So, how to get started? Part I

There are a lot of people out there who want to get into D&D, but have no idea where to start.

Honestly, I get it. It is super hard to get into it without help.

The first thing we should talk about is, What even IS Dungeons and Dragons?

Dungeons and Dragons is a fantasy tabletop role-playing game (RPG) that was originally created and designed by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson. The game was first published in 1974 by Tactical Studies Rules, Inc. It has been published by Wizards of the Coast, later a subsidiary of Hasbro, since 1997. D&D‘s publication is commonly recognized as the beginning of modern role-playing games and the role-playing game industry and also deeply influenced video games, especially the role-playing video game genre.

Ok, that was a lot of information. Dungeons and Dragons is a game we play at the table that is story-driven and exists almost entirely in our imaginations.

So here we go, into the good stuff. What do we need to start?

Luckily, since the game exists almost entirely in our imagination we can start with very little!

• Things you absolutely need
  • Dice. The way we determine how effective you are, or if you succeed in some form of action.
    • There are 7 base dice that you will need. Almost every dice has a different amount of sides. These are:
      • d4
      • d6
      • d8
      • d10 (You get two d10s to form a d100)
      • d12
      • d20
    • Each dice does have its unique use, but you will find that you will use your d20 and d6 the most.
    • Luckily dice can be fairly cheap and come in sets of what you need. I search Amazon for deals, and you can also find sets at Barnes and Noble.
  • Knowledge: There is a LOT to know about Dungeons and Dragons. But there are a lot of ways to learn.
    • My absolute favorite Dungeons and Dragons website is dndbeyond. It provides ease of access for character creation and it has a lot of information that you can learn with.
  • People:
    • You need a group of people!! I would generally say you should have 3 people minimum. 1 person to act as the Dungeon Master and 2 players. I have come to find my ideal group size is 5. with Me as the Game Master and 4 players.
  • A story of some kind:
    • This can be a story you put together or a premade campaign that you find online.
    • A story you put together has pros and cons, for instance if you are just starting you may not know where to even start on a story. But it could be the best way to learn!
    • A premade story tends to be a little easier to get into, but can stiffle your creativity by not being able to make choices you want to make.

Those are the things you absolutely NEED. Dice, a little starting knowledge, a small group of friends, and a story. Now with that list out of the way there are a LOT of other things you can add to your game to make it more fun!

• Miniatures
  • There are a TON of miniatures online. You can even search Amazon for them! There are also physical stores that sell miniatures.
• Dungeon Master Screen
  • As a long-time Game Master, I don’t hide my rolls. I want my players to know that that same RNG that they face, I face as well.
• Dice Roll Towers
• Maps
  • You can buy maps online, or make your own! I make… just so many maps.
• Dry Erase Grids
  • These are AMAZING. Look on Amazon, they are reasonably priced and last a long time.
• Physical buildings, trees, obstacles, etc.
• Costumes
• Music
  • Themed music can go a really long way to help your players focus and feel immersed in the game!
• Background sounds
• Ambient lighting

This list could continue until you would seriously question my sanity. You may already question my sanity. I myself, tend to question my sanity. But these are all things that you can decide for yourself if you wish to use and add.

I say this a lot, but it is important to me. That is why I love Dungeons and Dragons. It truly can adapt to you and your play style.

I will be releasing more guides on how to get started. But this one is focused on what you need physically.

LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU THINK!