Attention all Dummies!!!

Archived from groups: rec.games.frp.dnd (More info?)

On Fri, 18 Mar 2005 06:42:55 GMT, Argentium Helm scrawled:

> I must say that I can't believe it, to have seen it:
>
> http://www.dummies.com/WileyCDA/Du [...] 84596.html
>
>

I spotted that yesterday on the WotC site. There seem to be Dummies books
for almost any activity now.

--
http://www.rexx.co.uk

To email me, visit the site.

Archived from groups: rec.games.frp.dnd (More info?)

Mere moments before death, Rexx Magnus hastily scrawled:
>On Fri, 18 Mar 2005 06:42:55 GMT, Argentium Helm scrawled:
>
>> I must say that I can't believe it, to have seen it:
>>
>> http://www.dummies.com/WileyCDA/Du [...] 84596.html
>>
>>
>
>I spotted that yesterday on the WotC site. There seem to be Dummies books
>for almost any activity now.

I'll be impressed when they publish "How to Write a Dummies Book About
Anything for Dummies".



Ed Chauvin IV

--
DISCLAIMER : WARNING: RULE # 196 is X-rated in that to calculate L,
use X = [(C2/10)^2], and RULE # 193 which is NOT meant to be read by
kids, since RULE # 187 EXPLAINS homosexuality mathematically, using
modifier G @ 11.

"I always feel left out when someone *else* gets killfiled."
--Terry Austin

Archived from groups: rec.games.frp.dnd (More info?)

How in the hell do you get 432 pages of Dummies advice
for beginning D&D players? I wonder if they just reprinted
the rulebooks...

A newbies guide for D&D isn't a bad idea at all, really.
Ideally, though, it would look like GURPS Lite - a much
shorter and simpler version of the rules - and not a
432 page behemoth.

Anyone look at the boxed set beginner's rules that I've
seen here and there? If it has good rules and advice
for people completely new to RPGs I might have to pick
it up.

Pete

Archived from groups: rec.games.frp.dnd (More info?)

In news:3a0i72F624iojU1@individual.net,
Eyebyte <rbrouwer@rogers.com> typed:
> "and even move up in the hierarchy to become a Dungeon Master."
> Hmmmmmm. Just when did this hierarchy come about? Is there an
> initiation fee? A test?

Probably written by someone who knows next to nothing about either the book
or it's subject, like with most books backcovers.

--
T. Koivula

Archived from groups: rec.games.frp.dnd (More info?)

"Eyebyte" <rbrouwer@rogers.com> wrote in message
news:3a0i72F624iojU1@individual.net...
> "and even move up in the hierarchy to become a Dungeon Master."
>
> Hmmmmmm. Just when did this hierarchy come about? Is there an initiation
> fee? A test?
>
> Rich

Yes you didn't get the memo from DnD headquarters. I'll explain in brief
below.

All players must intern as players for anywhere from 5 months to a year
before being authorized to attend DM college.

DM college is a multi-year learning and enrichment experience. The
experience costs a mere 9,000 dollars a year and students leave with a
understanding of being a DM and what responsiblities that the title grants.
Nearly all of our graduating DMs soon move on to find groups. They have a
surprising level of campaign invovlement.

Other fees: There is a once time fee for starting DMs of 1,000 dollars, or
three virgins depending on what is available at the time.

Please let it be known that DM college is a serious academic environment.
The college has been a training ground for such important DMs as Bob, down
the street, Mary the closested pez collector, and Ralph "Roll that d20 again
please" Thomas.

You can also visit our website or call our toll free number to see if you
have what it takes to be a DM.

Archived from groups: rec.games.frp.dnd (More info?)

Andy wrote:
> "Argentium Helm" <argentiumhelm@yahoo.co.uk> wrote in message
> newsLu_d.45079$ZO2.12471@edtnps84...
> >I must say that I can't believe it, to have seen it:
> >
> >
http://www.dummies.com/WileyCDA/Du [...] 84596.html
> >
>
>
> I just saw this on the site:
>
> "and even move up in the hierarchy to become a Dungeon Master."
>
> What hierarchy? All you need to DM is a rough knowledge of the rules
and a
> good idea.
>

Hell you don't even need the good idea, there's plenty of pre-printed
adventures around. Some of them are even good.

You might actually better off starting with no knowledge of the rules
as well. It took me longer to adjust to 3.0 than most new players who
hadn't played previous editions.

- justisaur.

Archived from groups: rec.games.frp.dnd (More info?)

Andy wrote:

> "Argentium Helm" <argentiumhelm@yahoo.co.uk> wrote in message
> newsLu_d.45079$ZO2.12471@edtnps84...
>
>>I must say that I can't believe it, to have seen it:
>>
>>http://www.dummies.com/WileyCDA/DummiesTitle/productCd-0764584596.html
>
> I just saw this on the site:
>
> "and even move up in the hierarchy to become a Dungeon Master."
>
> What hierarchy? All you need to DM is a rough knowledge of the rules and a
> good idea.

The latter is the rarity.

Archived from groups: rec.games.frp.dnd (More info?)

Mere moments before death, Peter Meilinger hastily scrawled:
>
>How in the hell do you get 432 pages of Dummies advice
>for beginning D&D players? I wonder if they just reprinted
>the rulebooks...
>
>A newbies guide for D&D isn't a bad idea at all, really.
>Ideally, though, it would look like GURPS Lite - a much
>shorter and simpler version of the rules - and not a
>432 page behemoth.

Have you ever read a ...for Dummies book? 432 pages of fairly large
print, many diagrams and such surrounded by good sized margins. And
this is not just a reprint of the rules, it's a guide to playing the
game. Without even reading it, I'm sure it goes into some of the more
esoteric aspects, such as who brings the chips.



Ed Chauvin IV

--
DISCLAIMER : WARNING: RULE # 196 is X-rated in that to calculate L,
use X = [(C2/10)^2], and RULE # 193 which is NOT meant to be read by
kids, since RULE # 187 EXPLAINS homosexuality mathematically, using
modifier G @ 11.

"I always feel left out when someone *else* gets killfiled."
--Terry Austin

Archived from groups: rec.games.frp.dnd (More info?)

Justisaur wrote:
[...]
> You might actually better off starting with no knowledge of the rules
> as well. It took me longer to adjust to 3.0 than most new players who
> hadn't played previous editions.

That is only true for people who have only ever played
various flavours of D&D. Someone whose past experience
includes AD&D, RuneQuest, GURPS, WEG's Star Wars and maybe a
couple other systems, will have no difficulty wrapping his
head around 3.0.

--
Peter Knutsen
sagatafl.org

Archived from groups: rec.games.frp.dnd (More info?)

Mere moments before death, Peter Knutsen hastily scrawled:
>
>Justisaur wrote:
>[...]
>> You might actually better off starting with no knowledge of the rules
>> as well. It took me longer to adjust to 3.0 than most new players who
>> hadn't played previous editions.
>
>That is only true for people who have only ever played
>various flavours of D&D. Someone whose past experience
>includes AD&D, RuneQuest, GURPS, WEG's Star Wars and maybe a
>couple other systems, will have no difficulty wrapping his
>head around 3.0.

Nobody who can read and think effectively should have any trouble
wrapping their head around 3.x.



Ed Chauvin IV

--
DISCLAIMER : WARNING: RULE # 196 is X-rated in that to calculate L,
use X = [(C2/10)^2], and RULE # 193 which is NOT meant to be read by
kids, since RULE # 187 EXPLAINS homosexuality mathematically, using
modifier G @ 11.

"I always feel left out when someone *else* gets killfiled."
--Terry Austin

Archived from groups: rec.games.frp.dnd (More info?)

On Fri, 18 Mar 2005 15:29:03 -0500, Werebat <ranpoirier@cox.net>
gibbered into the void:

>
>
>Ed Chauvin IV wrote:
>> Mere moments before death, Rexx Magnus hastily scrawled:
>>
>>>On Fri, 18 Mar 2005 06:42:55 GMT, Argentium Helm scrawled:
>>>
>>>
>>>>I must say that I can't believe it, to have seen it:
>>>>
>>>>http://www.dummies.com/WileyCDA/DummiesTitle/productCd-0764584596.html
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>>I spotted that yesterday on the WotC site. There seem to be Dummies books
>>>for almost any activity now.
>>
>>
>> I'll be impressed when they publish "How to Write a Dummies Book About
>> Anything for Dummies".
>
>"Terrorism for Dummies"
>
>"Running the Country for Dummies"
>
>"Welfare Fraud for Dummies"
>
> - Ron ^*^

They're way ahead of you...

http://nowscape.com/Bush_dummies.htm

Archived from groups: rec.games.frp.dnd (More info?)

Ed Chauvin IV wrote:
>
> Nobody who can read and think effectively should have any trouble
> wrapping their head around 3.x.

Doubtful considering even its writers don't always get it.

Archived from groups: rec.games.frp.dnd (More info?)

Mere moments before death, Ophidian hastily scrawled:
>Ed Chauvin IV wrote:
>>
>> Nobody who can read and think effectively should have any trouble
>> wrapping their head around 3.x.
>
>Doubtful considering even its writers don't always get it.

What makes you believe they can all think effectively?



Ed Chauvin IV

--
DISCLAIMER : WARNING: RULE # 196 is X-rated in that to calculate L,
use X = [(C2/10)^2], and RULE # 193 which is NOT meant to be read by
kids, since RULE # 187 EXPLAINS homosexuality mathematically, using
modifier G @ 11.

"I always feel left out when someone *else* gets killfiled."
--Terry Austin

Archived from groups: rec.games.frp.dnd (More info?)

Peter Meilinger wrote:
> How in the hell do you get 432 pages of Dummies advice
> for beginning D&D players? I wonder if they just reprinted
> the rulebooks...
>
> A newbies guide for D&D isn't a bad idea at all, really.
> Ideally, though, it would look like GURPS Lite - a much
> shorter and simpler version of the rules - and not a
> 432 page behemoth.
>

I'd say the SRD and the stuff on Wizard's site/EN World is enough to
give people an idea of what the game is about. For free, no less.

> Anyone look at the boxed set beginner's rules that I've
> seen here and there? If it has good rules and advice
> for people completely new to RPGs I might have to pick
> it up.
>

Archived from groups: rec.games.frp.dnd (More info?)

Geoff Watson wrote:
> "Rump Ranger" <buttpirate@fadmail.com> wrote in message
> news:1111895834.173963.111000@o13g2000cwo.googlegroups.com...
> >
> > Peter Meilinger wrote:
> > > How in the hell do you get 432 pages of Dummies advice
> > > for beginning D&D players? I wonder if they just reprinted
> > > the rulebooks...
> > >
> I guess it's more 'Roleplaying for Dummies' rather than just
> D&D.
>
> > > A newbies guide for D&D isn't a bad idea at all, really.
> > > Ideally, though, it would look like GURPS Lite - a much
> > > shorter and simpler version of the rules - and not a
> > > 432 page behemoth.
> > >
> >
> > I'd say the SRD and the stuff on Wizard's site/EN World is enough
to
> > give people an idea of what the game is about. For free, no less.
> >
> If you already know about roleplaying in general.
>

There's some good intros out there on the web if one looks. The FAQ
for this group is well written for anyone interested in the game.