D&D for Dummies (It’s me, I am the dummy)

I recently ventured to unlock my inner ~gamer girl~ persona by joining my friend’s D&D campaign. I’ve always loved the idea of role-playing games (RPGs) but have never really made an effort to learn about them. Now that I have started playing DUNGEONS & DRAGONS (arguably one of the most complex role-playing games for beginners), I can say I’m certainly learning a lot, and boy, is it an effort.

Although I’m having an incredibly fun time playing the game with my friends, I can’t help but feel a bit lost during some sessions, oscillating between “Hmm, should I know this?” and “Seriously, who let me join this game?”. I decided that if I really want to live up to my newfound gamer girl reputation, I’d first have to actually learn the game (ridiculous, I know).

But before I can get to the good stuff, I do want to give a brief description of D&D for the inexperienced:

DUNGEONS & DRAGONS has been the most well-known table-top role-playing game since its inception in 1974. The game is based in storytelling, where players use their improvisation skills to build fantasy worlds and develop characters. The Dungeon Master (or DM) is the creator, writer, and director of this world, and guides the characters by conceiving and developing the overall story arc the characters follow. Every other player typically develops and role plays their own character in the story. In role-playing games in general, a campaign describes a sequence of events or storyline containing multiple adventures, usually with the same set of characters. A typical campaign can span any number of sessions, wherein each session acts as its own chapter in the overall development of the story. The campaign ends when the story ends, or when the characters have reached a logical stopping point in their journeys.

Before the campaign even begins, players will typically do an initial roll to decide their ability scores in the game. There are six ability scores: Strength, Constitution, Dexterity, Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma, and these scores can either help or hurt them when they attempt to complete certain tasks. Characters will then decide upon the race, class (or occupation), features, and backstories -all of which can code for different personality traits and baseline levels of certain skills. Each race/class/backstory allows for a different level of baseline abilities that can come to play an important part in the game. The DM may choose to incorporate these backstories as they please. Once these are all configured, players are now ready to start the campaign.

As players make their way through the story, they will typically roll dice to determine the outcome of a decided action. Different dice correlate with different actions, and different types of character traits correlate with the roll needed to succeed in their action. Often, the DM will guide the players in which dice to roll and which trait/ability/skill to roll for, if the circumstances are ambiguous. To round out the group’s overall abilities, players might have their characters take on decided roles in the group (usually relating to their class). These can range anywhere from healer to fighter and will be utilized based on the story’s needs.

Now for the good stuff.

To kick off my journey to Twitch-streaming God status, I sought out help from some friends by asking *cough* begging *cough* for advice. What I received in return was a pleasantly informative string of responses, packed with tidbits and recommendations that I would never have found on my own.

Here are their suggestions for both the DUNGEONS & DRAGONS amateur and aficionado:

Finding other players/ joining a campaign:

Go local or online

Many of the responses I received gave really great recommendations for FSU students and non-FSU students alike. As far as physical locations, one interviewee, Tony, recommended checking local book stores and comic shops. For Tally locals, he listed Burrito Boarder’s Friday D&D night as well as Tabletop Tuesday at the Askew Student Life Center (which occur one Tuesday each month during the Fall and Spring semesters at FSU #sponsnotspons). In terms of online D&D platforms, there are a PLETHORA of chat rooms and servers for D&D fanatics. Cat, another one of my tabletop trained friends, recommends the FSU D&D Discord server. She also admits to making friends through TikTok and starting a campaign that way. Elizabeth, the DM in my current campaign, also recommends using social media like Instagram and searching up Discord servers.

Moreover, “Roll20 and Fantasy Grounds are both good places to meet other players/DMs and get advice,” says Paul, a fluent Dungeon Master and player. “But,” he continues, “the /lfg/ subreddit or discord servers are probably better places to find players”. Paul explained that he began with a friend reaching out for him to join. After playing a single D&D game “consisting of one single session ranging from 1-6 hours,” called a “one-shot,” he discovered he really liked the game. “So,” Paul recommends, “if you know anyone who plays D&D, ask them if you can join their game or their group to try it out”.

Fleshing out your character

Choosing the race and class can be both one of the most significant and perplexing choices you make in the game, as it can determine your personality traits and role in the game.

Paul recommends that beginners “find out what you like or think you like about D&D, combat and roleplay-wise, and embrace it that way”. To do this, players can choose from nine different races, unless they prefer to create their own (yes, that’s plenty possible), or make themselves a half-breed of two. Although certain races will usually have some common personality traits (wit, bloodlust, strength, humor), ultimately, your character can have whatever traits you want them to have. However, it might be easier to “Find a race that compliments either your class, characters or both,” says Paul. Cat admits that, at times, it might be easier to decide race based on what “fits the vibe” of the campaign best.

When determining class, there are twelve options. “Each class has different abilities, spells, weapons, forms to change into, and oh god even pets!” Paul jokes. Race and class can really bleed into other aspects of the character. “Once I have the race and class picked, then I can flesh out how the character looks and behaves,” Cat reveals.

Elizabeth comes to the rescue again with multiple resources for buffing up one’s character, citing the Dungeon Master’s Vault for character construction and token editing websites like this one to make virtual tokens for your characters to use in online gameplay. The best resource Elizabeth cites for race and class choices is Google, surprisingly, saying, “It will give advice and explain the strengths and weaknesses of certain races and classes as well as which are best for beginners.”

Helpful tools for players (online and otherwise)

I also asked my pals if they had any recommendations for helpful tools to understand and play D&D. A common theme was streams. Tony explained, “There are a lot of people that stream their original content on platforms like YouTube and Twitch and can give you insights. ” Some helpful streams/podcasts/YouTube channels include:  Critical Role, the Vestige of Ophiuchus, the Wizards of the Coast, the Unexpectables Twitch/podcast, and The Ties that Bind D&D campaign by TFS. All of the streams are also available in podcast form so you can listen to them on the go.

Not only do these streamers provide a great example of gameplay, but will also “answer questions from time to time or have full Q&A streams.” “A series called “Handbooker Helper” on the Critical Role channel covers a lot of basics too,” Cat also points out.

If you’re more of a reader, Paul recommends the books by Wizards of the Coast, although he warns about the steep $50 price, recommending finding the free online versions instead (not that I, an honorable FSU student, would ever recommend any unauthorized

While the books are certainly helpful, Paul recommends talking to your DM above all else. “I haven't met a Dungeon Master who doesn't love to help new players, especially if you are in their game.” he says.

Dungeon Master’s Tools

Speaking of Dungeon Masters, I was able to get some insight into what inspires many DMs in the world-building process. Paul recommends talking to other DMs, watching YouTube, and finding reference material in books, manga, anime, or movies to ignite one’s process. Cat also recommends reading. “I read a lot and pull from styles that I like,” she says. She recommends not only handbooks for ideas, but also not being afraid to create a world or plot that hasn’t yet been explored. For guidance, she recommends perusing the Dungeon Master’s Guide as well as checking out the YouTube series called “Game Master’s Tips” by the Geek and Sundry channel.

Elizabeth mentions 5Etools when choosing weapons, potions, and other miscellaneous things to include in game. Websites like Dungeon Scrawl and Homebrew Tool Maker are great for virtual world building. Once created, these PNGs can be placed in OwlBear, an interactive map website. In generating enemies for your characters to fight, Stat Block Generator produces abilities, attacks, and general scores for any enemy you can think of. To keep track of this abundance of information, Elizabeth encourages DMs to log all of these details in either Google Sheets or Microsoft Excel documents.

For a DM, fulfilling a passion project can be really meaningful, however when it comes to the actual storytelling, Paul cautions “while you may be the author of the story, the players control the characters and, in turn, most of the direction by the choices they make. D&D is a collaborative storytelling experience. Your job is to outline settings and outside characters, then to guide, NOT control, the direction the party takes. You will find it to be more fun, interesting, and a more fleshed-out story, when you let the players take the reins.” Elizabeth also encourages DMs to let some of their character’s backstories guide the main plot, as it can help attach emotions and personal stakes to the gameplay.

Moreover, being a DM is not an impossible ambition for newbies, nor is it limited to the typical fantasy genre. “If you have an idea for a campaign and you think you can’t do it, that’s not the case, you can.” Elizabeth asserts. “Anything that’s a story, you can do”.

Any final thoughts?

Above all else, the players assert that setting the intention of having fun over fixating on the technicalities.  Communication is key and most issues can be solved with a chat with your fellow players or even the DM. When you’re spending three to four hours a week with the same group of people, you come to really care about each other and want each other to succeed. When teamwork is truly prioritized, the gameplay not only flows more easily, but allows for character dynamics to grow.

So, there you have it, a detailed (if not dense) guide to a very dense game. I hope this information can be helpful to players, new and old. All I’ll say is D&D is a game based on teamwork and friendship, so have fun, make friends, and the rest will come. May your rolls be high and your campaign fruitful. Go forth, adventurers!

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Did you know there are easy ways to get involved with D&D here at FSU? Meet folks through joining the Discord for FSU Game Committee and learn more about tabletop gaming socials we offer at the ASLC as well. There are also students involved with Multiplayer at FSU who can be an excellent resource for D&D connections at FSU. You can find information about both organizations (and other gaming organizations at Florida State) by visiting gaming.fsu.edu to learn more.

Written by: Mia Hernandez
Art by: Mia Hernandez