Crash Course for New Players

Are you completely new to role-playing games? Do you think they're interesting and want to get started? I'm planning on putting some of this article into the full version of Challenger when the next revision comes out. For now, I hope this helps some new players to the game.

Step 1. Download Challenger in any format you want across the internet for free. If you're 'new' to the whole hobby you might want to check out "Challenger Basic Edition" which is designed for complete beginners and will train you how to play a role-playing game in 9 easy steps with 3 pre-made adventures and 4 pre-made characters. Starting out in role-playing has never been cheaper or easier! You can find the book only on Amazon currently (I'm trying to spiff up the PDF).

Step 2. If you downloaded Challenger Basic Edition, just follow the instructions therein. If you downloaded the full version, here are the areas you'll want to read:

If you're a player: Chapter 1, Rules, then just make a character following the step-by-step instructions.

If you're the one player who is the GM (Game Master): Read Chapter 7: The GM's Section, paying particular attention to "Running the Game" "Adventure Design" and "The included monsters at the back of the book complete with full game statistics". Don't worry about understanding everything, or reading too much. When you've got a basic idea of what you're doing, haul out the "Sample Adventure" and start play. I guarantee by the end of the game you'll know a heck of a lot more.

Step 3.

If you're the GM, continue to read the GM's section and the advice for GM's at the back of the book. Use this info to make your own "Adventures" filled with "Monsters" and "Challenges" from the pre-made monster section and from your own "Imagination". You'll only get better with practice.

If you're a player, try reading some of the rules on combat, role-playing, and skill-use. Don't worry too much, though, the GM will be figuring all that out for you anyway.

Step 4.

Congratulations! You can now call yourself a veteran Role-Player and Gamer! Remember, you don't need to know everything right off the bat to play, and you certainly don't need to read all the rules to play. The best way to learn, oddly, is just to play the game. You'll be surprised at how easy it is to pick up.

Refer to the "Examples of Play" in Chapter 1 if you run into any problems. They cover most of anything that can crop up in a game. If your question still isn't answered, make it up and keep playing. You'll eventually figure it out. Don't worry about being perfect, just try to have fun and learn as you go.

Best of Luck!

--David L. Dostaler
Author, Challenger RPG

...Challenger in PDF