How to Play Dungeons & Dragons
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Welcome to the expansive hobby that is Dungeons & Dragons. There are so many books, podcasts, streams and videos about this fantastic game, but getting into it can be pretty daunting. Today I will be walking you through how to play Dungeons & Dragons.
I personally got into Dungeons & Dragons during the transition from 3.5 to 4th edition. These numbers are not very important as for a new player I recommend the latest and the greatest. That is 5th Edition. This is the one you are going to find at every game store and some big box stores as well.
5th Edition Dungeons & Dragons is the current version so it has the easiest access to materials as well as guides just like this to help you get started.
What are the Things That I Need to Play Dungeons & Dragons?
In order to get started playing Dungeons & Dragons just ask yourself, Do I have a group of players? Do I want to be a player in the game? Or do I want to run the game.
A player that runs a game of Dungeons & Dragons for players is called a Dungeon Master. they get to do things suck as build the story and the world the players interact with. They get to build the encounters and give out rewards that players will get during the game. They are in control of the game.
But if that’s not you and you just want to be a player, someone in your group that also want’s to start playing needs to fill this role.
If you are interested in learning more about being a good Dungeon Master, we have a list of the Top 10 tips for New Dungeon Masters.
As a player the things that you will need to start playing Dungeons & Dragons are:
A Character Sheet
A Pencil or Pen
These are the core things that you need in order to get started playing Dungeons & Dragons as a new player. The Players Handbook is not necessary if you have a copy that you can share throughout your group, but I recommend you get one for yourself anyway. As it will speed up and help others with your group build characters.
Wizards of the Coast is the creator of D&D and they have made this process even easier than collecting these things individually. They released a starter set that contains all the material players as well as the Dungeon Master need to get started. If your entire group is new to the game, this is a fantastic way to get started.
The kit even comes with a highly rated story that is pre written as well so the Dungeon master does not have to come up with everything from scratch making learning how to be a dungeon master easier than ever before.
Wow, that wasn’t that much stuff. So what’s next? Now it’s time to enter the most daunting part of your first time playing Dungeons & Dragons. Building your first Dungeons & Dragons character.
How Do I Build A Dungeons & Dragons Character?
Using the players handbook, the first chapter will go through the basic setup of building a character for Dungeons & Dragons. You will be doing things like picking a race, and a class. For instance I could pick being a gnome wizard.
Players will fill out a character sheet, this can be found by visiting the D&D website here and downloading the character sheet printout.
We have a fantastic guide that takes you through the steps of creating a character in depth. Check out our guide on How to Create a Dungeons & Dragons Character?
The Players Handbook does give recommendations on the first page or each of the races and classes for what you should put your highest numbered stats that you role or are given from the book. This will help ensure that the character you get is capable of doing what it is their are supposed to do. For instance a wizards does not need to focus on strength, but on intelligence!
How to Start Playing Dungeons & Dragons
Once everyone has their character sheet created in your group, the Dungeon Master will gather everyone together, usually for a game night and the games will begin.
The Dungeon Master will take the lead and describe the setting and the world and the players will interact with the characters that the Dungeon Master creates and fight the creatures that the Dungeon Master brings into the game.
The dungeon master will ask players to do things such as roll for perception, or roll for initiative. This is when you get to roll dice to determine how well you did in that situation.
Once players have gotten comfortable with their first session with their dungeon master, everything else starts to come naturally as you figure out the game with your group.
Just Have Fun
If you are not having fun with Dungeons & Dragons, then you are not doing it right. The game is really at the end of the day a set of guidelines to a fantasy world that the Dungeon Master creates and the players bring to life with their interactions with it.
What makes the game so entertaining is that it’s an effort from the players as well as the dungeon master to create a cool story with unique characters. You will know if you have done it right if you can really visualize what is happening and remember it afterward.
Have you recently gotten started with Dungeons & Dragons or are you experienced and coming to the newest edition? Share your stories below of when you first started playing Dungeons & Dragons!
