How to Play Dungeons and Dragons

Dungeons and Dragons! D&D. It's been around for ages. And people love it. Why? It’s storytelling, strategy, and hanging out with friends all rolled into one. Want to battle monsters? Explore epic quests? D&D is your ticket to a world of endless fun. Let's learn how to play!

What is Dungeons and Dragons?

D&D is a tabletop roleplaying game. What does that mean? You make a character. Then, a Dungeon Master (DM) tells a story. Think of the DM as the narrator. They control the world and the characters you meet. You make choices for your character. You roll dice to see what happens. And you work together with your friends. It’s like telling a story together, but with dice!

Getting Started: What You Need

Okay, ready to jump in? Here’s what you need:

• Player's Handbook (PHB): This book has all the rules. You'll need it to make a character.
• Dungeon Master's Guide (DMG): This is for the DM. It helps them make adventures.
• Monster Manual (MM): Want to know about dragons? This book is full of monsters!
• Dice: You need a set of special dice. Like a d4, d6, d8, d10, d12, and a d20. What's a "d"? It means die, and the number tells you how many sides it has.
• Character Sheets: This is where you write down all about your character. Stuff like their name, skills, and what they have with them.
• Pencils and Paper: To take notes. Important stuff!
• Friends! D&D is way more fun with friends.

Don't want to buy all those books? No problem! Get a starter set. It has simpler rules and a ready-made adventure. You can even play online!

Creating Your Character: Let's Make a Hero

The best part? Making your character! Here's how:

1. Pick a Race

What kind of character do you want to be? Here are some options:

• Humans: Good at almost anything.
• Elves: Magical and live a long time.
• Dwarves: Strong and good at building things.
• Halflings: Small, happy, and lucky.
• Gnomes: Smart and love to invent things.
• Dragonborn: Part dragon! Cool, right? Learning how to dragons sometimes starts with understanding their descendants!
• Tieflings: Part devil. They often have horns.

Each race has special skills. These skills make your character strong or weak in certain ways.

2. Pick a Class

What does your character do? This is their class. Here are some choices:

• Barbarian: A fierce fighter who gets angry!
• Bard: Uses music and magic.
• Cleric: A healer who uses magic from the gods.
• Druid: Can turn into animals!
• Fighter: Good with weapons and armor.
• Monk: A martial artist who uses their inner power.
• Paladin: A holy warrior who fights for good.
• Ranger: Good at tracking and using a bow.
• Rogue: Sneaky and good at stealing.
• Sorcerer: Has magic inside them.
• Warlock: Gets magic from a powerful being.
• Wizard: Studies magic in books.

Each class has different skills and spells. This changes how you fight and play the game.

3. Get Ability Scores

How strong is your character? How smart? These are your ability scores. Here they are:

• Strength (STR): How strong you are.
• Dexterity (DEX): How fast and agile you are.
• Constitution (CON): How healthy you are.
• Intelligence (INT): How smart you are.
• Wisdom (WIS): How good you are at understanding things.
• Charisma (CHA): How good you are at talking to people.

You can roll dice to get these scores. Or use a point system. A strong barbarian needs Strength. A wise cleric needs Wisdom.

4. Pick a Background

What did your character do before becoming an adventurer? This is their background. Maybe they were a farmer. Or a thief. This gives your character more skills.

5. Get Equipment

You start with some stuff. Weapons, armor, and other gear. Pick things that fit your character.

6. Make a Personality and Backstory

Now, make your character real! What are they like? What do they believe in? What happened to them in the past? The more you know about your character, the more fun you'll have!

Understanding the Rules: How the Game Works

D&D uses a 20-sided die. You roll it and add numbers to see if you succeed. Here's how it works:

1. Ability Checks

Want to climb a wall? The DM might ask for an ability check. You roll a d20. Add your ability modifier. The DM sets a Difficulty Class (DC). If you roll high enough, you succeed!

2. Attack Rolls

Want to hit a monster? Roll a d20. Add your attack bonus. Compare it to the monster's Armor Class (AC). If you roll high enough, you hit!

3. Saving Throws

A monster casts a spell on you! You need to make a saving throw. Roll a d20. Add your saving throw modifier. Compare it to the DC. If you roll high enough, you resist the spell!

4. Advantage and Disadvantage

Sometimes you get advantage. This means you roll two d20s and take the higher one. Sometimes you get disadvantage. Roll two d20s and take the lower one.

Gameplay: Let's Play!

You have a character. You know the rules. Let’s play! Here's what usually happens:

1. The DM Sets the Scene

The DM tells you what you see. What's around you? Who is there? Listen carefully! This gives you clues.

2. Players Take Action

You say what you want to do. Explore a dungeon? Talk to someone? Attack a monster? Be creative! "I charge at the goblin, swinging my sword!" is way better than "I attack the goblin."

3. The DM Decides What Happens

The DM decides if you need to roll dice. They use the rules. They also tell you what happens next.

4. Tell a Story Together!

D&D is about telling a story with your friends. Work together! Solve problems! Have fun!

Tips for New Players

• Ask questions! D&D can be confusing. It's okay to ask for help.
• Be your character! Get into their head. What would they do?
• Work together! D&D is a team game.
• Have fun! That's what it's all about.

Different Worlds to Explore

D&D has lots of different worlds. Each one is unique. Some popular ones are:

• Forgotten Realms: A classic fantasy games world. Lots of history.
• Eberron: Magic meets technology! Lots of political stuff.
• Ravenloft: Dark and scary. Vampires and werewolves!
• Dragonlance: A fight against evil dragons! Here too, the quest of how to dragons has a home!

You can play a pre-made adventure. Or make your own!

Want to Learn More?

There are tons of resources out there:

• Dungeons & Dragons Official Website: The official website! Rules, news, and more.
• D&D Beyond: A website to help you manage your characters online.
• YouTube Channels: Lots of people make videos about D&D.
• Online Communities: Talk to other D&D players online.

Let the Adventure Begin!

Learning how to dragons – or, more likely, learning how to play Dungeons and Dragons – is a great idea. You'll have tons of fun. Make new friends. And create amazing memories. So grab your dice and get ready to explore! And when in doubt, check the D&D rules and work with your friends. That’s what makes this tabletop roleplaying game so special!