Nekromanti Beginner - Campaign/DM questions

[Dimon]

Hey, I recently got into D&D so I'm a fresh noob when it comes to rules etc but I'm learning as I go and read when I'm free to do so however I have been role playing for years. Just D&D is new ground for me, never done PnP nor any table top role play before so I'm quite exited as well as nervous of starting table top D&D. I have plenty of warhammer miniatures around my apartment and recently started to assemble and paint again. I know like no one nearby who is into D&D so main reason I signed up here was to see if there were any local groups or people in Skåne who are open and willing to let a noob try out?

I love storytelling and role playing, with my warhammer crafting I have started to craft my own terrain for D&D aswell. My main army that I have focus on is a lizardmen army which I was hoping to use in a campaign. They will roam the region of the campaign I have in mind, still sorting out some bits but any tips on how to make a good setting without making it too.. strict? In the sense of lore etc - How rich can it be before it gets too much? If that makes sense.

Currently working on the player's miniatures, got few sorted and waiting for more. Main issue is when I read into the races of D&D so trying to get miniatures that fits each one, both genders etc. (OCD side of me to get it right.. Haha) but other than player miniatures I have worked on terrain as said. I love crafting and I want to put everything to use but I'm a noob so any tips on how to be a good DM for starters? Should I just try it with close friends and see how they think or better to go through a game with some real D&D players and see how that DM does it?

Unsure how to post pictures on this forum at the moment but some of my progress can be viewed here: http://www.lustria-online.com/threads/drims-red-lizards-for-d-d.16352/

 

[Eksem]

Looking for a group to play with is best to do in this part of the forum: http://www.rollspel.nu/forum/allmänna-diskussionsforum/evenemang-och-kontakt . Sometimes people also look for players to play online games (through Skype or similar tools), which could be a nice way to try things out.

The proper depth of a setting varies hugely between playing groups, some really enjoy digging into a setting while others would prefer to get the main points described in a few sentences and then figure things out during play. A good starting point or middle ground is to only detail the actual area where the player characters will be moving around for the first few sessions, and then writing more detail and expanding on the setting as a larger area gets explored (so perhaps start with a village and the closest surroundings, ignoring who the king is and what the main exports of the country are until it becomes relevant in play).

Regarding using the "right" miniatures I think the best approach if that is very important to you is to have some constraint on the players possibilities, so to speak; meaning that the player characters only should be able to encounter monsters and non player characters that you have the miniatures for (in a more sandbox style campaign with more player freedom I prefer to use more "abstract" miniatures, such as board game pieces and the like, since planning what the PCs will encounter will be a lot harder).

There is a lot of great advice on how to be a good DM, and a lot of it is also contradictory Different people prefer different play styles (some fast and loose with the rules and with more story telling focus, others preferring to have some story dropped in between tactical combat encounters; some wanting to experience a cool story the DM has planned, while others prefer to just roam the setting and creating their own stories; and so on). The best advice I think is to discuss things with your group, so that you can find common ground regarding on what you want to get out of the game. While written for older rules sets of the game, the DnD for Dummies-books are actually pretty good with basic advice and tips on how to figure out what type of players you have in your group.

Trying things out with a few close friends is a great way to start playing, but seeing how other people play can also give a lot of great ideas and inspiration too. Nowadays you can find videos and podcasts online of how other people play which could be a way to get an insight into the flow of the game without having access to a group.

Being a DM is super hard and also super easy, and the best way to get started is to... just get started! It's easy to get stuck in the planning stage, so my advice to you is that you call some friends and tell them that you should try this DnD-thing out and just get playing as soon as possible

 

[Dimon]

Looking for a group to play with is best to do in this part of the forum: http://www.rollspel.nu/forum/allmänna-diskussionsforum/evenemang-och-kontakt . Sometimes people also look for players to play online games (through Skype or similar tools), which could be a nice way to try things out.

I did plenty of forum/text based role play back before I got into the MMO scene and then the text base for lost to me sadly. Happens few times I do some "in character" stuff on skype when someone I play with cant get online in-game that is. Will post in that forum once I get a bigger picture of the folks within this forum I think

The proper depth of a setting varies hugely between playing groups, some really enjoy digging into a setting while others would prefer to get the main points described in a few sentences and then figure things out during play. A good starting point or middle ground is to only detail the actual area where the player characters will be moving around for the first few sessions, and then writing more detail and expanding on the setting as a larger area gets explored (so perhaps start with a village and the closest surroundings, ignoring who the king is and what the main exports of the country are until it becomes relevant in play).

Fair point, I got great things in mind but fear less than half what I come up with will be explored. Mainly depends on me as DM to make sure of I suppose but you're right that I should start off in a small area. My current idea is around my lizardmen who will roam a southern part of the region I have in mind. The players will start off in a harbor where they will slowly get to hear about them and what they do to the locals, my plan is to fill these Lizardmen with a bunch of "fan-made" lore from the people to certain characters. Just hope I dont over-do it in any sense.

Regarding using the "right" miniatures I think the best approach if that is very important to you is to have some constraint on the players possibilities, so to speak; meaning that the player characters only should be able to encounter monsters and non player characters that you have the miniatures for (in a more sandbox style campaign with more player freedom I prefer to use more "abstract" miniatures, such as board game pieces and the like, since planning what the PCs will encounter will be a lot harder).

Humans and elves are easy to get hold of, some dwarfs aswell - I know I can find some D&D miniatures for half-orcs but some seems to be harder than others to find. I suppose I can limit it to the campaign itself if players would be okey with it. Some miniatures I'm waiting to get at the moment: http://www.lustria-online.com/threads/drims-red-lizards-for-d-d.16352/page-2#post-132711

There is a lot of great advice on how to be a good DM, and a lot of it is also contradictory Different people prefer different play styles (some fast and loose with the rules and with more story telling focus, others preferring to have some story dropped in between tactical combat encounters; some wanting to experience a cool story the DM has planned, while others prefer to just roam the setting and creating their own stories; and so on). The best advice I think is to discuss things with your group, so that you can find common ground regarding on what you want to get out of the game. While written for older rules sets of the game, the DnD for Dummies-books are actually pretty good with basic advice and tips on how to figure out what type of players you have in your group.

Trying things out with a few close friends is a great way to start playing, but seeing how other people play can also give a lot of great ideas and inspiration too. Nowadays you can find videos and podcasts online of how other people play which could be a way to get an insight into the flow of the game without having access to a group.

I like to mix it with both letting the players unfold most while I can describe and tell certain things without spoiling too much. What intrigues me the most is to present the party with choises and let them deal with consequences of their actions. If they wish to slaughter these lizardmen for whatever reason or try to seek a dialogue with them. But yeah something to reach out among the people in the group.

Being a DM is super hard and also super easy, and the best way to get started is to... just get started! It's easy to get stuck in the planning stage, so my advice to you is that you call some friends and tell them that you should try this DnD-thing out and just get playing as soon as possible

Storytelling is rather easy, what I struggle the most with when I try to learn the rules etc is how to stack certain numbers and leveling to be honest. Still trying to get my head around how exp works. I have tried and still trying to see who of my friends would be up for it but very few are sadly but hope this forum will change that later on.

Cheers.