I just started playing DnD again after a long break. I hadn't been a serious player before, so learning 5e was essentially like starting over. I don't have friends interested in playing, and prefer playing online as opposed to meeting strangers in a local game shop. This is what worked for me:
Download and read the Adventurer’s League Player’s Guide. The Adventurer’s League is like “official” DnD: by the book, modules-only, no coloring outside the lines. I’m liking this for structure while learning 5e. They have “season” storylines, too, which is kind of cool as you get hints of big things afoot.
Download and read the Adventurer’s League FAQ. This answered a lot of my questions.
Create a Wizards of the Coast account to get a DCI Number (it’s like a player ID for Adventurer’s League.)
Download the Adventurer’s League Log Sheet (alternatively use adventurersleaguelog.com.) You’ll use this to track modules your character has completed, recording the DCI number of the DM who ran the module.
Buy the 5e Player’s Handbook. Amazon has the physical copy for under $30 or you can buy the online version on DnDBeyond.com for $30. There are additional books with additional classes but I’m sticking to plain vanilla while learning.
Create a Roll20 account. Roll20 is where you’ll store your character sheet and will be the “table” for things like dice rolls and encounters where miniatures would be useful. I couldn’t find a really good YouTube video tutorial for this. Basically you’re copying info from the Player’s handbook onto here, which will allow you to do things like click on your weapons or spells to roll “to hits” and damage, or click on your Skills to roll a check (like if you can pick a lock or intimidate someone.)
Click Join game on this page to join the Adventurer’s League Guildhall “game.”
Click on the Journal tab (newspaper icon) on the right. Towards the bottom of the journal there will be several character sheets entitled Copy of Take one and edit name to your roll20 name + char name. You’ll use one of those.
Roll a character using the point buy system (explained in the Player’s Handbook) following the Adventurer’s League rules and record it on your new Roll20 character sheet. (The Adventurer’s League Guildhall owner will automatically lock the character sheet to only be editable by you in a few days.)
Back up your character to your account by clicking Import Existing Characterhere. Here’s the only crappy part: You can only export your character to a Roll20 game if you or the DM is on a paid plan ($50 per year.) That means at the free level you’re going to get really good at copying/pasting between your Adventurer’s League Guildhall character sheet and any copies you make for games.
When you’re rolled up, join the Adventurer’s League Guildhall Discourse chat (the link is on the Adventurer’s League Guildhall “game” page.) While Roll20 does have built-in voice chat, everyone uses Discord because there’s apparently less lag. It’s also a better place to find Adventurer’s League games than Roll20.
On Discord, check the #marshalling and #dms---game-announcements channels for DMs recruiting players for modules. I also understand that at the start of new seasons you may find groups looking to run the books.
Good luck and have fun.
Also, I found this cheat sheet for combat which really helped me understand the new system. Listening to the first The Adventure Zone podcast helped too, since they start from scratch (that whole show starts silly but turns into an epic story.)
I just started playing DnD again after a long break. I hadn't been a serious player before, so learning 5e was essentially like starting over. I don't have friends interested in playing, and prefer playing online as opposed to meeting strangers in a local game shop. This is what worked for me:
Download and read the Adventurer’s League Player’s Guide. The Adventurer’s League is like “official” DnD: by the book, modules-only, no coloring outside the lines. I’m liking this for structure while learning 5e. They have “season” storylines, too, which is kind of cool as you get hints of big things afoot.
Download and read the Adventurer’s League FAQ. This answered a lot of my questions.
Create a Wizards of the Coast account to get a DCI Number (it’s like a player ID for Adventurer’s League.)
Download the Adventurer’s League Log Sheet (alternatively use adventurersleaguelog.com.) You’ll use this to track modules your character has completed, recording the DCI number of the DM who ran the module.
Buy the 5e Player’s Handbook. Amazon has the physical copy for under $30 or you can buy the online version on DnDBeyond.com for $30. There are additional books with additional classes but I’m sticking to plain vanilla while learning.
Create a Roll20 account. Roll20 is where you’ll store your character sheet and will be the “table” for things like dice rolls and encounters where miniatures would be useful. I couldn’t find a really good YouTube video tutorial for this. Basically you’re copying info from the Player’s handbook onto here, which will allow you to do things like click on your weapons or spells to roll “to hits” and damage, or click on your Skills to roll a check (like if you can pick a lock or intimidate someone.)
Click Join game on this page to join the Adventurer’s League Guildhall “game.”
Click on the Journal tab (newspaper icon) on the right. Towards the bottom of the journal there will be several character sheets entitled Copy of Take one and edit name to your roll20 name + char name. You’ll use one of those.
Roll a character using the point buy system (explained in the Player’s Handbook) following the Adventurer’s League rules and record it on your new Roll20 character sheet. (The Adventurer’s League Guildhall owner will automatically lock the character sheet to only be editable by you in a few days.)
Back up your character to your account by clicking Import Existing Character here. Here’s the only crappy part: You can only export your character to a Roll20 game if you or the DM is on a paid plan ($50 per year.) That means at the free level you’re going to get really good at copying/pasting between your Adventurer’s League Guildhall character sheet and any copies you make for games.
When you’re rolled up, join the Adventurer’s League Guildhall Discourse chat (the link is on the Adventurer’s League Guildhall “game” page.) While Roll20 does have built-in voice chat, everyone uses Discord because there’s apparently less lag. It’s also a better place to find Adventurer’s League games than Roll20.
On Discord, check the #marshalling and #dms---game-announcements channels for DMs recruiting players for modules. I also understand that at the start of new seasons you may find groups looking to run the books.
Good luck and have fun.
Also, I found this cheat sheet for combat which really helped me understand the new system. Listening to the first The Adventure Zone podcast helped too, since they start from scratch (that whole show starts silly but turns into an epic story.)