INTRODUCTION
Hello curious friend! Welcome to this beginner’s guide to the captivating world of fantasy role-playing with the game Dungeons & Dragons! You may have heard the name thrown around in popular culture, or perhaps your curiosity about this popular game has grown due to a passing interest in fantasy. If you love adventures, quests, and the joy of storytelling with friends, you’re in for a real treat! This game is not just for fantasy aficionados, it’s a social interaction game that combines strategy, teamwork, and imagination quite like no other. It’s fun, interesting, and definitely worth giving a try – so let’s dive into it!
WHAT IS DUNGEONS AND DRAGONS?
Dungeons & Dragons, or D&D for short, is a fantastic, creative game that originated in the 1970s. It’s a tabletop role-playing game where you create a character and embark on epic quests and adventures in a fantasy world created by a Dungeon Master. This game is part of the larger ecosystems of role-playing games but stands out with its incredible flexibility and almost limitless potential for creativity.
The magic of D&D is that it’s not necessarily about winning or losing, but rather about the journey your character takes and the stories you weave with your fellow players. It is almost like an interactive, collaborative storytelling session, except you get to live the adventures of your characters rather than just reading about them. And don’t worry, you don’t need to be an experienced role-playing gamer to get started. It’s all about imagination, creativity, and fun!
HOW TO GET STARTED
Playing D&D consists of creating a character, interacting with other characters (played by other members of the game), and navigating the world the Dungeon Master has created. These characters can be anything from wizards and warriors to rogues and rangers, the choice is completely yours!
Your first step would be deciding on a character. Consider their abilities and backstory. This character development is where your imagination can truly shine! Once you’ve designed your character, you’ll make decisions through them and roll dice to determine different outcomes of those decisions.
Next, join a gaming session. This could be at home with friends, a local hobby shop or even online. These sessions are typically run by a Dungeon Master (DM), who guides the flow of the story, describes scenarios and characters you encounter, and plays the part of the non-player characters (NPCs) in the world.
WHAT YOU NEED TO PLAY
You don’t need much to start playing D&D. The basic of the basics include dice (or a dice app on your phone), paper, and pencil. However, there are a few other items that might improve your playing experience:
1. D&D Player’s Handbook: This is your guide to the world of D&D. It explains the rules, character creation, spell lists, and everything else you might need.
2. Character Sheets: Where you keep track of everything about your character, including their abilities, equipment, and backstory.
3. D&D starter set: If you’re just starting, this set has everything you need including a basic rulebook, pre-generated characters, and a set adventure.
TIPS FOR BEGINNERS
1. Be patient – Learning the ropes takes time but stick with it, it’s worth it!
2. Focus on having fun and getting involved in the storytelling – winning isn’t everything here.
3. Start simple with your character creation. As you gain experience, you can create more complex characters.
4. Ask questions! Don’t feel embarrassed if you don’t know something, everyone was a beginner once.
5. Remember it’s a team game. Support your fellow players, after all, you’re all out on this adventure together!
HELPFUL RESOURCES
There are many resources available online to help you get started. Youtube channels such as ‘Critical Role’, ‘WebDM’ and ‘Dungeon Dudes’ have tons of content from game playthroughs to character creation tips. Online communities in forums such as Reddit and Discord have a wealth of information from fellow players. You can also use tools like ‘D&D Beyond’ for helping with character creation and campaign management.
GLOSSARY: COMMON TERMS EXPLAINED
Dungeon Master (DM): The one who guides the story and controls all the non-player characters and events in the game.
Player Character (PC): A character in the game world that is controlled by a player.
Non-player Character (NPC): Any character not controlled by a player but run by the DM.
Campaign: A series of gaming sessions that form the player characters’ journey.
Roll: When a player throws a dice to determine the outcome of an action.
NEXT STEPS: WHERE TO GO FROM HERE
Once you have spent some time learning about Dungeons & Dragons, it’s time to jump straight in! Your best bet is to find a group to play with, whether it’s with friends or through a local hobby shop. You might even find online groups where the games are played digitally! So take a deep breath, roll your dice, and step into the incredible game world of Dungeons & Dragons that awaits you. Always remember, it’s not about mastering the game, it’s more about the journey. Adventure awaits!
