D&D: A Brief Introduction To Dungeons And Dragons

Dungeons and Dragons is the most popular role-playing game in the world and is one of the biggest entertainment franchises out there. Though it was once thought of as a game for “nerds” sitting in dark basements, D&D has become a mainstream success and a long list of celebrities have caught on to the craze. Because of this, there has also been an increased interest in D&D for those that have never played before.

Getting into Dungeons and Dragons can be a bit overwhelming for beginners as there are a lot of custom pieces and there’s no way to “win” or “lose.” Instead, it’s all about creating an adventure at the whim of the Dungeon Master and having fun. If you’re interested in getting into Dungeons and Dragons, here’s a brief intro to help you get your feet wet.

What is Dungeons and Dragons

Dungeons and Dragons is a tabletop role-playing game that was created in the 1970s by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson after they had played several tabletop wargames. Though there are predesigned boards to use for D&D, most of them are customized by fans of the game. 

Whether you’re buying an official campaign from the publisher (Wizards of the Coast) or a custom board from someone on Etsy, there’s no wrong board for a good D&D campaign. Your campaign is run by a dungeon master (DM) who narrates your story and portrays any non-playable characters while also being the “judge” for anything that may need a ruling.

What You Need

After you’ve figured out which board you want to use for your Dungeons and Dragons campaign, there are a couple of other things that you’ll need to get started. The most important things are the character sheet and the dice. The dice control just about everything that you do and determine your success.

The other thing that you’ll need is the official rulebook depending on your role. The Player’s Handbook covers the playable characters, while the dungeon master will have their own handbook and the Monster Manual serves as the source for the creatures of Dungeons and Dragons.

Making Your Character

We mentioned the character sheet, and it will be one of the most important tools that you’ll have at your disposal. The character sheet will have all of your abilities, determining several things such as intelligence, charisma, and strength. Throughout the campaign, you’ll be able to level up these abilities to have a better chance at success.

There are 12 total classes to choose from for your character. These classes are barbarian, bard, cleric, druid, fighter, monk, paladin, ranger, rogue, sorcerer, warlock, and wizard. When using a class such as a fighter, you’ll want to focus more on strength and dexterity whereas a warlock will need more intelligence and wisdom.

Rolling the Dice

There’s a reason why you see so many people with expensive custom dice when playing Dungeons and Dragons, and it’s because they’re the biggest component of the game and perhaps the most customizable and important thing you’ll own. The dice can determine how well you’ll do just about everything in D&D.

You may end up rolling a one when trying to tie your shoes and your character falls and knocks themselves out after sustaining a head injury. On the other hand, you could roll a 20 when fighting a mythical dragon and kill it in one shot. There’s really no telling what can happen with the dice, which is what makes D&D so exciting.

Starting Small

If you’re getting into Dungeons and Dragons for the first time, the best way to do so is likely through a premade official set. There are starter packs available through Wizards of the Coast that will introduce a player to the mechanics of the game, though some may be able to jump right into something more detailed and expansive.

There are plenty of people who have watched streams and videos of Dungeons and Dragons players and were able to pick up on the mechanics almost right away. It truly comes down to what you’re comfortable with as a player, so find that starting comfort zone and don’t be afraid to have some fun with your character as it could end up being one you play for years!