re: Anyone here ever play Dungeons and Dragons? (DnD)

I've played DnD off and on for years (since college), and have recently picked up 5th edition as well -- and will be starting a group soon.

As for a starting class, a basic fighter, barbarian, or rogue would probably be easiest -- but really, the point of these style of games, is to play something you want.

What type of character do you picture yourself as?

As others have mentioned, the key thing is the overall group. Try not to be jerks to each other and have fun. Also, don't get too emotionally attached to your characters as some may die along the way.

Have you read any fantasy book or watched any fantasy movies? (ie lord of the rings, or something like that?)


These games are very open ended, so you and your group have a lot of freedom in what you can do.

Hey Bandits, here geaux my 2 bits on D&D: if no one has explicitly stated this I think it's helpful to view D&D as a theatrical social activity. Calling D&D a "game" versus a social activity *might* create inaccurate expectations about the experience.

I think of D&D as interactive, story telling by committee; where the published rules (Players Handbook, Monster Manuals, etc.. ) are the etiquette, protocol and narrative flow.

As for who does what; there are 2 kinds of positions in D&D games: the players and the DM. The DM has to prepare the adventure, curate the experience for the players and narrate the story as it unfolds. During the run of the adventure, the DM acts as the referee: arbitrating when dice rolls must occur and what modifiers are applied. The players each control the fate of a character in the story.

The level of seriousness is mostly determined by the DM (most things in a D&D game are, because 99% of the work and responsibilities falls on the DM's shoulders). So, to play D&D you must first find someone willing to serve as DM or become a DM yourself.

How are Paladins?

Has anyone played one?

What personality traits did you give him?

I'm curious about this class considering it is a fighter, cleric hybrid.

I have always been of the opinion that Paladins are extremely boring. Though I have not played 5e, so things may have changed.

I am partial to Clerics, myself. My very first time playing back in middle school I rolled a cleric. I'm sure they have some sweet kits in 5e.

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I'm not sure what you mean by character traits.

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Basically how did you play him in the game personality wise?

I've been listening to the podcast, Dungeon Masters Block and they keep talking about how OP the ranger class is. Maybe it won't be easy but you could increase your chance for survivial.

From my understanding 5e (I haven't played) is a big step into getting back the goodwill of the community after the 4e debacle.

Go in with an open mindset be creative.

Since it's a house group don't be afraid to go against RAW (rules as written)

For example in my Pathfinder (dnd 3.75) group, I decreed potions as a move action by default. All money is gp (gold pieces). Certain feats like mobility and dodge are rolled into one package.

Wizards of the Coast has a good stranglehold on 5e right now so it's going to be hard to get third party sites having all the info for you right there. But you can probably still glean some info and fun ideas from 3.5e sites.

As a GM I like to reward creative thinking. If a player puts some good role or something creative into his action then the roll to confirm it might get a little bonus. Nothing sucks more than constantly sitting there and doing the same attack.

Talking is a Free Action.

Rule of Fun and Rule of Cool should be the bywords.

And this is a tip for a new GM, start small in scope. No need to have a campaign from the get go or just go with a level 3-5 module.

I can sit down at my friend's house chug a few beers and hammer out a few hours worth of content for us in 30 mins. And that's an important thing to remember the game is made of Us, the GM and the players. Honestly the player to your right has more villain capacity than the GM.

Fun things I've done in recent games for my players.

A Bounty Guild that used magical coins to track their members' kills. They had one left as the city was under attack and the local Duke ordered the coffers open to hire as many hunters as they could. So my players ended up with the last coin. Which they then had to play catch with (they each rolled a d20 for catching and throwing with the DC being based on distance. If they missed I rolled to determine direction and location of the misthrow) as they went hog wild on vampiric mists, skeletons, vampires, and flame drakes. (They called it a night before arriving at their favorite tavern, found it destroyed by a group of skulks the next day)

I gave them potions to disguise their scent from Flesh Golems, they didn't read the labels, now the fighter has a scorpion claw for a hand, multifaceted eyes that attract him to bright light and the bottom of his spine is starting to tingle. He knocked out the NPC that provided these potions and that could explain the mad scientist had a way to corral the golems. So now they are w/o that tidbit to help them progress.

These same characters didn't torch a troll they "killed". So now I plan to have it regenerate and harass them.

Other characters of theirs have trained owlbear cubs to pull a chariot made from their mom. After buying a token that turns into a giant tree when you say the magic word, put that token into a boss character's mouth and said the magic word. Customized a pistol to also be a hand crossbow. By retarded luck 3 of them took over a Goblin Kingdom. One of them immediately swam around in the gold like Scrooge McDuck.

Edit: My favorite as a player moment recently, we encountered a witch that could kill by your name. Two of the players, a ranger and a bard, gave their character's name. The rogue and I, the barbarian, both gave the bard's name. The paladin said nothing and the ranger by GM coin-flip was chosen as the name.

Used to Play/GM in college, got tired because the last group I played with was 75% That Guys. A few years back a neighbor wanted to try, so we wrangled up a group of friends that were mostly new players, and I've been GMing/coaching him on GMing since.

A lot of this is trial and error. You may come up with something that sounds good on paper but in the end is a chore to play or is so based on one mechanic that's all it can do. Get feedback.

And especially when starting out don't get too attached to a character(edit: this doesn't mean don't get into your character, just know that the culling happens, and it will come for one or maybe all of you.). Death at low levels is a critical strike away. Death at high levels is not keeping a potion at your belt for defending against an element, healing, etc.

Keep an extra character as backup.

Character Generator

Again I haven't played 5e, but finding stuff like the above is a good way to go.


I'm looking forward to having my house back after rebuilding. I've been having a pompous dandy of an orc who speaks in an Indian (dot) accent just waiting to make them go wtf.

Awesome explanations and tips in general Brannigan.

is the modifier more important than the overall score?

Lets say I have a Paladin with 17 STR and +3 modifier. The modifier is what matters with rolls. What is the significance of the 17?