Pen and paper RPG players: what was the first game you played?

[Nerull]

I was thinking about this today (I have lots of "thinking free" times at work), and I remember the very first pen and paper role playing game that I ever played. I remember I was 6 or 7, I talked my dad into buying me the Basic Set D&D. And I mean the old Basic Set, the very first edition. I remember I wanted it because I was always interested in fantastic tales, and I just saw it and thought "that looks so neat." I was hooked immediately. I then bought my first module after getting my next allowance (anyone remember Keep on the Borderlands?). It may have been another 2 years before I found a large enough group of friends to play a full party with, but I would make my own party and run them through the module (trying my best not to use my advanced knowledge; they eventually came out with those solo modules for people like me). Of course, once the original AD&D books came out, I switched over to that, but I still look back at that old Basic D&D set with fond memories. I even remember the old Gamma World, Boot Hill, etc.

After remembering that, I just got that sudden urge to find out how some of the other pen and paper role playing game players started out. What was your first game that you played and/or owned? Your first module? Your favorite game and/or module? I am still a huge D&D fan, but also liked Traveller (remember the Trillion Credit Squadron module or the option introduced in Dragon magazine to create alien races?), Gamma World (both of the original versions; I haven't looked at the d20 version yet), and Hero System games (played a Wild Martial Arts campaign that I just loved). Just curious how other people started out.

[ 01-28-2004, 10:15 PM: Message edited by: Nerull ]

[Sythe]

My first time is still to come. I hope I get to play really soon!

[Gangrell]

Ohh, I remember it vaguely, but I remember when I first played how great it was.

It was around seven years ago when I was nine, and one day I walked past my uncle's room and he had these sheets laid out infront of him, with a rules set and he was rolling dice. Of course he was busy, so I asked about it when he was done. He told me what it was, but I couldn't play until I was ten, so he just gave me the Monster Manual to look at. I kept thinking how awesome it looked and how much I wanted to try it out.

A year later, I finished making my character and we ran through a module (I forget the name) that he and my brother already 'tried' to do (apparently my brother killed someone important). Anyway, it took place at Hookhill and we had to head down into a dungeon and fight off skeletons for the most part and minotaurs. At the end we fought the Medusa and got out without being petrified.

My favorite module of all time is without a doubt The Cloud Castle. It was a 10th level adventure where we had to invade a storm giant layer, but first we had to make our way through thick layers of clouds without falling off (which a couple did) and making it past a Will'O'Wisp. Of course, knowing my uncle as he was at the time, he added a bit more to it. He combined another module into it where there were 4 additional levels and a very nice suprise waiting for us at the bottom, the Tarrasque. Took us for a half an hour, but we couldn't beat it, instead it fell off the cloud [img]graemlins/hehe.gif[/img]

To this day I play, and my campaign along with my relatives includes Oerth, Gamma World, Atlas, Faerun, and Melnabone.

[ 01-28-2004, 09:46 PM: Message edited by: Gangrell ]

[Dron_Cah]

Ah, I think it was a couple of years ago, a rather flimsy session, but after reading the book straight through it was just to sate my appetite before a real game. Sadly, my first system was White Wolf's, Vampire: The Masquerade. (shivers) Man, I hate that system! But, even so, it was truly amazing, being my first time roleplaying. Much fun, and even made my time in Star Wars and AD&D that much more enjoyable in comparison. BTW, Slythe, make sure to get caffeine... caffeine gooood... Enjoy!

[Illumina Drathiran'ar]

Wow..... The first "real" time I played was.... Years ago. Years. But perhaps it was fate. When I was eight or nine I used to tell interactive stories, which I realize now is more or less DMing.
Good times.

[Nerull]

Originally posted by Dron_Cah: BTW, Slythe, make sure to get caffeine... caffeine gooood... Enjoy!

Oh yes, who can forget the all-nighters? I have a rather vivid memory of fighting our way through the bottom level of the Temple of Elemental Evil at about 3:30 in the morning. Need lots of caffeine, and make sure to take a nap before you start. [img]smile.gif[/img]

[Jorath Calar]

My first game was in MERP Middle Earth, I was 16 and went to a "Roleplay-club" session with my friend in college, had no idea what was going on ruleswise, but enjoyed the story and the interaction, signed up for the club and played once a week for almost 4 years during schooltime. We started playing Forgotten Realms the second year and that was when I created "Jorath Calar" Human Chaotic Good Ranger, bodyguard of Elven Sorceress Natali of Tethyr (which my then girlfriend played) and allaround good guy... [img]smile.gif[/img]
After we graduated the group split up and I stopped playing, and roleplaying sort of disapeared from my mind it wasn't until 1999 I discovered Baldur's Gate that I remembered how wonderful pasttime it was... [img]smile.gif[/img]

[philip]

I started last year with a campaign made up by the dm. We started city of the spider queen when he got less time to prepare

[Albromor]

Man, this brings back memories. My very first time was in college. I rolled up an Elf Character that was a F/T/MU and made him Chaotic Evil. I didn't have the slighest idea what I was doing. This whole alingment thing, what did I know... Anyway, the DM already had been playing for a number of years prior to when the very first hardbound 1st Edition Rules were published. Our first party encounter was a troll! Needless to say a number of group members "bought the farm" yet somehow I survived.

Well I was so excited I, too, bought the old Basic Set and introduced my brother and friends to the game over the Thanksgiving holiday break and let the Basic Set with my brother. Needless to say, when I got home for Christmas we played it all the time.

My first module was The Forgotten Temple of Tharizdun. I loved it! The DM (a different one) at the time was excellent and he knew how to use the World of Greyhawk with great intrigue. I still have my character sheet from those days of long ago. Pencil & Paper D&D literally rules as long as the DM and the other people you are playing with are enjoyable to be around. Nothing beats the fun and interaction you can have.

[Ghoul]

I started with 'Das schwarze Auge' ('The black eye', german, don't know if there's an english edition, too).