I just started looking into DND about 2 weeks ago and i've seen Youtube videos and reviews and the lore of this massive IRPG. I recently made a character which took me about 4 days. Which i know it can sometimes take weeks getting together And now i find myself not knowing where to begin? what do i need besides people to play with, strategy guides, character sheets, notebooks, pencils and dice. I have no clue where to begin.
If you want to DM, you'll need The Dungeon Masters Guide and The Monster Manual, as well a probably a DM screen. If you're DMing and dont want to create an adventurer then their are many premade ones out their.
If you a player, then I think you're pretty much set. If you find a DM and a group you can begin playing.
You don't actually need any books to start playing, the basic rules are free. You can see them here.
Playing a one-shot or short campaign with a few people is a good way to learn a bit and determine if you like the game enough to start investing in books/tools, etc.
Another good starting point is the Starter Set (available at Amazon, Target, etc.). You can also look at the forums here, or DDBs Discord for groups that are looking for players. A lot of groups will welcome new players who are still learning the rules.
The annoying answer is it depends. If you have a character built here you kinda have everything you need minus a token or something to represent your character.
if you are playing digitally as a player all you really need is a picture for your character.
if you are playing in person, you may need something to represent your character. A picture. A mini. Hell a skittle works. I’d also recommend some sort of note taking thing. Whatever you prefer.
dice are a choice thing. Dndbeyond can do the rolling for you. And if you are online you are likely to never touch dice. If you are in person, that’s your call.
From there, you just need people to play with. The looking-for-games subforum here ob DDB might be a good place to start.
If you're wanting to play with your friends (ie not a preformed group with their own adventure), you'll want one. I'd recommend The Essentials Kit. It's cheaper than a full adventure, comes with dice, DM screen and the rules for playing a game, plus the adventure is a lot longer than the Starter Set. Plus you get the electronic version for free with it and a 50% the Player's Handbook from DDB coupon should you decide to continue.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
If you're not willing or able to to discuss in good faith, then don't be surprised if I don't respond, there are better things in life for me to do than humour you. This signature is that response.
As BigHeartedGuy has said, you do not need to spend any money on D&D to play, and I also strongly echo that point. Once you have at least one or two campaigns down and you know for sure D&D is a hobby you enjoy, it is not too late to spend money on D&D then. While D&D and TTRPGs in general are being more mainstream, it is still a very niche hobby, and not everyone that tries it out find it fun. I think it is a good idea to take advantage of all the free stuff first before you spend money.
And when you are at the point where you do want to spend money, I also second getting one of the physical boxed D&D sets. I personally prefer the Starter Set since it feels more polished in my opinion, but the Essentials Kit will give you more bang for your buck since it has digital integration with D&D Beyond as LinkLite has mentioned.
As for finding people, I would try friends and family first. It is easier to play with people close to you than strangers in my opinion, but you might have an easier time finding people who are as passionate about D&D outside of your immediate social circle.
The annoying answer is it depends. If you have a character built here you kinda have everything you need minus a token or something to represent your character.
if you are playing digitally as a player all you really need is a picture for your character.
if you are playing in person, you may need something to represent your character. A picture. A mini. Hell a skittle works. I’d also recommend some sort of note taking thing. Whatever you prefer.
dice are a choice thing. Dndbeyond can do the rolling for you. And if you are online you are likely to never touch dice. If you are in person, that’s your call.
Skittles work well and different colors can indicate how injured your PC is (if your GM allows), green full/most HP to red almost dead/few HP. be sure to have a large bag so after you eat some you still have the right colors.
The annoying answer is it depends. If you have a character built here you kinda have everything you need minus a token or something to represent your character.
if you are playing digitally as a player all you really need is a picture for your character.
if you are playing in person, you may need something to represent your character. A picture. A mini. Hell a skittle works. I’d also recommend some sort of note taking thing. Whatever you prefer.
dice are a choice thing. Dndbeyond can do the rolling for you. And if you are online you are likely to never touch dice. If you are in person, that’s your call.
Skittles work well and different colors can indicate how injured your PC is (if your GM allows), green full/most HP to red almost dead/few HP. be sure to have a large bag so after you eat some you still have the right colors.
There is a lot of fun to be had with monsters are good and whoever kills them gets to eat it
If you end up in a group that plays “theater of the mind” you won’t even need skittles or anything, just your character sheet, dice, and a pencil. (Not everyone plays on a map.) If you use DDB to manage your character sheet digitally you won’t even need ice and a pencil either, just your phone or tablet. As has been mentioned, the basic rules are free and that’s really all you need to get started (even as a DM). There’s a handful of other free races and a bunch of free spells available here on DDB that were put out in the EEPC too.
If you're not willing or able to to discuss in good faith, then don't be surprised if I don't respond, there are better things in life for me to do than humour you. This signature is that response.
In all good humor I need ice often during and after a game.
But yes, what different groups need and use for games for them to "get the most out of the experience" is different and when starting out doing things on the cheep can keep the cost down until you know if you enjoy the game. I often recommend people go to a game store and watch a game or play in a game as this is often a different experience then an edited video or someone trying to monetize their game. I also understand that that may not be feasible for all new players also. Also the GM may use new things to you (custom drawings of rooms, music, figures, custom figure creation on a 3d printer, physical puzzles and riddles or any number of things) and that you may find enhance your game.
HeroForge is a great resource for getting an image of your character if you already have in mind what you want them to look like.
Few tips here:
Make sure you go in with the mindset that the DM may throw things your that you won’t be able to square off with, as this is often a way DMs try to get you to go a certain direction.
Try as hard as you can to stay with the party and go on quests with, DND is meant to be played together, not saying you would try any of that, but I had a guy in my game once who wanted independent quests and story which is a pain for the DM and the party.
Roll you dice on a flat surface.
Be patient.
And of course, have fun.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Mystic v3 should be official, nuff said.
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I just started looking into DND about 2 weeks ago and i've seen Youtube videos and reviews and the lore of this massive IRPG. I recently made a character which took me about 4 days. Which i know it can sometimes take weeks getting together And now i find myself not knowing where to begin? what do i need besides people to play with, strategy guides, character sheets, notebooks, pencils and dice. I have no clue where to begin.
Carlos Flores
If you want to DM, you'll need The Dungeon Masters Guide and The Monster Manual, as well a probably a DM screen. If you're DMing and dont want to create an adventurer then their are many premade ones out their.
If you a player, then I think you're pretty much set. If you find a DM and a group you can begin playing.
Good luck:)
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He/him pronouns. Call me Bard. PROUD NERD!
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HERE.You don't actually need any books to start playing, the basic rules are free. You can see them here.
Playing a one-shot or short campaign with a few people is a good way to learn a bit and determine if you like the game enough to start investing in books/tools, etc.
Another good starting point is the Starter Set (available at Amazon, Target, etc.). You can also look at the forums here, or DDBs Discord for groups that are looking for players. A lot of groups will welcome new players who are still learning the rules.
The annoying answer is it depends. If you have a character built here you kinda have everything you need minus a token or something to represent your character.
if you are playing digitally as a player all you really need is a picture for your character.
if you are playing in person, you may need something to represent your character. A picture. A mini. Hell a skittle works. I’d also recommend some sort of note taking thing. Whatever you prefer.
dice are a choice thing. Dndbeyond can do the rolling for you. And if you are online you are likely to never touch dice. If you are in person, that’s your call.
From there, you just need people to play with. The looking-for-games subforum here ob DDB might be a good place to start.
If you're wanting to play with your friends (ie not a preformed group with their own adventure), you'll want one. I'd recommend The Essentials Kit. It's cheaper than a full adventure, comes with dice, DM screen and the rules for playing a game, plus the adventure is a lot longer than the Starter Set. Plus you get the electronic version for free with it and a 50% the Player's Handbook from DDB coupon should you decide to continue.
If you're not willing or able to to discuss in good faith, then don't be surprised if I don't respond, there are better things in life for me to do than humour you. This signature is that response.
As BigHeartedGuy has said, you do not need to spend any money on D&D to play, and I also strongly echo that point. Once you have at least one or two campaigns down and you know for sure D&D is a hobby you enjoy, it is not too late to spend money on D&D then. While D&D and TTRPGs in general are being more mainstream, it is still a very niche hobby, and not everyone that tries it out find it fun. I think it is a good idea to take advantage of all the free stuff first before you spend money.
And when you are at the point where you do want to spend money, I also second getting one of the physical boxed D&D sets. I personally prefer the Starter Set since it feels more polished in my opinion, but the Essentials Kit will give you more bang for your buck since it has digital integration with D&D Beyond as LinkLite has mentioned.
As for finding people, I would try friends and family first. It is easier to play with people close to you than strangers in my opinion, but you might have an easier time finding people who are as passionate about D&D outside of your immediate social circle.
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Skittles work well and different colors can indicate how injured your PC is (if your GM allows), green full/most HP to red almost dead/few HP. be sure to have a large bag so after you eat some you still have the right colors.
There is a lot of fun to be had with monsters are good and whoever kills them gets to eat it
If you end up in a group that plays “theater of the mind” you won’t even need skittles or anything, just your character sheet, dice, and a pencil. (Not everyone plays on a map.) If you use DDB to manage your character sheet digitally you won’t even need ice and a pencil either, just your phone or tablet. As has been mentioned, the basic rules are free and that’s really all you need to get started (even as a DM). There’s a handful of other free races and a bunch of free spells available here on DDB that were put out in the EEPC too.
If you do end up DMing here are some more free monsters too, and here are a couple of free adventures you can use:
If you need more information, here is a useful link for you: (https://www.dndbeyond.com/how-to-play-dnd).
I hope that helps, and welcome to D&D!!
Creating Epic Boons on DDB
DDB Buyers' Guide
Hardcovers, DDB & You
Content Troubleshooting
To add to the list of free adventures:
https://www.dndbeyond.com/posts/1086-free-d-d-adventure-fight-as-dragons-and-explore-a
Plus you get to do something mot often allowed in D&D: Play as a dragon.
Edit: after posting this, I came across a post by IAmSposta with a link to the same adventure on another thread.
If you're not willing or able to to discuss in good faith, then don't be surprised if I don't respond, there are better things in life for me to do than humour you. This signature is that response.
Yeah, I purposefully omitted that one since it won’t really help a beginner learn the game as well. I excluded this one for t he same reason: (https://www.dndbeyond.com/posts/1058-free-adventure-play-as-familiars-and-undo-a).
Creating Epic Boons on DDB
DDB Buyers' Guide
Hardcovers, DDB & You
Content Troubleshooting
In all good humor I need ice often during and after a game.
But yes, what different groups need and use for games for them to "get the most out of the experience" is different and when starting out doing things on the cheep can keep the cost down until you know if you enjoy the game. I often recommend people go to a game store and watch a game or play in a game as this is often a different experience then an edited video or someone trying to monetize their game. I also understand that that may not be feasible for all new players also. Also the GM may use new things to you (custom drawings of rooms, music, figures, custom figure creation on a 3d printer, physical puzzles and riddles or any number of things) and that you may find enhance your game.
HeroForge is a great resource for getting an image of your character if you already have in mind what you want them to look like.
Few tips here:
Make sure you go in with the mindset that the DM may throw things your that you won’t be able to square off with, as this is often a way DMs try to get you to go a certain direction.
Try as hard as you can to stay with the party and go on quests with, DND is meant to be played together, not saying you would try any of that, but I had a guy in my game once who wanted independent quests and story which is a pain for the DM and the party.
Roll you dice on a flat surface.
Be patient.
And of course, have fun.
Mystic v3 should be official, nuff said.