Never played Dungeons & Dragons before? Don't worry! Despite the mountains of rulebooks, character sheets, and suspiciously large collections of dice, getting started with D&D is easier than it looks. At its heart, Dungeons & Dragons is a game about creating stories, making choices, and rolling dice to see what happens next. Here's everything you need to know to get started!
Get your party together!
First things first, you'll need a group. Most D&D games have a few players and one Dungeon Master, or DM. The players control their own characters, while the DM runs the world around them. They'll describe locations, introduce characters, control monsters, and decide what happens when the party inevitably ignores the obvious warning signs! You don't need a huge group either. A handful of players is usually enough to get an adventure going.
Create your character!
Next up, you'll need a character. This is where you decide who you want to be in the world of D&D. Fancy swinging a giant axe? Pick a barbarian. Want to sling spells? A wizard could be your thing. Prefer sneaking around and causing problems? That's what rogues are for! You'll also choose things like your character's species, abilities, background, and personality. Your choices affect what your character can do during the adventure, giving everyone their own role in the party.
Roll the dice!
D&D uses several different dice, but the most famous is the D20. When your character attempts something with an uncertain outcome, the DM may ask you to roll a D20 and add the relevant modifier. Roll high enough, and you succeed. Roll badly and, well, things can get interesting! Combat works similarly. Players take turns moving, attacking, casting spells, and using abilities while the DM controls the enemies.
Make your own adventure!
The best part of D&D is that there isn't usually one correct way to play. You can investigate suspicious strangers, explore forgotten dungeons, negotiate with monsters, or completely derail the adventure because someone decided to steal a chicken. The DM helps keep the game moving, but the players decide what their characters actually do.
Ready to roll?
You don't need to memorise every rule before your first session. Grab a starter adventure, create a character, gather some friends, and start playing! D&D is all about seeing where the adventure takes you. Just remember to bring your D20. Your character's fate may depend on it!
