I’ve always started with simplified character creation when introducing new players to the game, but it’s still difficult with multiple first-timers. Next time, I’m definitely going to show up with pre-gens and dive right in!

@SlyFlourish

4 жыл бұрын

Hi Bob World Builder!!

@BobWorldBuilder

4 жыл бұрын

Sly Flourish 👋🏻 Ahoy!

@thisiscait

2 жыл бұрын

@@BobWorldBuilder Two years later, what would you recommend now? I will be DMing a four session school holiday program with a combination of very new and less-new players, and would love your thoughts!

I love how kids can always boil things down to the essentials. Some of my most thought proving moments have been my kids asking me why we do things, things we do everyday without thinking, and after hearing the answer they just go "But why? It would be easier if we did it X way."

"These are two coworkers of mine and I sit with then during the day talking business stuff and now they see me acting like a manticore"

Seth is now my favorite PC ever

@atrumangelus9733

3 жыл бұрын

Seth gets it. :D

Yeah, I basically just taught my brand new players the opposite of how I learned: gave them pregen characters (they had lots to choose from since I like to make characters... Some they didn't choose became NPCs) that they got to pick after I described a cut scene briefly introducing the characters in an "adventurers' guild" tavern, answered enough about the character sheet so they didn't feel completely lost (but only what they asked), and then told them that they had all taken the same job from the guild board and started them at the door of the job and asked what they wanted to do and asked them to roll what they needed or find the number on their character sheet as it came up. 😄 It seemed to work pretty well as we've now been playing for over a year!

Agree on all points, especially using pregens. I hope to see more of these kinds of super-specific guide videos in the future.

that idea for the heirloom axe is genius. I have at least 2 friends that are looking to get into the game, and while I've been a new player myself, I've never really INTRODUCED people to the game before. this advice has been very insightful!

Very helpful! Will check out the simplified character sheets as those are a great idea. Thanks!

I once had 4 players ready for DnD for the first time. We created characters 2 nights in a row. I never got them back together again -___- 3 years later I’m re inspired by your videos, equipped with your book and the starter set and essential kit, and ready to play Lost Mines with my Gf. Let’s gooo!!! 🔥🔥🔥

@SlyFlourish

2 жыл бұрын

Good luck!!

This is the first video of yours that I’ve seen and I just want to say that I find you really easy to listen to and really liked the flow of the conversation rather than jumping all over the place that most people on YT do

I know this content is old but I still want to comment. I personally am doing a hybrid model for character creation where I fill out a chunk of their sheet and they roll their stats.

Good stuff. I love the pre-gen character sheets. I'm gearing up to run a campaign for the first time in many years.

Absolutely PERFECT advice. It worked like a charm for my first time running a game for newbies. Thank you Mike!

@SlyFlourish

2 жыл бұрын

So glad!!

Again a perfect topic. Damn man I gotta support you in patreon. I'm attempting to make a to go dm kit for new players to have in my car and I have almost everything figured out beside teaching brand new players the basic rules to get into it. Thank you so much Sly

Thanks! I'd like to get my family involved with D&D and this will help a lot.

Lots of helpful tips, thank you!

Thank you so much Mike! You've provided solutions to every major mistake I've made as a new DM (TLDM and RToTLDM have both been great reads). There's a lot of shoddy advice out there, and from my mistakes I feel you really know what's at the meat of the experience.

@SlyFlourish

3 жыл бұрын

Thank you so much!

Good points I too like adventures

Really good advice, thanks! I always want to teach too much to players up front, so this is very helpful.

@davidwahl5549

2 жыл бұрын

I love the idea of starting newbies with pregen PCs, so they're not bogged down with all that and can just jump into the game and try it out first

great video, I appreciate the upload. Thanks

Great ideas here!

Knave is great for introducing people to the game.

The Fantasy Trip is a great way to bring people in.

Printing those sheets 2-sided and then laminating them so players can use dry-erase on them for hp, spells, etc... anyone else tried that?

In giving them pregens would it be recommended to give them a few to choose from or just hand them one? I would think giving them a bit of a choice would be better so that they at least have a say in what interests them to try. As a new DM that has yet to run a game I'm not sure what the better approach would be (on both sides).

@SlyFlourish

Жыл бұрын

Choice is always good.

at the end of the video I went back to the start to take notes XD feel like I really butchered my first 4 sessions. if someone has tips and feedback, please notify me! I'm a new dm and I still call myself new to dnd, so anything will probably be helpful XD

@SlyFlourish

3 жыл бұрын

This link may help: slyflourish.com/getting_started_with_dnd.html

@flimsyfun4960

3 жыл бұрын

Wow thanks!!

***SPOILER ALERT*** - - - I run the Dragon of ISP in tandem with Lost Mines of Phandelver. The players start in NeverWinter with the job of delivering the supplies and learn combat with the Goblin Ambush. I make it so they expect it's an ongoing job, but their boss is MIA so they might take Phandelver adventures or work the job board to make money until they figure out what's going on. I also add an NPC group of adventurers who are a level higher than the players, and I make them be haughty arrogant jerks calling the PC's "amateurs" when they run into each other. That explains why jobs are no longer on the board after the players level up, and it explains to them how things are happening in this world outside of what they're doing. It definitely makes players consider which sandbox adventure to choose when they realize this isn't a video game in which the other quests will sit there untouched while they complete the one they decided on. Now that they're in Phandalin, are they going to Cragmaw to save their boss, or take the Manticore adventure as a sure pay job? Yes, my way is a bit complicated compared to what you describe, but I think it's important for players to see immediately how this is an ever evolving world and decisions are important. I found this to work well with new players, or with experienced players who may not understand my DM style.

😊

Im curious about something said in the video. Im a veteran player (40+ years). Ive only watched part of the first episode of the first campaign of Critical Role, last night as a matter of fact, with my daughter. It seemed okay. Why would some veteran players not like it or the attention its bringing to D&D?

@SlyFlourish

3 жыл бұрын

Lots of reasons but none of them good. Some think that professional voice actors don't show a realistic game. There's talk of the "Mercer effect" in which players think their DMs should be up to Mercer standards. I've surveyed this a bit and found that DMs tend to think its a problem more than players actually think it's a problem. In reality, we can learn from everywhere. What goes on in the world of D&D doesn't change how you run your games with your friends. But it can teach you some new tricks!

@bluetrace3778

3 жыл бұрын

@@SlyFlourish the last part of your comment about learning from everywhere is so true. The concept of the ‘Matt Mercer effect’ has gotten out of hand with the general assumption online that it’s a negative where I feel the complete opposite. He has inspired myself and literally thousands of others to try and be a better story tellers, narrators and judges. Do I expect to fully reach his standard in my games? Of course not! I’ve got a full time job and kids where as he is paid to do this and has a boat load of experience, and a high end set of players in a similar position. Do I aspire to try? 100%!

@SlyFlourish

3 жыл бұрын

@@bluetrace3778 Exactly

I think your focus on the tail spikes of the manticore is a little misplaced, This is 1st and foremost a negotiation encounter, If the mantecore attacks it should be in self defense And particularly not to the death But just enough to make the players back off And consider different options.

i have a issue i feel like if i use pregens it will be more boring

@SlyFlourish

3 жыл бұрын

I suppose it depends on the group.

@patr5902

3 жыл бұрын

Try starting them at mid 2nd level. If paced correctly there can be a mid game break where all characters level up. After an hour or 2 of being drawn into the story take 30 minutes to have everyone read up on their classes and pick a sub class. Get them invested in the developing core and future of their characters. And how that fits into the world you are adventuring in together.

Go rules light & Free Mini 6 Or Planet Eris

Not gonna lie... I hope that 5.5 / 6e ditches the stat numbers and strictly goes with + or - modifiers only.