>>2077451If you've never been roped, then you sound really new. Maybe you're doing an indoor/outdoor transition? Anyways, helmet, belay device, harness are the trinity. Odds are they're bringing rope, so don't worry about that.
Anyways, when I'm with a partner, I make sure that if they're belaying
1. they hold the device right, 2. they assume proper stance, 3. they actually bother to check if I'm tied in correctly i.e. tied in through both loops, harness is double backed, etc. (Huge red flag if they don't. If partners have climbed for awhile, then it's okay to go by trust, but if I want a stranger to trust my belaying, I make sure to do all the checks).
If they're climbing, I make sure to check that they're tied in, that their figure 8 has 5 pairs of two rope, they're tied into both loops. Sometimes I ask them if they want to be belayed with a bit more slack, or if they want more tension, but it's okay if you're just starting out.
NEVER dismiss checks. It's easy to think that as a beginner they're not important, but it's incredibly easy to make a stupid tie in mistake, then if you fall at the crux you risk your life for no reason. It takes 10 seconds and establishes trust between a climber and a belayer.
Also, Climbing outdoors is different, and if you've bouldered outdoors, then just imagine a really long V0 climb with 2-3 hard moves every 30 feet or so. The cruxes are more spaced out, so try and find good rest spots to prepare for them. Since you're roped climbing, endurance becomes a huge factor, and if you've only ever bouldered (especially indoors only) you're going to get tired very quickly, even if the moves are easy.
