Writings from the crew

Embarking on a thrilling adventure in the realm of Dungeons and Dragons with magic, monsters, and endless possibilities can be an exhilarating experience. Whether you are a seasoned gamer looking to delve into the latest edition or a curious newcomer to the world of tabletop role-playing games, getting started with Dungeons and Dragons 5th edition is an exciting endeavor. However, with a plethora of rulebooks, dice, and accessories available, it can be overwhelming to determine what you truly need to embark on your epic journey. Fear not, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know to get started with Dungeons & Dragons 5th edition, including the essentials you need to play, and the optional accessories that can enhance your gameplay, ensuring that you are fully equipped to delve into the enchanting depths of Dungeons and Dragons 5th edition and beyond. Prepare to unlock a world of epic quests, memorable characters, and experience the thrill of collaborative storytelling. What is D&D and why should you play it? Brief history and overview of the game First published in 1974 by Tactical Studies Rules inc and then taken over by Wizards of the Coast (now a subsidiary of Hasbro) in 1991, Dungeons and Dragons was derived from miniature wargames. D7D’s publication is commonly recognized as the beginning of modern role-playing games and the role-playing game industry. D&D departs from traditional wargaming by allowing each player to create an individual character instead of a military unit, as you would in a game like Warhammer 40k. These characters then go on adventure typically conjured up by the Dungeon Master, or Story Weaver as we call it, with the use of their imagination or the help of a pre-written module (more on that later). Through the years D&D has gone through many iterations and updates, the 5th edition being the most recently published edition, released in 2014, and the upcoming release of One D&D launching sometime in 2024. Notable changes from older editions were the introduction of a single proficiency bonus for skill checks that advance with your character level, a single value for armor class and saving throws, optional feats, and the introduction of “advantage” and “disadvantage.” Knowing the history and the differences is all well and good, but we know you aren’t here for that, so let’s get into the meat and potatoes. Essential materials for getting started: What you absolutely need to start playing D&D There are three main Rulebooks for D&D 5th edition: Player's Handbook (PHB), Dungeon Master's Guide (DMG), and Monster Manual (MM). Realistically, to play a game, you only need the PHB and MM to get started. The PHB has all the core mechanics and rules of gameplay and character creation, while the MM has over 300 pages of Monster Statblocks that enable the Story Weaver to direct combat encounters. If you, or your group, are on a budget there are a few workarounds. You and your group could pitch in to buy 1 set of the three core rulebooks and share, allowing everyone access, or more budget-friendly than that, is the D&D starter or Essentials kit. The Official D&D Starter Kit includes a 48-page adventure booklet, 32-page rulebook for playing characters of levels 1-3, 5 ready-to-play characters with individual character sheets, and 6 polyhedral game dice (1 set). The Official D&D Essentials Kit includes a 64-page rulebook that includes how to create your character and sidekicks (allowing for 1-on-1 gameplay if you don’t have a big group), a ready-made adventure, 81 item and condition cards, six character sheets, a set of dice, a printed map, and a dungeon master screen. Which Kit you use is up to you and what you’re looking for, though the Essential Kit does seem geared towards helping new Story Weavers a little bit more. Another alternative is Amazon does have some Kits available that incorporate the Official kits and a little extra and there is always the option of going for PDF versions of the rules and adventures which can also limit the initial cost of playing. Understanding the core mechanics and rules is an integral part of the game and, though not all the rules are needed, and all rules are up to the interpretation of the Story Weaver, it helps to have a foundation to progress the story and encounters with the ease of a predetermined stand operating procedure. Pencil, notebook , and player character sheet Though it seems obvious a pencil, notebook, and character sheet help keep the story and character developments such as levels and inventory all in one place and you don’t have to rely on memory alone between game sessions. If you aren’t into writing in a notebook there are plenty of online options and apps including apps for your character sheet (more on that below). Community set/pool of dice Much to the chagrin of all of the dice goblins and dragons out there with their hoards of different sets and styles of dice, the game CAN be played with one single set of dice which is a d20, d12, d10 (most sets come with two, one with double digits for d100 rolling), d8, d6, and d4. Most people, including myself like to have a few, okay a lot more than a few, sets of dice so that when rolling damage you can roll 8d6 instead of 1d6 eight times for that coveted 3rd-level Fireball spell, who doesn’t like all those shiny math rocks sprawling across the table or in your dice tray spelling the inevitable doom of the Big Bad Evil Guy in a series of click clack sounds? Optional materials, accessories, and extras to enhance your gameplay Miniatures and Battle Maps If you, or your group, aren’t Theater of the Mind type of people having battle maps (either printed or drawn) and minis can aid you in bringing your game to another level. It is a great deal of fun to see the faces of your players when you, the Story Weaver, drop that big monster on a map for sure, but it can be expensive. Unless you have a 3d printer (which still costs money), buying minis for your games can become an expensive but fun hobby. If you enjoy painting and collecting, getting into miniatures is a great hobby to do it with and many, many people do it. There is a plethora of tutorials on how to paint and build your own minis or those that you can buy. An alternative to printing, buying, or making your minis yourself is talking with our friends Justin and Tanner from How to Be a Better DM podcast and their sister company Monsters.rent! There you pick a subscription, pick the minis you want from their inventory, and then send them back with the included shipping label and pick your next box! If you want to hear more about the difference between Maps & Minis vs. Theater of the Mind, check out episode 28 of our podcast! Additional Sourcebooks and Expansion Materials Wizards of the Coast has hundreds of adventure modules and extra sourcebooks out there to expand your knowledge, gameplay, lore, etc. The big ones that come to mind, without attempting to list everything, would be Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything, Volo’s Guide to Monsters, and Sword Coast Adventure’s Guide which all add a little spice to the core books for players and Story Weavers new and veteran. Online Resources: Useful websites, apps, and tools for D&D players. There are so many useful tools on the internet and if you want to enhance your gameplay or Story Weaving there are a few that can help. Fantasy Name Generator is an invaluable resource I use all the time when I need to come up with names on the fly for NPCs or towns. When you don’t have a lot of dice or don’t feel like rolling 18d10 (yes it happens) you can google “online dice roller” or search for one in the app store and there are plenty to choose from. If you use DNDBEYOND for your character sheet or note-taking, there is one in that app as well. Speaking of DND BEYOND, they are a wonderful resource for all things D&D related. You can purchase pdf versions of every module, sourcebook, and more on their website and if you are the Story Weaver, you can create a campaign and invite your friends to access any resources you’ve already purchased, and they can create their characters and share them back with you. Also, there are homebrew sites such as DMsguild and dndwiki where there is free and purchasable content to choose from. If you’d like to hear more about online resources Episode 11 “The Shoutout” is about a lot of the resources, we use in our home games. Tips for creating your first character When creating your very first character there are two options you can choose from to start with: creating a character that resembles yourself or one from an idea you had or saw somewhere (think movie or book character). Whichever you decide to go with, when creating a character each choice you make race, class/subclass, and background all have perks and special abilities available to you which are described in the PHB. The skies are the limit or so they say when creating a character from a young elven street urchin to a scholarly barbarian orc or a dragonborn bard with a military background, you can truly create anything you can think of. If you want more info, we provide a step-by-step guide on creating your first wizard character on the podcast. We also have episodes breaking down each class and subclasses out of the PHB, Xanathar’s Guide to Everything, and Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything available. Finding a group to play with The simplest and often easiest way to find a group to play with is either your friends or family that already play D&D or want, or are willing, to learn and play with you as well. If you don’t know anyone who fits that description, or perhaps moved recently and need a new group, joining local game stores or online communities helps find those new players and often offers ways to host your games as well. If you have people who want to play but aren’t always able to drive to a local game store or someone’s house to play, using platforms like Roll20, Fantasy Grounds, or Discord servers to connect is an awesome way to work around that issue. When one or more of my players can’t make it to the house for a session, or in some cases are in another state, we use Zoom to continue our sessions. Currently, I use Theater of the Mind for our home games, but I have played in a few games on Roll20 and the map making capability and availability of downloadable tokens (in place of minis) is astounding. Tips for a Smooth Gameplay Experience Communication and cooperation within the group First and foremost, before starting any one-shot or campaign we always suggest session 0 (listen to episode 15 on this topic), a session strictly for learning rules of the table like off-limit topics or homebrews, introducing the setting of the one-shot or campaign, and discussing character choices and how the party knows each other. Aside from that, remember that D&D, and all other TTRPGs for that matter, are meant to support having fun with friends so communicating and cooperating with your group is not just a good idea but a necessity. We’ve all heard of the improv line “yes, and” for good reason! It’s much easier to progress a story by adding to someone’s idea than blocking it. Balancing roleplaying, combat, and exploration This is a little more complicated than one paragraph can manage, but the main thing is knowing what your table is looking for in a game be it a dungeon crawl or an immense game with political intrigue, and work to incorporate that into your games. When I set up my sessions, I try to have one to three encounters in each one. Sometimes these encounters are new NPCs enabling roleplay, like a bartender who might have knowledge of a haunted house or a passing merchant that tells the party there was talk of werewolves ahead. Whether the party decides to act on these encounters is completely up to them and you must learn to “yes, and” and pivot storylines whenever necessary to weave the table’s story together and continue to have fun. Collaborating with the Dungeon Master and respecting their rulings Sometimes the Story Weaver might make a call on a roll that might make you feel that your character’s legendary awesomeness is diminished, or you might have tried something in-game that the Story Weaver might not think your character would or could do. Collaborating and talking with your Story Weaver without arguing can help continue the story and thus your and your friend’s enjoyment of the session and overall game. If something is bothering you, feel free to ask for a break and talk to the SW during it or after the session is over and find out their point of view and come to a solution for the future. On the Story Weaver’s side, it is our responsibility as well to make sure our rulings are fair and conducive to furthering the story AS WELL AS letting everyone enjoy the game, including giving everyone the spotlight occasionally. Don't be afraid to get creative and think outside the box! Truly nothing is impossible in this game. There may not be a single roll for your rogue to make a back flip over a wolf and drag your dagger along its back but communicating with your SW and asking if it can be done can lead to some incredible stories. Often when I am Weaving, I will let players tell me what they want their character to do, and I will find a roll close to it. Using the example of the back flip, I would use acrobatics roll and attack roll and based on that describe what the character does. Remember that the ultimate goal is to have fun and create memorable experiences. If you or your table are not having fun the best thing to do is to communicate this and get feedback on how to either improve the current game or switch it up. Getting started with Dungeons & Dragons 5th edition can be an exciting and immersive experience. By understanding the essentials, pooling your resources, and communicating, you'll be well-equipped to embark on epic adventures with your friends and create unforgettable stories. Remember, the most important thing for playing D&D is your imagination and a willingness to embark on an epic adventure so have fun in your games, steal everything, and remember to check your dungeons because THIS dungeon……..is occupied. ­­__________________________________________________________ We hope you found our blog post on getting started with Dungeons and Dragons 5th edition helpful. Whether you're a seasoned player or a complete beginner, it's important to know what you need and what you don't need to dive into this, and other tabletop role-playing games. From character sheets to dice, we've covered everything you'll need to embark on epic adventures with your friends however, if you have any questions or need further assistance, don't hesitate to reach out to us at thisdungeonisoccupiedpodcast@gmail.com If you liked this blog post and want to immerse yourself in more content, we have a bi-weekly podcast on all listening platforms. You can find the links to those, and to our Patreon page, merch store, and more on our link tree here .is