Okay, feeling a little disheartened with DDO, want an online PnP

[Zachski]

Basically, it's a good game (I guess), but considering that the later in the game I get, the more money I'll have to actually invest in the game itself... eh. It's just not worth it to me.

As such, I'm interested in maybe getting into an online PnP group. I'm willing to download any software. However, as I implied earlier, my budget is rather tight. Student loans to pay off and all that. And the only store that sells D&D books sells them for outrageous prices. I've never seen any of the main stores carry ANYTHING D&D.

So, if I'm gonna have any resources, I'm gonna have to use an online resource. One that's free.

Yes, I'm a cheapskate. Won't whine if this is impossible. I did try a D&D campaign once awhile ago. Had a half-elven sorcerer. However... the DM wasn't very good. And by "wasn't very good", I mean he held our hand throughout the campaign. "Rail-roaded" doesn't even begin to describe it. My level 1 Sorcerer managed to pass himself off as the Messiah to a group of... ogres? I don't remember. Just for doing that, he got to level 2.

In retrospect, that was stupid as hell, especially since it was the DM's character that egged him on to do it.

Hell, I think he skipped a lot of the DCs.

Thanks to DDO, I do have SOME knowledge of the mechanics of building a character. So, no more worries about that.

I am not asking to be invited to a campaign (although if you're willing to do that, that's great). Instead, I'm asking for resources to help me help myself. A place where I can find online campaigns (I don't honestly remember where I met the DM I mentioned earlier) and resources I can use for said campaigns.

My preference is 3.5e, considering that's what I'm currently the most "familiar" with right now.

So, uhh... thanks in advance.

[Fleebag]

Lots of the things from DDO don't translate well into PnP.

That said, you can easily find 3.5e materials (pdf) after a bit of searching online - however I don't condone piracy. All you really need is the players handbook and DMG anyway. Also there are a bunch of tools that will help you generate NPCs and other things if you plan to DM - they are all free (search for "D&D 3.5 DM tools").

Forgot to add: there are tons of free RPG systems out there as well, which cost no money to download. In university my friends and I would make a new system each month & playtest it for fun.

[Zachski]

That said, you can easily find 3.5e materials (pdf) after a bit of searching online - however I don't condone piracy. All you really need is the players handbook and DMG anyway. Also there are a bunch of tools that will help you generate NPCs and other things if you plan to DM - they are all free (search for "D&D 3.5 DM tools").

I don't think the store I was at even sold the players' handbook. In fact, all I remember is a Psionicist book.

A whole book for one class, and it cost, what... $40.

And yeah, I know things from DDO don't translate well into PnP. Which is one of the reasons I'm seeking the PnP experience out.

Free game systems, huh... tell me about some of those.

[Zachski]

Actually, I think I'm going to go for 4e. Simply because I like what I've heard of it. Also, it seems to be more popular than 3.5e right now.

[azrael4h]

http://www.d20srd.org/

Fully legal, and a full system to play with. It is, in effect, a stripped out DnD3.5E devoid of flavor or anything beyond the mechanics and generic, traditional fantasy tropes that can't be copyrighted. They've existed longer than any national government currently in existence.

Alternately, the core 3 3.5E books, the Players Handbook, Dungeon Master's Guide, and the monster Manual, are fairly inexpensive on Amazon used. The supplements like the PHB2, Psionics, etc... all are... pricey, depending on how highly they are viewed by the community that uses them.

If you can get it, the #1 recommendation I have for a supplement is the Spell Compendium. #2 is the Rule Compendium, followed by the similar book for equipment.

http://www.thetangledweb.net/forums/

Online PnP site.

[Wendolyn]

http://www.fantasygrounds.com

This is a virtual tabletop for roleplaying. Now they want to sell you their client, but it is possible for DMs to buy an all-in license, in effect paying in advance for their players. Basically they do this to lure more people into playing. You can scout their forums to see if you can find one of those groups (and the client license isn't that expensive, but it's your money )

[sephiroth1084]

Actually, I think I'm going to go for 4e. Simply because I like what I've heard of it. Also, it seems to be more popular than 3.5e right now.

To each their own. 4E is only "more popular" (if in fact it is...I don't know) because WotC no longer supports D&D 3.5 and because it did a huge marketing push for 4E.

If you happen to like 4E (I really detest it), you could:
-use the SRD for some of the essential basic info (Google search D&D SRD)
-request that your local bookstore place an order for whatever books you need
-download the PDF versions from the WotC website (for $$)
-use something like Limewire or Demonoid to pirate the PDFs

[SquelchHU]

To each their own. 4E is only "more popular" (if in fact it is...I don't know) because WotC no longer supports D&D 3.5 and because it did a huge marketing push for 4E.

It's not. A year into it, and it still had less tables running 4th edition games than 3.5 games at Origins. Which is a huge gaming con. Even the 4th edition developers have gone on record saying that they hate the core fundamentals of 4th edition. Not in those exact words, but when you make a game based on x, y, and z and then say that you hate x, y, and z and that it should actually be a, b, and c it requires only minimal inference to realize they screwed up, and they know they screwed up.

If you happen to like 4E (I really detest it), you could:
-use the SRD for some of the essential basic info (Google search D&D SRD)
-request that your local bookstore place an order for whatever books you need
-download the PDF versions from the WotC website (for $$)
-use something like Limewire or Demonoid to pirate the PDFs

There is no SRD for 4th edition. They have their own license agreement, which is part of the reason why they fail. Get the books (legally or illegally) or bust.

[Uska]

Actually, I think I'm going to go for 4e. Simply because I like what I've heard of it. Also, it seems to be more popular than 3.5e right now.

Every time someone says they are going to play 4E a gnome dies some where.

sigh play what you want but I loathe 4E myself and yes I tried it for a year.