Questions about dungeons and dragons basic game

Question

My bff and I just bought the D&D basic game set that comes in a box at barnes and noble and I have a few questions.

How many experience points do you need to level up...I didn't really see anything in the DM book or character books that said.

Also do you roll your saving throws, ability checks and skill checks before hand or do you roll a new one each time you need it.

Thank you so much! I've always enjoyed watching my sister and her friends play and I'm excited to eventually play 4.0 because I heard it's really fun.

:D

Answer 1

You imply but don't specifically say that you're talking about 4E - the actual XP amount to level varies from version to version, but should be in the PHB (for example, in 3.5 it's in a couple of places, one of which is the first or second page of the "Classes" chapter.)

Generally, you roll saves and checks at the time they are needed. One possible exception to this might be if your GM has you roll a few Spot/Listen/Search checks and give them the results at the beginning of the game session that they note. Then when you get to a spot where there is something hidden, they can determine whether you notice it without tipping off the players that there's something to find (thus reducing the possibility of the players metagaming.)

Answer 2

The short answers to your question are this:

1. 1000 xp fpr 2nd level. The rule of thumb for advancement is your current x 1000xp = next level. (i.e. current level 2 x1000=2000 more xp needed for 3 rd level).

2. yes saves skill checks should be done with each new instatnce of the action that instigated it. Saves for spell effects. Skill chacks for actions (move silentely, Hide, disable device).

Hope this helps

Answer 3

Are you using the blue dragon box set or the black dragon box set? The former is poorly edited and it'll be hard to play without an experienced DM. The latter is great and is worth using.

Also, you need 1000 experience points per level to level up - so to get from level 1 to 2, you need 1000. From 2 to 3, you need 2000 more, for 3000 total, and so on. Essentially, you need 1000 times a triangular number.