DUNGEONS & DRAGONS
The D&D fantasy role-playing game was created by Gary Gygax and David Arneson in 1974 and published by Gygax's company, Tactical Studies Rules (TSR), that same year. It was acquired by Wizards of the Coast in 1997, a subsidiary of Hasbro. In addition to the game, D&D-themed books, television shows, and movies have gained popularity recently.
There have been multiple editions of D&D, with various changes to the rules and terminology. Gameplay takes place in a medieval fantasy world in which a group of players is led by a storyteller, a character known as the Dungeon Master, through an adventure. Story events, either crafted by the Dungeon Master or pulled from a published adventure, are chosen by the Dungeon Master and handled by the players in a variety of ways to create unique gaming experiences.
Other players choose a species (e.g. humans, elves, dwarfs, halflings), a class (e.g., Fighter, Rogue, Wizard), and several skills for their characters, and assign points to attributes (e.g., constitution, strength, dexterity, intelligence, wisdom, and charisma) that affect a character's overall ability to perform various activities.
The success of any sufficiently complex action by a player is determined by rolling one or more of the game’s polygonal dice (4-, 6-, 8-, 10-, 12-, and 20-sided) with more complex actions requiring a much higher roll (and therefore a greater chance for failure. To represent character movements, players often use a sheet marked with a grid and miniature figurines. Mini figures can be purchased premade of custom made from online stores like Hero Forge.
If you want to get started but don't have a group to play D&D with yet, then find out how to play Dungeons and Dragons solo here!
You can find these rules on the D&D website, or on D&D Beyond.
After you're familiar with the Basic Rules, consider purchasing a Player's Handbook, which provides more advanced rules and options for character creation and progression.
When it comes to creating your character, the possibilitiess are virtually limitless. Here's a brief introduction to a few possibilities:
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Human Fighter: An excellent combatant capable with various weapons, such as swords, axes, rapiers, and bows.
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Human Barbarian: A warrior filled with animalistic fury, whose rage grants them superhuman strength and resilience in the heat of battle.
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Elf Ranger: A relentless tracker of dangerous monsters, who thrives even in harsh conditions.
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Elf Bard: An entertainer who inspires their allies with magic and song, boasting an unmatched gift for storytelling.
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Tiefling Warlock: A character who has made a pact with an otherworldly being, leading to a fundamental change and heightened magical abilities... but at a cost.
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Dwarf Cleric: A devotee of divine purpose, who can heal their allies, cast heavenly spells, and smite evil with a trustworthy mace.
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Elf Wizard: A brilliant and formidable spellcaster, who is perpetually entranced by the promise of power and magical knowledge.
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Human Druid: A character with a deep affinity for nature, who strives for harmony, can embody nature's resilience, and even shapeshift into an animal using wild", elemental magic.
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Halfling Rogue: A secretive and unassuming character who navigates the city in search of targets, with stealth and skill that prove invaluable in any situation.
Whether you're a new or experienced player, D&D offers endless possibilities for adventure, creativity, and storytelling. Enjoy your journey into the world of Dungeons & Dragons!
What Is Dungeons & Dragons?
Dungeons & Dragons stands as the pinnacle of the tabletop roleplaying game genre, revered by countless enthusiasts worldwide. It is a game of collective storytelling, where you, together with your fellow players, assume the personas of various characters within a narrative. As the game unfolds, your character forges alliances, creates foes, battles creatures, unearths treasures, and undertakes quests.
Unlike many other games where the primary aim is to garner the highest score or emerge victorious, the paramount objective of D&D is to weave a captivating tale. While dice and Basic Rules are integral parts, along with often used maps and miniatures or tokens, the most frequently utilized tools are the players' creative minds.
Whether you're drawn to the game after witnessing "Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves" or your companions have encouraged you to join their gaming circle, comprehending the workings of D&D can be challenging.
How is D&D Played? A typical D&D session comprises a small group of players and a Dungeon Master (DM). Each player embodies an adventurer character of their creation, while the DM orchestrates the story's narrative.
The DM provides players with information about the adventure, including:
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Outlining the adventurers' surroundings
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Narrating activities that transpire around them
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Detailing potential challenges or puzzles in their path
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Assuming the roles of supporting characters in the story, typically referred to as non-player characters (NPCs) Players make use of character sheets, comprehensive records of stats that encapsulate their adventurers' capabilities in interacting with their environment. These can incorporate elements like:
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Basic traits such as the character's intellect or strength
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Proficiencies in areas like Investigation or Persuasion
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Actions such as attacking with weapons or casting spells
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Languages the character is fluent in or tools they can handle Once the DM has described a scenario and any potential obstacles, the players detail their characters' responses. The DM then assesses the consequences of these actions. They might ask the players to roll dice to determine success or simply allow the narrative to progress based on their descriptions. The outcome of a player's roll is usually adjusted based on the skills listed in their character sheet. The DM also rolls dice when the story requires it, such as for NPCs, monsters, or traps.
This pattern forms the basis of all D&D narratives, whether the adventurers are scrutinizing dimly lit dungeon chambers, locked in fierce battles with monsters, or discreetly listening in on confidential conversations at a grand gala.
Give D&D a Whirl to facilitate your first steps into the game!
Exploring the D&D Multiverse So far, we've discussed the DM's role in depicting the environment surrounding the players' adventurers. But where are these settings situated? Simply put: anywhere your imagination can reach.
Much like the narratives you create as a group and the actions your adventurers undertake, the setting's only true boundary is your creativity.. Some DMs craft detailed maps and arrange miniatures to visualize a fantasy world, while others like Roll Britannia opt for the 'theater of the mind' approach, preferring to describe the environment in detail and let the players' imaginations fill in the rest.
Homebrewed Worlds Many DMs prefer to fabricate their own fantasy worlds, a process often referred to as"homebrewing". These homebrew worlds can incorporate anything from an amalgamation of settings pulled from fantasy novels, films, or other games, to entirely novel worlds spawned from the DMs imagination.!
Published Settings For Dungeon Masters playing Dungeons and Dragons UK or anywhere in the world, who prefer to immerse themselves in narrative weaving rather than intricate worldbuilding, a variety of pre-constructed, ready-to-play realms exist as central features of D&D's current fifth edition. Comprehensive guidebooks provide intricate details about the various locales and societal norms within these settings. Some of these captivating worlds include:
The Forgotten Realms
Positioned as the primary milieu for most official D&D campaigns, The Forgotten Realms predominantly situates adventures on a continent named Faerûn. This vibrant world includes locales like; the adventurous Sword Coast, the icy northern reaches of Frozenfar, and bustling cities such as Neverwinter, Waterdeep, and Baldur’s Gate. The thrilling Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves unfurls its tale within the Forgotten Realms.
Greyhawk
As one of D&D's foundational campaign settings, the world of Greyhawk has served as the backdrop for many of the game's classic adventures. It boasts iconic locales like the coastal town of Saltmarsh and the menacing Temple of Elemental Evil. Compared to the grand, high-stakes fantasy of the Forgotten Realms, Greyhawk exudes a noticeably medieval, hard-fantasy atmosphere.
Magic: The Gathering Settings
The dynamic world of D&D has seamlessly absorbed settings from the popular card game Magic: The Gathering, which is also under the aegis of Wizards of the Coast. These settings include:
Ravnica: The metropolis of Ravnica, a global city spanning the entirety of its world, tells urban tales primarily focused on the intrigues and rivalries among the city's ten influential ruling guilds, whose interests range from illicit activities to underground hives to unchecked magical experimentation.
Theros: Drawing inspiration from the lore of ancient Greece and Rome, Theros introduces a world directly molded by divine intervention. Adventures se t in Theros adopt a more legendary tone, with players often cast as the chosen champions of the gods.
Strixhaven: Strixhaven University opens its doors to those lucky students seeking to unlock the mysteries of magic. Players assume the roles of students delving into the arcane knowledge housed within Strixhaven's five esteemed colleges.
Other Settings
Numerous other published realms await exploration, promising adventuress that travel across multiple planes of existence. Beyond the terrestrial realms, elemental planes of fire, water, earth, and air beckon adventurers. The Feywild offers a magical mirror of the material world, while the Shadowfell presents a sombre counterpart. As you embark on your D&D journey, these lands and many more may lie on your path.
Embarking on Your D&D Adventure Whether you're a new player or a seasoned veteran, there's always a new adventure to undertake in D&D.
New Players For those embarking on their first D&D adventure, it's best to start with the Basic Rules.
This free resource provides everything you need to start your adventure, including:
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A guide to creating your own character
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Rules for playing the game
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Information on magic and spellcasting
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Details on the multiverse of D&D
