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Any D&D/D20

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[Harry Baldman]

None, it's going to be everyone's first game. I want to start at level 1 but I can change that if you think it's a good idea (Nobody's starting with magical items though. My players will only be reading the handbook). Session can be as long as it needs to be, I'd say 3-6 hours.

Well, you can start at level 1, just be sure to make sure they level up immediately after the first session.

Though it'd also be helpful to know which edition we're talking here.

[Criptfeind]

Well, you can start at level 1, just be sure to make sure they level up immediately after the first session.

Why make sure to level up immediately after the first session?

[heydude6]

None, it's going to be everyone's first game. I want to start at level 1 but I can change that if you think it's a good idea (Nobody's starting with magical items though. My players will only be reading the handbook). Session can be as long as it needs to be, I'd say 3-6 hours.

Well, you can start at level 1, just be sure to make sure they level up immediately after the first session.

Though it'd also be helpful to know which edition we're talking here.

Currently I'm torn between 3.5 and fifth edition (I know, very helpful). I would normally choose fifth edition, but the only book I have is a phb that my friend lent me for a previous DnD game that never materialized. While for 3.5, I have all the core books. One of my friends insists I can just run DnD with just the phb, but I'm not so sure about that.

[Tawa]

There's a 5e SRD, but if you have all the 3.5 rulebooks, you'll probably be better off with those.

[Harry Baldman]

Why make sure to level up immediately after the first session?

Because being level 1 is terrible and the sooner you get out of it the better. The fact that it's terrible, however, is something you can use to your advantage to make that first levelup that much more satisfying. Level 2 is particularly important because it's the only level that effectively doubles your HP, and having a rapid progression for the first couple levels works well because they're built to be gone through relatively quickly, unlocking most of your basic class features. Especially the case in 5E where that applies to most of your important class features for all classes.

Currently I'm torn between 3.5 and fifth edition (I know, very helpful). I would normally choose fifth edition, but the only book I have is a phb that my friend lent me for a previous DnD game that never materialized. While for 3.5, I have all the core books. One of my friends insists I can just run DnD with just the phb, but I'm not so sure about that.

Play whichever you're more familiar with, it makes the game smoother if you have a good grasp on the rules.

Also the DM's Guide for 5E is mostly supplementary information, it does have pointers for encounter design and helpful suggestions for variant rules, but it's not completely indispensable.

You might want to get your hands on a Monster Manual for 5E though, that's pretty useful to have a look through even if you could theoretically improvise the details, but for prep you can just as well use the SRD (it has pretty much everything that's in the MM, the mechanical bits from the DM's Guide and the PHB's information in a more easily navigable form, particularly for spells, although there are mistakes in there too): http://5e.d20srd.org/

[GiglameshDespair]

Persopnally I'd say 5e is a better system in the first place, so go with that.

[Dorsidwarf]

5e is much quicker to learn in my opinion and I'd definitely recommend it more for first-timers?

[Rolan7]

We haven't actually played 5e yet still, but from what we've seen so far, it's probably a better place to start.  3.5e is more technical (even before you get into the billion optional splat books).  I'm still leery of some of the ways they streamlined, such as "advantage", but it's still got almost all the meat of 3.5e with a lot less of the hassle.

[Sirus]

I haven't been paying much attention to 5E, but is it still stuck at the basic classes, basic races stage? I like having plenty of options when creating characters.

[Harry Baldman]

I haven't been paying much attention to 5E, but is it still stuck at the basic classes, basic races stage? I like having plenty of options when creating characters.

Nah, PHB's been out for years now if that's what you're asking about, and we've got a fairly minor splatbook in the form of Volo's Guide to Monsters which gives a couple cool races. In addition to that there's been a bunch of Unearthed Arcana material that's shaping up to be put together into a new book, including the Mystic which actually looks really good.

Overall it's still a bit lacking in options, but with UA and whatever their new book is it'll probably look a lot better.

[MrRoboto75]

I haven't been paying much attention to 5E, but is it still stuck at the basic classes, basic races stage? I like having plenty of options when creating characters.

I prefer it when the first session's character gen is a contest to see who can bring the most bizarre adventurer.

[Teneb]

I haven't been paying much attention to 5E, but is it still stuck at the basic classes, basic races stage? I like having plenty of options when creating characters.

I prefer it when the first session's character gen is a contest to see who can bring the most bizarre adventurer.

Also, each class has a bunch of "packages" that can be picked at levels 1, 2 or 3 (depending on the class). They can change things around quite a bit. For instance, Nature Domain for clerics turns you into a mini-druid. Meanwhile, sorcerers can act as if they're dragon disciples if they pick the right origin.

[milo christiansen]

Speaking of "interesting" characters I'm playing a game where I have a cleric of RNG, complete with a holy d20. It's awesome...

The GM has tables to roll against whenever I roll my holy die, which produces all kinds of bizarre effects. Also it's great to be able to legitimately call upon RNG when rolling for something (not that it actually helps). Obviously the game isn't terribly serious, but half the fun of this character is to play him straight, leaning on the fourth wall (too much) is best avoided...

Anyway, this is one of the first RPGs I've played, and I really like it so far. Mostly because of this character.

[highmax28]

I haven't been paying much attention to 5E, but is it still stuck at the basic classes, basic races stage? I like having plenty of options when creating characters.

While there aren't many classes, unearthed arcana released so many archetypes over the past year last year that they had about a new thing every week for a bit.

I do get how the desire to have more options is a desire, but the two new classes they're working on, Mystic and Artificer, are awesome but either too weak to really use long term OR they're a little broken. It depends on what you do, really.

As for races, Volo's Guide to Monsters released monstorous races (goblin, kobold, etc) and unearthed arcana brought more races as well (warforged, shifters, and more)

So there are options officially released by Wizards, but they're hidden in campaign books, Monster Manuals (I consider Volo's guide a MM), Campaign Guides and in unearthed arcana.

However, this also leads to your friend finding a bunch of homebrews thinking they're unearthed arcana and trying to use a class that says "I get 3/4 feats at level 1 and I have a dragon" before even fully reading into it

[Jimmy]

Speaking of "interesting" characters I'm playing a game where I have a cleric of RNG, complete with a holy d20. It's awesome...

I like it! Reminds me of the Goblins comic where the cleric's deity is the DM. I'm assuming your cleric worships RNGesus and his domains are madness and luck?