So, you want to play Dungeons & Dragons. However, you have never played it before and, from the outside, it may look like an overly complicated game full of weird rules and math. Though rules and calculations are part of the package, the game is a lot simpler than it looks, especially since most recent editions tend to be gentler to newcomers.

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Though your Dungeon Master will help you out with the basics, you can still prepare yourself and understand what are the basics to get the game going, thus helping you get the hang of things quicker.

Updated March 26, by Lucas Olah: As time goes on, the way we play D&D and other Tabletop RPGs changed a bit. There are many things you can do to prepare yourself, and there are different ways you can play, such as in-person or online, each having its own way to prepare. Though the core of the game is still the same, it's good to be aware of these things, thus an update on how to prepare yourself for your first campaign was in order.

10 A Group To Play With

The cast portraits of the Force Grey Lost City of Omu
 Force Grey: Lost City of Omu Cast via Wizards of the Coast

A bit obvious, but this is a group game, after all. That means you need people to play with. For your first time, it would be preferable to have a friend - or multiple friends - who already plays the game and invites you to a short campaign or a one-shot (a campaign that starts and ends on the same day).

However, in case you don't know any friends who play D&D, you can find groups who are friendly to newbies and willing to teach you online, in places like Facebook groups, for example.

9 Session Zero

Dungeons And Dragons Tavern Drinking Party Celebrating Playing Music
Tavern by Vladimir Krisetskiy.

A common term in the community is session zero. It's a meeting among the players and the DM before the first game, where you meet everybody (in case you don't know the group), and the DM can set out expectations for what you may see during the campaign. It's also useful for the players to tell one another what type of characters they're thinking of creating.

Sometimes we get the urge to keep things secret to surprise the rest, and that isn't a problem. But some things are important to tell beforehand. It's also a good moment to talk about boundaries; If you're not okay with games being extremely violent, for example, then it's a good moment to let people know.

8 The Player’s Handbook

Player's Handbook cover art depicting two adventurers fighting King Snurre, a fire giant
Player's Handbook cover art by Tyler Jacobson

There are many books with rules for D&D, though most of them are something for the DM to have. Still, when it comes to creating your character, The Player's Handbook will show you how. Your DM will probably have it but, if you end up enjoying D&D and want to keep going, consider getting your own copy, digital or physical.

The book explains all the technical things your character needs to function: from Ability scores to classes and many other details. It explains how all of these work, along with things that happen most often in the game, such as combat, for example. You don't need to read all of it right away since there's a lot to read, but you should spend some time getting familiarized with it.

7 Notebook And Writing Utensils

exotic races play cards at a casino table
Three-Dragon Ante Invitational Art By Andrew Mar

One of the most important things here is keeping track of what your character is capable of and what items they currently have. A notebook, a pencil, and an eraser - a pen is good, but you should use something that can be erased - are must-haves, so you can write down all your character information stated above, as well as any detail you find important so you won't forget it.

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You'll most likely get a character sheet from your DM, which helps organize most things listed here. Still, a notebook for extra notes or things that need a lot of space, such as spell descriptions, is still imperative.

6 Dice

light up polyhedral dice

This is what makes the world go round. Whenever you attempt to do something that has a chance of both working or failing, we use a die to decide whether you succeed or not. Your character's ability scores and skills will affect the probability, but you'll still roll a die to see what will happen next.

The most used die is the d20, aka a 20-sided die (the one on the left in the picture). Still, there are others, used for weapon attacks and different situations. They go, from lowest to highest: d4, d6, d8, d10, d12, and the aforementioned d20. You can also find a d100, but they are rarely needed, and two d10s can replace it.

5 Computer And Websites

Setting up a game on Roll20 and the layer selection menu for the map page within a game.
Curse Of Strahd Map Art Via Wizards Of The Coast

This may or may not be necessary, depending on how you'll play the game. Life is busy, and getting everyone together to play can be a bit hard. Especially if the idea is to play often, like weekly or every other week. A good alternative is to play the game online.

There are many websites to help you do so, such as the official D&D Beyond or the highly popular Roll20. There you can create your character sheet, take your notes - though you can just use your computer for that - see images of maps and characters the DM made for the campaign, and roll virtual dice. You can even talk in private with another player or the DM in case you need it.

4 Phone

D&D Xanathar at his desk and Goldfish
Xanathar's Guide To Everything via Wizards Of The Coast

Be careful now, weary traveler, for this sword has two edges. Like in most situations, phones can be extremely resourceful, helping us with most of our daily endeavors. But they can also be a powerful source of distraction with their cat videos and messages.

However, if used properly, you have limitless space to write down your notes, you have many apps that can help you sort your character information, and even replace dice, as digital dice are a thing. You have a private line with your DM. Just don't let it get the best of you during the session.

3 Character Ideas

Two Bladesinger Elves in Dungeons & Dragons
Bladesingers via Wizards of the Coast

With everything already mentioned, you're aware that you need to create a character to play the game. They can be however you wish them to; brave soldiers, sneaky assassins, great guardians, comedic jerks. And you can also start creating them from many angles: Their behavior, their usefulness, their appearance, among others. Share your ideas with your DM, and they can help you choose a class and species that match your concept.

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Don't worry about being the master of roleplaying; it takes a while to get used to. The biggest advice we can give you here is to create a character that behaves similarly to you. After all, you know how to roleplay yourself, right? Then, as you get more used to the concept, you can experiment more here.

2 An Open Mind

Heroes fighting a dragon
D&D Starter Set: Lost Mines of Phandelver Cover Art by Jaime Jones

Unlike most games, TTRPGs allow you to do - or try, at least - anything. And when we say anything, we mean anything. You're not restricted to two or three options; There are many ways you can solve a problem, making outside-the-box thinking an integral part of the game. The DM will improvise accordingly, which is why you can solve problems through many different approaches.

Even if your idea might break some rules, at least ask if it's doable. The DM may allow it if your idea has sound logic and reasons to work in a certain situation. The rule of cool exists for a reason. Worst case scenario, your DM will simply say that you can't pull off this particular idea, which is not a problem. You can just try something else, then.

1 Food And Snacks

Sapphire, amethyst, and emerald dragonborn having short rest in Dungeons & Dragons.
Gem Dragonborn by Zoltan Boros via Wizards of the Coast

On a bit of more technical advice now, RPG games tend to last quite a few hours, depending on the group and the levels of excitement. So, it would be nice if you bring something to eat or drink.

DMs spend a lot of time preparing, so having the players in charge of that is a nice way to thank them. Or, if you're playing online, getting something for yourself is also pretty nice.

NEXT: Dungeons & Dragons: Questions Everyone Forgets To Ask Themselves When Creating A New Character