Tabletop Role-playing games such as Dungeons & Dragons have become very popular in the last decade. Thanks to TV shows like Stranger Things and YouTube channels like Critical Role, what was once considered “geeky” or “uncool” has become a fun pastime for friends and family.
Because of this, we’ve had many of our teens request that we hold D&D sessions at the library. Our Teen D&D Club has become one of our most well-attended programs, with Ms. Kelly and one of our volunteers serving as Dungeon Masters and teaching the basics of D&D to our young patrons.
If you have ever considered playing D&D, below are a few tips to help you get started:
How to Start
- Create a story: The one thing people enjoy most about D&D is the ability to come up with their own stories that fit within the same universe. If you’re a first-time Dungeon Master (aka Game Master), you can always start with a pre-made campaign. Free ones are available online.
- Gather your friends: Find a few close friends or family members who are interested in playing. A typical campaign has a maximum of seven players at a time. Having more than that can be overwhelming, especially for a first-time Dungeon Master.
- Grab some supplies: Aside from a good story and a group of players, there are some game pieces you will need:
- A dice set: Usually consists of seven dice with all different sides.
- D&D Player’s Handbook: This book features a comprehensive list of rules and ideas for your campaign. Copies are available to check out at LTPL
- Character sheets: What each player uses to keep track of their characters, which include skillsets, weapons, supplies, etc. These are available for free to download on D&D Beyond.
- Maps & Miniatures: These aren’t always needed, but they can help enhance the story. Instead of purchasing special maps and minis, you can create your own maps using graph paper and use coins or other small tokens in place of plastic miniatures.
- Set rules/expectations early on: Your first session (aka “Session Zero”) is where you will be getting together with your players to create characters and explain what kind of adventure they will be going on. This is the perfect time to establish ground rules, not only for how the campaign is played, but by what boundaries and behavior you expect from each player. This is to ensure that everyone is having fun and gets a chance to play. A good set of rules can be:
- No talking out of turn
- No phones
- No in-player fighting
- Set yourself a time limit: Session times vary depending on every player’s schedule, but an average D&D session can run up to 3-4 hours. Our Teen D&D Club tends to run for three hours; however, some players may prefer shorter run times. Talk with your players at “Session Zero” to decide how long your sessions may be.
- Have fun: The ultimate goal of D&D is to have fun and tell an engaging story. Don’t let the rules or gameplay strategy intimidate you.
Online Resources
- D&D Beyond: The official website for D&D that features comprehensive information on characters, spells, etc. (Note: some content is hidden behind a paywall)
- Fast Character: An online character generator. Good for beginning players.
- Roll20: An Online version of D&D where you can build maps and create characters (Note: some features require a subscription)
- DnD Wikidot: A free online wiki alternative to D&D Beyond.
- YouTube: There are dozens of videos describing how to play D&D. You can also watch YouTubers (such as Critical Role) play the game to get a feel of how a typical session runs.
