Trying to get into D&D...the pencil and paper RPG.

Snap the pencil, burn the paper grab a beer and remark on how you dodged a bullet.

" @PainGod89:  Go out and buy the D&D 4th Edition Player's Handbook. All the complexity that folks used to talk about D&D in ye' olde' days is practically gone. At this point, D&D is kind of like World of Warcraft the tabletop game. Each class has a role, and things are structured around that. Way back when, things were a lot more freeform, but now it's just a matter of learning specific rules and applying them to situations.  Also, D&D gets fucking expensive, man. "

" http://lmgtfy.com/?q=how+to+play+d%26d "

" @PainGod89:  Go out and buy the D&D 4th Edition Player's Handbook. All the complexity that folks used to talk about D&D in ye' olde' days is practically gone. At this point, D&D is kind of like World of Warcraft the tabletop game. Each class has a role, and things are structured around that. Way back when, things were a lot more freeform, but now it's just a matter of learning specific rules and applying them to situations.  Also, D&D gets fucking expensive, man. "

"  

  This is all you need to know.  "

You said your friends play it so probably start by asking them if you can play a game. To help you go in knowing what to expect though I can't recommend listening to the Penny Arcade DnD podcasts they did a while back where they just recorded themselves playing the game enough. Not only is it entertaining as fuck, but by the time you are done listening to it all you will have a pretty good grasp of how to play the game. Start with season one/two/three as they use the same characters and they make call backs and jokes to the first time around. I didn't care for season four at all as they used some other DnD like game iirc, but the first two are classic. 
 
But ya, the first two seasons are 4th edition rule set I do believe, so listening to all of those will be a great primer to getting you into the game. I have never played a game of DnD in my life as I have never had any friends to play it with or the money to buy all the books, but by the time I was done listing to those I could have probably jumped right into a game and hold me own.
 
Also, don't read the little comics they have until you listen to the podcast as they spoil what happens in the story. Too many of those moments are too priceless to have them spoiled.

Definitely get into 4.0 version. I'm playing a Half-Elf Cleric and it's a lot easier than the previous editions because you don't have to worry about "spells per day".

" Definitely get into 4.0 version. I'm playing a Half-Elf Cleric and it's a lot easier than the previous editions because you don't have to worry about "spells per day". "

" @ch13696 said:

" Definitely get into 4.0 version. I'm playing a Half-Elf Cleric and it's a lot easier than the previous editions because you don't have to worry about "spells per day". "

 BOO THIS MAN! "

This is the link to all of those podcasts.

" @Huey2k2 said:

" @ch13696 said:

" Definitely get into 4.0 version. I'm playing a Half-Elf Cleric and it's a lot easier than the previous editions because you don't have to worry about "spells per day". "

 BOO THIS MAN! "

Lol, Ok let me rephrase what I say. If you're able to keep track of your entire character and you play once a week then any version would be great for you. But, for someone like me that plays either once a month or every other week, I can't keep track of everything. Back when I was in high school, about 8 years ago 3.0 was a Godsend. As you get older and more busy in life, you're going to need something more simplified. "

" @ch13696 said:

" @Huey2k2 said:

" @ch13696 said:

" Definitely get into 4.0 version. I'm playing a Half-Elf Cleric and it's a lot easier than the previous editions because you don't have to worry about "spells per day". "

 BOO THIS MAN! "

Lol, Ok let me rephrase what I say. If you're able to keep track of your entire character and you play once a week then any version would be great for you. But, for someone like me that plays either once a month or every other week, I can't keep track of everything. Back when I was in high school, about 8 years ago 3.0 was a Godsend. As you get older and more busy in life, you're going to need something more simplified. "

 I am older and busy but I still have a game me and my friends run once every 2 weeks and I am more than able to keep track of my 3.5e character, we all are. "

You actually want to be labelled a pathetic nerd for the rest of your life? 
 
Some people...

Well what ruleset do your friends play? I'd get a player's handbook of that ruleset and  after reading up on that, sit in on your friend's game to get a feel for it. Once you do that, you should be experienced enough to just hop into their campaign (if they don't mind)

I've been asked to play a few times by some work friends. It seems like it could be a good time once or twice, but I wouldn't want to get super deep into it as I just don't have the time.
 
@MysteriousBob said:

" You actually want to be labelled a pathetic nerd for the rest of your life?  Some people... "

" So I am trying to get into Dungeons & Dragons...not the video games, the pencil and paper RPG's. I have friends who play it and was curious and want to give it a try. Where would anyone recommend me to start. As I have no idea what it's all about, as I have never played a pencil and paper rpg. "

Don't do it.

D&D is fun. Don't be discouraged by the people who think it makes you a loser. In the end it's just about getting together with some friends, BSing around a table, and having fun killing stuff. 
 
And a single session of D&D will spawn inside jokes that you'll remember for years.

I've been playing for the better part of seven years. Both 3.5 and 4e. 
 
Do you know what kind of games you're looking to play in? I recommended 3.5 if you're looking to join a long campaign, since the character possibilities are endless. 4e excels in quick, one-off adventure games.

Get the D&D Essentials Red Box. It's like $35 and the perfect intro to D&D. Grab four friend and this bad boy and you'll have a great introductory D&D campaign.

I wish they sold friends in boxes so I could buy them and play DnD with them... (sad face)