Seeing the 4th Edition thread here has reminded me that i’ve been meaning to post this for for a while, and now that my wedding is out of the way it seems like a good time to do it.
Anyway, recent happy accidents of geography have meant that myself and several good friends have found ourselves once again living in close geographical proximity. This has meant that, for the first time in years, we are actually able to get together on a regular basis and shoot the breeze without anyone having to worry about staying late and then having to catch a train or pay off some cab driver’s mortgage in order to get home.
Now the last time we were in this situation, we generally spent it boozing, watching football and attempting to engage in acts of casual sex with the opposite sex. Should none of those options prove available, our time was spent playing Halo or watching the Lord of the Rings Extended Editions.
This time round, however, the make up of our group isn’t particularly condusive to a resumption of this state of affairs. For one thing, my good lady wife seems incredibly intransient on the whole casual sex thing - as do the partners of my friends. For another, they seem to have deviously and almost unnoticedly managed to expand the definition of “the group” so that it now includes themselves! That pretty much rules out the football and limits the boozing as well.
As someone once pointed out though, every cloud has a silver lining - and in this case its this:
Everyone likes playing games.
As a result, we’ve found ourselve playing various board games of varying complexity more and more - often in the pub (we have a wonderful pub down the road that not only allows people to play games there but actively encourages it - they even have a “house” Settlers of Cataan set). It’s even got to the point where a regular games night/afternoon has been agreed wholeheartedly by everyone involved.
So, finally, you get to the meat of this thread - which is that we increasingly suspect that the occasional bit of D&D may well be an option. It’s certainly something everyone is prepared to try - particularly now that even the lasses have developed a taste for games like Shadow over Camelot and whatnot.
There is one problem though - No trained GM. None of us has ever played “true” D&D before. I suspect, therefore, that at least initially I would have to GM, given that i have the broadest gaming background.
So my questions for the D&D peoples here are as follows:
- Is this even remotely feasable? (Obviously)
Then:
- Should we go with 4th Edition or is an earlier release better to use?
- Can we keep sessions relatively short and simple enough (at least to begin with) to allow us to get used to it?
- What materials do we actually need to play? (i.e. am i gonna have to break the bank to get started on this?)
To give some background on the group:
Me
Video Gamer (and Games-Reviewer) of all types - console and PC, action, strategy, MMORPG and RPG (including both Baldur’s Gates and Neverwinter Nights). Also played a lot of Magic: The Gathering in my youth and Battlecards before that, plus a bit of Warhammer 40k and used to enjoy reading D&D Campaign books in the library when i was about 10 (although i had no idea that’s what they were at the time).
First Mate
Video Gamer of most types - console and PC, action, strategy, MMORPG (a lvl 60 Warcrafter) and RPG (including again both Baldur’s Gates and Neverwinter Nights). I suspect that if we got going he’d be up for/capable of GMing as well after a while.
Second Mate
Console Gamer and enjoys the odd RPG, although generally more of an action sort. Loves board games though and enjoys strategy type stuff as long as he’s in good company.
My Missus
Relatively recent convert to video games (mainly due to osmosis from me - the poor lass) but long time boardgamer - particularly of the Settlers of Cataan variety. Has developed a taste for RPGs on the DS and (impressively) got as far as the last boss recently on Final Fintasy 3. Enjoyed the team play of Shadow and happy to explore that more.
First Mate’s Missus
Again, recent video gamer by osmosis - to the point where she got a 360 for her birthday last week. Mainly Racing Games and Music Games but has become partial to board games like Shadow and, again, the co-operative element of them.
Second Mate’s Missus
Doesn’t play video games, but is a big board gamer and god save the man who takes her on at dominoes. Again, has enjoyed the likes of Settlers and Shadow and is keen to explore more.
So what are your thoughts people? Doable? And if so, how do we best go about it?