New campaign, new players

[Falconer]

So, here’s what’s going on with me. We moved to Chicago and have a whole new circle of friends. We hang out all the time and I’ve gotten them hooked on board games. So they’ve accepted the love of gaming as a hobby. Now they’re asking me to run D&D for them. Excellent...

I want to run OD&D.

Wife wants to play AD&D. It’s what she’s used to, and OD&D is missing too much for her tastes.

One friend thinks we should play something “more modern” but obviously that ain’t going to happen.

One friend is itching to run a Star Wars campaign, but I think (and he agreed wholeheartedly) that a Gygaxian/Tolkienish game is the best intro for new players.

So I think what I’m going to do is what’s tried and true for me. Namely, it will be AD&D in practically all mechanical aspects (with some systems trimmed down). I’ll start the players on the Holmes Basic Game Book or else Men & Magic or else a homebrew handout, in order to keep the options simple and basic and introductory-like. But the ‘numbers’ will be AD&D, as I said, and eventually they can have their own Players Handbooks.

I think the PHB is genius, but a little bit of an overload for newbies. Too many spells, too many races and classes, too many mins/maxes for ability scores, an assumption overall that you know the game.

So, what do YOU think is best: Holmes, M&M, PHB right away, homebrew handout, other?

Thanks for reading.

[thedungeondelver]

Holmes, because as weird as it can be, it IS "Basic AD&D". That's my call.

[Dagger]

Holmes, because as weird as it can be, it IS "Basic AD&D". That's my call.

My problem with that is that the game numbers in Holmes are based on OD&D, not AD&D, right? I'm thinking of base AC of 9 instead of 10.. things like that.

I agree that the AD&D PHB is alot to dump on someone new to the hobby. Then again... isn't that how millions of people were introduced to the hobby way back when? At any rate, I vote for the homebrew handout.

This topic made me go back and think about the group of guys I introduced to RPGs (my current group). I started by not giving them a book at all. I just explained the nature of RPGs and how you can do anything you want to do and that it's my job to adjudicate it. I explained what attributes were and had them roll. Then I explained what the classes were and let them pick based on their attributes and preference. At that point, I ran the game and explained things as we went. It wasn't until later that they obtained their own books.

[thedungeondelver]

Holmes, because as weird as it can be, it IS "Basic AD&D". That's my call.

My problem with that is that the game numbers in Holmes are based on OD&D, not AD&D, right? I'm thinking of base AC of 9 instead of 10.. things like that.

I agree that the AD&D PHB is alot to dump on someone new to the hobby. Then again... isn't that how millions of people were introduced to the hobby way back when? At any rate, I vote for the homebrew handout.

This topic made me go back and think about the group of guys I introduced to RPGs (my current group). I started by not giving them a book at all. I just explained the nature of RPGs and how you can do anything you want to do and that it's my job to adjudicate it. I explained what attributes were and had them roll. Then I explained what the classes were and let them pick based on their attributes and preference. At that point, I ran the game and explained things as we went. It wasn't until later that they obtained their own books.

Oh I agree it's not quite AD&D, but it's pretty darn close.

Also I would point out that I envy Falconer his new group (not that my group(s) aren't fun to game with!), and as always wish he and the missus were closer to us so we could game more often than once every couple of years .

[Falconer]

Yeah, man. And now with LGGC gone, who knows when the next chance may be??

With regard to AC, is it even necessary that players record a number for it? If the player reports to me, “chain and shield” I should be able to do my magic behind the screen.

[Falconer]

Just a follow-up that we are, in fact, using the BGB (I don’t call it “Holmes” anymore as it gives people the wrong idea) as a players’ book, though behind-the-screen it is AD&D. After a few levels we’ll switch the players to the PHB. Just as the BGB itself suggests! I’ve done this before and it works great.