Beginner D&D
Having dated a gamer for a number of years, I have recently started to foray into hardcore geekdom. I dabble in Magic: The Gathering, and I play a fighter in a small D&D that my man runs. Besides discovering that he doesn't pull any punches with me ("Ouch, the Griffen did what?!?!") I have developed a pretty good sense of strategy, for a beginner. What drives me crazy about starting D&D is simply that, being a beginner. Everyone else has experience with long-term RPGs or D&D itself (one of the other players has been playing since elementary school). I am often at a loss for what to do if I can't whip out my bastard sword and kill something. I also don't think that I'm using everything at my disposal as efficiently as I could, simply because I do not know what my options are.
I often wish for a Neo-style port in the back of my head that would instantly get me up to speed and would save me from actually reading the books. I've avoided them up to this point because I think it's better for the DM if I truly don't know how many hit points a zombie has. This is the one advantage with running something for beginners. I just wish there was some kind of Cliff's Notes version that wouldn't spoil me on things to come. *sigh*
Hm.. I'd say that unless
Hm.. I'd say that unless you're planning on running a game, you really can get by with just looking through the Player's Handbook (the combat chapter and adventuring chapter are good). Everything else rule-wise, you're DM will be able to clarify for you. Looking through the Dungeon Master's Guide is nice too though ... if you ever want to look at magical items. No need to ever really look through the Monster Manuals.
I am also a relatively new gamer, and one of my biggest frustrations is having to sit down at the table and listen to story after story of the guys' OTHER campaigns, or past characters in entirely different systems. I mean, sure it's funny to hear the stories once in a while, but with most of the guys that I game with ... well, let's just say that we all sit down at the table but don't actually get to start playing for at least an hour sometimes two hours later.
Dismay Not
I feel your pain. Even tho I've been gaming since the 80's I never got confident enough with the DnD system to run my own game. I still want to do that some day. Here's a tidbit, I actually saw Dungeons & Dragons for Dummies at the last gaming store I went to. I totally want to get it. Maybe it can shed light on THACO and such.
As for not knowing what to do when you can't smash something. Don't feel bad many gamer guys are unsure as well. I keed. I've found that a driving goal is good for such times. I prefer to play thieves and rouges so very often Greed is a motivation for my PC's. Conflict is the spice of life in any RPG so any you generate, internal or external can go a long way in helping you decide "what to do next".
Next time you get ready to play discuss with your DM a couple things your PC loves and hates. Write out one or two short term and long term goals. Consider personal vs. party goals as well.
If you have some things you want to do let your DM know and ask him to help you figure out what you need to roll in order to be able to do that.
Oh yeah and congratulations on becoming a Gamerchick!
-ShoshieB1
*Gamerchicks Rule!*