So I will be running my cousin and her boyfriend through their first game of Dungeons and Dragons. I decided to use 2E, simply because right now it is the edition I know best. If they end up liking the session,I will probably encourage them to buy the first edition reprints and start a small campaign using those however since I am looking forward to getting mileage out of the new editions.

For first adventure I was thinking a pretty standard small area map with some obvious dungeons to explore, nothing terribly clever or fancy but modeled on my early experiences of the game. Maybe a couple of nice villages and a local villain or two.

For stats it will be 3d6 straight down the line and I plan on letting the dice fall where they may (figure better they get used to pc death early on if it comes up).

Any thoughts?

Yeah, can I play?

*Edit*  On a more serious note, good choice.  2e is easier to read than 1e for a new player.  And I agree starting with a few encounters to get them familiar with the ruleset before diving into the heavier stuff.

If you do 3d6 straight down the line, you should allow them to point swap. Iirc it's something like you can take 2 points off of one attribute and add 1 point to your prime requisite.

Or...

One thing I did sometimes was give 3 or 4 floating points to use after all abilities were rolled. Nothing could go higher than 18, and no more than 2 could be added to one attribute.

That won't prevent the randomness factor, but should take the sting out of it.

Oh, and since they're new, I'd start them off with max hp as well.

Sounds like it will be fun.

A) Be sure to make the people in the area memorable.
B) Have fun with it on your side of the screen and give them cool stuff to do: Dungeons, mystery, exploration, interaction with the NPC's.

Since it is 2e and beginners, I would go with 4d6 drop the lowest, straight down the line. Stat bonuses and High Stats are more important in 1e and 2e.

I'd do (was it Method II?) 3d6 swap the stats around to let players play their desired class of the "Big 4". Not everyone will care, but for those who do getting at least one '9' isn't that hard and moving it around will let them play what they want. Besides, the earlier you get players off the character sheet crutch, the better the games, IMHO. Let them learn to cope with their average stats, you'll be surprised how well they do.

Oh, and seeds. The world needs seeds. One of those 1e modules with rumor tables is not a bad idea to crib off of.

And do an NPC personality profile of at least the prime NPCs one will meet in a village: Innkeeper, Bartender, Healer/Priest, Mayor, Gear/Weapon Merchant. Just grab DMG and roll off for 2~3 adjectives. Four or five NPCs with rough personalities should be enough to get the ball rolling of living world. The players will choose who they like the most and those NPCs will be primo seed feeders.

OOH and wilderness/dungeon random encounter tables! Those things are faboo! I like to mix in occasional weather problems into the tables myself. Nothing like a sunshower to discomfort a poorly prepped party. Being wet and chafing against gear is painful.

For beginners I would suggest letting them explore, overhear rumors of unusual events, that sort of thing. Always remember they are new.

I can't believe the coddling shit that is being posted in this thread.  Fuck the noobs. Remember the integrity of your campaign is the most important thing. Have at least 5 save or die moment in the first half hour of the game; if they can't handle it, they don't deserve to be your friend; fuck, they don't even deserve to have friends. Players come and players go, but when you're old, alone and covered with bedsores, your sparkly magical kingdom will still be with you.

Quote from: Gib;565418I can't believe the coddling shit that is being posted in this thread.  Fuck the noobs. Remember the integrity of your campaign is the most important thing. Have at least 5 save or die moment in the first half hour of the game; if they can't handle it, they don't deserve to be your friend; fuck, they don't even deserve to have friends. Players come and players go, but when you're old, alone and covered with bedsores, your sparkly magical kingdom will still be with you.

You've been reading too much Grognardia.

If you are open to dice rolling alternates, I suggest 4d6 drop lowest, arrange as desired. You can explain to them later, how other people do it.

Have fun with it, make it exciting.

First, they are lucky players to have Bedrock for their first DM.  I have all confidence that it will be fun for them.  

Try to showcase the elements of the game that set traditional role-play games from something may have played before, like Oblivion, Dragon Age or Mass Effect.  If the adventure is too location and skirmish focused, they might come to a limiting idea of the game's potential.

It might actually help new players to visualize a character from attribute values. They have to imagine a character from pure random dice rolls.  So, it isn't a bad idea to go that route.  New players seem to love pets.  So, it is a good idea to have a few in mind for the campaign world.

Quote from: Kuroth;565439It might actually help new players to visualize a character from attribute values. They have to imagine a character from pure random dice rolls.  So, it isn't a bad idea to go that route.

this is why I was thinking of doing 3d6 straight down. They are both creative people so I think they may find it more interesting to work from the hand they are dealt.

Set the right tone: have them roll up three PCs, each, with the second two being "backups, just in case..."  

Quote from: Gib;565418I can't believe the coddling shit that is being posted in this thread.  Fuck the noobs. Remember the integrity of your campaign is the most important thing. Have at least 5 save or die moment in the first half hour of the game; if they can't handle it, they don't deserve to be your friend; fuck, they don't even deserve to have friends. Players come and players go, but when you're old, alone and covered with bedsores, your sparkly magical kingdom will still be with you.

You're right. Next time I'll mandate 2d6+1 straight down. And the only money to find is the copper inadvertently swallowed by the rabid wildlife mauling the peasantry afield. It'll also be perpetually raining and muddy. And I'll need a table of old fashioned diseases...