D&D Stories and Table Plan

I have two new series to begin talking about on here.  Alternating weekly, are two gaming based posts.  The first is D&D Stories, the continuing sagas of the games I am playing in.  The second is Table Plan, which is a How-To guide to gaming and DM'ing.  While I use D&D related terms for these stories, I will also describe Pathfinder and other RPG's in these posts.

So consider this the launching day of these posts, posted every Monday!

I will begin by introducing the characters from the latest game:

Lazlo, a Human Rogue (played by me)
Ollie, a Halfling Cleric of Olidammara
Vargus, a Dwarf Barbarian
Krusk, a Half-Orc... I'll have to get back to you on the class
Noli, a Human Fighter

So far, we accepted a quest to slay a dragon (and won), thus gaining ourselves a reputation in the Dwarven Kingdom, and have undertaken a quest in the desert, involving a Lamia (and twenty in-game minutes of trying to find a little girl trapped under the sand, we didn't know about ventriloquism), a Sphinx, and a Djinni.  And my rogue, well this picture will tell you what kind of rogue I am playing...

The first D&D Stories: The Fearless Dragon Slayers will be posted next Monday!

And for Table Plan #1, How to Get Started Gaming?

Well, gaming is a fun social experience to get involved in.  People assume it's some nerdy past time where nerds can get together and live out Lord of the Rings, and yeah, that's generally it, but it's much more than that.  There is the chance to do the things we cannot normally do, and I don't mean the slaying of dragons or the raiding of long abandoned ruins taken over by Yuan-Ti.  No, I mean some of the deep comradery that is rare today unless you are in the military, or the time to plan out a journey (that in this world of the 9-5 plus reality TV after work, is also uncommon).  Gaming is fun, it's telling, and cathartic, and did I forget to mention fun?

So, you must first gather some friends.  While it does help to have someone who has experience gaming, experience is not necessary.  With modern technology today, you can also find a meet-up group, or find one through your local hobby/game store.  While it is possible to play a game by yourself (I've done it, and 4E D&D lays out suggestions if you are doing that), this game is meant to be played with others.  I mean, it can be boring to play by yourself (unless Redtube, but I digress).

Next, you need the Core Rulebooks, these are the books that have the rules and necessary fluff to play the game.  Some games, like Pathfinder, have most of their rules conveniently bundled into a single Core Rulebook.  Other games, like D&D, have DM material separated from the Player rules.  With 3.5, you can find SRD material on the internet, and through a simple Google search as well.  Praise the Open Gaming License, hallelujah, om namah shivaya, blessed be!

Finally, read the books and dive on in.  You can read the books cover to cover and take notes on it, but the best way to get to know the rules and mechanics is to just dive in, mix up the rules, accidentally give ranged weapons flanking, do a TPK as a DM.  But most importantly, have fun!