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Playing Dungeons and Dragons can be complex and confusing at first, especially for beginners. Read about what role-playing is all about and what you need to get started.
Preparation and start: How to play Dungeons and Dragons
The game Dungeons and Dragons is a fantasy role-playing game for which players need a great imagination.
- There are various editions of the game and associated manuals. Find out the rules beforehand or have experienced players explain the process to you.
- There are different types of characters in the game, including humans, elves, dwarves and orcs, from which players can choose. Different creatures have different strengths and weaknesses.
- Before the game starts, the Dungeon Master (DM) is appointed. This is the game leader who will guide the group through the game and make preparations. This person should be well versed in DnD and experienced in the game. The DM is the only player who knows the whole plot, which he either takes from a manual or has completely thought up himself with a lot of planning.
- With the help of a character sheet, the individual player characters (PC) are created. The abilities are rolled by the players. It makes sense to match the characters to each other in order to play with the most versatile team possible.
- D&D is played with different dice. These have four to twenty sides and decide the success of various actions of the players. They are also used to fill in the character sheets.
- The game master guides the characters through the fantasy world, explains what the environment looks like and what happens. He also controls the NPCs, i.e. the non-player characters in the game.
- Each player can only control their own character. Players interact with the fantasy world through the game master. The DM answers questions and explains how the environment and characters react to the players’ actions.
This is what you need for DnD
Having the right equipment is important for fantasy role-playing to run smoothly.- The game master should have the Game Master’s Handbook, Player’s Handbook and Monster’s Handbook to guide those present through the action.
- Each player needs a pen and a character sheet to fill out at the beginning of the game. On this sheet, skills and personality traits are recorded.
- In Dungeons and Dragons, the success of various actions is determined by dice. In addition to common dice with six sides, dice with four, eight, ten, twelve and twenty sides are also used. It is best if each player has their own set of dice.
- For DnD, players need a vivid imagination to put themselves into the game. To bring the characters to life, some acting skills can also be helpful.
- The role-playing game provides for a number of players from two to five. Dungeons and Dragons can therefore also be played with just two or three people.
Tips for fantasy role-playing games
In addition to game rules and equipment, here are other tips to make DnD a special experience.
- DnD is a time-intensive role-playing game and therefore continues over several dates. Assemble a group of players who are reliable and show up regularly for the games.
- In the group, everyone should take the game equally seriously. If one player is constantly laughing while others are intensely immersed in the action, conflicts can arise.
- It is especially important for beginners that experienced players are part of the round. They can answer questions and are often familiar with the extensive rulebook if something is unclear.
- The Dungeon Master has the most work as a game master. He has to prepare the game days. Many DMs also write the story themselves.
- The game is especially fun when all the players get into your roles and talk the way you would expect your characters to talk.
- In Dungeons and Dragons, friendly interaction is important to make everyone present feel comfortable. If a player is unpleasant, he can be removed from the round by the game master.
