ago, it was on sale for ten bucks, so, I bought it. It comes with a Players book and a DM/Adventure book, 5 pre-made characters and a bag of dice. I just opened it over the long weekend and I am going through it. If you have any questions, B_C, I'd be glad to answer them.
^ I take it this is in the Toys section? It's been years since I've been in a Wal-Mart, let alone its toy section.
It was in the express lane checkout at my local Wally World. The same place they keep all the CCG's and game/TV show related bobbleheads and gewgaws.
Ahh, okay, I think I know whereabouts that may be. When my son was little he loved Pokemon cards, and I'd grab him a pack or two from that display. Thanks, I might swing by there this week.
Excellent! Good luck. I always try to go early in the morning. Less people there to get in your way. ;)
Quote from: MetalDog on May 26, 2015, 08:31:02 PM
It was in the express lane checkout at my local Wally World. The same place they keep all the CCG's and game/TV show related bobbleheads and gewgaws.
LOL. I was an office manager at a supplier who provided that stuff to Wal-Marts and some other places in the Midwest, long ago. Back then it was mostly sports cards/collectibles and a smattering of CCGs. I hated dealing with the Wal-Martians. Luckily didn't have to do it much in my position.
Erm ...well you all sound like very experienced gamers , and I am a complete novice to this , but I'm going to stick my oar into the very murky and unclear waters of the gaming world , and hazard a suggestion :)
Does it have to be a new game banzai_cat ? Can you buy second hand in good condition , after all we are talking teenage girls , who may very well change thier minds after you've splashed the cash !!!
I'm talking from experience of having a teenage daughter myself , and it is a woman's prerogative to change her mind now innit . 😆
Quote from: Emeraldlis on May 27, 2015, 11:23:15 AM
Erm ...well you all sound like very experienced gamers , and I am a complete novice to this , but I'm going to stick my oar into the very murky and unclear waters of the gaming world , and hazard a suggestion :)
Does it have to be a new game banzai_cat ? Can you buy second hand in good condition , after all we are talking teenage girls , who may very well change thier minds after you've splashed the cash !!!
I'm talking from experience of having a teenage daughter myself , and it is a woman's prerogative to change her mind now innit . 😆
Welcome to the forum!
You certainly have a good point. Although I'm not sure how many second hand 5th Edition manuals are floating about for sale right now, since it was just released in the last few months. The ones being resold are probably going for almost as much as the new ones, I suspect, but he could get lucky in a right place-right time situation with some patience & perseverance.
I figured the Starter Set would probably be best, both for letting them test the waters and being newcomers to the whole thing. Easy on the wallet for a trial run, too.
Welcome to Grogheads,
Emeraldlis! Good to have you with us. :)
Quote from: Emeraldlis on May 27, 2015, 11:23:15 AM
Does it have to be a new game banzai_cat ? Can you buy second hand in good condition , after all we are talking teenage girls , who may very well change thier minds after you've splashed the cash !!!
Purchasing the gaming materials in used/good condition would indeed probably be close to the ideal, yes. I suspect, however, that it's generally very difficult (and probably outright impossible most of the time) to actually do so.
Most folks I know very rarely (read: never) sell their books, sheets, etc., for any gaming system such as
Dungeons & Dragons. Instead, they almost always either hold onto them indefinitely, or give them away to someone else. I'm aware of a few instances in which a person actually sold their gaming materials to another person, but that's the exception to the rule...and I've never personally heard of anyone selling their gaming stuff to a retail establishment for eventual resale. I've no doubt others have done this, but I suspect it's not that common.
Hi guys ,
Thanks for the great welcome , on board what I suspect is a very male dominated arena !! Why I can almost smell the testosterone from here ...amongst other things !
Yep my gaming knowledge is limited , so thanks for steering me in the right direction here . I had no idea that D&D gamers held on to their stuff so fastidiously . But I'm here to learn , and hopefully contribute something that makes sense sometime soon :D
Although ....and this is going to sound crazy ....I'm not into war gaming per se .....don't lynch me yet please !! I am intrested in military history and strategy games . And I've been listening to the grog cast which seems to cover a lot of topics I am intrested in , Star Wars for example , and I just bought Istanbul after listening to one of those episodes , I know I'm a lesser gamer , ( mirth ,I think may have said that !) but it made me feel comfortable enough to join the site and hang around , and throw my two pennies worth in every once in a while ! So if you don't mind me being in the hallowed ground of the forum , I'll ...err....dodge out of the way of the surly looking sullen body guard type guarding the gateway , sidle over to the edge of the arena ....camouflaged of course , in the latest army green , very fetching ...and watch on with great intrest , and no doubt much curiosity at the comings and goings on of you ....erm...gaming gladiators :)
Thanks again for making a newbie feel welcome :)
If you are just getting started, I would download the 5e free rules from WoTC first and go from there. My 16yo daughter runs a play by post game for some of her school friends, all girls, using 5e and they seem to like it. Most of them have never heard of it until my daughter brought it up. She's been playing since she was 8 and my 11yo son since he was 5. We mostly play just here at home to pass time during cold winter weather on weekends, kind of our family game nights.
Emeraldlis, welcome to the forums! Very cool of you to listen to the podcasts. Even cooler of you to think it was worth joining the forums after hearing us :)
And I have to say, Martok is spot on. I don't know of any D&D gamers that willingly part with their stuff. I still have all the stuff I've collected since I was 10.
Thanks metal dog :)
The podcasts are great fun to listen to , you guys all seem to enjoy yourselves on there discussing your various gaming passions . Between you all ...and the cool editing with all the various sound clips , it manages to be a fantastic show every week . I haven't heard one I didn't like yet !
I like the fact that actual different members of the forum take part each week , and you all seem to know each other with all the banter going on which is fun to listen to . So yeah I thought it was about time after 12 weeks of listening and reading in the forums that I join in ! But really well done to you all who've been a part of the grog cast ...you've kept my intrest , and I'm sure I'll keep listening in , I'm a fan :)
And wow , you've had your D&D stuff since you were ten , what is it about that game that draws people in ? You must have good memories of it if your still keeping hold of the game , or maybe it's just nostalgia for "the good old days " !! Although I'm beginning to understand that gamers REALLY do not like to let go of anything , which is kind of intresting , and I'm wondering why that is , maybe you'll cover that in a grog cast 😉
Bunch of hoarders!
I'm guilty, too, of course.
However.. I do occasionally see the odd used RPG at my local game store. I think they are mostly much older versions, however.
You can probably come across some used stuff on Ebay but if they're the latest versions, still in popular use, I think the bids usually drive the cost up almost right to the price for new ones at Amazon (especially considering the exorbitant shipping costs on many Ebay offers).
I've picked up a few Adventure, Board, and Wargames on Ebay but it was usually when there were quite a few being resold at the same time so competing bids didn't drive them up so high. That's rare for the good ones, however.
In the beginning, it was the passion for a new hobby that kept me collecting. After a while, it became, "I don't want to let go of my childhood and the good times I had playing this." Now, it's become, "I've had this stuff for 30+ years and I'll bequeath it to my kids!"
Hilarious , I hope you're not crawling round corridors of games piled high in your house up to the ceiling !
You know like the hoarders TV show , where they only have one foot of space between all there ...erm...prize possessions and the ceiling ! :D I hope ya don't need digging out !!
Boy your kids are gonna love you when you hand them there inheritance , HOPEFULLY :D
My youngest has already laid claim to the books and the RPG stuff. The rest? It's two men enter, one man leaves.
Quote from: Emeraldlis on May 27, 2015, 03:20:43 PM
Thanks for the great welcome , on board what I suspect is a very male dominated arena !! Why I can almost smell the testosterone from here ...amongst other things !
There's definitely some 'other' things there :)
Quote from: Emeraldlis on May 27, 2015, 03:20:43 PMYep my gaming knowledge is limited , so thanks for steering me in the right direction here . I had no idea that D&D gamers held on to their stuff so fastidiously .
RPGers are among the worst hoarders out there - largely because the games never really go out of date, and it's not like some technical upgrade makes them unplayable.
Quote from: Emeraldlis on May 27, 2015, 03:20:43 PMBut I'm here to learn , and hopefully contribute something that makes sense sometime soon :D
If you start making too much sense, you'll
really stick out
Quote from: Emeraldlis on May 27, 2015, 03:20:43 PMAlthough ....and this is going to sound crazy ....I'm not into war gaming per se .....don't lynch me yet please !! I am intrested in military history and strategy games .
What we call "wargaming" is probably what you're thinking of with "military history and strategy games". We have some FPS guys in the crowd, and some real-time guys in the crowd. But many of us are more methodical, thoughtful, intelligent, and good-looking turn-based gamers 8)
Quote from: Emeraldlis on May 27, 2015, 03:20:43 PMAnd I've been listening to the grog cast which seems to cover a lot of topics I am intrested in , Star Wars for example , and I just bought Istanbul after listening to one of those episodes , I know I'm a lesser gamer , ( mirth ,I think may have said that !) but it made me feel comfortable enough to join the site and hang around , and throw my two pennies worth in every once in a while !
Glad you're enjoying the GrogCast! We had no idea what we were getting into, but that's not stopping us from doing it O0
Our gaming fandom runs pretty wide, so there are a lot of different games we're going to talk about - from RPGs, to FPS, to Warhammer, to 2500 lead Russians on the gym floor.
Quote from: Emeraldlis on May 27, 2015, 03:20:43 PMSo if you don't mind me being in the hallowed ground of the forum , I'll ...err....dodge out of the way of the surly looking sullen body guard type guarding the gateway , sidle over to the edge of the arena ....camouflaged of course , in the latest army green , very fetching ...and watch on with great intrest , and no doubt much curiosity at the comings and goings on of you ....erm...gaming gladiators :)
Please dive in and join the chatter! It's like a cold swimming pool - the best move is often to just jump right and get the initial freeze over with ;D
Quote from: Emeraldlis on May 27, 2015, 03:20:43 PMThanks again for making a newbie feel welcome :)
We try! We occasionally succeed :D
That was a great rundown there brant of my gaming thoughts!
It looks like I've started out on the slippery road to game hoarding myself ..oh well , I'll embrace it with geeky open arms , and join the bunch of thoughtful , intelligent , good looking gamers ;)
Quote from: Emeraldlis on May 28, 2015, 05:20:09 AMand join the bunch of thoughtful , intelligent , good looking gamers ;)
well, two out of three ain't bad :D
Quote from: Emeraldlis on May 28, 2015, 05:20:09 AM
It looks like I've started out on the slippery road to game hoarding myself ..
At some point, you'll start needing more shelves. And more shelves. :crazy2:
More SHELVES !! Good grief , this is getting awful serious :o
Quote from: Nefaro on May 27, 2015, 06:56:01 PM
Bunch of hoarders!
I'm guilty, too, of course.
As am I. :P
Hell, for any computer game I've purchased in the last 20 years where I own a physical copy, I generally still have the box (and assorted contents). This is true even for games where I later picked up a digital copy as well (so I wouldn't have to worry about the disk). ::)
Quote from: MetalDog on May 27, 2015, 07:03:09 PM
In the beginning, it was the passion for a new hobby that kept me collecting. After a while, it became, "I don't want to let go of my childhood and the good times I had playing this." Now, it's become, "I've had this stuff for 30+ years and I'll bequeath it to my kids!"
Same here -- except for that last one, of course. I have no kids, and in most cases, I'm too young to have owned anything for 30 years regardless. (It's a nice thought for down the line, though.) 8)
Quote from: Emeraldlis on May 28, 2015, 02:51:03 PM
More SHELVES !! Good grief , this is getting awful serious :o
That reminds me: I really need to get a second bookshelf. The one I have is so over-crowded it's ridiculous. :buck2:
Well, MD, I just checked out the local Wally World and they didn't have it. Online, it is available for just a hair under $12, and their in-store pickup said there wasn't a copy at a Wal-Mart within 50 miles. I'll probably just break down and order it online.
Quote from: Martok on May 28, 2015, 04:19:51 PM
Quote from: Emeraldlis on May 28, 2015, 02:51:03 PM
More SHELVES !! Good grief , this is getting awful serious :o
That reminds me: I really need to get a second bookshelf. The one I have is so over-crowded it's ridiculous. :buck2:
Me too. That came to mind when the "hoarder" thing came up. ;D
One huge shelf case. Two moderate-sized bookshelves and a smaller one. And I still need more!
Time to start selling some of my tabletop games, maybe? Or just buy another big shelf! ???
Quote from: Nefaro on May 28, 2015, 04:40:20 PM
Time to start selling some of my tabletop games, maybe?
(https://www.grogheads.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fct.fra.bz%2Fol%2Ffz%2Fsw%2Fi58%2F2%2F8%2F17%2Ffrabz-Blasphemer-471559.jpg&hash=04b621aa07bcb410f631ac1e20e8103d4a9541ca)
Quote from: Banzai_Cat on May 28, 2015, 04:50:58 PM
Quote from: Nefaro on May 28, 2015, 04:40:20 PM
Time to start selling some of my tabletop games, maybe?
(https://www.grogheads.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fct.fra.bz%2Fol%2Ffz%2Fsw%2Fi58%2F2%2F8%2F17%2Ffrabz-Blasphemer-471559.jpg&hash=04b621aa07bcb410f631ac1e20e8103d4a9541ca)
+100
Really guys don't sell a game , sell a limb !! Only make sure it ain't your gaming hand ;)
Here I was thinking you were all hard core hoarders !
Quote from: Banzai_Cat on May 26, 2015, 03:49:09 PM
Any recommendations from you more experienced D&D players? I still have my 1978 editions of the Player's Handbook and DMG, but nothing else.
Late to this party, but have you taken a gander at any of the OSR ("Old School Revival,") clones of the D&D rules - both "Basic," and "Advanced," flavored - that are out there nowadays? There are more than a few free ones available and it would be using a system you are familiar with. The to-pay-for OSR rules that are available are pretty dang good too in terms of production.
I ask as you didn't mention them, so forgive me if I'm covering something you already know about - I don't want to be "that guy."
Or, if newer rules are more to your liking, you can't go too far wrong with Savage Worlds (a generic sort of rules-set) and one of their theme sourcebooks, or the 3rd Ed. d20 D&D spawned "Castles and Crusades."
Hope this helps!
I have heard good things about Castles and Crusades but I have never played it. When TSR/WoTC moved on from 2e AD&D I dropped D&D and went to Rolemaster and Harnmaster as my table top RPGs although I did flirt with OSRIC for a short time in the last few years.
Having been away from D&D for many, many years, I picked up 5e just to see what all the fuss was about. IMHO, it's actually pretty good. I really like the Advantage/Disadvantage mechanic but not real keen on the backgrounds and characteristics. All my backgrounds are homebrewed for my preferred world and generally I let the players come up with their own characteristic type stuff.
C&C is a great game, and a nice throwback, but I suspect DD5e is going to really cut into their audience.
All sorts of free stuff discussed here, including a bunch of the old-school stuff discussed above
http://grogheads.com/forums/index.php?topic=12169.0
I happen to really like Savage Worlds, and the basic 'starter' book is only $10 (https://www.peginc.com/store/savage-worlds-deluxe-explorers-edition/), so it's not like it's a huge investment. That site also includes a PDF of the quick-start rules you can check out
Quote from: bayonetbrant on May 29, 2015, 05:45:17 AM
C&C is a great game, and a nice throwback, but I suspect DD5e is going to really cut into their audience.
I can't speak for face to face tabletop but in the VTT area 5e is having a really strong showing. On the Fantasy Grounds boards I have noticed a large number of those coming in are more of old school age range (in their 40's and older). Had 2 in their 60's looking for games the other day, really old, old school. :coolsmiley:
Quote from: bayonetbrant on May 29, 2015, 05:45:17 AM
I happen to really like Savage Worlds, and the basic 'starter' book is only $10 (https://www.peginc.com/store/savage-worlds-deluxe-explorers-edition/), so it's not like it's a huge investment. That site also includes a PDF of the quick-start rules you can check out
I'm not familiar with the Savage Worlds system. But it's Dead Lands setting has always looked interesting. I'll probably check out
Dead Lands Reloaded at some point.
Deadlands predates Savage Worlds by several years but was later adapted to SW, just like Solomon Kane and Space: 1889.
Quote from: bayonetbrant on May 29, 2015, 08:45:41 AM
Deadlands predates Savage Worlds by several years but was later adapted to SW, just like Solomon Kane and Space: 1889.
Yeah, I know it's been around for awhile and with various game systems. I'm guessing the latest SW version is well-liked.
The Post-Apoc
Deadlands: Hell On Earth setting would probably fill a better hole in my library, though. I could use a Post-Apoc setting, and the extra "weirdness" is a bonus in that case.
Quote from: Nefaro on May 29, 2015, 09:20:38 AM
The Post-Apoc Deadlands: Hell On Earth setting would probably fill a better hole in my library, though. I could use a Post-Apoc setting, and the extra "weirdness" is a bonus in that case.
Goblinoid Games' "Mutant Future," which is based off of their Labyrinth Lord rules, hauls the old-school Gamma World feel for free into the 21st century.
On a more "serious', note, Sine Nomine games has a titled called, "Other Dust," that covers the post-apocalyptic environment without the whole gonzo Gamma World thing as a backdrop per se.
As an aside, I wholeheartedly offer up any of Sine Nomine's games for consideration as: 1. they give plenty of sandboxy options for a gm to run with - take a look at their "Stars Without Number," sci-fi rpg (another freebie) to see what I'm talking about. 2. the game system is pretty much OSR based, so its kind of like a common language for rpgers of a sort, but with its own particular twist. 3. the owner/author is out there on the boards and is not afraid to engage with the folks. 4. every time Kevin does a kickstarter, he already has 80-90% of the work done - his kickstarters pay for the art mostly - so you aren't paying money on the hopes that he starts writing (looking at you, Dwimmermount / James M. for a cock-up of colossal proportions). On a personal note, I do have a few Sine Nomine games, so my perspective is biased a wee bit.
Quote from: Dammit Carl! on May 31, 2015, 09:03:29 AM
Quote from: Nefaro on May 29, 2015, 09:20:38 AM
The Post-Apoc Deadlands: Hell On Earth setting would probably fill a better hole in my library, though. I could use a Post-Apoc setting, and the extra "weirdness" is a bonus in that case.
Goblinoid Games' "Mutant Future," which is based off of their Labyrinth Lord rules, hauls the old-school Gamma World feel for free into the 21st century.
On a more "serious', note, Sine Nomine games has a titled called, "Other Dust," that covers the post-apocalyptic environment without the whole gonzo Gamma World thing as a backdrop per se.
As an aside, I wholeheartedly offer up any of Sine Nomine's games for consideration as: 1. they give plenty of sandboxy options for a gm to run with - take a look at their "Stars Without Number," sci-fi rpg (another freebie) to see what I'm talking about. 2. the game system is pretty much OSR based, so its kind of like a common language for rpgers of a sort, but with its own particular twist. 3. the owner/author is out there on the boards and is not afraid to engage with the folks. 4. every time Kevin does a kickstarter, he already has 80-90% of the work done - his kickstarters pay for the art mostly - so you aren't paying money on the hopes that he starts writing (looking at you, Dwimmermount / James M. for a cock-up of colossal proportions). On a personal note, I do have a few Sine Nomine games, so my perspective is biased a wee bit.
Thanks.
I briefly check some info with the Sine Nomine stuff. I got the impression that the game mechanics were rather run-of-the-mill so haven't delved much further yet. Maybe I will.
So have you picked something to go with, Banzai_Cat?
I personally can't get my kids too interested in anything roleplaying which is a shame considering how much shelf space I've got dedicated to said hobby, so I'm curious to see how it goes for you.
I went ahead and ordered the Starter Set on Amazon today. It was only $12 and I got free shipping because I screwed up and accidentally signed up for Prime a couple of weeks ago (though I saw what I did and immediately cancelled it, kind of pissed me off because one errant click signed me up for a $99/year service that I didn't want or need). But, it gave me Prime through June 10. Should be here Thursday so my daughter can check it out.
I found my old (blue cover with the fighter, mage, and dragon on it) book and old Expert rules, but saw that the official Player's Handbook for 5th ed is almost fifty bucks at my local gaming store. We'll wait to see how much she and her friends like it.
I first got Amazon Prime mid last year, BC. What made me do it? I got sick of searching local stores for items they didn't have stocked, or weren't exactly what I wanted. After wasting time in too many fruitless searches for even menial items, I sold my soul to the Dark Amazon Queen.
After all the crap I've purchased there, however, it has already paid the initial investment off in shipping costs - and then some. Getting the extras such as movie & album streaming is just icing.
Regarding games.. I still buy the occasional game expansion & accessories (mostly paints, dice, etc) from the local game store, but the price difference on the games & books is obscene. Especially with the free 2-day shipping. Makes my game collecting addiction far too easy an indulgence.
If it were just me, I'd sign up for it in a heartbeat. My wife would have a conniption fit though if she saw a $99 charge to the card.
Nice. We need a trip report once you get it going. 5th ed. looks interesting, but I just cannot stomach a purchase of that level for what is effectively already on my shelves in 3 or 4 iterations in some form or another.
Used to be into RPGs a whole helluva lot more than I am today; every week was another GURPS book whether I really needed it or not, etc.
Nowadays, I limit my purchases to pdfs (less space and usually cheaper) or used (saving books from certain destruction). Also, I stick to a limited range of stuff as I know from experience what will get the most mileage; niche games are neat, but useless unless used.
B_C, convince the Mrs. that Prime will help with the Christmas shopping, or the perks of having Prime Music &/or Prime Video. If either one of you is a student, then I think its half price for a year's memebership.
Quote from: BanzaiCat on May 26, 2015, 03:49:09 PM
Then she told me she wants to play D&D. And her friends might want to play. Keep in mind we're talking about 14-year-old girls here. I really, really do not want to be the 40-something guy DMing a game with 14-year-old girls.
so what happened?
She's not playing. She lost interest pretty quickly once that summer ended.
Me, on the other hand...I joined a local group. I haven't played that often (work is getting in the way big time), but they recently changed nights so that might make things easier for me.