Introducing a New Person to Gaming

[Hibou]

Triskeelae Woodslaara, Half-Vampire-Pixie multiclass Ninja-Paladin-Dragon Shaman

This character sounds like the kind of thing that would invariably wander in all-too-frequently back when I used to do freeform roleplay on IRC...
(I don't do that any more. Big surprise!)

Free form Role playing will do that because everyone and their monkey's-uncle needs to be completely and utterly unique from every other being in the whole of the internet.

I remember that sort of thing... Black Dragon Inn was it?

Ninja D, if and when your girlfriend experiences group play, make sure too that she gets used to not being the center of attention and looks for teamwork when possible - too often with my experiences with new players have I seen them assume that the other players are their entourage. It may or may not even be a problem.

[LordVreeg]

My advice would be to go easy on the crunch and focus on the storytelling/social aspects of the game.  Even though designing a tactically sound character can be a big part of the fun, crunch is the most overwhelming and discouraging part of the game to new players, IMO.

I'd download OSRIC or Swords and Wizardry and go with an OD&D clone for teaching purposes, and fun purposes.  Much easier to learn, much more open-ended, a lot of online free material.  

[Ninja D!]

Thanks for the replies.

[Drizztrocks]

Good luck to you. If she is into RPG video games, I guess  you don't have to worry about being embarressed, and I have to say even the most secure person would feel a little uneasy introducing somebody (especially their girlfriend) to something generally regarded as very nerdy, and at first glance seeming to be very nerdy.

 But since you said she already played those games I guess that won't be a problem. I don't know, maybe that's just me personally who would be embarressed. Anyway, like what others said go easy on the crunch it can be very confusing. The D&D for Dummies (I beleive there's a 4E version) is very very very useful for helping beginners, especially with the premade characters.