Summary: There are things every gamer should know. Unfortunately, the Player's Guide and Dungeon Master usually neglect to mention such things. Therefore, I have compiled these sensible tips for fellow players. Stories behind them shall follow. Rated for language.
Disclaimer: I own nothing. Just a copy of the 3.5 Player's Manual, the Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting book, a bunch of old 2.0 rulebooks and suppliments, and a really big box of Dragon back-issues. I miss that magazine. Why, Wizards?! Why?!
Queen's Quornor: My father's first D&D game. That about sums this chapter up.
Stories with Morals: What an Introduction!
In the long-ago days of yore, the world of Oerth was suddenly gifted with the presence of a paladin. This paladin was named Sir Alaric, and though of relatively little experience in the ways of adventuring he compensated with an overabundancy of zealous faith and single-minded determination. Handsome and golden-haired, with bright blue eyes that caused ladies to swoon, he strode along in shining silver plate, carrying an ancient two-handed sword inherited from his noble family. He was set on righting wrongs and smiting evil wherever it may lurk, all in the name of his god.
It was with this attitude that he joined with a motely group of adventurers, as inexperienced as himself. They set off for a nearby dungeon with high hopes and a hearty thirst for gold and danger. Sir Alaric's eyes gleamed with the thrill of his first adventure, dreams of future deeds filling his head. He insisted he be the first to enter the dungeon, since he was the best-protected and the best swordman of them all.
He took one step into the dungeon...
...and promptly died.
A trapdoor opened beneath his foot, sending him falling into a pit of razor-sharp spikes. The party, unsettled by their mighty paladin's sudden death, backed out of the dungeon and returned to their village with doubt clouding their hearts. A week after Sir Alaric's death, he was replaced by a grey elven cleric named Lee and the party returned to the dungeon, this time sending the thief ahead first to check for traps. Several months later, Sir Alaric was unexpectedly resurrected and rejoined the party, fighting beside Lee as their road led them to further adventures. But never again did Sir Alaric insist upon venturing into a dungeon before it was cleared of traps, and never again did his player lay such high hopes upon a single character before making sure they would survive more than a few sessions.
Thus Tip Number 50: It doesn't matter how awesome your character is and how much you like them; traps are indiscriminatory.