I still have crib notes on my char. sheets as to which ones I want to roll over vs. under and which dice go with which thing. Thats, uh.... ten years later, I think (?). Maybe more. My brain is fuzzy these days.

It probably took me all of five game sessions to get the basic mechanics where I didn't have to ask constantly. Was that hard? At the time I was studying differential equations and applied automata theory, so in comparison - no, it wasn't

But I can't really say whether I thought -- as an RPG -- it was hard or not, since I've never really learned any other RPG. I played a little Gamma World and some Star Wars, where I had to ask on every dice roll, so that's all I have to compare it against. My experience in D&D is that someone in the group always knows the answer, so if I can't remember which die, I just ask and play continues. I did (and still do) have the good fortune to play with folks who are decades longer into the game than even I am.

I suppose I learned Cosmic Encounter faster, and that's a more difficult game with the mechanics changing -- but that's also a board game with all your specific rules written on a card that you keep in front of you. Maybe D&D could do something similar?

That's about all I could say on it.

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i have only played d&d once in my life it is hard to learn but once u learn it easy to rember i think except chosin feats i choose defelct arrows and toughness and im a dwarf.

in school. You have a 250+ page book, and if you want to game master, you have 2 more books of equal length. Rules can get complicated (I still use a cheat sheet for AoO), and few people remember everything.

If you just want to play, it gets easier. First find a GM who will guide you well. He'll go over all the character creation details with you. You don't have to memorize feats, skills or spells - that's why you keep the books with you - stick a bookmark in places you use frequently. Make cheat sheets for yourself on anything you might need. Fill out your character sheet completely, and always refer to it - you'll find everything you need to play a basic game on it. After 2 or 3 games, you'll begin to pick up the little stuff like combat tactics.

The best way to learn is in a table top. Having the immediate interaction with your GM and other players will teach you faster than if you try and learn via a PBeM.

Additionally, Barnes and Noble offers a class in learning D&D.

Good luck!

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Eisel Write with Flair!
Senior Editor, The RPG Nexxus
Co-Editor, Roleplaying Tips.com

This is why I gte confused at the people that call RM/MERP/SM/HARP "complicated".

There is only one rule ... roll d100 and add your bonus.

For a player, theres NOTHING else to remember ...

But hey - play what you're comfortable with ... it's the story that's important ...

Cormac

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In fact, it's one of the easiest systems (IMHO) out there at the moment (but only if you only use the core books - once you get into the expanded books you're on your own )

I never got into it and even found Magic complicated but never really read anything on it just had people teach me so I bought some decks and played here and there. I'm stuck on WoW now and play for hours on end whenever i need a break I go to backgammon which is what i'd play anyplace even at cafes with a small travel set is fun.

D&D is a roleplaying game. No game I have EVER been in followes the rules per book. the purpose is to tell a story and take part in it as characters. Guess what, you really do not have to use a single rule from any of the books. You can make up your own, You can use some from colmun A and some from column B. We always viewed the books as "suggestions" not as hard and fast rules. And if the DM wants to shave the dice in my favor, I am all for it.

So the upshot is to use the gamebooks as a guideline for what you need to cover in your game. THe ONLY problem I ever had with that was 'game lawyers'. But then my solution for them was to say. Those books do not exist in this world.

Zeta Thompson
Editor - Internet Play : Play by Post : Genre - High Fantasy
Editor - News and Accessories : Shopping

I always play exactly by the book when I play Midian. Then again, I wrote the book.

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