This is the second article in a multi-part series that takes a look the culture and history of RPGs, and how you might get involved in a game yourself. Part one can be found here.
According to Wikipedia an estimated 6 million people played D&D in 2007. I believe that while this many people may have tried the game, the actual number of people who regularly play Pen and Paper role playing games is probably much lower. Noted luminaries such as Stephen Colbert, Vin Diesel and Helen Mirren have played or are playing D&D. That’s right, Helen F’n Mirren played the game and she actually liked it, so what makes you so special you can’t give it a try? It should be noted that a majority of RPers are male, a lot of them are single and many of them are actually dateable. So if you are looking for a way to meet guys, taking up gaming as a hobby is not a bad way to go.
RPGs cover a wide range of genres, so if you are not in to the traditional swords and sorcery model you can easily find one closer to something you like. There are systems with rules for being anything from a superhero to a cowboy, or surviving in far-future science fiction settings. Game systems have been developed for shows like Firefly, Battle Star Galactica, and Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Let’s take a look at a couple of the primary game systems you might encounter. The following are the two systems I have the most experience with. I have also played in systems that had added mechanics that included playing cards or systems that had you roll a veritable rainbow of different dice to determine outcomes.
D20 – The D20 system is pretty straight forward. Generally speaking, most of your actions in a game that require a check of some kind are going to require that you roll a 20-sided die and add some modifiers to find out if you were successful or not. D20 Rules are considered open source so a lot of people who whip up games will use the basics as a framework for their system. D20 Systems include D&D, Iron Kingdoms and Pathfinder
D10 – The D10 system generally involves rolling handfuls of 10-sided dice. The number of dice you roll will depend on the situation and your personal modifiers. Successes are considered any dice with a 6 or 7 (depending on the system) or higher. If you get involved in a D10 system you are going to want at least eleven 10-sided dice, although some may require more. D10 systems include Vampire, Exalted and Scion.
So, you are interested and want to play. Whether completely new, someone who hasn’t played in years or an old veteran, the first thing you need is a group. Thanks to the internet, finding a group is easier than it had been in previous years. Websites exist for just about every system and general RPG forums are plentiful. The best way to find a game is still to go to your local game store if you have one. They will either have a bulletin board where people have posted that they are looking for players, a game will be in progress or ask the guy behind the counter. Odds are he knows if any groups are looking for new players.
Most groups are welcoming towards new players because people who have been playing longer tend to be more jaded about the game; fresh faces always make things more interesting. The latest version of D&D (4th Edition) is particularly new-player-friendly as they got rid of a lot of the more complex rules from 3.5 edition. Today, new players have it easy. Fifteen years ago trying to explain “THAC0” [which means to hit armor class zero] to a new player was a bit like explaining the concept of space and time to a 4-year-old. Ask somebody you know who plays the game about THAC0 and they will likely roll their eyes and start foaming at the mouth while ranting. One thing you should be aware of is not to pick up this hobby if you aren’t reliable. Real life naturally intrudes every now and then and this is completely understandable, but if you are constantly late or making excuses about how you can’t be there, you will not be making friends. Because this is a social game you must remember you are not only wasting your time, but that of the 4-6 other people you play with, so be courteous to your fellow players.
In order to get started, you should probably buy a set of dice. A single set won’t cost much. Even if you don’t like RPGs after you try them, the D20 will come in handy for determining who goes first when you are playing party games. If you are just starting you can probably find someone in the group who will lend you some dice while you are playing with them. Some people (me) will probably cut you for reaching for their dice bag, so always ask ahead of time. It’s not that they don’t like you, it’s just that they are very superstitious about their dice and violating someone’s dice karma without asking is a good way to lose some fingers. Bring a pencil and paper, their usefulness at the table cannot be underestimated. Whether you are taking notes, keeping tracking of your hit points, or writing secret notes to (or about) the dungeon master (DM) you will always need some handy. Don’t worry about buying books if you are just starting, more than likely someone in the group will let you look at theirs but if you start getting into it. Just don’t expect to be a permanent mooch, that’s annoying.
Your first time playing an RPG is going to be a lot like your first time having sex. There will be lots of yelling and laughing and you won’t be entirely sure what you are doing. The only difference is it will last a lot longer. Don’t let this discourage you, learning all the nuances of a particular system takes time. Once you get the hang of it, you’ll understand why the other people at the table are freaking out because someone just rolled a 20. Just let the more experienced players help you and everything will be fine.
Next week – A look at the different types of people around the table and why it’s important to be able to identify them.
Image from Will Merydith on flickr
