I am relatively new to pen and paper RPGs, so this may sound dumb . . .

I've have been hearing a lot about the new 3rd edition rules and how they simplify things while maintaining the fun of the game.

Are these rules available for sale? Are they sites that have campaigns posted for download?

Excuse my ignorance, i only ask b/c I want to play NWN ALOT when it comes out.

The rules are of course for sale. Look here:
www.sorcerers.net/Books/index_man.htm (http://www.sorcerers.net/Books/index_man.htm)

The Player's Handbook is probably the one you'd want if you were only going to get one of 'em...

I don't know about that. I would like to DM a few games of NWN and being familiar with the DMs role would definitely be helpful.

I pick them up over the weekend.

Well, coming from experience, I have all the core rulebooks that are so far out for 3rd edition D&D. They are all usefull in their own ways. If you want to have nearly no flaws, get all of them; but of course, withought the players handbook, you can't even make characters. If you want to know anything about it, I'll be glad to tell you.

I'd have to agree with Batcher. If you wanted to play 3E you really need all three core books. The PHB to make character and such, the DMG to have info on items and magical things, and the MM to be able to have stats on the enemy.

You can work out your own campaign but you do need to the books listed above. Batcher they do have some 2E adventures on line converted to 3E. Just go check out the WotC website. If you have any questions just let me know.

I as well, have to agree; however, when our group started, we were already playing 2nd edition and switched over just as soon as we saw the 3rd edition rules in the PHB. We only used the PHB for quite a while and improvised with 2nd edition modified monsters. I turned out better than you're probably thinking. Not to mention, they had a few examples of monsters and items in the back of the PHB along with the CR/experience chart.

Starting off that way worked out OK for us too. We started the campaign without the MM or DMG. We convered some old monsters and used the ome's in the new PHB. As long as you get use to the new power levels (some up some down) all was OK. But I remember when our party attacked an ogre for practice all four of us got wiped! I'm glad it was not for real. In the game my ranger was cleaved by a goblin, and I developed a new respect for 3E creatures. It better with the MM now. Enjoy!

I guess I'll be buying a few books then.

This forum isn't all that busy is it?
Think that'll change when NWN hits stores shelved?

Oh, yes! :D

Heh, you can bet on that. Just look at the BG2 forums. ;)

As Tal says, after NWN goes Gold this board will light up like a Xmas tree. But as Syl warns on another thread, places in ALFA are limited, so if you want to be a part of the best on-line world, get your app in in April.

At least we will have the privilage of knowing that we were the first of the die-hard fans. (In this section at least)

Dang straight! I plan on buying NWN on preorder cause I know it will rock! Bioware has never had a bad game!