So, you want to play Dungeons and Dragons?

Tips for getting into the world’s favorite role-playing game

By Soncirey Mitchell
Reader Staff (and Dungeon Master)

Most people have heard of the tabletop role-playing game Dungeons and Dragons, which has been synonymous with nerd culture since the mid-’70s. Whether in Stranger Things or The Big Bang Theory, DnD is often portrayed as an overly complicated, dorky pastime that’s either impossible to get into or too niche to appeal to 99% of people. While the game does have a lot of rules and background, it’s simpler than most people think to get started — all you need is an internet connection and a little bravery.

As a TTRPG, DnD takes place mainly in the “theater of the mind.” The Dungeon Master, who runs the game, describes various settings and situations, and the players then create and embody characters that fit into the DM’s overarching plot. Depending on how you want to play, that plot can be about a group of adventurers staving off the end of the world or a gaggle of farmers looking for their lost sheep; simple or complex, thrilling or relaxing, fantasy or science fiction, DnD is whatever you want it to be.

There are rules and dice to roll beyond that, but the majority of the game is playing make-believe with your friends and consulting the Player’s Handbook (in print or online at bit.ly/2014DnD) every so often until you eventually remember the rules. Even then, most of the time, all you need to do is say, “My character does a backflip,” and then roll a 20-sided die. If you roll a 19, your character does a perfect flip; if you roll a 2, they fall on their face. The rules are mostly intuitive and easy to remember, so the biggest and least-discussed hurdle to starting to play DnD is simply finding people to play with.

Gather your players

DnD needs at least two people to get started, and if you’re committed to learning, neither one needs to have played before. Still, since the DM will be the one running the game and enforcing the rules, it’s easier if they have experience and can teach their players. If, after working through your contact list, you don’t have a buddy with the knowledge and willpower to run a game, then it’s time to turn to local and international resources. 

Here in Sandpoint, the go-to place for clubs and activities is East Bonner County Library (1407 Cedar St.), which already hosts related adult and teen events like minifigure painting. Visit the calendar on ebonnerlibrary.org or reach out to Exploration Coordinator (and Reader columnist) Brenden Bobby at [email protected] to see if anyone’s advertising DnD games or associated events.

Sandpoint’s library is also the home of Sandemonium — the local comic con and point of connections for North Idaho’s proud nerds. The annual gathering usually takes place in summer, but anyone can reach out to organizers and enthusiasts through the group’s website, 7bcon.com, and its linked Discord group, to find local clubs or DMs looking for new players.

If all else fails in person, it’s time to turn to the wide world of online DnD — specifically, Roll20.net. 

Roll20 is the easiest and safest site to meet other players online and join new groups. Not only can you look through dozens of upcoming games made for players of all skill levels, but the free software includes access to rules, tutorials, virtual dice and guided character creation.

If you succeed at finding players but not a DM, and you have a passion for telling stories and a lot of free time, then you can consider running the game yourself. 

To make things easier, visit Roll20, DnDbeyond.com or dmsguild.com to find pre-made adventures, characters and other resources to help you create an easy starter adventure so you and other beginners can learn by playing.

Who are you?

Once you’ve found a game, it’s time to start creating a character. Remember: You can be whoever you want, but you’ll have the most fun — and be better friends with everyone involved — if your character suits the world and the adventure. When you begin a game — called a campaign — your DM will give you some information about the world and the story’s themes and vibes. For example, it may be a lighthearted, Pirates of the Caribbean-esque adventure focused on exploration and friendship. Theoretically, you can make your character Mr. Murder McDeath and have him try to stab his shipmates and steal their riches, but you’re not going to be popular with your DM or fellow players. This is a group activity, and everyone gets their chance in the spotlight, so make sure your character is easy to play and play with.

Using the adventure as a base, come up with a simple background of three or four sentences that will help influence how your character acts in the game. Consider these core questions: Am I a good person? Who or what do I love? Who or what do I hate? What’s my biggest flaw? What’s my ultimate goal? Anything else, you can figure out later.

To finish off your journey of self-discovery, think about how you want to play — and the limits of your current improv skills. It can be tempting to adopt a sad, brooding persona, but if you’re a naturally goofy person, you may find it challenging to stay in character and end up throwing out everything you prepared. You have to be this person, so ensure it’s someone you relate to.

When asked about the process of building his first character, a fellow Sandpoint player, Cole, said the best trick is to bake in awkwardness. Playing make-believe for the first time since elementary school can feel weird at first, and you will have moments when you pause, stutter or say the wrong thing, so plan on it.

“You’re going to be awkward, so just make it a part of them,” he said. “Have them be homeschooled or from a different culture, so they can be confused and ask questions.”

Next, it’s time to consult the Player’s Handbook and choose a race, class and background. There are nine core races, 12 classes and 12 backgrounds to choose from, so this part requires a bit of reading. The important things to look out for are descriptions that lend themselves to the backstory you’ve dreamt up. 

Continuing with the pirate-themed example, you may want to play a character from a good, peaceful place that fell on hard times and had to resort to the sailor’s life. Gnomes are generally good and peaceful, so that’s an easy race to choose. Your background could be “sailor” or “urchin,” if your character had an especially hard childhood. The choice that has the most impact on gameplay will be class, which will determine how you fight and generally interact with the world, so be careful. 

Using magic requires additional mechanics and points to keep track of, so avoid Wizard or Sorcerer classes for your first character. The class that lends itself best to a swashbuckler character would be a Rogue, but if you want to punch bad guys or swing a big sword, then Barbarian or Fighter works too.

The rest of the process is as simple as writing it down using the book to guide you (and rolling a few dice). Once you have a solid character, all that’s left is to dive into the game and learn as you go. 

You’re going to love it — I promise.