When someone mentions Dungeons & Dragons, one may think of a group of nerdy fellows donning fake elf ears and capes, gathering around a table to speak in funny voices and roll dice. While I can say that most of that is true, something is missing from this scenario — the storytelling!
Dungeons & Dragons (often shortened to D&D) is a tabletop role-playing game where players create characters and work together to tell an epic story. Think of it as collaborative storytelling mixed with improvisational theater, strategy and problem solving.
Instead of a board like a traditional board game or a fixed script like a movie, the world unfolds in real time through imagination. You might explore ancient ruins, negotiate with dragons, uncover mysterious plots or even set a tavern on fire (trust me, it happens). None of these things actually happen, but they are told and shared like stories around a campfire.
D&D is played in a group, typically with three to six players and one Dungeon Master (DM). The players control individual characters within the story, while the DM controls everything else in the world. Traditionally, most D&D games follow this flow:
For a D&D group to work, there must be players. There must also be someone who acts as the group’s compass. This person is called a Dungeon Master (DM). The DM is the group’s storyteller, the referee of player decisions and the world-builder for the setting the players explore.
The role of a DM is no easy feat. It requires someone dedicated to telling a story while advocating for the players’ choices. Such a pivotal role requires a few things. A DM must:
So, you have a group of interested players, and someone who wants to be a DM. What’s next?
The d20 will be the most-used die for both players and DMs, but a 20-sided die is just one of many used in the game. Typically, the number of sides is associated with the amount of damage an attack can deal or the effectiveness of a skill. We D&D nerds name dice using the number being rolled followed by the number of sides. For example, if I’m rolling three six-sided dice, I’d say 3d6.
A character sheet helps players keep track of their character’s stats, abilities and gear. It contains information about their race and class (more on that below), as well as their health, skills, languages and more. It’s a handy reference guide that reminds players who their character is and what they can do.
So, you have your players, your DM, your dice and your supplies. What now? It’s time to bring your character to life.
Creating a character is simple with the Player’s Handbook, which provides a step-by-step guide. The two most important choices you’ll make are your race and class:
Once the characters have been created and the DM has chosen a setting, the game can begin. The game is played in a few simple steps:
It’s that easy! This three-step process applies to roleplaying (RPing) and just about everything else you do in the game.
Dice rolling, specifically with a d20, is used for most skill checks in the game. A 20, as explained earlier, is a critical success. A one? That’s a critical failure, which means something bad will likely happen. The difficulty of a check, or more importantly, the number to beat, is determined by the DM. Cracking an egg is much easier than lifting and throwing a massive boulder. Both are possible, but one requires more strength than the other.
In any adventure, you’ll face challenges, puzzles, and battles that test your determination and teamwork. A good story means you’ll grow, just as your character will. Learn from your mistakes and overcome the enemies standing in your way. All it takes is a few supplies, a passion for storytelling and a group of friends. Roll on!
Get ready to stomp into Summer Reading beginning May 26. Grab a tracking card, earn prizes and uncover prehistoric levels of fun all summer long.
