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You can't go wrong with the starter set. I know you want it to be free, but it's not that expensive. I believe Ecuador now uses USD anyway?
And it's a good simple adventure to get kids hooked to D&D. You can simply play the first 2-3 chapters if you want to keep things simple for now.
The box contains everything you need to start playing. The adventure book, a basic rules book, pre-generated characters, and a set of dice.
You are mistaken if you think all those pages are rules after rules. The rules are actually quite few and simple. What takes most pages are content: spells, monsters, abilities, advice, helpful charts, and other things you don't have to learn. It's a game people play for years and in very different ways, so there has to be a lot of stuff to keep it interesting for a long time.
If you are still feeling intimidated but want to give it a shot, there is a an inexpensive Starter Set with minimal rules and a fine adventure for beginners. It's a very good first step which will help you understand how the game works. It also looks nice on the shelf. You can buy it from amazon quite cheap: https://www.amazon.com/Dungeons-Dragons-Starter-Set-Roleplaying/dp/0786965592/
Or just find a local group and ask them if they can teach you. Most of us are happy to see new blood. Newbiews keep the hobby alive.
let me first point out that 6 - 8 is a very large party. its not un-doable but combat at that size is going to take a long time. as far as costs/getting started goes. all of you should get a set of dice. then there is a decent starter kit published by wizards of the coast that does a pretty good job teaching DMs and players (dm should read all the materials before getting started.) Its short, but it will keep each players startup cost to like $10. I would not suggest investing deep in to handbooks and monster manuals until you are, first, comfortable DMing, and second, sure you want to keep playing.
>but also less freedom.
this is just flat wrong my friend, and I'll tell you why. your players are allowed to do anything, as long as you allow it, or give them the avenue to do it.
part of what makes DnD, and any tabletop rpg great is that as the GM, you are the arbiter of what happens.
personally I play pathfinder, however, I know from experience getting started and playing is much easier in 5E as it's quite a bit more streamlined. I'd say go with 5e and the beginner box
it's got plenty of content, and if you're buying on amazon, the books are around the same cost as pathfinder.
if you are dead set on pathfinder though, don't let me stop you, I love the system, but I just wish it had less number-crunching and interacting systems.
Your DM is making a lot of rookie mistakes typical to brand new DM's. He's also likely to run the campaign into the ground almost immediately and turn the group off from playing.
I would like to recommend that you point out that 5e is incredibly well balanced and had an extremely long playtest before it was released. Because of this, the DM should pick up a Campaign module and run that. I would like to recommend Lost Mine of Phandelver. It's a starter module that's incredibly good at covering everything for new players to D&D, and it starts with pre-generated characters so you can all learn together (or you can roll your own if you like). It comes in the D&D Starter Set, and you can get it on Amazon for dirt cheap (I'll add a link at the bottom).
Everybody will learn and have fun with it, and then from there you can start your own campaign having had an experience that is just all around fun.
Give it some serious consideration. I can't stress enough that a DM acting ham fisted and throwing rules out the window right off the bat is just going to ruin everything.
Oh, and if you do pick up a module, do NOT pick up Horde of the Dragon Queen. It's brutally hard to begin and the balancing at the start is way off. You are almost guaranteed to lose half your party if not more. That is NOT a well balanced module at all.
Here's the starter kit that I'm sure a lot of people used to start the game. Check that out, then if you like it look at a DMs guide, players handbook, and monster manual.
I highly recommend the starter kit
It includes the basic rules, and a great first campaign. It has everything you would need and is half off! Ontop of that you can find all kinds of advice/tutorials on youtube to go with the starter kit (Lost Mines of Phandelver)
Keep in mind the Black Box is old school D&D and things were a bit...rougher.
The current ruleset is D&D 5th Edition. I highly recommend the Starter Set, which is usually only about $15 on Amazon.
In general though spell casters start out with very limited resources but quickly grow to be quite powerful. You were weak at level one and the fighter was strong... now you're level 10 and on the way to god hood and he's still hitting things with a stick.
The 5th edition starter set can be found on Amazon for less than 20$.
Dungeons & Dragons Starter Set https://www.amazon.com/dp/0786965592/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_uc2FBbZ7GS0XD
Has everything you need to play a short campaign, including pregen characters, dice, and an adventure and a short version of the rules.
If your starting out and not sure how, it's a good investment.
I'd recommend what I usually do which is to pick up the D&D Starter Set ($13 on Amazon) and just run the self-contained adventure inside. It guides you through it. Grab a couple friends and have at it! If you're not comfortable, head over to r/lfg and find an online game to play in, get your feet wet first. Or check out some of the board game shops like the Labyrinth, they're starting to host D&D games again.
Amazon link for starter set: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0786965592/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_glt_fabc_B7YGFVFQ8KHX6RZ9ZHM1
Buy this Starter Set, it contains a short LV1 to LV5 adventure.
Inside, you'll find the little adventure book, you'll find a streamlined version of the rules a few pre-generated character sheets and a set of dice, that's all you need really.
Read the adventure and rules book a couple times through and you're good to go.
Now is a great time to get into D&D. The starter set has pretty much everything you need to get going. It is also like $12 on Amazon right now. It gives you a starter rulebook and an adventure to run.
Best option for first time is to find 3-5 friends and go pick up one of these bad boys https://www.amazon.com/Dungeons-Dragons-Starter-Wizards-Team/dp/0786965592/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?crid=25SF8CXF0H6X7&keywords=dnd+5e+starter+set&qid=1553745989&s=gateway&sprefix=dnd+5e+s&sr=8-1
The easiest to run is The Lost Mine of Phandelver, the adventure included in the Starter Set.
Since it's meant for beginners, it outlines what you need to do and how to do it pretty well.
The PHB/DMG/MM are all great purchases, but can be expensive if you end up not getting into the game.
The Starter Set is a literal D&D Product that you can and should buy to get you started on the cheap.
It's a whole campaign designed to be run by newbies for newbies all with zero experience. The campaign included in the set was the first D&D experience about half of all 5e players started with, so there is a TON of extra resources out there to help you when your story goes off the rails 20 minutes into the first session.
I believe the easiest way is buying the $20 starting kit. It has pregen characters, basic rules, and a fun adventure to run. Only other book you need is the Player’s Handbook, and you don’t HAVE to have it if you buy the starting kit. Good to have for reference though.
Amazon is the best place to buy material, normally $5-20 cheaper than shops. Also great if you have prime!
Dungeons & Dragons Starter Set https://www.amazon.com/dp/0786965592/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_G71dBbS55YNEB
Starter Set on Amazon is like $12 and contains everything you need to play through the supplied adventure :)
Contains pregen characters, the adventure book, a basic rules book, a set of dice.
If you're really that tight financially, PM me and I'll have one sent your way, if you want.
Check out /r/NewDM for answers to many frequently asked questions.
I always recommend The Starter Set from Wizards of the Coast. This has easy to read rules, pregenerated characters so you can start right away and a complete campaign which is really fun and has lots of side quests and hooks to keep the game going for years.
There’s also /r/d100 which has loads of plot hooks and other resources.
Good luck!
And Welcome to the Realm of Dungeons & Dragons!
Alright, first you're gonna purchase The Starter Kit that contains the adventure Lost Mines of Phandelver
It will contain everything you need to play, it has the adventure book, a streamlined version of the rules and game mechanics, it has pre-generated character sheets and a set of dice.
Just read the adventure and rules booklet a couples times from front to back (they're not very large books so it doesn't take long).
Find a party of brave adventurers, and hit the road to Phandalin with them!
There is a starter set that comes with everything you need:
It’s got dice, character sheets, the core rules, an adventure aimed at new players, it’s a great kit.
I recommend running the adventure of the starters kit called "The Lost Mines of Pandelver". It explains step by step what the DM should do in certain situations, and is built to teach the players the different mechanics of the game in a step by step way (starting with a simple encounter, then dungeon delving, then RP, etc.). You can either get it online from amazon (https://www.amazon.com/Dungeons-Dragons-Starter-Wizards-Team/dp/0786965592) or if you are going to run from Roll20, you could purchase the module there so you save yourself a lot of prep time.
Second for Savage Worlds, it's very customizable and adaptable to multiple settings. Also the D&D 5e starter set is currently less than 15$ on Amazon right now. But the 5e basic rules are free on the wotc website and so are character sheets so if you really wanted to give that a try you could.
Rule #2 of this subreddit:
> Do not suggest, promote, or perform piracy. This includes illegally distributed official material (TSR, WotC), reproductions, dubious PDFs, and websites or applications which use or distribute non-SRD rules content.
As such, you should know that no legal PDFs exist for 5th edition (the most new player friendly version of the game).
> I really don't have any problem to spend money in a book or game I enjoy but I want to know if it's worth it's price.
The starters edition (link on amazon is $15 right now. That's what you'd pay for eating out one night.
The D&D starter kit comes with pre-generated character sheets, dice, basic rules and a really cool adventure called The Lost Mines of Phandelver. There's a lot in this adventure, we played it for five sessions and didn't see half of the things in it! It's a great start, and the adventure book assumes that you are a brand new DM with little or no experience. I highly recommend it!
amazon link but get it from a local game store if you can, it's always cool to support real businesses :-)
Some friends and a D&D 5e Starter Set is a good place to start if you've never played a tabletop RPG before! Comes with everything you need to play a short(ish) campaign, even a pre-made adventure. And its entry price is much lower than buying the DM's Guide, Player's Handbook, etc. It's really quite affordable, about $13 on Amazon! You can also just transfer everyone's characters and things over to the full setup later on since it's all the same!
You should pick up the Starter Set (available at Amazon for $12.85). That will give you a few pregenerated characters based on the 5th edition basic rules, an adventure to run them through, complete with monster stats, and an abbreviated version of the basic rules, enough to run the pregens. You don't have to use the pregens, though, if you have the books.
I would recommend that you try to run a combat, by yourself. You can choose a few pregenerated characters, of which you can find plenty online, and you can work up a quick encounter with a few goblins. This is more to get you used to playing with the rules of the game, running a combat, and the like. As you have questions about rules, write them down, then look up the answers and write those down along with a page reference. (I personally try to cover character sheets with page references; in the event you or the players need to look something up in play, it's nice to be able to know which page to turn directly to.)
And don't sweat the details. Often times, if a player wants to do something you have no idea how to handle, come up with a DC and let them roll with a stat+skill. Make sure you and they know what happens if they succeed and what happens if they fail. At least 75% of the time that will probably be how the game handles it anyway.
The starter set is not a bad way to go to learn basics. And pretty inexpensive
Here is a link for it on Amazon
Dungeons & Dragons Starter Set: Fantasy Roleplaying Game Starter Set (D&D Boxed Game) https://www.amazon.com/dp/0786965592/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_nHaeybWDDEXEQ
3.5 is kind of jumping in the deep end, plus its a very fiddly unintuitive system. I would suggest picking up the 5th Edition D&D Starter Set, which is 13 bucks on Amazon and includes everything a group needs to play, including an adventure that goes from level 1-5. Plus 5E is much more beginner friendly. If later on you decide you want to check out a crunchier D&D system, I would suggest Pathfinder, which is an evolution of the 3.5 system.
It's very easy to get into these days. The fifth edition streamlined a lot of the rules, and online communities make finding people easier than ever. You can get the Starter Set on AMazon which has everything you need to start playing, including dice, an adventure, and pre-made characters (if you don't want to make your own).
I highly recommend the Starter Set.
It's $15 on Amazon, has the core rules, a set of dice, premade characters, and an adventure that will last you a half dozen sessions or so. It's a great place to start--go figure--and is designed for brand new players and brand new DMs. The adventure is laid out in a way that introduces concepts as you go along rather than expecting you to know everything up front.
The premade characters are big because sometimes you want to get straight to the playing not sit there explaining character creation to a brand new player. Without the context of how things are used, its just a wall of data and memorization... which isn't fun. You can always swap in custom characters once the group gets the core rules down.
Another great thing about the Starter Set is that it gets you to level 5 and leaves you in the perfect position to start up Storm King's Thunder which is a much longer pre-written campaign and easily one of the favorites of currently published content.
I've got a ton of resources to help new DMs run the adventure. If it ends up being something you decide to do, dont hesitate to hit me up.
Look at getting the starter set. It has everything you'll need to get started and it's relatively cheap.
There are many apps for dice which are so useful when you don't have many dice. If you want some dice there are loads on Amazon/eBay. Just search "DND dice"
Go with the Starter Set, it's 12$ on Amazon.
It's a pretty short, well written adventure perfect for new players.
typing "[text](link)" will hyperlink, by the way.
- [You can order it on Amazon](amazon.com/yourMassiveLink)
becomes:
starter kit This starter set is a fantastic place to begin.
Grab yourself the Starter Set, which usually goes for about $15 on Amazon. It's the perfect starting place.
Check out /r/NewDM for answers to many frequently asked questions.
I always recommend The Starter Set from Wizards of the Coast. This has easy to read rules, pregenerated characters so you can start right away and a complete campaign which is really fun and has lots of side quests and hooks to keep the game going for years.
But in regards to balancing encounters;
Personally, I don’t balance encounters. Players always have the option of having their characters run away if a fight looks bad. No one wants to die, not even the Manticore. Not every encounter has to end with one side dead.
Sometimes a group of 6 Level 19 veterans stumbles onto a small goblin raiding party. The goblins should try to run away.
Sometimes a party of 4 Level 1 newbies stumbles into a dragons lair. The party should try to run away!
IMHO the world is a dangerous place so balanced encounters don’t make any sense.
Build a world (or buy a module) and let the dice fall where they may. That’s half the fun of D&D. You never know what’s going to happen.
So if/when the party meets the Manticore, they might slaughter it, they might get slaughtered, they might run away, or the manticore might fly away. My suggestion is just play it out and see what happens.
Sometimes you’re the windshield, sometimes you’re the bug.
Good luck!
/r/NewDM
You can get the Starter Kit for less than $13 on Amazon right now.
https://www.amazon.com/Dungeons-Dragons-Starter-Wizards-Team/dp/0786965592
Make sure you get the Starter Kit and not the Essentials Kit. The Essentials Kit is targeted at DMs who have a little more experience; the included adventure is a lot less new-DM-friendly than Lost Mine of Phandelver is.
Yes, it comes with an adventure on the smaller side, but it should be plenty of content to get a good feel for the game. You can either make your own characters or use the provided ones. Characters are generally interchangeable anywhere.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/0786965592/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_glt_fabc_C73SJ14YDE2E2EVT8J2G
To elaborate on what /u/SmootieFakk said, the Starter Set contains the basic rules, a starter adventure, and a few premade characters. It's great for people looking to pick up and play!
D&D starter set on Amazon for 13$.
This boxed set contains a booklet of the basic rules, has about 6-7 pregenerated characters from different classes, has a small adventure, and a set of dice.
Everything you need to play. Just read through the rules booklet and the adventure booklet a few times to familiarize yourself if you plan to be the DM.
You'd need at least 3 players, not counting you.
This is a very frequently asked question on this subreddit, so you may want to scroll through the posts and/or search to find lots of good advice. :-)
You could also search Amazon for "D&D starter kit", which would show you the D&D Starter Set for about USD $13, which includes dice, a print copy of the basic rules and a starting adventure.
Cool, that Matt guy is excellent. I'll watch all his videos in the coming weeks.
As for the starter set, is that this? I googled it and it brought me to the WOTC page, with a link to that Amazon page. I assume it's right but just wanna double check with someone to be sure. I don't see 5th edition written anywhere, but maybe it doesn't matter since I'm just trying to learn mechanics and character building basically.
Well, If You don't have the money, then getting the starters set is really good, it has character sheets, sample adventures, and a basic rulebook for levels 1-5. I'll Put a link to the Amazon page: https://www.amazon.com/Dungeons-Dragons-Starter-Wizards-Team/dp/0786965592/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1502026751&sr=8-1&keywords=d%26d+5e+starter+set If you Buy it used it's only about ten dollars, but there really is nothing like flipping through the player's handbook and learning a lot more. Happy to help!
There are PDFs for it but no official PDFs, anything you see will be illegal scans. Keep Rule #2 of the subreddit in mind.
I look forward to your messages and to helping how I can.
A DM can be anyone willing to learn along with you just as well as an experienced person who's been running games for years.
D&D 5e Starter Set Amazon Link
The amount of setup is entirely dependent on how much you (more specifically the DM, typically) want to avoid delays mid-game. The "Prep" that a DM does before hand that you always hear about, are things like reviewing the story, pre-drawing maps, gathering monster stats for convenience, etc. Player Prep is more or less just making sure your character is leveled to where they should be, and show up. That said, a typical session usually runs about 3 hours give or take, though this can vary greatly.
Far far far far too many to list :) I primarily play Pathfinder, with a bit of Starfinder and D&D 5e on the side. I've been playing tabletop rpg's for about four+ years now. (Computerized D&D for something like, 30 years)
Advise? Google and YouTube are your friends. There are COUNTLESS guides on how to play, how to get started, how to dm, how to create a character, etc. You just need to absorb it. The Starter Kits are a great place to start out as they're written with extra explanations and tips for the DM on how to run an adventure. Just find a group of friends; ideally five all together, and have one person DM while you're ALL learning the game together.
Maybe dtar with this. The 5e starter kit is on amazon for... wait... here
Dungeons & Dragons Starter Set https://www.amazon.com/dp/0786965592/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_1ApOAb6W0W61T
Literally the cheapest/easiest entry into the game id say. Its got dice, premade characters, rules and info plus an adventure. Now just find a hand full of homies or go make some friends :) good luck!
First off, welcome to our hobby.
When you say "starter box", I assume you mean this (https://www.amazon.com/Dungeons-Dragons-Starter-Wizards-Team/dp/0786965592/ref=pd_lpo_sbs_14_t_2?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=RF560H7GDB0W59TB418R). These are an abridged subset of the full rules, because many people who weren't into the hobby would balk at the cost of the core books, or would want to play right away rather than going through the process of creating characters. Originally, I think that they were around $60 or more for each of the three core books, although you can get them used now on Amazon for $25-35 each (I would also recommend). (I've also found some in my local library's reference section ).
The three core books in D&D 5th edition are:
-The Player's Handbook (PHB)
-The Dungeon Master's Guide (DMG)
-The Monster Manual (MM)
If you enjoy the game, as a player, I would recommend investing in the Player's Handbook. It has rules for playing characters up to level 20, 12 classes with all of their options and subclasses, equipment, feats, and spell rules.
If you would like to try running the game, as the Dungeon Master, I recommend getting the Dungeon Master's Guide and the Monster Manual. The former has advice and guidelines for running the game, while the later has a plethora of ready made creatures. (I've heard some complain that the Monster Manual's creatures are too week, but personally, I think that is to its benefit: it is far easier to add features than it is to remove them).
You can also get advice for more specific questions either here, or (probably a better location) is the /r/Dmacademy/ subreddit, which is built around helping DMs, especially new DMs.
5e has a starter set that is much cheaper on Amazon.
Walk down that road, though, and the "Frequently bought together" down below is just the start....
Basic Fantasy is also a good choice.
Since you are all new I would go with the starter kit. It’s about $12 on Amazon and comes with a shorter pre-made adventure with some of the basic rules and 1 set of dice.
If you guys enjoy it I recommend for all the players to pick up the Player Handbook which goes further into the rules and character creation. If you plan to continue to DM, I suggest still picking up the Player Handbook along with the Monster Manual and Dungeon Master’s Guide, and also a couple extra sets of dice.
After that you can start making up your own adventures or buy more of the pre-made adventures in any of their other books.
Have fun!
Link to Starter kit on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Dungeons-Dragons-Starter-Wizards-Team/dp/0786965592/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?crid=3O0S5P31QPRX7&keywords=dnd+starter+set+5th+edition&qid=1555591640&s=gateway&sprefix=dnd+starter&sr=8-1
No worries. You can either stick with 2e (lots of us still play that way) or you can just start over with 5e and consider it a new game.
Did you get the Starter Set? It's really the best way to transition. It's got "quick start" rules that are a simplified version, and a great campaign called "The Lost Mine of Phandelver" which has loads of side quests, and lots of potential for extended play after the main campaign is completed. It's only $12.59 on Amazon.
I highly encourage everyone to start with it. It makes life so much easier in the long run.
Good luck!
/r/NewDM
I always recommend The Starter Set from Wizards of the Coast. This has easy to read rules, pregenerated characters so you can start right away and a complete campaign which is really fun and has lots of side quests and hooks to keep the game going for years.
I’ve not played it. But if you’re into R&M or a friend is into it then go for it. Especially if your friends won’t play D&D on its own. Anything to get them into it is worth it.
That being said the starter set is cheaper and the module that comes with is one of the best written modules they’ve ever put out.
The Starter Set can be bought in any game store and online. Here's a link to the set on Amazon so you know which set I'm talking about.
You'll also find the Essentials Kit which is of similar price and offers a different adventure (which can be merged with the adventure from the Starter Set fairly easily) and other goodies. The Starter and Essentials sets are good ways too get started for cheap though I personally prefer the Starter Set above the Essentials kit
You can get the starter set at Walmart or target for $20-$25, and target generally has the essentials kit, (another starter set), for $25. Assuming you live in the US. Can’t speak for any other country.
here it is on amazon.
I always recommend Lost Mine of Phandelver. I hear it comes in the starter set now. Maybe it always did. I got it from a player.
Anyways...
It's easy to get through, has loads of side quests, and is lots of fun. I've run it twice and played it once.
Good luck!
Edition: It matters a ton. My recommendation is 5E, which is both excellently designed and readily available. See r/dndnext for it's home on reddit.
Grab the starter set and go. It is all you need to begin.
as others have recommended. i'd definitely recommend the starter's set. it includes the basic rules (which you can also download for free from WotC) and also a quality starter adventure module. since your boys are young, i'd highly recommend you learn the rules yourself and run the game for them (called Dungeon Master or DM - a person that sets up the scene/story and adjudicates the actions of the players).
the starter's set really is bang for your bucks. and if you guys enjoy it enough, you can buy the full rulebooks (player's handbook, monster's manual, and dungeon master's guide - the first two are essential. DMG is also excellent and i'd consider it essential but you don't necessarily need it to start playing - and if you're on a budget, get the player's handbook first out of the three).
To add to that, /u/JeMangeLeButt, there's an actual starter pack which is pretty cheap.
The premade adventure is for 3-4 players, but it's possible to make it with 1 player if you scale down the amount and strength of ennemies, which might require a little experience to do properly (but that's what trying out is for, isn't it), or play multiple characters.
Start with the latest edition. 5th Edition. It is VERY beginner friendly and easy enough to learn and understand for even the newest of players. The best way to start is to get the 5e Starter Set. It includes the basic rules, one set of dice, a set of character sheets (some premade and one clean for copyprinting) and the adventure Lost Mines of Phandelver, which explains the DM step by step how to run it and how the mechanics work.
If you haven't played much of the game yourself, you're essentially having to create a world and write stories for your players all while balancing encounters, designing dungeons and dealing with things like power creep, narrative flow, game balance, mood - not to mention the basic rules and what the different classes can do etc...
So why not simplify that a little? We'll take the world creation and adventure writing and we'll outsource that to a tried and true pre-written adventure. While we're at it, we can go ahead and use an adventure made specifically for new DMs.
So, what you do is you review that and go ahead and run it for your players. You can feel free to switch things around, or add your own stuff in, but for the most part you're going to play it as-is.
While you're doing that you're going to quickly learn some really crucial stuff like how to run a table, the basic rules, proper encounter balance, proper loot balance, proper adventure structure etc...
This is really important because that module is going to fly by fast, and by the end of it you want to have those things down as a good foundation as you turn to writing your own adventures.
It's not the only way to approach the issue, it's really not. What I've found, though, is that it gives you the highest chance of running an enjoyable first adventure.
Lost Mines of Phandelver is an excellent start to DMing in 5th Edition. It is in the Starter Set, which is around 17 dollars on Amazon right now. It comes with a set of dice and some starter character sheets.
The advice about fucking around is only as accurate as you allow it to be. Yes, 90% of what you have planned is probably not going to go how you wanted it to, but that is something you have to expect. Offering the illusion of choice ("We want to take the right passageway"; when in fact you have it planned that both passageways go to the same 'encounter') is very effective at this without making it feel rail-roadey. If you run your group very casual a lot of chuckle-fuckery will go on, but some people like that. For instance, my group is very casual even though I do not like it that much, I go along with it. That means that yes, I may have to repeat myself, but everyone is having fun. If you want a more serious experience in your games you can do something like have everyone put their phones in the table and pay attention at least 85% of the time. It really is up to you as the DM.
The best advice I can give you is just to roll with the punches. Don't try to force people to play how you want them to play (unless it's something that is objectively bad, like party members killing/stealing from each other for no VALID reason), but do try to keep control of what is going on at your table. Remember, YOU are the one that is in charge.
Best of luck. DMing is hard but extremely rewarding.
Honey, where are you looking? On Amazon, new is around $20 or less.
Maybe you're looking at hardbound, which is not how the set is typically printed.
Dungeons & Dragons Starter Set: Fantasy Roleplaying Game Starter Set (D&D Boxed Game) https://www.amazon.com/dp/0786965592/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_Gp2gwbFK8TYWV
Other than this I don't think it gets much more basic. You don't need the DMG at all. It's awesome but not required. Understanding the PHB is imo very important. Of course, with a little creativity you can wing a lot of rules but the games will mesh better when you follow the rules provided. As you play the entire group will learn the game better and things will go smoother.
Can't go wrong with the starter set. The adventure Lost Mine of Phandelver that is included is solid and has advice on how to run things for new DMs and players. Also comes with a small set of dice and premade characters with helpful info on level progression.
As with most premade adventures, it's tailored to a party of 4 PCs. It's not too difficult though, and fewer PCs can easily run it successfully with some minor tweaks to some encounters.
Here is a link to the Starter Set everyone is recommending. The adventure inside of it is quite nice. It includes pre-generated characters in it as well.
It's a pretty short campaign, but I'm glad I did it to help get me started. You can find it in the 5e Starter Set.
Downloading the Basic Rules, or purchasing the Starter Set may be your best bet. Those are a lot less intimidating.
I would also recommend just having them create the characters with you, the DM. As they have questions, refer to the books or answer them yourself, then go through the game. This is better if at least a couple others know the rules to help along, but sometimes just playing is the quickest way to learn! It's how I learned 3.5. :P
7 or 8 people would be do-able but could get chaotic. Maybe see how often people could come on a regular basis and decide from there?
And easiest way to teach people would probably be the basic rules or just jumping into a one-shot or short module for them and walking them through. :)
D&D is a little too complicated to learn by chat. Watching videos makes it much easier.
However…
The Starter Set from Wizards of the Coast has easy to read rules, pregenerated characters so you can start right away and a complete campaign which is really fun and has lots of side quests and hooks to keep the game going for years.
The rules in the Starter Set are very easy to follow. It’s designed for 12 year olds to learn how to play. You can do it.
Basically, D&D is a combat game. Your character finds a monster, kills it, and takes its treasure.
To fight, you roll a 20 sided die (called a d20). You want to roll high. The Monster has a Defense called Armor Class (called AC), which is a number usually around 14 or 15. You have to roll higher than (or equal to) that number to hit it and cause damage.
Different weapons do different amounts of damage. For a basic sword you roll a standard six sided die called a d6.
Then the Monster does the same. It attacks your character by rolling a d20 trying to get higher than your Armor Class. It’s attacks are listed in a special book called The Monster Manual.
When you damage a monster, you reduce its life (called hit points). A monster like a goblin has 7 hit points. When you reduce it to zero, it dies and you can steal its gold.
That’s the absolute basics.
If you have questions, let me know. I’ve been playing for 35 years.
And check out some of the D&D subreddits. r/NewDM is one I run.
Good luck!
Yep, this is the set on amazon that has lost mines in it :)
If you want an adventure with a small rulebook that can guide Dungeon Master as well as player(s), try Starter Set - Lost Mine of Phandelver (Amazon US),
You don't need any fancy memberships or programs or subscriptions to play online -- just a way to communicate. Hell, there are people who play by email, though it's a kind of modified form of the game. But if you and your friends can Skype / Zoom / FaceTime whatever, you can play.
If you want a more free-form "teach yourself" experience, you can just download the Basic Rules PDF from Wizards -- it's free -- and make up your own campaign. Or you can get very, very cheap starter campaigns online at sites like DMsGuild.
Or for around $20 USD (17 pounds?) one of you can get the Starter Set; it has everything you need to teach yourself how to play, including remade characters and an adventure designed to teach you how the game works.
Don't do your "Dream Campaign" first. Do something short and sweet and low-level. Simply put, you don't know what you don't know yet. It's gonna be a trainwreck, and that's OK because it's not the world/story you put hundreds of hours into working on before even starting.
Instead, Go buy the Starter Set. That'll get you core rules and stat blocks.
It's written for newbies to be run by newbies. The story is intentionally dull so it forces you to spice things up yourself. Personally, I recommend stripping out all the names and races of the baddies, replacing them with your own. Do nothing with the overall story skeleton and game mechanics. Re-skin only.
Then run it. Everyone should end around Level 5-6. At which point, offer everyone a chance to re-up their characters for a new "real" campaign, or to ride off into the sunset and reroll someone new for the new setting.
I always recommend The Starter Set from Wizards of the Coast. This has easy to read rules, pregenerated characters so you can start right away and a complete campaign which is really fun and has lots of side quests and hooks to keep the game going for years.
You mentioned that you want your sister to be DM. Have her read the first section, called Part 1: Goblin Arrows. She only needs to read up to page 7 start the game.
After she reads that, if you (or she) have any questions, just ask.
If she’s an experienced player like you say, she should pick it up really quickly. But we’re still here to help.
The basics for combat are- roll a d20. Compare that number to the target’s armor class. High numbers are hits for damage. Roll the damage die for whatever weapon was used. Reduce the target’s hit points.
Repeat until dead.
Good luck!
/r/NewDM
For new DM’s I always recommend The Starter Set from Wizards of the Coast. This has easy to read rules, pregenerated characters so you can start right away and a complete campaign which is really fun and has lots of side quests and hooks to keep the game going for years.
But to answer your question, a good level 1 boss is a Bugbear.
Good luck!
I always recommend The Starter Set from Wizards of the Coast. This has easy to read rules, pregenerated characters so you can start right away and a complete campaign which is really fun and has lots of side quests and hooks to keep the game going for years.
I always recommend The Starter Set from Wizards of the Coast. This has easy to read rules, pregenerated characters so you can start right away and a complete campaign which is really fun and has lots of side quests and hooks to keep the game going for years.
The D&D Starter Set ($13.29 now on Amazon) is perfect for this. It contains an adventure book for the Dungeon Master (storyteller), pre-made characters for the players, and a short rules booklet for things you would need for this adventure. I even has dice (4-, 6-, 8-, 10-, 12- and 20-sided ones!). The supplied adventure is really good too, and guides the DM on how to run the encounters well.
I can't recommend this box enough as a trial run for D&D. If you like the system, you can then invest in the core books, which will enable you to make your own adventure and characters, and give you a ton more options not available in the Starter Set.
The only way you'll be able to get the book on it's on is buying it used. You'll be better off having the guy buy you a brand new pristine condition one, which can only be obtained in the complete set like this one.
I always recommend The Starter Set from Wizards of the Coast. This has easy to read rules, pregenerated characters so you can start right away and a complete campaign which is really fun and has lots of side quests and hooks to keep the game going for years. I think it’s also free for the next few weeks but don’t quote me on that.
That being said, DoIP is also designed for new players and should be just fine.
Good luck!
/r/NewDM
Thanks! These were really helpful. I'm going to buy a starter kit as we're new and don't have a dm to really guide us and this links had some helpful information and links about being a dm Is this starter set good or is there a better one I can use? Dungeons & Dragons Starter Set https://www.amazon.com/dp/0786965592/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_i_DE4VK253MXKZVY485RAC?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
Don't buy the player's handbook yet. What you want is the 'D&D Starter Set' from Amazon or wherever. It's about £12. It has an abridged set of rules and a great starter adventure. It's by far the best way to start out and great value for money. Then you just need a few friends and (if youre in to it) I'd recommend a few beers too!
U basically need a sharp and loyal pencil, an eraser, a set of dice and I like thicker paper for my character sheet if it's morr than a one shot. That's basically everything you need for all pen and papers. Maybe invest in some cooler sice along the way.
For starters I would advise online rulebooks and story to see if you like it and maybe try some different systems. How to be a hero is a great system for your first adventure, not too many rule and in about 15min you are ready to play. Otherwise just buy the Dnd starter set.
As for battlemaps or mini, I have no idea. In my campaigns we only use our imagination ans some sketches if needed.
Best of luck into your new lifelong addiction.
Check out /r/NewDM for answers to many frequently asked questions.
I always recommend The Starter Set from Wizards of the Coast. This has easy to read rules, pregenerated characters so you can start right away and a complete campaign which is really fun and has lots of side quests and hooks to keep the game going for years.
However, to answer your specific question, the main rule is Have Fun 🙂
Some general tips are;
Don’t interrupt a session to look up a rule. Game time is precious. Make a decision and move on. Then look it up between sessions and explain the correct rule at the start of the next session. Don’t go back at retcon it. Just use the correct rule from then on.
Try to give each character a chance to shine. That doesn’t have to happen every session, but pay attention to everyone.
Good luck!
/r/NewDM
I always recommend The Starter Set from Wizards of the Coast. This has easy to read rules, pregenerated characters so you can start right away and a complete campaign which is really fun and has lots of side quests and hooks to keep the game going for years.
I generally recommend The Starter Set from Wizards of the Coast. This has easy to read rules, pregenerated characters so you can start right away and a complete campaign which is really fun and has lots of side quests and hooks to keep the game going for years.
Good luck!
https://www.amazon.com/dp/0786965592/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_glt_i_ZS5F5XZ3ZNTEMD9Y2VAN?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1 Try this one since I looks like it's $10 here. A lot of times with starter sets and games like dnd people on Amazon will resell the same product but with like 1 extra set of dice for absurd prices to get newer players.
Help. I'm a new DM-
1. Where do I start???
Check out /r/NewDM for answers to many frequently asked questions.
I always recommend The Starter Set from Wizards of the Coast. This has easy to read rules, pregenerated characters so you can start right away and a complete campaign which is really fun and has lots of side quests and hooks to keep the game going for years.
Good luck!
You linked to the essentials set in your first link and not the starter set, the starter set is even cheaper at $11 and has been on sale for $5 before, which is cheaper than buying the dice within the set.
https://www.amazon.com/Dungeons-Dragons-Starter-Wizards-Team/dp/0786965592/
There might be a free one out there, but if you are unsure about DMing I'd recommend Lost Mines of Phandelver, the adventure that comes with the Starter Set. It has a great little adventure from level 1-5 that is specifically written for a person who has never played any D&D before, so they really take it slow in the beginning. It looks like it's only $9 right now.
Check out /r/NewDM for answers to many frequently asked questions and loads of links to free resources.
But to answer your question;
I always recommend The Starter Set from Wizards of the Coast. This has easy to read rules, pregenerated characters so you can start right away and a complete campaign which is really fun and has lots of side quests and hooks to keep the game going for years.
I have Xanathar’s and Mordenkainen’s and Volo’s and feel like I use Xanathar’s the most.
But to be honest, the core 3 are plenty. You can get years out of those.
Good luck!
/r/NewDM
Is it this one https://www.amazon.com/Dungeons-Dragons-Starter-Wizards-Team/dp/0786965592/
I saw a "fifth edition" one too but it's a lot more. Sounds like it's fine to get the one you mentioned? I just don't want to be like an old fart who buys a super out-of-date item.
What race from the PHB has he chosen?
If you’re going full on homebrew and not using the PHB, it might be pretty rough as a new DM. You won’t have baseline rules to refer to and you’ll be making up a lot during game play.
That’s not a bad thing. Just challenging for a new DM.
For a new DM, I always recommend The Starter Set from Wizards of the Coast. This has easy to read rules, pregenerated characters so you can start right away and a complete campaign which is really fun and has lots of side quests and hooks to keep the game going for years.
If you’re dead set on playing your own homebrew world, that’s great. But be prepared for a lot of arguments from that Player, because you don’t have rules to control him.
Good luck!
Let us know how it goes 😃
I found This set on amazon, is it good enough to start playing dnd with my friends or do I get something more to make it easier or fun for a first time experience?
Help. I'm a new DM-
1. Where do I start?
Check out /r/NewDM for answers to many frequently asked questions.
I always recommend The Starter Set from Wizards of the Coast. This has easy to read rules, pregenerated characters so you can start right away and a complete campaign which is really fun and has lots of side quests and hooks to keep the game going for years.
It’s the ultimate beginners guide!
Help. I'm a new DM-
1. Where do I start?
Check out /r/NewDM for answers to many frequently asked questions.
I always recommend The Starter Set from Wizards of the Coast. This has easy to read rules, pregenerated characters so you can start right away and a complete campaign which is really fun and has lots of side quests and hooks to keep the game going for years.
/r/NewDM
Good luck!
I always recommend The Starter Set from Wizards of the Coast. This has easy to read rules, pregenerated characters so you can start right away and a complete campaign which is really fun and has lots of side quests and hooks to keep the game going for years.
But to answer your question, put the responsibility on the players. “You return with the child. Now what do you do?”
Have a few plot hooks for one shot encounters/sessions so you have time to expand on their part of the world, but the world can grow as the characters do.
Did you watch Stranger Things?
Season one was all about their neighborhood where the homes are. Season two added the larger town/downtown. Season three added the mask and neighboring towns.
That’s an easy way to build your world. Hometown. Larger city. Then state. Then country. Then…
Let it develop over time as they play.
For real though it dosen't cost anything. For D&D just get a PDF of the Players Handbook, and print off some character sheets. Get the DM a notebook, and you're all set.
​
A set of dice greatly improves the experience, but isn't needed. You don't need to use a battlemap, but if you want to use one, I've had fun with a big sheet of paper with a grid drawn on and bottlecaps and coins as figures.
​
Theres a starter set that comes with a written campaign, dice, and premade charecter sheets for $10 on amazon if you want to make your life easier.
Check out /r/NewDM for answers to many frequently asked questions.
I always recommend The Starter Set from Wizards of the Coast. This has easy to read rules, pregenerated characters so you can start right away and a complete campaign which is really fun and has lots of side quests and hooks to keep the game going for years.
Even if you don’t use the exact adventure, you can still use the region as a basis for your homebrew adventure. It’s set in a region of the Forgotten Realms, which has loads of official world stuff available.
Good luck!
Do I need to know every rule? I just found a link on Amazon to buy a starter set, but would that be enough?
https://www.amazon.de/Wizards-Coast-WTCA92160000-Dungeons-Roleplaying/dp/0786965592
Is this the right one?
> So me and my friends want to get into D&D but we don't really understand how/where to chose an adventure to begin with and also confused on some aspects of character creation, such as skill point allocation.
I mean the best place to start is with the D&D starter set because it comes with everything you need to start - an introductory adventure, character sheets, the basic rules, and dice. Since the Lost Mine of Phandelver is a published adventure, your DM can find a lot of YouTube videos of groups running it (I think DM'ing is one of those things that it's hard to understand from just the rules, it's really helpful to see someone do it.)
You say "skill point allocation" which makes me think you have 3rd Edition sourcebooks right now, or that you're mixing sourcebooks between 3rd and 5th edition. This doesn't work terribly well - it's better to start with only 5th edition stuff to begin with, and you can investigate earlier editions of the game later on. The D&D Starter Set is 5th edition, as is the current Player's Handbook.
Good luck, have fun!
Hey there, there are a couple of ways to get started. It really depends on how much money you want to spend. It can range from free, to around 20 bucks, to maybe like 100.
For the free start go to this website and it has basic rules and character sheets; http://dnd.wizards.com/products/tabletop-games/trpg-resources
For the around 20 bucks option buy the starter set. Here it is on Amazon; https://www.amazon.com/dp/0786965592/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_xNZFAbKP3Z95A
For the more expensive option you can buy the players hand book, a pre-made quest, some dice, and some miniatures. I hope this helps. It's my favorite hobby so if you have any more questions I'll try and answer them =)
Most of these games just cost way too much compared to their enjoyment and very few of them are really good. If they are popular and good, they will eventually hit retail (see Gloomhaven, Scythe, etc). There is no reason why you should buy/pre-order things, pay like an idiot and also shoulder all of the risk.
If you want dungeon crawlers look into DnD 5e and Pathfinder 2e (provided you have people to play with). The starter adventure is 15$ (at least 6 sessions a 4-5 hours of playtime) the rules are free (https://dnd.wizards.com/articles/features/basicrules or http://2e.aonprd.com/) and and the best thing: there is no limit/minimum playtime: you guys can decide anytime if you want to quit or play the next encounter.
I recommend this video series. The Combat Episode covers a lot of the rules new players need.
Read the Getting Started Guide in the /r/DND sidebar.
If you want to start your own group with friends or other newbies, I highly recommend the Starter Set.
It's $15 on Amazon, has the core rules, a set of dice, premade characters, and an adventure that will last you a half dozen sessions or so. It's a great place to start--go figure--and is designed for brand new players and brand new DMs. The adventure is laid out in a way that introduces concepts as you go along rather than expecting you to know everything up front.
The premade characters are big because you want to get straight to the playing not sit there explaining character creation to a brand new player. Without the context of how things are used, its just a wall of data and memorization... which isn't fun. You can always swap in custom characters once the group is comfortable with the basics.
You can also grab the free Basic Rules PDF though which will have a little more in it than the Starter Set including some core character generation options.
The Players Handbook contains the full rules and will run about $30. You can wait to see if D&D is for you and get by with the Starter Set or Basic Rules though. Of you have the funds or plan to stick with it though snagging at least one PHB up front will do you wonders.
Absolutely any questions you have at any point you can just respond to one of my comments and I'll gladly help out.
Great news! You don't need to buy anything. You can play D&D as soon as you want without spending a dime.
You can grab the free Basic Rules PDF which has the core rules and basic character generation options.
You can watch tutorials like this video series. Combat episode is particularly helpful.
Read the Getting Started Guide in the /r/DND sidebar.
But even so, D&D 5th Edition is streamlined and easy to learn and there are tons of people willing to help teach you. Its not a game you need to sit and read the rules from cover to cover before playing, you can very much sit down to a table as totally fresh and learn by playing--I teach people this way all the time.
Consider checking out your local gaming store and see if they do any tutorials, have Organized Play, or know of groups looking for any members.
You can also use these resources:
> If you're looking to play in person:
> * Check in with your local gaming store.
> * Local board game/RPG Facebook Groups
> * Local board game/RPG Meetup Groups
> * Post in the subreddit for your town / area
> * Search /r/LFG for posts or make one.
> * LFG tools on Obsidian Portal and PenAndPaperGames > * Sites like FindGamers, NearbyGamers, GamerSeekingGamer
> * Check WarHorn for local postings
> If you're looking to play online:
> * /r/LFG and /r/Roll20LFG
> * Roll20's game finder and LFG forums
> * Fantasy Grounds has a LFG Forum
> * Play via Tabletop Simulator
> * RPG Discord servers: Dungeons & Downvotes, Pair O' Dice, etc...
If you end up just reading up on the rules and wanting to start your own group. I highly recommend the Starter Set.
It's $15 on Amazon, has the core rules, a set of dice, premade characters, and an adventure that will last you a half dozen sessions or so. It's a great place to start--go figure--and is designed for brand new players and brand new DMs. The adventure is laid out in a way that introduces concepts as you go along rather than expecting you to know everything up front.
The premade characters are big because you want to get straight to the playing not sit there explaining character creation to a brand new player. Without the context of how things are used, its just a wall of data and memorization... which isn't fun.
You can always bring custom characters in once the group gets to town or something if people want, and now they'll kinda know the ropes.
If you decide D&D is the hobby for you, your first purchase goal should be the Player's Handbook. Its the core rulebook with all of the default character options, spells, etc.
You can find the basic rules for free here.
Find a group of 3-5 friends who are also interested and get together to buy the Starter Set.
Play through that, and by the end you should
a) Know if you actually like D&D or not
b) Know enough about the rules to continue playing
If you want to start simple, all you need are the Basic Rules (linked below), some character sheets (linked below), and a few sets of polyhedral dice for RPGs (some cheap options linked below). You can run short one shots to begin with, or you could get the Starter Kit. Options linked below. Or you could get the Tales from the Yawning Portal and string the adventures in there into a longer campaign. Also linked below. Once you get your feet wet, you can start acquiring the Player's Handbook (PHB), the Monster Manual (MM) and the Dungeon Master's Guide (DMG) but they are not necessary to start.
- Basic Rules: https://dnd.wizards.com/articles/features/basicrules
- Character Sheets you fill in yourself or use the pregenerated ones: https://dnd.wizards.com/products/tabletop-games/trpg-resources/character-sheets
- Or these character sheets to start out: https://fastcharacter.com/
- Dice (come in sets of 7): https://www.amazon.com/s?k=rpg+dice&ref=nb_sb_noss_2
- Starter Kit (has everything you need so you wouldn't need to buy or acquire anything but what is in that kit, at least for now): https://www.amazon.com/Dungeons-Dragons-Starter-Wizards-Team/dp/0786965592/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=starter+kit+dnd+5e&qid=1576848634&sr=8-3
​
- One shots and short adventures that might work well for you, but you will need the MM for the second option below:
https://www.dmsguild.com/product/186488/A-Most-Potent-Brew--A-Basic-Rules-Adventure?term=a+most+pot
https://www.dmsguild.com/product/198501/Complete-Adventures-of-MT-Black-Vol-I?term=M.T.+Black
​
- Or Tales from the Yawning Portal (will need the MM):
https://www.amazon.com/Tales-Yawning-Portal-Dungeons-Dragons/dp/0786966092
A few particular items of interest from Amazon :
- <strong>Dungeons & Dragons Starter Set</strong> (Six Dice, Five Ready-to-Play D&D Characters With Character Sheets, a Rulebook)
- <strong>Dungeons & Dragons Core Rulebooks Gift Set</strong> (Special Foil Covers Edition with Slipcase, Player's Handbook, Dungeon Master's Guide, Monster Manual, DM Screen)
- <strong>Art & Arcana</strong> : The artistry of D&D through the years.
- <strong>Dungeons and Dragons Official Paint Line Adventurer's Paint Set</strong>
- <strong>Cup of Wonder</strong> / <strong>Cup of Illusion</strong> / <strong>Cup of Plenty</strong> : 5 Sets of 7 Premium gaming dice (Note: I purchased the Cup of Plenty for my group last year, with each member & DM getting a set of dice & the DM keeping the cup/box it all came with)
- Do you or your friends have children? <strong>1-2-3's of D&D</strong> / <strong>A-B-C's of D&D</strong>
- <strong>Mimic Plush Dice Bag</strong>. Not your speed? How about an <strong>Owlbear</strong> instead?!
- Do you or your friends use the various D&D Card Sets? Get them a <strong>Spell Book</strong> to hold the cards!
- What's the Holidays without receiving <strong>socks</strong>?
A few items & vendors from Etsy :
- <strong>PaolasPixels</strong> : A great assortment of pins, clothes, and stickers for all RPG types (Note: I have several of their pins in my collection)
- <strong>TheGrumpyUnicornCo</strong> : Enamel pins of all sorts for DND & other RPG.
- <strong>AetherwoodGaming</strong> & <strong>EldritchArtsUS</strong> : Dice boxes big enough to hold one full set dice. Want you fave set to travel in style? Here you go!
- <strong>AdventurersWoodworks</strong> : Specialty dice, dice trays, and other trinkets for your gaming pleasure (Note: I have their <em>Skull</em> & <em>Moon Flower</em> dice sets. Amazingly beautiful)
- <strong>LoftAndLegend</strong> : D20 Bath Bombs. After a long day of adventuring, sometimes you need a hot bath, you know?
- <strong>SilverwingArmoury</strong> : Keep your notes & character stats in style.
- <strong>MimicryMetals</strong> : High quality productions of D&D items. (Note: I attempted to convince my wife to let me have the <em>Ring Of The Ram</em> as my wedding band, but failed my "Persuasion" check)
- <strong>Level1Gamers</strong> : Gaming themed coffee mugs and other trinkets. These are the guys that made the Mug Stat Card Mug.
Great news! You don't need to buy anything. You can play D&D as soon as you want without spending a dime.
You can grab the free Basic Rules PDF which has the core rules and basic character generation options.
You can watch tutorials like this video series. Combat episode is particularly helpful.
Read the Getting Started Guide in the /r/DND sidebar.
But even so, D&D 5th Edition is streamlined and easy to learn and there are tons of people willing to help teach you. Its not a game you need to sit and read the rules from cover to cover before playing, you can very much sit down to a table as totally fresh and learn by playing--I teach people this way all the time.
Consider checking out your local gaming store and see if they do any tutorials, have Organized Play, or know of groups looking for any members.
You can also use these resources:
> If you're looking to play in person:
> * Check in with your local gaming store.
> * Local board game/RPG Facebook Groups
> * Local board game/RPG Meetup Groups
> * Post in the subreddit for your town / area
> * Search /r/LFG for posts or make one.
> * LFG tools on Obsidian Portal and PenAndPaperGames > * Sites like FindGamers, NearbyGamers, GamerSeekingGamer
> * Check WarHorn for local postings
> If you're looking to play online:
> * /r/LFG and /r/Roll20LFG
> * Roll20's game finder and LFG forums
> * Fantasy Grounds has a LFG Forum
> * Play via Tabletop Simulator
> * RPG Discord servers: Dungeons & Downvotes, Pair O' Dice, etc...
If you end up just reading up on the rules and wanting to start your own group. I highly recommend the Starter Set.
It's $15 on Amazon, has the core rules, a set of dice, premade characters, and an adventure that will last you a half dozen sessions or so. It's a great place to start--go figure--and is designed for brand new players and brand new DMs. The adventure is laid out in a way that introduces concepts as you go along rather than expecting you to know everything up front.
The premade characters are big because you want to get straight to the playing not sit there explaining character creation to a brand new player. Without the context of how things are used, its just a wall of data and memorization... which isn't fun.
You can always bring custom characters in once the group gets to town or something if people want, and now they'll kinda know the ropes.
If you decide D&D is the hobby for you, your first purchase goal should be the Player's Handbook. Its the core rulebook with all of the default character options, spells, etc.
Check out this video series on Youtube for some basics.
Read the Getting Started Guide in the /r/DND sidebar.
I highly recommend the Starter Set.
It's $15 on Amazon, has the core rules, a set of dice, premade characters, and an adventure that will last you a half dozen sessions or so. It's a great place to start--go figure--and is designed for brand new players and brand new DMs. The adventure is laid out in a way that introduces concepts as you go along rather than expecting you to know everything up front.
The premade characters are big because you want to get straight to the playing not sit there explaining character creation to a brand new player. Without the context of how things are used, its just a wall of data and memorization... which isn't fun.
Not having the Player's Handbook isn't gonna slow you down on the Starter Set... it has all the core rules you need to play... but you wont have character creation rules and a few other things. You can grab the free Basic Rules PDF though which will have a little more in it than the Starter Set including some core character generation options.
If you don't have the full group of five players you might want to check out this tool that lets you know a decent way to rebalance some of the Starter Set fights.
I made a little video for brand new DMs who will be looking to run the Starter Set. It does have spoilers so the players shouldn't watch it, but there are some decent pointers and important rules explanations in there (in my biased opinion). I'll be making one for the player's side of things when I have time.
There is a 5th edition Starter Set available on Amazon.
The story is great, and very easy to run. Even as a first time DM myself I have had zero issues running a group through it, and they're also all new to D&D. It comes with five pre-generated characters to make things easy, but your players can make their own characters if so desired. It comes with a single set of dice, so I recommend picking up a few more cheap sets.
This set here is what I bought myself, and I think the dice are great.
> Runebound, Legacy of Dragonholdt and Descent are very good looking RPGs
They are damn fine games, but they aren't rpgs - they are boardgames. Fantasy Flight Game does produce rpgs though, like Genesys, Legend of the Five Rings, End of the World, Edge of the Empire, etc.
> Are those good starts to dwelve into tabletop RPGs? Or do you recommend classic suited Pathfinder, D&D, and/or Shadowrun games?
D&D5e has a dirt cheap Starter Set and the basic rules available for free on their official website. That's a good place to begin, but many other games have cheap or free starter sets and adventures too.
> Will probably start playing solo for a time (it will take time to convert my wife into RPGs).
There are very few tabletop rpgs that are meant to be played solo - mostly because they usually rely on the interaction between a Game Master and one or more players. You might want to give Fighting Fantasy books like The Warlock of Firetop Mountain a shot in the meantime, or look for a group you can join (there is a sub for that called /r/lfg), since getting your feet wet is the best way to learn playing and even running rpg sessions.
Nope. You can play with a brand new DM if you want. The Starter Set adventure is especially made for this.
The Starter Set is designed for 1 DM and 4-5 players. More on that below.
D&D is what you make of it. If your table wants it to be all in character talking, with voices, and super serious...knock yourself out. If you want it to be have a few beers, roll some dice, and have Jack In the Box tacos with your friends while making dick jokes... have at it. No one can tell you how to play RPGs.
Due to a time crunch and the fact that I've been playing for decades, I'll skip this for now in favor of copying some other information for ya:
Here is my info dump for DMs wanting to run the Starter Set:
Tutorials
I recommend this video series. The Combat Episode covers a lot of the rules new players need.
Read the Getting Started Guide in the /r/DND sidebar.
I made a video for brand new DMs who will be running the Starter Set. It does have spoilers so the players shouldn't watch it, but there are some decent pointers and important rules explanations in there (in my biased opinion).
Tools
Don't have five players? This tool shows you how to rebalance the fights.
These cheat sheets are really handy for some folks.
Maps & Handouts
I made an Actions In Combat handout that I print out for each player.
This album of Maps for the campaign are free use. If you want high quality versions of the ones from the book, Mike Schley sells the entire bundle for $10. Includes high-res versions for both the DM and players.
[This thread](https://forum.rpg.net/showthread.php?760586-Various-maps-I-ve-made-for-the-Starter-Set-(Lost-Mine-of-Phandelver) has lots of user made maps you can look through as well.
Interesting Reading
This post is absolutely fantastic at describing a good way to roleplay Venomfang.
Pact of the Tome has a decent little blog about setting up a group and running them through the Adventure.
Sly Flourish has a blog post about running the adventure as well.
NeuronPhaser has an interesting blog post and links to some likewise neat stuff.
My Realms has decent reading on the lore of the locations used in the adventure. If you're unfamiliar with Sword Coast this can be a good way to make the locations feel more real.
> If you're looking to play in person:
> * Check in with your local gaming store.
> * Local board game/RPG Facebook Groups
> * Local board game/RPG Meetup Groups
> * Post in the subreddit for your town / area
> * Search /r/LFG for posts or make one.
> * LFG tools on Obsidian Portal and PenAndPaperGames > * Sites like FindGamers, NearbyGamers, GamerSeekingGamer
> * Check WarHorn for local postings
> If you're looking to play online:
> * /r/LFG and /r/Roll20LFG
> * Roll20's game finder and LFG forums
> * Fantasy Grounds has a LFG Forum
> * Play via Tabletop Simulator
> * RPG Discord servers: Dungeons & Downvotes, Pair O' Dice, etc...
So for 5e there are a couple of things you can look at getting:
- Basic Rules: Look at the section for "Free Basic Rules". These PDFs are basically what you need to start playing D&D. The D&D 5e Player's Basic Rules has information about the basics of the game for players. It's got 4 races (Dwarf, Elf, Halfling, and Human) and 4 classes (Cleric, Fighter, Rogue, Wizard) and one "subclass" for each class (Life Domain Cleric, Champion Fighter, Thief Rogue, and School of Evocation Wizard). Items, customization, character building, and the general "here's how you play!" are included in this document. Great resource for a simple lookup if you want to introduce someone to the game, since the characters you can build out of it are generally solid characters. The D&D 5e Dungeon Master's Basic Rules is the starting point for your DM. For the most part is bunch of creature/enemy stat blocks with explanations on how to balance encounters to the players' levels, as well as a quick off-hand on how to generate magic items. DMs are the creative source of the campaign, so there isn't much required to actually build a simple campaign.
- Dungeons & Dragons 5e Starter Set: This is the most basic form of the game you can get with most things included. Looks like it's $13 on Amazon right now, which is pretty good. The box set comes with a 32-page player guide (mini Player's Handbook), a 64-page Dungeon Master's guide (mini Dungeon Master's Guide/Monster Manual), a couple of pre-generated characters, and a few dice. It's good for getting into 5e if you've never played before since the rules are greatly reduced down to levels 1-6 and there are only 8 classes. Most of the content is the same stuff you can find in the Basic Rules, minus the story that comes with the Starter Set. If someone gets this, everyone else can download/print the Basic Rules and should be good. Most of the content is all about how to play the characters that are in the starter set, not about character generation and the like, so make sure to look at the Basic Rules if you want to play a Halfling Fighter for example. See this comment for more explanation.
- Player's Handbook (Dungeons & Dragons 5e): This is the core of most of your games of 5e at this point. This has all of the basic necessities, like character classes, character races, items, spells, feats, etc. This is exactly what you need if you are a player, since this and some imagination allows you to build some pretty fun characters. If you end up playing 5e a lot, I'd recommend that everyone have somewhat regular access to a PHB, considering that 90% of the characters you make will come in most part from this books.
- Monster Manual: This is where you'll find the largest collection of all of the "basic" monsters that you can meet in a game of D&D. Enemies in general are in this book, and there is a lot of good explanation into the monsters, their stats, their decision routes, etc. This is super helpful since you can basically do whatever you want with this book and make some awesome fights. Find an enemy you like, but it's too high level? Nerf it somehow, and have your players fight it. I'm actually planning on setting a dragon with her wings clipped and her firebreathing removed, give them a fight, and see how they react.
- Dungeon Master's Guide: This is basically world building, combat building, enemy building, item building... basically, if it's not covered in the PHB or MM, the creation of object X or something similar will be in the DMG. It's there for the DMs to be able to balance items or enemies against certain requirements, since there is a lot to take into account. Helpful for the DM who doesn't have as much experience.
So the Basic Rules help out a lot, the Starter Set is basically a physical copy of the basic rules (plus some), and then the core 3 books in order of (my personal opinion of) usefulness are PHB > MM > DMG. I'd say you probably want at least everyone to have a PHB, or access if you guys continue to play.
Aside from that, most of the other 5e stuff you can pick up from wizards are modules. Modules are pre-created campaigns that have quests, items, locations, enemies (number, size, etc.) already pre-designed for you. Each of the following books has some sort of extra character information (like more subclasses, new races, etc.), but nothing is absolutely required. Generally if one person wants to play something (say, an Half-Elf Bladesinger Wizard) they should pick up the book to help build their character and to provide the GM with references to how the character works, but it's not necessary.
- Hoard of the Dragon Queen and The Rise of Tiamat are two halves to the same campaign aimed at stopping the biggest baddest dragon of them all, the five-headed chromatic dragon Tiamat.
- Princes of the Apocalypse is a cool campaign all about cults related to the 4 elements (Air, Water, Earth, Fire) trying to be bad. Pretty well designed, I'm currently running this with my group. They seem to be liking it a lot, but then again, I'm throwing a lot of other things in with it.
- Out of the Abyss is a campaign set in the Underdark. it sounds really cool, but I haven't looked into it much.
- Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide isn't a campaign but rather a campaign setting book. It's useful for reading up on how the Sword Coast in Forgotten Realms (the "main" D&D world) works. It's interesting.
If you need any other help, please feel free to ask!
You can order it on Amazon; https://www.amazon.com/Dungeons-Dragons-Starter-Wizards-Team/dp/0786965592
Alternatively search for "The Delian Tomb", it's an easy oneshot/intro that Matt Colville wrote up.
Edit: Delian Tomb link - https://youtu.be/zTD2RZz6mlo
Welcome back to the hobby!
D&D 5e is pretty streamlined and easy to get into for new players and returning players alike. It harkens back to some of the older editions in ways and isn't as drastically different as D&D 4e was.
Reading the basic rules, checking out some of the tutorials, and jump right into it is the best way honestly. Don't focus on trying to learn what changed, learn it like a new system and when things up being the same they'll be easier to pick up.
I can't see that link at work, but if it's the Lost Mine of Phandelver adventure, its the Basic Rules and Starter Adventure for D&D 5e. I greatly recommend it for new folks looking for an adventure to learn in.
The "Basic Rules" document from the WotC site is all of the combat, skill, etc rules with a few core class/race options, and the basic spells. Its basically "Players Handbook Lite"... enough to get you playing the game, but leaving enough in the PHB to make it worth buying.
I teach new folks all the time and will gladly help how I can!
Copy/Pasting bits from previous posts that might assist you:
You can grab the free Basic Rules PDF which has the core rules and basic character generation options.
- You can watch tutorials like this video series. Combat episode is particularly helpful.
- Read the Getting Started Guide in the /r/DND sidebar.
((You might already have this, I can't check the link))
If you end up just reading up on the rules and wanting to start your own group. I highly recommend the Starter Set.
It's $15 on Amazon, has the core rules, a set of dice, premade characters, and an adventure that will last you a half dozen sessions or so. It's a great place to start--go figure--and is designed for brand new players and brand new DMs. The adventure is laid out in a way that introduces concepts as you go along rather than expecting you to know everything up front.
The premade characters are big because you want to get straight to the playing not sit there explaining character creation to a brand new player. Without the context of how things are used, its just a wall of data and memorization... which isn't fun.
You can always bring custom characters in once the group gets to town or something if people want, and now they'll kinda know the ropes.
I recommend this video series. The Combat Episode covers a lot of the rules new players need.
Read the Getting Started Guide in the /r/DND sidebar.
> If you're looking to play in person:
> * Check in with your local gaming store.
> * Local board game/RPG Facebook Groups
> * Local board game/RPG Meetup Groups
> * Post in the subreddit for your town / area
> * Search /r/LFG for posts or make one.
> * LFG tools on Obsidian Portal and PenAndPaperGames > * Sites like FindGamers, NearbyGamers, GamerSeekingGamer
> * Check WarHorn for local postings
> If you're looking to play online:
> * /r/LFG and /r/Roll20LFG
> * Roll20's game finder and LFG forums
> * Fantasy Grounds has a LFG Forum
> * Play via Tabletop Simulator
> * RPG Discord servers: Dungeons & Downvotes, Pair O' Dice, etc...
If you want to start your own group with friends or other newbies, I highly recommend the Starter Set.
It's $15 on Amazon, has the core rules, a set of dice, premade characters, and an adventure that will last you a half dozen sessions or so. It's a great place to start--go figure--and is designed for brand new players and brand new DMs. The adventure is laid out in a way that introduces concepts as you go along rather than expecting you to know everything up front.
The premade characters are big because you want to get straight to the playing not sit there explaining character creation to a brand new player. Without the context of how things are used, its just a wall of data and memorization... which isn't fun. You can always swap in custom characters once the group is comfortable with the basics.
You can also grab the free Basic Rules PDF though which will have a little more in it than the Starter Set including some core character generation options.
Absolutely any questions you have at any point you can just respond to one of my comments and I'll gladly help out.
Get yourself the Dungeons & Dragons Starter Set. Here it is for USD $12.95 on Amazon. If you end up buying it at a gaming store (I have also seen it at Wal-Mart) you can expect to pay about $20.
It comes with a set of dice, five pre-generated characters and a fun little adventure called The Lost Mine of Phandelver. This is a great way for you and a few friends to jump right in and start playing.
You only need one Starter Set per group, but each player should invest in his/her own set of dice. You'll soon learn that it helps to have multiple sets of dice, but one per player is enough to get you started.
Here is the first in a four-part series showing one of the producers at Wizards of the Coast running the first section of LMoP. If you think you'll end up as the Dungeon Master, and you're getting the Starter Set, you should watch this.
For the very low price of 0 (yes, zero) monetary units, you can get the free basic rules and roll your own epic story and characters. Need dice, a premade adventure and perhaps some premade characters to just start playing right away without all the hassle of making your own adventures and characters? For as low as 12 dollars, you can get the Starter Set (players not included). Did you enjoy it and want to keep playing? Get the Player's Handbook, Monster Manual and Dungeon Master's Guide for around 20 dollars each.
> most starter sets are usually 100 dollar or more boxes
Not sure where you get this info from.
D&D Starter Set is $20
upcoming Warhammer FRP Starter Set is $30
And those are just the two with "Starter Set" in the name.
Re: Question 2 - modern DND is really accessible and has a ton of resources for getting started. If one of you is willing to do the DM work starting with the Starter Set https://www.amazon.com/dp/0786965592/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_JW01NJ5GN4HP2ND8RKQD gives you everything you need to jump in including a structured adventure. Additionally you can create characters easily online (skip the math and stat propagation) using free tools on https://dndbeyond.com making it even simpler. If you’re still intimidated you can stop into a game shop like Games Unlimited in Squirrel Hill and they can get you rolling quickly.
Keep the 4e stuff on the shelf for now. Figure whether you want to sell it later but maybe you'll super dig D&D once you get into it and really want more books on your shelf to be part of your Totally Awesome Collection ^TM
The reason why you're holding on to them is because you don't need to sell them to get into 5e. You can play D&D as soon as you want without spending a dime:
You can grab the free Basic Rules PDF which has the core rules and basic character generation options.
You can watch tutorials like this video series. Combat episode is particularly helpful.
Read the Getting Started Guide in the /r/DND sidebar.
But even so, D&D 5th Edition is streamlined and easy to learn and there are tons of people willing to help teach you. Its not a game you need to sit and read the rules from cover to cover before playing, you can very much sit down to a table as totally fresh and learn by playing--I teach people this way all the time.
Consider checking out your local gaming store and see if they do any tutorials, have Organized Play, or know of groups looking for any members.
You can also use these resources:
> If you're looking to play in person:
> * Check in with your local gaming store.
> * Local board game/RPG Facebook Groups
> * Local board game/RPG Meetup Groups
> * Post in the subreddit for your town / area
> * Search /r/LFG for posts or make one.
> * LFG tools on Obsidian Portal and PenAndPaperGames > * Sites like FindGamers, NearbyGamers, GamerSeekingGamer
> * Check WarHorn for local postings
> If you're looking to play online:
> * /r/LFG and /r/Roll20LFG
> * Roll20's game finder and LFG forums
> * Fantasy Grounds has a LFG Forum
> * Play via Tabletop Simulator
> * RPG Discord servers: Dungeons & Downvotes, Pair O' Dice, etc...
If you end up just reading up on the rules and wanting to start your own group. I highly recommend the Starter Set.
It's $15 on Amazon, has the core rules, a set of dice, premade characters, and an adventure that will last you a half dozen sessions or so. It's a great place to start--go figure--and is designed for brand new players and brand new DMs. The adventure is laid out in a way that introduces concepts as you go along rather than expecting you to know everything up front.
The premade characters are big because you want to get straight to the playing not sit there explaining character creation to a brand new player. Without the context of how things are used, its just a wall of data and memorization... which isn't fun.
You can always bring custom characters in once the group gets to town or something if people want, and now they'll kinda know the ropes.
If you decide D&D is the hobby for you, your first purchase goal should be the Player's Handbook. Its the core rulebook with all of the default character options, spells, etc.
Assuming you're looking to play D&D 5th Edition:
Grab the Starter Set adventure Lost Mine of Phandelver (its $10 right now on amazon with the coupon), get a Players Handbook ($35) and use the left over money to start picking up supplies.
The rest could be spent on:
A second Player's Handbook ($35)
the Dungeon Master's Guide ($40)
a Chessex vinyl battlemat ($35)
Dice for each of you (varies)
Miniatures (varies) or Pathfinder Pawns ($35)
The Starter Set comes with a prewritten adventure, a single set of dice, premade ready to play characters, and a quick version of the rules. Its all you need to get playing straight out of the gate. The adventure will last you several weeks and is designed for new players and new DMs alike to be getting into the hobby.
It doesn't have the full character creation rules and such in it so you'd need a Player's Handbook once you wanted to look into building custom characters with all the options. The Dungeon Master's Guide isn't a must have, especially off the bat, but it does have some good tables and magic items for the DM to incorporate into the story once you start getting to that point.
Stop looking and start playing.
D&D isn't a game where you sit down and memorize the rules before you dare brave a table. The newest rules edition, D&D 5e, is streamlined and easy to learn as you go.
I recommend this video series. The Combat Episode in particular covers a lot of the rules new players need.
Read the Getting Started Guide in the /r/DND sidebar.
> If you're looking to play in person:
> * Check in with your local gaming store.
> * Local board game/RPG Facebook Groups
> * Local board game/RPG Meetup Groups
> * Post in the subreddit for your town / area
> * Search /r/LFG for posts or make one.
> * LFG tools on Obsidian Portal and PenAndPaperGames > * Sites like FindGamers, NearbyGamers, GamerSeekingGamer
> * Check WarHorn for local postings
> If you're looking to play online:
> * /r/LFG and /r/Roll20LFG
> * Roll20's game finder and LFG forums
> * Fantasy Grounds has a LFG Forum
> * Play via Tabletop Simulator
> * RPG Discord servers: Dungeons & Downvotes, Pair O' Dice, etc...
Your local game store is a great place to start whether you eventually plan to play in-person or online.
More than likely they've encountered others like yourself wandering in and expressing interest and can connect you to them. More often than not they also have calendars or bulletin boards and you can look for folks hosting events or post your own to find some folks.
A lot of the times they also host organized play events like Adventurer's League. While not quite the same as a home game, it would let you sit down at a table and play the game which is the best way to learn. Using that foundation you would then be better armed to seek out recruiting groups or start forming your own.
If you end up building a fresh group, I highly recommend the Starter Set.
It's $15 on Amazon, has the core rules, a set of dice, premade characters, and an adventure that will last you a half dozen sessions or so. It's a great place to start--go figure--and is designed for brand new players and brand new DMs. The adventure is laid out in a way that introduces concepts as you go along rather than expecting you to know everything up front.
The premade characters are big because you want to get straight to the playing not sit there explaining character creation to a brand new player. Without the context of how things are used, its just a wall of data and memorization... which isn't fun.
You can also grab the free Basic Rules PDF though which will have a little more in it than the Starter Set including some core character generation options.
Absolutely any questions you have at any point you can just respond to one of my comments and I'll gladly help out.
The 5e starter set with basic rules, 1 set of dice and a level 1-5 campaign is less than $15 on amazon.
Great news! You don't need to buy anything. You can play D&D as soon as you want without spending a dime.
You can grab the free Basic Rules PDF which has the core rules and basic character generation options.
You can watch tutorials like this video series. Combat episode is particularly helpful.
Read the Getting Started Guide in the /r/DND sidebar.
But even so, D&D 5th Edition is streamlined and easy to learn and there are tons of people willing to help teach you. Its not a game you need to sit and read the rules from cover to cover before playing, you can very much sit down to a table as totally fresh and learn by playing--I teach people this way all the time.
Consider checking out your local gaming store and see if they do any tutorials, have Organized Play, or know of groups looking for any members.
You can also use these resources:
> If you're looking to play in person:
> * Check in with your local gaming store.
> * Local board game/RPG Facebook Groups
> * Local board game/RPG Meetup Groups
> * Post in the subreddit for your town / area
> * Search /r/LFG for posts or make one.
> * LFG tools on Obsidian Portal and PenAndPaperGames > * Sites like FindGamers, NearbyGamers, GamerSeekingGamer
> * Check WarHorn for local postings
> If you're looking to play online:
> * /r/LFG and /r/Roll20LFG
> * Roll20's game finder and LFG forums
> * Fantasy Grounds has a LFG Forum
> * Play via Tabletop Simulator
> * RPG Discord servers: Dungeons & Downvotes, Pair O' Dice, etc...
If you end up just reading up on the rules and wanting to start your own group. I highly recommend the Starter Set.
It's $15 on Amazon, has the core rules, a set of dice, premade characters, and an adventure that will last you a half dozen sessions or so. It's a great place to start--go figure--and is designed for brand new players and brand new DMs. The adventure is laid out in a way that introduces concepts as you go along rather than expecting you to know everything up front.
The premade characters are big because you want to get straight to the playing not sit there explaining character creation to a brand new player. Without the context of how things are used, its just a wall of data and memorization... which isn't fun.
You can always bring custom characters in once the group gets to town or something if people want, and now they'll kinda know the ropes.
If you decide D&D is the hobby for you, your first purchase goal should be the Player's Handbook. Its the core rulebook with all of the default character options, spells, etc.
An important thing to keep in mind is that there are multiple editions of the game out there. It seems you've read content from the 4th Edition rules, but the current ruleset most people are playing is 5th Edition. This is not like a school text book where the new edition is a few minor text edits... the editions are completely different rulesets and games and are essentially incompatible.
Your first step will be in deciding whether you want to play 4th Edition or start up 5th Edition. From there you can better plan what you need to learn, what to read, and what adventure you want to play.
If you like the idea of playing D&D 5e, here's some info to get you moving:
I recommend this video series. The Combat Episode covers a lot of the rules new players need.
You can grab the free Basic Rules PDF which has the core rules and basic character generation options.
Read the Getting Started Guide in the /r/DND sidebar.
I highly recommend the Starter Set. It's $15 on Amazon, has the core rules, a set of dice, premade characters, and an adventure that will last you a half dozen sessions or so.
It's a great place to start--go figure--and is designed for brand new players and brand new DMs. The adventure is laid out in a way that introduces concepts as you go along rather than expecting you to know everything up front.
I want to hear back from you two of you get together - also, check out /r/lfg.
The Starter Set is only $12 on Amazon right now here, but a more comprehensive ruleset is available for free right here. The second link is a bit intimidating at 180 pages, but most of that is reference in the form of statistics or tables or spells.
Also, most of the core books are down to about $20 right now, and the code GIFTBOOK18 will lower that price on Amazon even more.
Great news! You don't need to buy anything. You can play D&D as soon as you want without spending a dime.
You can grab the free Basic Rules PDF which has the core rules and basic character generation options.
You can watch tutorials like this video series. Combat episode is particularly helpful.
Read the Getting Started Guide in the /r/DND sidebar.
But even so, D&D 5th Edition is streamlined and easy to learn and there are tons of people willing to help teach you. Its not a game you need to sit and read the rules from cover to cover before playing, you can very much sit down to a table as totally fresh and learn by playing--I teach people this way all the time.
Consider checking out your local gaming store and see if they do any tutorials, have Organized Play, or know of groups looking for any members.
You can also use these resources:
> If you're looking to play in person:
> * Check in with your local gaming store.
> * Local board game/RPG Facebook Groups
> * Local board game/RPG Meetup Groups
> * Post in the subreddit for your town / area
> * Search /r/LFG for posts or make one.
> * LFG tools on Obsidian Portal and PenAndPaperGames > * Sites like FindGamers, NearbyGamers, GamerSeekingGamer
> * Check WarHorn for local postings
> If you're looking to play online:
> * /r/LFG and /r/Roll20LFG
> * Roll20's game finder and LFG forums
> * Fantasy Grounds has a LFG Forum
> * Play via Tabletop Simulator
> * RPG Discord servers: Dungeons & Downvotes, Pair O' Dice, etc...
If you end up just reading up on the rules and wanting to start your own group. I highly recommend the Starter Set.
It's $15 on Amazon, has the core rules, a set of dice, premade characters, and an adventure that will last you a half dozen sessions or so. It's a great place to start--go figure--and is designed for brand new players and brand new DMs. The adventure is laid out in a way that introduces concepts as you go along rather than expecting you to know everything up front.
The premade characters are big because you want to get straight to the playing not sit there explaining character creation to a brand new player. Without the context of how things are used, its just a wall of data and memorization... which isn't fun.
You can always bring custom characters in once the group gets to town or something if people want, and now they'll kinda know the ropes.
If you decide D&D is the hobby for you, your first purchase goal should be the Player's Handbook. Its the core rulebook with all of the default character options, spells, etc.
Grab the 5e starter off amazon, you won't be disappointed. https://www.amazon.com/dp/0786965592/ref=cm_sw_r_other_awd_T5zRwb1M8BVBP
the DnD 5th ed starter set of perfect Amazon
The 5e Stater Set adventure Lost Mine of Phandelver (LMoP) is only 13$ on Amazon. Free shipping with a Prime account. It's a really fun adventure and takes new Players from 1st to 5th level. https://www.amazon.com/Dungeons-Dragons-Starter-Wizards-Team/dp/0786965592/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1496070879&sr=8-1&keywords=d%26d+5e+starter+set
The 5e Basic Players and Basic DM Guides are free on the Wizards of the Coast (WotC) website. I'd link them for you but my work internet considers all RPG sites as gaming and blocks them. Just google, "Wizards of the Coast" + "5e" + "basic player's guide."
The 5e Player's Handbook (which will have the full vanilla range of Races, Classes, Backgrounds and Spells) is on sale on Amazon for 29$. https://www.amazon.com/Players-Handbook-Dungeons-Dragons-Wizards/dp/0786965606/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1496070975&sr=8-1&keywords=d%26d+5e+players+handbook
I'd recommend: DL the free basic rules and DM guide (which has a limited bestiary of monster stats in the back) and just run a couple danger rooms with your Players to get the hang of combat and the mechanics.
If everyone likes it, pick up the Starter Set, which will have everything you need - including one set of dice.
And if everyone likes that adventure, pick up the Players Handbook. It's typically proper etiquette for every Player to buy their own PHB.
Once you get close to finishing the Starter Set, pick up the Monster Manual (MM) and Dungeon Masters Guide (DMG) and homebrew your own game or run another 5e module.
Come here often to recount your adventures and ask for advice.
Oh, and binge watch this YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/mcolville
Hey there and welcome to the wonderful hobby of D&D! We were all new once, there's no shame in it.
Check out this video series on Youtube for some basics.
Read the Getting Started Guide in the /r/DND sidebar.
The Basic Rules are free. They dont have everything but can get your started before spending any money.
You can also head to your local gaming store and see if they host any tutorial events or if an organized play table has an open slot.
I'd highly recommend the Starter Set if you can find some friends who are also interested in playing. It's $15 on Amazon, has the core rules, a set of dice, premade characters, and an adventure that will last you a half dozen sessions or so. It's a great place to start--go figure--and is designed for brand new players and brand new DMs. The adventure is laid out in a way that introduces concepts as you go along rather than expecting you to know everything up front.
If you don't have the full group of five players you might want to check out this tool that lets you know a decent way to rebalance some of the Starter Set fights.
I made a little video for brand new DMs who will be looking to run the Starter Set. It does have spoilers so the players shouldn't watch it, but there are some decent pointers and important rules explanations in there (in my biased opinion). I'll be making one for the player's side of things when I have time.
I recommend this video series. The Combat Episode in particular covers a lot of the rules new players are out to learn.
Read the Getting Started Guide in the /r/DND sidebar.
> If you're looking to play in person:
> * Check in with your local gaming store.
>* Search for local board game / RPG Facebook Groups
> * Search for local board game / RPG Meetup Groups
> * /r/LFG search for local groups or post your own ad
> * Post in the subreddit for your town / area
> * LFG tools on Obsidian Portal, PenAndPaperGames, and WarHorn
> * Sites like FindGamers, NearbyGamers, GamerSeekingGamer
> If you're looking to play online:
> * /r/LFG and /r/Roll20LFG
> * Roll20's game finder and LFG forums
> * Fantasy Grounds has a LFG Forum
> * Some folks play via Tabletop Simulator
> * RPG Discord servers like Dungeons & Downvotes, Pair O' Dice, etc... the /r/RPG wiki has a small list.
Your local game store is a great place to start whether you eventually plan to play in-person or online.
More than likely they've encountered others like yourself wandering in and expressing interest and can connect you to them. More often than not they also have calendars or bulletin boards and you can look for folks hosting events or post your own to find some folks.
A lot of the times they also host organized play events like Adventurer's League. While not quite the same as a home game, it would let you sit down at a table and play the game which is the best way to learn. Using that foundation you would then be better armed to seek out recruiting groups or start forming your own.
If you end up building a fresh group, I highly recommend the Starter Set.
It's $15 on Amazon, has the core rules, a set of dice, premade characters, and an adventure that will last you a half dozen sessions or so. It's a great place to start--go figure--and is designed for brand new players and brand new DMs. The adventure is laid out in a way that introduces concepts as you go along rather than expecting you to know everything up front.
The premade characters are big because you want to get straight to the playing not sit there explaining character creation to a brand new player. Without the context of how things are used, its just a wall of data and memorization... which isn't fun.
You can also grab the free Basic Rules PDF though which will have a little more in it than the Starter Set including some core character generation options.
Absolutely any questions you have at any point you can just respond to one of my comments and I'll gladly help out.
Great news! You don't need to buy anything. You can play D&D as soon as you want without spending a dime.
You can grab the free Basic Rules PDF which has the core rules and basic character generation options.
You can watch tutorials like this video series. Combat episode is particularly helpful.
Read the Getting Started Guide in the /r/DND sidebar.
But even so, D&D 5th Edition is streamlined and easy to learn and there are tons of people willing to help teach you. Its not a game you need to sit and read the rules from cover to cover before playing, you can very much sit down to a table as totally fresh and learn by playing--I teach people this way all the time.
Consider checking out your local gaming store and see if they do any tutorials, have Organized Play, or know of groups looking for any members.
You can also use these resources:
> If you're looking to play in person:
> * Check in with your local gaming store.
> * Local board game/RPG Facebook Groups
> * Local board game/RPG Meetup Groups
> * Post in the subreddit for your town / area
> * Search /r/LFG for posts or make one.
> * LFG tools on Obsidian Portal and PenAndPaperGames > * Sites like FindGamers, NearbyGamers, GamerSeekingGamer
> * Check WarHorn for local postings
> If you're looking to play online:
> * /r/LFG and /r/Roll20LFG
> * Roll20's game finder and LFG forums
> * Fantasy Grounds has a LFG Forum
> * Play via Tabletop Simulator
> * RPG Discord servers: Dungeons & Downvotes, Pair O' Dice, etc...
If you end up just reading up on the rules and wanting to start your own group. I highly recommend the Starter Set.
It's $15 on Amazon, has the core rules, a set of dice, premade characters, and an adventure that will last you a half dozen sessions or so. It's a great place to start--go figure--and is designed for brand new players and brand new DMs. The adventure is laid out in a way that introduces concepts as you go along rather than expecting you to know everything up front.
The premade characters are big because you want to get straight to the playing not sit there explaining character creation to a brand new player. Without the context of how things are used, its just a wall of data and memorization... which isn't fun.
You can always bring custom characters in once the group gets to town or something if people want, and now they'll kinda know the ropes.
If you decide D&D is the hobby for you, your first purchase goal should be the Player's Handbook. Its the core rulebook with all of the default character options, spells, etc.
Check out the Roll20 Compendium for a lot of info to get started, try out the Starter Set which will put you through Lost Mines of Phandelver.
If you enjoy that, the Player's Handbook, Dungeon Master's Guide, and Monster Manual from Amazon (I say this because they have the cheapest prices) will be all you need to run the game.
Dmsguild is a great site for additional resources, paid for and free.
You can buy modules which will put you through more campaigns, but they aren't required to play the game. You can make up your own settings and story.
Fifth edition means that this is the fifth iteration of the game to be released, and it has its own mechanics unique from previous editions, since the release of ad&d in 1972.
You can grab the free Basic Rules PDF which has the core rules and basic character generation options.
I highly recommend the Starter Set. It's $15 on Amazon, has the core rules, a set of dice, premade characters, and an adventure that will last you a half dozen sessions or so.
It's a great place to start--go figure--and is designed for brand new players and brand new DMs. The adventure is laid out in a way that introduces concepts as you go along rather than expecting you to know everything up front.
The premade characters are big because you want to get straight to the playing not sit there explaining character creation to a brand new player. Without the context of how things are used, its just a wall of data and memorization... which isn't fun. The premade characters each also have backgrounds tied to the story itself so they have reasons and motivations that give great RP prompts.
It only comes with a single set of dice so you may want to make sure you have more sets on hand. It's also a fairly cut and dry adventure that shouldn't be too hard to modify to suit the kiddos. If you think something might be too hard or non-kid friendly you can always omit it or change it without too much effort.
Here is my info dump for DMs wanting to run the Starter Set it's copy/paste so not all applies but still:
Tutorials
I recommend this video series. The Combat Episode covers a lot of the rules new players need.
Read the Getting Started Guide in the /r/DND sidebar.
I made a video for brand new DMs who will be running the Starter Set. It does have spoilers so the players shouldn't watch it, but there are some decent pointers and important rules explanations in there (in my biased opinion).
Tools
Don't have five players? This tool shows you how to rebalance the fights.
These cheat sheets are really handy for some folks.
Maps & Handouts
I made an Actions In Combat handout that I print out for each player.
This album of Maps for the campaign are free use. If you want high quality versions of the ones from the book, Mike Schley sells the entire bundle for $10. Includes high-res versions for both the DM and players.
[This thread](https://forum.rpg.net/showthread.php?760586-Various-maps-I-ve-made-for-the-Starter-Set-(Lost-Mine-of-Phandelver) has lots of user made maps you can look through as well.
Interesting Reading
This post is absolutely fantastic at describing a good way to roleplay Venomfang.
Pact of the Tome has a decent little blog about setting up a group and running them through the Adventure.
Sly Flourish has a blog post about running the adventure as well.
NeuronPhaser has an interesting blog post and links to some likewise neat stuff.
My Realms has decent reading on the lore of the locations used in the adventure. If you're unfamiliar with Sword Coast this can be a good way to make the locations feel more real.
That's kind of a broad question. :p
There are TONS of tabletop RPGs out there, and they can have vastly different styles, including the genre and the rules.
Nowadays, lots of people record their sessions and post them online, and that is a fantastic way to get an idea of how things work. Some of my favorites:
Critical Role. A group of voice actors who have been playing D&D for years. Here's the DM of the group playing with Stephen Colbert.
The Adventure Zone. It started when the podcasters of My Brother, My Brother, and Me decided to play D&D with their dad as a goof. They actually got really into it and have kept playing ever since. Starts with D&D, then they experiment for a while, and now they're playing a game called Monster of the Week.
The Film Reroll. They play through movies as though they were tabletop RPG adventures, using a system called GURPS. Things often go awry in spectacular fashion.
Anyway, the most popular game out there by a HUGE margin is D&D. Since that's kind of a default and you'll probably have the easiest time starting or finding a game of it...
There's also a D&D Starter Set (MSRP $20) which is literally everything you need to get started with some friends. Currently $12.57 on Amazon.
And if you want to eventually upgrade (or just jump right in) to the full rules, you'll need the Player's Handbook, might want the Dungeon Master's Guide, and maybe eventually the Monster Manual (since you can find plenty of monster stats online anyway).
There's also unusual dice, but the basic rules will explain it (and the starter set includes them). Easily found at most game or comic shops.
And that's where I'd start. Then just go exploring, and start playing when you get the chance. And don't sweat the details like rules or how to play a character stop you from getting started—we all did most of our learning by doing when it comes to RPGs. :)
The most recent edition, and arguably the most accessible, is fifth edition, or 5e for short. There's also 1e, 2e, 3e, 3.5e, Pathfinder, and 4e, but most people play 5e and it's probably the easiest for beginners.
Start off by going to this link here to get a copy of the Basic Rules. These are available to download, free of charge, and will allow you to get acquainted with the basic game mechanics. Most of the mechanics revolve around polyhedral dice; you've got 4-, 6-, 8-, 10-, 12-, and 20-sided, plus another one called percentile dice (or d% for short) that is like a 10-sided die, but with 10, 20, 30 on it instead of 1, 2, 3, and allows for rolling numbers 1-100 when used with a standard 10-sided. Dice are abbreviated with the notation XdY; 3d6 would denote 3 six-sided dice, 6d10 would denote 6 ten-sided dice, 8d4 would denote 8 four-sided dice, etc.
Basic rules will also allow you to create a character if you'd like to try out the process before spending any money. Your character will be fairly cookie-cutter; you get four different races, four different classes, and four different backgrounds to choose from, along with a limited spell list and so on, but if you'd just like to get a feel for the process it's a pretty good way of doing so. The first chapter of the rules takes you through the character creation process step-by-step, and if you read through the basic rules in order, you'll probably be able to create a character. You can also snag free character sheet downloads here in either a format that you can print or one that you can edit in Adobe Reader.
If you're looking to find a group, I've heard /r/lfg mentioned a lot. Most people that want to play online use a site called Roll20, which is free and accessible. There's some other sites in the sidebar of /r/dnd that you could use. If you have some friends interested in the hobby, you could look at picking up the starter set on Amazon, which contains a premade adventure, some premade characters, and a dice set. Once you get more into things, you should look at picking up a Player's Handbook for more choices when creating a character.
https://www.reddit.com/r/dndnext/wiki/resourcelist
Links to the free basic Players and DM rules, characters, OGL, adventures, etc.
The Starter Set, aka Lost Mines of Phandelver, is less than $13 on Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Dungeons-Dragons-Starter-Set-Roleplaying/dp/0786965592
If you go with the starter set, I suggest sticking with the pregenerated characters because they have story tie-ins.
The basic rules for 5e are on WotC's website for free.
The 5e Starter Set is available from Amazon for just $12.
I recommend this video series. The Combat Episode in particular covers a lot of the rules new players are out to learn.
Read the Getting Started Guide in the /r/DND sidebar.
> If you're looking to play in person:
> * Check in with your local gaming store.
>* Search for local board game / RPG Facebook Groups
> * Search for local board game / RPG Meetup Groups
> * /r/LFG search for local groups or post your own ad
> * Post in the subreddit for your town / area
> * LFG tools on Obsidian Portal, PenAndPaperGames, and WarHorn
> * Sites like FindGamers, NearbyGamers, GamerSeekingGamer
> If you're looking to play online:
> * /r/LFG and /r/Roll20LFG
> * Roll20's game finder and LFG forums
> * Fantasy Grounds has a LFG Forum
> * Some folks play via Tabletop Simulator
> * RPG Discord servers like Dungeons & Downvotes, Pair O' Dice, etc... the /r/RPG wiki has a small list.
If you end up building a fresh group, I highly recommend the Starter Set.
It's $15 on Amazon, has the core rules, a set of dice, premade characters, and an adventure that will last you a half dozen sessions or so. It's a great place to start--go figure--and is designed for brand new players and brand new DMs. The adventure is laid out in a way that introduces concepts as you go along rather than expecting you to know everything up front.
The premade characters are big because you want to get straight to the playing not sit there explaining character creation to a brand new player. Without the context of how things are used, its just a wall of data and memorization... which isn't fun.
You can also grab the free Basic Rules PDF though which will have a little more in it than the Starter Set including some core character generation options.
Absolutely any questions you have at any point you can just respond to one of my comments and I'll gladly help out.
I highly recommend the Starter Set.
It's $15 on Amazon, has the core rules, a set of dice, premade characters, and an adventure that will last you a half dozen sessions or so. It's a great place to start--go figure--and is designed for brand new players and brand new DMs. The adventure is laid out in a way that introduces concepts as you go along rather than expecting you to know everything up front.
The premade characters are big because you want to get straight to the playing not sit there explaining character creation to a brand new player. Without the context of how things are used, its just a wall of data and memorization... which isn't fun.
You can always bring custom characters in once the group gets to town or something if people want, and now they'll kinda know the ropes.
Here is a info dump for DMs wanting to run the Starter Set:
Tutorials
I recommend this video series. The Combat Episode in particular covers a lot of the rules new players need.
Read the Getting Started Guide in the /r/DND sidebar.
I made a video for brand new DMs who will be running the Starter Set. It does have spoilers so the players shouldn't watch it, but there are some decent pointers and important rules explanations in there (in my biased opinion).
Tools
Don't have five players? This tool shows you how to rebalance the fights.
These cheat sheets are really handy for some folks.
Maps & Handouts
I made an Actions In Combat handout that I print out for each player.
This album of Maps for the campaign are free use. If you want high quality versions of the ones from the book, Mike Schley sells the entire bundle for $10. Includes high-res versions for both the DM and players.
[This thread](https://forum.rpg.net/showthread.php?760586-Various-maps-I-ve-made-for-the-Starter-Set-(Lost-Mine-of-Phandelver) has lots of user made maps you can look through as well.
Interesting Reading
This post is absolutely fantastic at describing a good way to roleplay Venomfang.
Pact of the Tome has a decent little blog about setting up a group and running them through the Adventure.
Sly Flourish has a blog post about running the adventure as well.
NeuronPhaser has an interesting blog post and links to some likewise neat stuff.
My Realms has decent reading on the lore of the locations used in the adventure. If you're unfamiliar with Sword Coast this can be a good way to make the locations feel more real.
I highly recommend the Starter Set.
It's $15 on Amazon, has the core rules, a set of dice, premade characters, and an adventure that will last you a half dozen sessions or so. It's a great place to start--go figure--and is designed for brand new players and brand new DMs. The adventure is laid out in a way that introduces concepts as you go along rather than expecting you to know everything up front.
The premade characters are big because you want to get straight to the playing not sit there explaining character creation to a brand new player. Without the context of how things are used, its just a wall of data and memorization... which isn't fun.
You can always bring custom characters in once the group gets to town or something if people want, and now they'll kinda know the ropes.
Tutorials
I recommend this video series. The Combat Episode covers a lot of the rules new players need.
Read the Getting Started Guide in the /r/DND sidebar.
Tools
Don't have five players for the Starter Set? This tool shows the DM how to rebalance the fights.
You can grab the free Basic Rules PDF which has the core rules and basic character generation options.
Handouts
I made an Actions In Combat handout that I print out for each player.
These cheat sheets are really handy for some folks.
Finding Players / DMs
> If you're looking to play in person:
> * Check in with your local gaming store.
> * Local board game/RPG Facebook Groups
> * Local board game/RPG Meetup Groups
> * Post in the subreddit for your town / area
> * Search /r/LFG for posts or make one.
> * LFG tools on Obsidian Portal and PenAndPaperGames > * Sites like FindGamers, NearbyGamers, GamerSeekingGamer
> * Check WarHorn for local postings
> If you're looking to play online:
> * /r/LFG and /r/Roll20LFG
> * Roll20's game finder and LFG forums
> * Fantasy Grounds has a LFG Forum
> * Play via Tabletop Simulator
> * RPG Discord servers: Dungeons & Downvotes, Pair O' Dice, etc...
Your local game store is a great place to start whether you eventually plan to play in-person or online.
More than likely they've encountered others like yourself wandering in and expressing interest and can connect you to them. More often than not they also have calendars or bulletin boards and you can look for folks hosting events or post your own to find some folks.
A lot of the times they also host organized play events like Adventurer's League. While not quite the same as a home game, it would let you sit down at a table and play the game which is the best way to learn. Using that foundation you would then be better armed to seek out recruiting groups or start forming your own.
If you have any questions or need any clarification respond to my comments any time and I'll help out.
If you decide to play the Starter Set, hit me up and I'll give the DM a bunch of resources to help out.
Great news! You don't need to buy anything. You can play D&D as soon as you want without spending a dime.
You can grab the free Basic Rules PDF which has the core rules and basic character generation options.
You can watch tutorials like this video series. Combat episode is particularly helpful.
Read the Getting Started Guide in the /r/DND sidebar.
But even so, D&D 5th Edition is streamlined and easy to learn and there are tons of people willing to help teach you. Its not a game you need to sit and read the rules from cover to cover before playing, you can very much sit down to a table as totally fresh and learn by playing--I teach people this way all the time.
Consider checking out your local gaming store and see if they do any tutorials, have Organized Play, or know of groups looking for any members.
You can also use these resources:
> If you're looking to play in person:
> * Check in with your local gaming store.
> * Local board game/RPG Facebook Groups
> * Local board game/RPG Meetup Groups
> * Post in the subreddit for your town / area
> * Search /r/LFG for posts or make one.
> * LFG tools on Obsidian Portal and PenAndPaperGames > * Sites like FindGamers, NearbyGamers, GamerSeekingGamer
> * Check WarHorn for local postings
> If you're looking to play online:
> * /r/LFG and /r/Roll20LFG
> * Roll20's game finder and LFG forums
> * Fantasy Grounds has a LFG Forum
> * Play via Tabletop Simulator
> * RPG Discord servers: Dungeons & Downvotes, Pair O' Dice, etc...
If you end up just reading up on the rules and wanting to start your own group. I highly recommend the Starter Set.
It's $15 on Amazon, has the core rules, a set of dice, premade characters, and an adventure that will last you a half dozen sessions or so. It's a great place to start--go figure--and is designed for brand new players and brand new DMs. The adventure is laid out in a way that introduces concepts as you go along rather than expecting you to know everything up front.
The premade characters are big because you want to get straight to the playing not sit there explaining character creation to a brand new player. Without the context of how things are used, its just a wall of data and memorization... which isn't fun.
You can always bring custom characters in once the group gets to town or something if people want, and now they'll kinda know the ropes.
If you decide D&D is the hobby for you, your first purchase goal should be the Player's Handbook. Its the core rulebook with all of the default character options, spells, etc.
Great news! You don't need to buy anything. You can play D&D as soon as you want without spending a dime.
You can grab the free Basic Rules PDF which has the core rules and basic character generation options.
You can watch tutorials like this video series. Combat episode is particularly helpful.
Read the Getting Started Guide in the /r/DND sidebar.
But even so, D&D 5th Edition is streamlined and easy to learn and there are tons of people willing to help teach you. Its not a game you need to sit and read the rules from cover to cover before playing, you can very much sit down to a table as totally fresh and learn by playing--I teach people this way all the time.
Consider checking out your local gaming store and see if they do any tutorials, have Organized Play, or know of groups looking for any members.
You can also use these resources:
> If you're looking to play in person:
> * Check in with your local gaming store.
> * Local board game/RPG Facebook Groups
> * Local board game/RPG Meetup Groups
> * Post in the subreddit for your town / area
> * Search /r/LFG for posts or make one.
> * LFG tools on Obsidian Portal and PenAndPaperGames > * Sites like FindGamers, NearbyGamers, GamerSeekingGamer
> * Check WarHorn for local postings
> If you're looking to play online:
> * /r/LFG and /r/Roll20LFG
> * Roll20's game finder and LFG forums
> * Fantasy Grounds has a LFG Forum
> * Play via Tabletop Simulator
> * RPG Discord servers: Dungeons & Downvotes, Pair O' Dice, etc...
If you end up just reading up on the rules and wanting to start your own group. I highly recommend the Starter Set.
It's $15 on Amazon, has the core rules, a set of dice, premade characters, and an adventure that will last you a half dozen sessions or so. It's a great place to start--go figure--and is designed for brand new players and brand new DMs. The adventure is laid out in a way that introduces concepts as you go along rather than expecting you to know everything up front.
The premade characters are big because you want to get straight to the playing not sit there explaining character creation to a brand new player. Without the context of how things are used, its just a wall of data and memorization... which isn't fun.
You can always bring custom characters in once the group gets to town or something if people want, and now they'll kinda know the ropes.
If you decide D&D is the hobby for you, your first purchase goal should be the Player's Handbook. Its the core rulebook with all of the default character options, spells, etc.
I would recommend sitting down with your group and explaining that currently, everyone is pulling from random sources and likely grabbing everything from untested custom content to poorly balanced dandwiki entries--and that apparently a specific set of rules wasn't even picked.
Pick a ruleset--highly recommend D&D 5th Edition since it's the current ruleset and has the most resources and support--and then get rules for that edition and make sure everyone is using content from that edition.
You can grab the free Basic Rules PDF which has the core rules and basic character generation options.
You can watch tutorials like this video series. Combat episode is particularly helpful.
Read the Getting Started Guide in the /r/DND sidebar.
I highly recommend the Starter Set if you decide on D&D 5e.
It's $15 on Amazon, has the core rules, a set of dice, premade characters, and an adventure that will last you a half dozen sessions or so. It's a great place to start--go figure--and is designed for brand new players and brand new DMs. The adventure is laid out in a way that introduces concepts as you go along rather than expecting you to know everything up front.
D&D 5th Edition offers their basic rules online for free, which is more than enough to get a session or two under your belt. If you like it, I highly recommend the 5th Edition starter set, which you can order from Amazon for $12.50. It has dice, an adventure, a reprint of those basic rules, and pregenerated characters. It's a great value.
Help. I'm a new DM-
1. Where do I start?
Check out /r/NewDM for answers to many frequently asked questions.
I always recommend The Starter Set from Wizards of the Coast. This has easy to read rules, pregenerated characters so you can start right away and a complete campaign which is really fun and has lots of side quests and hooks to keep the game going for years.
If you're not sure you want to shell out $12.59 USD, then you can try out the Basic Rules as a FREE download from the Wizards of the Coast website. It has the rules for character creating so you can make your own. Download them, read them, and feel free to ask questions. 🙂
To learn the lore behind the worlds, go to your local library and look for novels by R.A. Salvatore.
> 1) what do you recomend to do?
I'd personally start with 5e, because it is a much more simplified system that allows for more aspects of role-playing, which is great for everyone - especially new players.
A nice start for new groups to DnD is a starter set. Here is a link to buy a starter set which comes with a 64-page adventure pre-made module book, a 32-page rule-book for playing characters level 1–5, 5 pregenerated characters, each with a character sheet and supporting reference material, and 6 dice. If you are playing 5e, you need the 5e books - the 3.5 books won't work for 5e, they are completely different games due to additional information added over each new edition.
I'd also recommend that you all sit down together in the same room, hook up a computer to a TV in the room, and watch some good DnD games to figure out what role-playing means, how DM's look in action, and how the game runs overall. Shows such as Critical-Role, or Acquisitions Incorporated are amazing.
Here is the playlsit for Critical Role on Youtube:
Here are the Acquisitions Incorporated games on Youtube:
> 2) what dices do we need to get either way?
You each need a 7 set of DnD dice, and DM's do well to have some extra dice for faster group monster rolls. Plenty of bulk dice sellers on Amazon:
> 3) do we need to get board/minutures?
You can if you want, it's a nice visual aid. I'd recommend to use a large table to play around, and then buy some battle mats which can be written on with wet erase markers. Mineratures are all over the place for sale, so just google them. Or if you don't want to spend a ton of money on physical maps, you could use a virutal set-up in an IRL game, like my party does. You can use Roll20 which hosts privtae game rooms with virtual tabletops on which you draw maps into and insert images. Plug a laptop into a huge TV, and boom, you have a giant virtual battle-mat to use during the game!
Tons of other info on the sidebar of this subreddit, or just search the subreddit for other "starting DnD" posts, because there are a ton of them with good info.
This is literally what I did! I had never played DnD or any tabletop rpg and I jumped in as DM with two friends who had also never played because the three of us were interested. We had no idea what we were doing but it was fun. I loved being DM so I refined my style over time and eventually pulled another two friends in for a full campaign of my creation. Much fun was had by all.
Pathfinder is a free game in the style of DnD, largely based of a previous edition. It's a lot of resources for no cost, but it's also a ton to wade through for a set of new players. Like a massive amount of information. I'd recommend sticking with the newish DnD 5th Edition, as it is refined for new players to be able to jump in quickly and there is a lot of free material you can find online.
Grab the Official Starter Set from Amazon ($13!) like I did, it comes with a simplified 5e rulebook that's great for introducing new players to concepts without overloading them. It also comes with a pretty massive pre-made adventure for you to play through and a set of dice for you to share if you don't want to buy anything else. You can read through the booklet to learn how to DM and what the adventure is and then go to town. If you have fun, the full Player's Handbook is less than $30 and the sky's the limit when it comes to what campaign you want to cook up.
Good luck!
The 5e Starter Set. Play that, use the pregen characters, and see if you LIKE it. It is an investment of $12 + s/h on Amazon. A set of dice, which you get in there, costs about that. It is a win-win!
If you like the Starter Set I highly suggest each player getting a Player's Handbook and the DM should get the three core rulebooks (PHB, Monster Manual, and the Dungeon Master Guide in that order).
The Starter Set is excellent! It is NOT like playing "kids version" or anything. You could play in my established game with the rules in the Starter Set.
Also, this is Basic D&D for free. It is incomplete, but it gives you a ton to look through.
http://dnd.wizards.com/products/tabletop/players-basic-rules
Oh and FYI avoid dandwiki.com. Most of random sites on the web are bad and that is the worst of the worst.
Hey there and welcome to the wonderful hobby of D&D!
I'd highly recommend having the group chip in and buy yourselves the Starter Set. It's $15 on Amazon, has the core rules, a set of dice, premade characters, and an adventure that will last you a half dozen sessions or so.
The Starter Set is a great place to get started--go figure--and comes with everything you need so the rest is up to you. You can play right out of the box, use your imagination or 'theater of the mind' and never have to drop money on the other stuff.
That said, I normally do prefer to actually have a map and tokens for new players as it helps the visualize where everything is. The Adventure Book for the Starter Set has the maps in it and you can sketch them out on grid paper or print them. For the first time you can use anything from legos, to coins, to dice represent characters and bad guys and then as you play more you can pick up better minis.
Personally I normally print off the Region Map and the Map of Phandalin so the players can look at them without you haven't to constantly show them from the adventure book. The high quality digital maps can be purchased from Mike Schley he makes great maps and they're pretty cheap if you prefer them over hand drawing.
I also print off and give each player this handout I made for Actions In Combat
If you don't have the full group of five players you might want to check out this tool that lets you know a decent way to rebalance some of the fights.
I made a little video for brand new DMs who will be looking to run the Starter Set. It does have spoilers so the players shouldn't watch it, but there are some decent pointers and important rules explanations in there (in my biased opinion). I'll be making one for the player's side of things when I have time.
Don't expect to run the whole thing in one go. Your first session will likely clear through Chapter One and the party will reach the first town. I'd estimate four or five games at about four hours apiece to get through the adventure... depending on how focused your group is on the main story.
If you have any Starter Set specific questions, don't be a stranger! I run it all the time to get board gamers into trying out RPGs so I've seen all the content quite a bit.
Check out this video series on Youtube for some basics.
Read the Getting Started Guide in the /r/DND sidebar.
The Basic Rules are free. They dont have everything but can get your started before spending any money.
You can also ask your local gaming store if they host any tutorial events or if an organized play table has an open slot.
I'd highly recommend the Starter Set if you can find some friends who are also interested in playing. It's $15 on Amazon, has the core rules, a set of dice, premade characters, and an adventure that will last you a half dozen sessions or so.
It's a great place to start--go figure--and is designed for brand new players and brand new DMs. The adventure is laid out in a way that introduces concepts as you go along rather than expecting you to know everything up front.
Aside from the Starter Set the priority should be on getting a Players Handbook. From there it depends on what sort of game you want to play.
First: The rules are free. You can see the basic rules and extras that have been released for free here:
https://www.dndbeyond.com/compendium/rules/basic-rules
That'll get you started. One of you needs to decide to be the DM (that is, the one that mediates the game, controls all the monsters and non-player characters, and tells the story), and the other players (ideally, 3-5 of them), who each control one of the "main characters".
Second: You can get a great adventure (designed to teach players and DMs), minis, some dice, and some example character sheets that spell out how character advancement works, by buying the Starter Set. It's about $15 on Amazon, or you can check local game stores to get it quicker.
https://www.amazon.com/Dungeons-Dragons-Starter-Wizards-Team/dp/0786965592
If you have the means, I do suggest buying additional dice as well to make it easier, but one set for the table to share will get you started.
Third: Dive right in. The DM will need to be the most prepared, and should read through the adventure (at least the first couple chapters) ahead of time. Plan out a block of time to play, and make it a regular thing (once a week for ~4 hours is the "typical" schedule -- although you can play a shorter or longer time, play monthly or every 2 weeks, or even play multiple times per week. As long as you have a consistent time everyone in your group can make, you can make the game work).
That's it! The rest, you figure out as you go.
I recommend this video series. The Combat Episode in particular might interest you.
Read the Getting Started Guide in the /r/DND sidebar.
I highly recommend the Starter Set.
It's $15 on Amazon, has the core rules, a set of dice, premade characters, and an adventure that will last you a half dozen sessions or so. It's a great place to start--go figure--and is designed for brand new players and brand new DMs. The adventure is laid out in a way that introduces concepts as you go along rather than expecting you to know everything up front.
The premade characters are big because you want to get straight to the playing not sit there explaining character creation to a brand new player. Without the context of how things are used, its just a wall of data and memorization... which isn't fun.
Not having the Player's Handbook isn't gonna slow you down on the Starter Set... it has all the core rules you need to play... but you wont have character creation rules and a few other things. You can grab the free Basic Rules PDF though which will have a little more in it than the Starter Set including some core character generation options.
If you don't have the full group of five players you might want to check out this tool that lets you know a decent way to rebalance some of the Starter Set fights.
I made a little video for brand new DMs who will be looking to run the Starter Set. It does have spoilers so the players shouldn't watch it, but there are some decent pointers and important rules explanations in there (in my biased opinion). I'll be making one for the player's side of things when I have time.
Absolutely any questions you have at any point you can just respond to one of my comments and I'll gladly help out.
It's about $15 on Amazon at the moment.
I recommend this video series. The Combat Episode in particular covers a lot of the rules new players need.
Read the Getting Started Guide in the /r/DND sidebar.
> If you're looking to play in person:
> * Check in with your local gaming store.
>* Search for local board game / RPG Facebook Groups
> * Search for local board game / RPG Meetup Groups
> * /r/LFG search for local groups or post your own ad
> * Post in the subreddit for your town / area
> * LFG tools on Obsidian Portal, PenAndPaperGames, and WarHorn
> * Sites like FindGamers, NearbyGamers, GamerSeekingGamer
> If you're looking to play online:
> * /r/LFG and /r/Roll20LFG
> * Roll20's game finder and LFG forums
> * Fantasy Grounds has a LFG Forum
> * Some folks play via Tabletop Simulator
> * RPG Discord servers like Dungeons & Downvotes, Pair O' Dice, etc... the /r/RPG wiki has a small list.
Your local game store is a great place to start whether you eventually plan to play in-person or online.
More than likely they've encountered others like yourself wandering in and expressing interest and can connect you to them. More often than not they also have calendars or bulletin boards and you can look for folks hosting events or post your own to find some folks.
A lot of the times they also host organized play events like Adventurer's League. While not quite the same as a home game, it would let you sit down at a table and play the game which is the best way to learn. Using that foundation you would then be better armed to seek out recruiting groups or start forming your own.
If you end up building a fresh group, I highly recommend the Starter Set.
It's $15 on Amazon, has the core rules, a set of dice, premade characters, and an adventure that will last you a half dozen sessions or so. It's a great place to start--go figure--and is designed for brand new players and brand new DMs. The adventure is laid out in a way that introduces concepts as you go along rather than expecting you to know everything up front.
The premade characters are big because you want to get straight to the playing not sit there explaining character creation to a brand new player. Without the context of how things are used, its just a wall of data and memorization... which isn't fun.
You can also grab the free Basic Rules PDF though which will have a little more in it than the Starter Set including some core character generation options.
Absolutely any questions you have at any point you can just respond to one of my comments and I'll gladly help out.
A typical D&D group is normally the DM and 4-5 players. You can get by with less and you can make steps to manage if you have more but normally 5 or 6 people at the table is pretty standard. Aside from your sons are there more players that are making you think it's a big group?
Great news! You don't need to buy anything. You can play D&D as soon as you want without spending a dime.
You can grab the free Basic Rules PDF which has the core rules and basic character generation options.
You can watch tutorials like this video series. Combat episode is particularly helpful.
Read the Getting Started Guide in the /r/DND sidebar.
I highly recommend the Starter Set.
It's $15 on Amazon, has the core rules, a set of dice, premade characters, and an adventure that will last you a half dozen sessions or so. It's a great place to start--go figure--and is designed for brand new players and brand new DMs. The adventure is laid out in a way that introduces concepts as you go along rather than expecting you to know everything up front.
The premade characters are big because you want to get straight to the playing not sit there explaining character creation to a brand new player. Without the context of how things are used, its just a wall of data and memorization... which isn't fun.
You can always bring custom characters in once the group gets to town or something if people want, and now they'll kinda know the ropes.
If you decide D&D is the hobby for you/them, your first purchase goal should be the Player's Handbook. Its the core rulebook with all of the default character options, spells, etc.
Great news! You don't need to buy anything. You can play D&D as soon as you want without spending a dime.
You can grab the free Basic Rules PDF which has the core rules and basic character generation options.
You can watch tutorials like this video series. Combat episode is particularly helpful.
Read the Getting Started Guide in the /r/DND sidebar.
But even so, D&D 5th Edition is streamlined and easy to learn and there are tons of people willing to help teach you. Its not a game you need to sit and read the rules from cover to cover before playing, you can very much sit down to a table as totally fresh and learn by playing--I teach people this way all the time.
Consider checking out your local gaming store and see if they do any tutorials, have Organized Play, or know of groups looking for any members.
You can also use these resources:
> If you're looking to play in person:
> * Check in with your local gaming store.
> * Local board game/RPG Facebook Groups
> * Local board game/RPG Meetup Groups
> * Post in the subreddit for your town / area
> * Search /r/LFG for posts or make one.
> * LFG tools on Obsidian Portal and PenAndPaperGames > * Sites like FindGamers, NearbyGamers, GamerSeekingGamer
> * Check WarHorn for local postings
> If you're looking to play online:
> * /r/LFG and /r/Roll20LFG
> * Roll20's game finder and LFG forums
> * Fantasy Grounds has a LFG Forum
> * Play via Tabletop Simulator
> * RPG Discord servers: Dungeons & Downvotes, Pair O' Dice, etc...
If you end up just reading up on the rules and wanting to start your own group. I highly recommend the Starter Set.
It's $15 on Amazon, has the core rules, a set of dice, premade characters, and an adventure that will last you a half dozen sessions or so. It's a great place to start--go figure--and is designed for brand new players and brand new DMs. The adventure is laid out in a way that introduces concepts as you go along rather than expecting you to know everything up front.
The premade characters are big because you want to get straight to the playing not sit there explaining character creation to a brand new player. Without the context of how things are used, its just a wall of data and memorization... which isn't fun.
You can always bring custom characters in once the group gets to town or something if people want, and now they'll kinda know the ropes.
If you decide D&D is the hobby for you, your first purchase goal should be the Player's Handbook. Its the core rulebook with all of the default character options, spells, etc.
Amazon, any hobby store
https://www.amazon.com/Dungeons-Dragons-Starter-Wizards-Team/dp/0786965592
The Starter Set for 5e is all you'd need to get started. The contained campaign (Lost Mine of Phandelver) is great for both beginner and experienced players and DMs.
If you want to start as a DM, then I strongly advise picking up the D&D Starter Set pretty much anywhere. Even Target carries it alongside other board games.
The whole kit carries a simple campaign designed to be run by newbies for newbies, and carries everything you need to get started. It's also ~~poorly written~~ simple enough to be easily manipulated and complicated with your own homebrew should you want to spice things up.
If you want to get your feet wet as a player, I run a game on Thursdays, if you're interested shoot me a DM! It's all short-format stories, which is generally ADHD & Newbie friendly.
Don't spend more money than you have to ;-) Get yourself the so called Starter Set. It includes an abbreviated version of the rules (so it's easier to understand), some cool extra stuff like some dice, some character sheets, and a beginners adventure ... so you have some tactile experience having actual paper in hand. It should be around 20 bucks, and you can spend a dozen awesome sessions with it.
If after that you're hooked, it's enough time to sink into the hobby of buying expensive books which content you'll end up looking up online anyways ;-) (just kidding, kinda sorta)
Have fun with the worlds greatest hobby!
​
Edit: The Set looks like this, you can order it online or buy it at the most rpg/comic book stores, i'd say.
Even if you have the books already, 4e is a complex strategy game. There are a whole host of statuses, conditional bonuses and varying roles players have to constantly think about. It is also infamous for requiring many on the fly calculations. It takes higher level, chess-like thinking that while very fun, would probably be beyond 2nd graders.
Their new edition is much simpler, can be done verbally and has both the rules and a small variety of races and classes freely available. If you're looking for a pre-made adventure to use, the starter set is meant to introduce new players to the game. It's currently like 13 dollars on amazon right now and so far both fun and easy to pick up. Also, if you want to see the first little part of the adventure being run, some of the people at wizards put a video of the first few encounters up on youtube here.
If you begin with the starter set now, they're planning on updating the (free) basic rules with monsters in about a month, so you should have everything you need to run your own campaigns after finishing the pre-made adventure.
PS, I just want to commend you for going the extra mile for your students. Good on you, I hope everything goes well.
Free basic rules https://dnd.wizards.com/articles/features/basicrules
5th starter set on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Dungeons-Dragons-Starter-Set-Roleplaying/dp/0786965592
> 5e D&D is popular now
I second this, and this version of D&D is not as simulative as it used to be. You might pick up the starter set for her as a gift, I think it's $13 on Amazon.
Savage Worlds is another nice option that's very popular. Here is a pdf starter kit that they released for Free RPG day.
If you wanted more crunch, I'd recommend looking at Paizo's Free RPG Day stuff as well, but that's probably beyond what you're thinking of when you say 'D&D'.
If you have a friendly local game store (FLGS) near you, they likely have it as well as the right dice. With any luck, they'd even have staff that are knowledgeable enough to help further.
If you don't, there's several online outlets, with amazon being the most obvious. Internet stores tend to have the advantage of a significant discount, but of course require waiting for the things to ship and arrive.
The absolute simplest way to get into it would be purchasing the Starter Set. It comes with simplified rules, one set of dice, and an adventure you can run.
If you enjoy that, or are just absolutely certain you will like the game and want to go ahead and get it all, there is the Player's Handbook. That is the only essential, but you will want sooner than later the Dungeon Master's Guide and Monster Manual.
As for dice, there are tons of ways to go about that. There are phone apps that can do the job cheaper, which you can find with a quick search. Most groups I think will find they prefer using physical dice. It's more expensive but also just that much more fun.
The correct type of dice come at a variety of costs and qualities, but the only necessity is that you have all 7 types of dice available. That is, you want a 4-sided, 6-sided, 8-sided, 10-sided, 12-sided, 20-sided, and percentile die.
Chessex is the most popular dice company and has an absolute ton of varieties. Here's just one example and luckily it is standard to sell all the necessary dice in sets together.
There are also various bulk sets which make up in volume what they lack in choice, and are good for getting started.
Last but not least, you'll need friends willing to play with you. But that's true of any tabletop game.
That was longer than I anticipated, but I promise it's not too hard. There's a bit of a learning curve with any game, but RPGs are a lot of fun once you get comfortable with them.
Technically, you can play with just the free Basic Rules PDF, and a set of dice (you can even use an online die roller for that). There are plenty of free adventures around; just Google "free dungeons and dragons adventure 5e".
That said, I recommend getting the starter set, which is currently $13 on Amazon. That includes basic rules, plus a starter adventure and one set of dice. It's much easier to use physical components at the table.
I'd also send the players copies of the Basic Rules PDF, just so they can read the rules ahead of time.
If you're just starting and have no money, download and print out the basic rules for free. You can find them here.
http://dnd.wizards.com/articles/features/basicrules
You're also going to need some dice. Dice run about $9 per set. As an alternative, you could buy a couple basic starter sets for $12. They have dice, the basic rules printed, as well as a starter module called the Lost Mines of Phandelver which is a great way for players and DMs to learn. This would be great for starting a club.
If it were me, I'd buy about 3 starter sets. You'll have 3 printed handbooks, a set of dice for the DM and two sets for players to share. Plus the three LMoP modules that comes with it. You could start by running a single session. With more dice, you could run up to 3 sessions at once.
No idea on the best way to raise money for this. But the cheapest place to buy the actual books is probably Amazon.
Hope this helps! Good luck.
Edit: removed light hearted suggestions of piracy. it's bad kids. it's just like drugs, don't do it.
Hello! Glad to see you're interested in playing. Take a look at the subreddit's Getting Started page for some tips on getting going.
If you're completely new, i'd recommend grabbing the DND 5e starter set (Amazon) from your local game shop, or from online.
For your first time playing, I'd recommend the following:
- Make sure you pick a Dungeon master (DM) in advance. They'll be in charge of running the adventure, and should probably be most familiar with the rules.
- Don't sweat too much about getting the rules absolutely correct the first time. Most of D&D for me is having fun, rolling dice, and eating food. (Of course, this differs per group).
- One of the biggest draws for D&D and tabletop RPG's for me is the rollplaying aspect of it. Encourage your friends to spend some time writing characters, or if you're using the characters in the starter kit kit, learning a bit more about their characters. I've had DM's hand out small bonuses on rolls (+1 or +2) for good rollplaying.
You can get the Starter Set for about 15$ on Amazon. Comes with the adventure booklet for Lost Mines of Phandelver, a nice little adventure perfect for beginners, that can run you from lv1 to lv5 or so, comes with a little rules booklet that should include all that you'll need, a few pre-generated characters perfect for beginners, and a set of dice.
You can also get a pdf of the free basic rules online.
You can get the Starter Set for about 15$ on Amazon. Comes with the adventure booklet for Lost Mines of Phandelver, a nice little adventure perfect for beginners, that can run you from lv1 to lv5 or so, comes with a little rules booklet that should include all that you'll need, a few pre-generated characters perfect for beginners, and a set of dice.
You can also get a pdf of the free basic rules online.
If you're gonna be the DM, just read through the rules booklet and the adventure a few times to become more familiar with all of it. This above has all you'll need so you don't need to dish out 60$ on a few core books for now until you find out if you and your friends like it or not.
The retail price of the Starter Set is $19.99, and you can get it for $14.36 on Amazon . Don't get screwed by third-party sellers.
Amazon is the cheapest, but if you have a local brick and mortar store, go and look there. Though here's some amazon links.
Hey there!
The Basic Rules are free. They dont have everything but you can start the ball rolling before dropping cash on anything.
I'd highly recommend having the group chip in and buy yourselves the Starter Set. It's $15 on Amazon, has the core rules, a set of dice, premade characters, and an adventure that will last you a half dozen sessions or so.
There are free adventures you can fine online though. Here on Reddit or through sites like DMsGuild.
Check out THIS channel on youtube to start picking up some of the basics too.
> If you're looking to play in person:
> * Your local gaming store.
>* Check for local board game / RPG Facebook Groups
> * Check for local board game / RPG Meetup Groups
> * /r/LFG search for local groups or post your own ad
> * Post in the subreddit for your town / area
> * Sites like FindGamers and NearbyGamers
> If you're looking to play online:
> * /r/LFG and /r/Roll20LFG
> * Roll20's game finder and LFG forums
> * RPG Discord servers like Dungeons & Downvotes, Pair O' Dice, etc... the /r/RPG wiki has a small list.
The Basic Rules are free. They dont have everything but you can start the ball rolling before dropping cash on anything.
Check out this video series on Youtube for some basics.
I'd highly recommend the Starter Set. It's $15 on Amazon, has the core rules, a set of dice, premade characters, and an adventure that will last you a half dozen sessions or so. Its okay that you don't know enough to start a game with friends because this adventure is literally designed for six people who've never played to sit down and learn together.
Honestly though you can just go to your local shop and see if they run organized play games or tutorials. Most organized play is on Wednesday afternoons but your shop may vary.
I'd highly recommend having the group chip in and buy yourselves the Starter Set. It's $15 on Amazon, has the core rules, a set of dice, premade characters, and an adventure that will last you a half dozen sessions or so.
The Starter Set is a great place to get started--go figure--and is designed for brand new players and brand new DMs. The adventure is laid out in a way that introduces concepts as you go along rather than expecting you to know everything up front.
If you don't have the full group of five players you might want to check out this tool that lets you know a decent way to rebalance some of the fights.
I made a little video for brand new DMs who will be looking to run the Starter Set. It does have spoilers so the players shouldn't watch it, but there are some decent pointers and important rules explanations in there (in my biased opinion). I'll be making one for the player's side of things when I have time.
If you have any starter set questions I run it a lot, have a huge pile of resources, and are more than happy to answer questions.
Hey there and welcome to the wonderful hobby of D&D! We were all noobs once, there's no shame in it.
Check out this video series on Youtube for some basics.
Read the Getting Started Guide in the /r/DND sidebar.
The Basic Rules are free. They dont have everything but can get your started before spending any money.
You can also head to your local gaming store and see if they host any tutorial events, if an organized play table has an open slot, or if any groups are recruiting players.
I'd highly recommend the Starter Set if you can find some friends who are also interested in playing. It's $15 on Amazon, has the core rules, a set of dice, premade characters, and an adventure that will last you a half dozen sessions or so. It's a great place to start--go figure--and is designed for brand new players and brand new DMs. The adventure is laid out in a way that introduces concepts as you go along rather than expecting you to know everything up front.
If you don't have the full group of five players you might want to check out this tool that lets you know a decent way to rebalance some of the Starter Set fights.
I made a little video for brand new DMs who will be looking to run the Starter Set. It does have spoilers so the players shouldn't watch it, but there are some decent pointers and important rules explanations in there (in my biased opinion). I'll be making one for the player's side of things when I have time.
Hey there and welcome to the wonderful hobby of D&D! We were all new once, there's no shame in it.
Check out this video series on Youtube for some basics.
Read the Getting Started Guide in the /r/DND sidebar.
The Basic Rules are free. They dont have everything but can get your started before spending any money.
You can also head to your local gaming store and see if they host any tutorial events or if an organized play table has an open slot.
I'd highly recommend the Starter Set if you can find some friends who are also interested in playing. It's $15 on Amazon, has the core rules, a set of dice, premade characters, and an adventure that will last you a half dozen sessions or so.
It's a great place to start--go figure--and is designed for brand new players and brand new DMs. The adventure is laid out in a way that introduces concepts as you go along rather than expecting you to know everything up front.
> If you're looking to play in person:
> * Your local gaming store.
>* Check for local board game / RPG Facebook Groups
> * Check for local board game / RPG Meetup Groups
> * /r/LFG search for local groups or post your own ad
> * Post in the subreddit for your town / area
> * Sites like FindGamers and NearbyGamers
> If you're looking to play online:
> * /r/LFG and /r/Roll20LFG
> * Roll20's game finder and LFG forums
> * Fantasy Grounds has a LFG Forum
> * Some folks play via Tabletop Simulator
> * RPG Discord servers like Dungeons & Downvotes, Pair O' Dice, etc... the /r/RPG wiki has a small list.
You dont actually need anything at all. You can check out your local gaming shop or start looking for a game online and sit in as a player with no money spent. I would suggest doing a little big of homework first so you understand some of the basics:
Check out this video series on Youtube for some basics.
Read the Getting Started Guide in the /r/DND sidebar.
The Basic Rules are free. They dont have everything but can get your started before spending any money.
You can also ask your local gaming store if they host any tutorial events or if an organized play table has an open slot.
I'd highly recommend the Starter Set if you can find some friends who are also interested in playing. It's $15 on Amazon, has the core rules, a set of dice, premade characters, and an adventure that will last you a half dozen sessions or so.
It's a great place to start--go figure--and is designed for brand new players and brand new DMs. The adventure is laid out in a way that introduces concepts as you go along rather than expecting you to know everything up front.
Aside from the Starter Set the priority should be on getting a Players Handbook. From there it depends on what sort of game you want to play.
Join us on /r/DMAcademy , Discord servers like this, and check out tutorials on Youtube.
Keep in mind you dont need to read all three books cover to cover. One of those books is literally just monster stats and you might never use it if you're running premade adventures. Another is just extra tips, tricks, and charts for the DM aren't arent 'core' rules on how to do things. The game itself is really just a few chapters in the PHB.
I highly recommend the Starter Set.
It's $15 on Amazon, has the core rules, a set of dice, premade characters, and an adventure that will last you a half dozen sessions or so. It's a great place to start--go figure--and is designed for brand new players and brand new DMs. The adventure is laid out in a way that introduces concepts as you go along rather than expecting you to know everything up front.
I made a little video for brand new DMs who will be looking to run the Starter Set.
I recommend this video series. The Combat Episode in particular covers a lot of the rules new players are out to learn.
Read the Getting Started Guide in the /r/DND sidebar.
I highly recommend the Starter Set.
It's $15 on Amazon, has the core rules, a set of dice, premade characters, and an adventure that will last you a half dozen sessions or so. It's a great place to start--go figure--and is designed for brand new players and brand new DMs. The adventure is laid out in a way that introduces concepts as you go along rather than expecting you to know everything up front.
The premade characters are big because you want to get straight to the playing not sit there explaining character creation to a brand new player. Without the context of how things are used, its just a wall of data and memorization... which isn't fun.
Not having the Player's Handbook isn't gonna slow you down on the Starter Set... it has all the core rules you need to play... but you wont have character creation rules and a few other things. You can grab the free Basic Rules PDF though which will have a little more in it than the Starter Set including some core character generation options.
If you don't have the full group of five players you might want to check out this tool that lets you know a decent way to rebalance some of the Starter Set fights.
I made a little video for brand new DMs who will be looking to run the Starter Set. It does have spoilers so the players shouldn't watch it, but there are some decent pointers and important rules explanations in there (in my biased opinion).
Absolutely any questions you have at any point you can just respond to one of my comments and I'll gladly help out.
I recommend this video series. The Combat Episode in particular covers a lot of the rules new players are out to learn.
Read the Getting Started Guide in the /r/DND sidebar.
> If you're looking to play in person:
> * Check in with your local gaming store.
>* Search for local board game / RPG Facebook Groups
> * Search for local board game / RPG Meetup Groups
> * /r/LFG search for local groups or post your own ad
> * Post in the subreddit for your town / area
> * LFG tools on Obsidian Portal, PenAndPaperGames, and WarHorn
> * Sites like FindGamers, NearbyGamers, GamerSeekingGamer
> If you're looking to play online:
> * /r/LFG and /r/Roll20LFG
> * Roll20's game finder and LFG forums
> * Fantasy Grounds has a LFG Forum
> * Some folks play via Tabletop Simulator
> * RPG Discord servers like Dungeons & Downvotes, Pair O' Dice, etc... the /r/RPG wiki has a small list.
Your local game store is a great place to start whether you eventually plan to play in-person or online.
More than likely they've encountered others like yourself wandering in and expressing interest and can connect you to them. More often than not they also have calendars or bulletin boards and you can look for folks hosting events or post your own to find some folks.
A lot of the times they also host organized play events like Adventurer's League. While not quite the same as a home game, it would let you sit down at a table and play the game which is the best way to learn. Using that foundation you would then be better armed to seek out recruiting groups or start forming your own.
If you end up building a fresh group, I highly recommend the Starter Set.
It's $15 on Amazon, has the core rules, a set of dice, premade characters, and an adventure that will last you a half dozen sessions or so. It's a great place to start--go figure--and is designed for brand new players and brand new DMs. The adventure is laid out in a way that introduces concepts as you go along rather than expecting you to know everything up front.
The premade characters are big because you want to get straight to the playing not sit there explaining character creation to a brand new player. Without the context of how things are used, its just a wall of data and memorization... which isn't fun.
You can also grab the free Basic Rules PDF though which will have a little more in it than the Starter Set including some core character generation options.
Absolutely any questions you have at any point you can just respond to one of my comments and I'll gladly help out.
I recommend this video series. The Combat Episode in particular covers a lot of the rules new players are out to learn.
Read the Getting Started Guide in the /r/DND sidebar.
> If you're looking to play in person:
> * Check in with your local gaming store.
>* Search for local board game / RPG Facebook Groups
> * Search for local board game / RPG Meetup Groups
> * /r/LFG search for local groups or post your own ad
> * Post in the subreddit for your town / area
> * LFG tools on Obsidian Portal, PenAndPaperGames, and WarHorn
> * Sites like FindGamers, NearbyGamers, GamerSeekingGamer
> If you're looking to play online:
> * /r/LFG and /r/Roll20LFG
> * Roll20's game finder and LFG forums
> * Fantasy Grounds has a LFG Forum
> * Some folks play via Tabletop Simulator
> * RPG Discord servers like Dungeons & Downvotes, Pair O' Dice, etc... the /r/RPG wiki has a small list.
Your local game store is a great place to start whether you eventually plan to play in-person or online.
More than likely they've encountered others like yourself wandering in and expressing interest and can connect you to them. More often than not they also have calendars or bulletin boards and you can look for folks hosting events or post your own to find some folks.
A lot of the times they also host organized play events like Adventurer's League. While not quite the same as a home game, it would let you sit down at a table and play the game which is the best way to learn. Using that foundation you would then be better armed to seek out recruiting groups or start forming your own.
If you end up building a fresh group, I highly recommend the Starter Set.
It's $15 on Amazon, has the core rules, a set of dice, premade characters, and an adventure that will last you a half dozen sessions or so. It's a great place to start--go figure--and is designed for brand new players and brand new DMs. The adventure is laid out in a way that introduces concepts as you go along rather than expecting you to know everything up front.
The premade characters are big because you want to get straight to the playing not sit there explaining character creation to a brand new player. Without the context of how things are used, its just a wall of data and memorization... which isn't fun.
You can also grab the free Basic Rules PDF though which will have a little more in it than the Starter Set including some core character generation options.
Absolutely any questions you have at any point you can just respond to one of my comments and I'll gladly help out.
Great news! You don't need to buy anything. You can play D&D as soon as you want without spending a dime.
You can grab the free Basic Rules PDF which has the core rules and basic character generation options.
You can watch tutorials like this video series. Combat episode is particularly helpful.
Read the Getting Started Guide in the /r/DND sidebar.
But even so, D&D 5th Edition is streamlined and easy to learn and there are tons of people willing to help teach you. Its not a game you need to sit and read the rules from cover to cover before playing, you can very much sit down to a table as totally fresh and learn by playing--I teach people this way all the time.
Consider checking out your local gaming store and see if they do any tutorials, have Organized Play, or know of groups looking for any members.
You can also use these resources:
> If you're looking to play in person:
> * Check in with your local gaming store.
> * Local board game/RPG Facebook Groups
> * Local board game/RPG Meetup Groups
> * Post in the subreddit for your town / area
> * Search /r/LFG for posts or make one.
> * LFG tools on Obsidian Portal and PenAndPaperGames > * Sites like FindGamers, NearbyGamers, GamerSeekingGamer
> * Check WarHorn for local postings
> If you're looking to play online:
> * /r/LFG and /r/Roll20LFG
> * Roll20's game finder and LFG forums
> * Fantasy Grounds has a LFG Forum
> * Play via Tabletop Simulator
> * RPG Discord servers: Dungeons & Downvotes, Pair O' Dice, etc...
If you end up just reading up on the rules and wanting to start your own group. I highly recommend the Starter Set.
It's $15 on Amazon, has the core rules, a set of dice, premade characters, and an adventure that will last you a half dozen sessions or so. It's a great place to start--go figure--and is designed for brand new players and brand new DMs. The adventure is laid out in a way that introduces concepts as you go along rather than expecting you to know everything up front.
The premade characters are big because you want to get straight to the playing not sit there explaining character creation to a brand new player. Without the context of how things are used, its just a wall of data and memorization... which isn't fun.
You can always bring custom characters in once the group gets to town or something if people want, and now they'll kinda know the ropes.
If you decide D&D is the hobby for you, your first purchase goal should be the Player's Handbook. Its the core rulebook with all of the default character options, spells, etc.
Read the Getting Started Guide in the /r/DND sidebar.
You can watch tutorials like this video series. Combat episode is particularly helpful.
But even so, D&D 5th Edition is streamlined and easy to learn and there are tons of people willing to help teach you. Its not a game you need to sit and read the rules from cover to cover before playing, you can very much sit down to a table as totally fresh and learn by playing--I teach people this way all the time.
Consider checking out your local gaming store and see if they do any tutorials, have Organized Play, or know of groups looking for any members.
You can also use these resources:
> If you're looking to play in person:
> * Check in with your local gaming store.
> * Local board game/RPG Facebook Groups
> * Local board game/RPG Meetup Groups
> * Post in the subreddit for your town / area
> * Search /r/LFG for posts or make one.
> * LFG tools on Obsidian Portal and PenAndPaperGames > * Sites like FindGamers, NearbyGamers, GamerSeekingGamer
> * Check WarHorn for local postings
> If you're looking to play online:
> * /r/LFG and /r/Roll20LFG
> * Roll20's game finder and LFG forums
> * Fantasy Grounds has a LFG Forum
> * Play via Tabletop Simulator
> * RPG Discord servers: Dungeons & Downvotes, Pair O' Dice, etc...
If you end up just reading up on the rules and wanting to start your own group. I highly recommend the Starter Set.
It's $15 on Amazon, has the core rules, a set of dice, premade characters, and an adventure that will last you a half dozen sessions or so. It's a great place to start--go figure--and is designed for brand new players and brand new DMs. The adventure is laid out in a way that introduces concepts as you go along rather than expecting you to know everything up front.
The premade characters are big because you want to get straight to the playing not sit there explaining character creation to a brand new player. Without the context of how things are used, its just a wall of data and memorization... which isn't fun.
You can always bring custom characters in once the group gets to town or something if people want, and now they'll kinda know the ropes.
Amazon has it for 12
Dungeons & Dragons Starter Set https://www.amazon.com/dp/0786965592/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_wVddCbENMRJEK
It's everything you need to play, but it's much easier with a few extra dice. I can't speak for the quality of the dice, but this is five sets for cheap. For a new player group this should be perfect:
Smartdealspro 5 x 7-Die Series Two Colors Dungeons and Dragons DND RPG MTG Table Games Dice with Free Pouches https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01ABST9S4/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_WWddCb6BFAMDE
Note that I usually buy Chessex dice
If you have some money left over, the players handbook is the most important of the core books as it allows for character creation outside of the starter characters.
Player's Handbook (Dungeons & Dragons) https://www.amazon.com/dp/0786965606/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_A0ddCbKF9M7QJ
Gonna do you a favor and drop this link here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-YZvLUXcR8&list=PLlUk42GiU2guNzWBzxn7hs8MaV7ELLCP_
While I encourage you to watch all of those videos, the first 4 should be sufficient to help get you going.
You mentioned running an official adventure. I'd highly recommend checking out the adventure The Lost Mine of Phandelver. It's part of the Starter Set for new players and new DMs. It costs about $13 on Amazon.
As far as tips/advice: You are going to make some mistakes; Its ok. We all do. Don't over-prepare but rather be willing to adapt when players do things you don't expect - which I promise you will happen. Most importantly, have fun!
If you have no money at all: get a dice app, read the basic rules here: https://dnd.wizards.com/articles/features/basicrules and I advise you to grab some pre-made characters like the ones available here: https://dnd.wizards.com/articles/features/character_sheets If you want to see if you like it without spending too much money: buy the starter set. It has the basic rules, a set of dice, a campaign module (which I hear is quite good), 5 pre-made charactersheets. Depending on where you live it is available here: https://www.amazon.com/Dungeons-Dragons-Starter-Wizards-Team/dp/0786965592 However cheaper options may exist depending again on, where you live. Lastly if you are absolutely sure that you are going to love this amazing game and you want to lay down plenty of cash right out of the gate: I advise you buy firstly the 3 core rulebooks (the Player's Handbook, PHB, The Dungeon Master's Guide, DMG, and The Monster Manual, MM) which are available either separately or in a neat bundle which also includes a DM screen available again on amazon or alternatives: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0786966629/ref=psdcmw_468172_t2_0786965592 Secondly a campaign module may still be preferable since homebrew is difficult and time-consuming. You may find it easier to browse the many modules available for yourself before making a choice nevertheless I hear either Curse of Strahd or Waterdeep Dragonheist are enjoyed by many people. Available for purchase again on amazon or alternatives CoS: https://www.amazon.com/Curse-Strahd-Dungeons-Sourcebook-Supplement/dp/0786965983/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?keywords=curse+of+strahd&qid=1559505061&s=gateway&sprefix=curse+of+strahd&sr=8-1 WdDH: https://www.amazon.com/Waterdeep-Dragon-Heist-HC-Adventure/dp/0786966254/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?keywords=dragonheist&qid=1559505120&s=gateway&sprefix=dragonheist&sr=8-1 Finally if each one of your group gets 2 sets of dice no one should have to be short of dice for a good while. I wish you good luck and fun adventures in this great game. :)
If you like what you see. Pick up the Starter Set, it's $13 on amazon with prime shipping. Comes with pre-gen characters, dice, and a great starting adventure.
You can combine with with the free rules to print out your own sheets and let your PCs make their own chars (since they aren't new to Pen & Paper gaming) or go with the pre-gens.
There's actually a new 'starter kit' called the Essential's Kit which has a whole bunch of awesome stuff like maps & a DM screen that's coming out June 24th but only at Target stores, then September for everywhere else.
What's nice is, the adventure seems to be set in Phandalin, the same village the current Starter Kit's adventure is based out of. So you could get the starter set and play through it's adventure, and grab the new Essential's Kit later this month and continue with that adventure. :)
Basic rules are free https://media.wizards.com/2018/dnd/downloads/DnD_BasicRules_2018.pdf. You’ll either need a set of dice or a dice roller app.
One of you needs to be the DM. That person either needs an adventure module or an idea of their own. If you need a module, the starter set is pretty cheap and includes the aforementioned basic rules and dice.
Buy this, it's $12: https://www.amazon.com/Dungeons-Dragons-Starter-Wizards-Team/dp/0786965592
Get 3-5 of your friends, tell them you're all gonna start playing Dungeons & Dragons. This can even be done online.
Historically, yes, that has been the case. The core rulebooks will currently set you back $150 unless you get them on sale (they're basically always on sale on Amazon).
BUT
You have cheaper options:
The Starter Set is roughly $20. It comes with a pre-written adventure, simplified rules, dice, and 5 pre-made characters that you can play from levels 1 to 4 with just the stuff in the box.
If you're not ready to spend money, Wizards of Coast published the "Basic Rules" for free. It's everything you need to play except dice (and you can get a free mobile app for that) and people. It doesn't have all of the content of the core rulebooks, but it has the most iconic monsters and character options, and you could still play for years using just what's in the basic rules.
http://dnd.wizards.com/articles/features/basicrules
Like I said: It has literally never been easier to play.
tl;dr: Get the Starter Set, get the Player's Handbook, get some Dice and go wild. Don't worry about asking for advice on here as well.
There's actually a Getting Started Guide in the Sidebar of this Subreddit; it's a very nice comprehensive list of what to do.
For home games, I would heavily encourage you to get the 5e Starter Set which comes with a Quickstart Rundown of the Rules, Pregenerated Characters, Dice and a really great Adventure. It really is a perfect start.
As for "Adventurer's League", that is the Official D&D 5e game-style; it uses specific adventures and a certain set of rules that is consistent between stores and events so you can theoretically take a character from one Store/Event and play it at another place without problems. It follows a couple of specific rules, and is mainly a way for people to play that don't have a consitent home group to play with. It's fun, and if the Store does have an AL table for Children specifically, that is great; without much knowledge of the rules yet, AL may be overwhelming though.
If you are serious about starting, get the Starter Set, an extra Set of Dice (usually called a "Polyset"), and maybe the Player's Handbook, this will last for the first couple of Months I'd wager. Getting the Player's Handbook is great for when your Boys want to make their own Characters instead of using the Pregenerated ones, as it has all the standard Race and Class options, equipment for characters, and all the other things you need for playing.
The other books, like the Dungeon Master's Guide and Monster Manual are nice to have, but not a necessity. The DMG goes into a lot of detail on how to make your own worlds and adventures and lists a lot of magic items; good to have, but not a necessity I'd say.
The MM has the stastics and information on Monsters; a lot of those can be looked up via the 5e System Reference Document or the Roll20 Compendium. More monsters are always nice to have, but again, not necesarry for when you're starting out.
There's other books as well - Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide, Volo's Guide to Monsters, Xanathar's Guide to Everything, Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes..., but all those are Supplement Books that offer Information on Campaign/World Settings, have new Monsters or more Player Options in terms of Races and Classes, but they are also entirely optional and a little more "advanced" content, so to speak, so I wouldn't pick them up right away.
I always recommend The Starter Set from Wizards of the Coast. This has easy to read rules, pregenerated characters so you can start right away and a complete campaign which is really fun and has lots of side quests and hooks to keep the game going for years.
Just get a few friends together and see how it goes.
If you're not sure you want to shell out $12.59 USD, then you can try out the Basic Rules as a FREE download from the Wizards of the Coast website. It has the rules for character creating so you can make your own. Download them, read them, and feel free to ask questions. 🙂
Also, there are loads of “How to Play D&D” videos on YouTube!
Good luck!
And-
Welcome to the Realm of Dungeons and Dragons
Help. I'm a new DM-
1. Where do I start?
Check out /r/NewDM for answers to many frequently asked questions.
I always recommend The Starter Set from Wizards of the Coast. This has easy to read rules, pregenerated characters so you can start right away and a complete campaign which is really fun and has lots of side quests and hooks to keep the game going for years.
If you're not sure you want to shell out $12.59 USD, then you can try out the Basic Rules as a FREE download from the Wizards of the Coast website. It has the rules for character creating so you can make your own. Download them, read them, and feel free to ask questions. 🙂
Wizards of the Coast also released The Essentials Kit which is similar to The Starter Set but includes rules for a 2 player game (one DM and one Player) and has the adventure Dragon of Icespire Peak. I haven't played this kit, but it looks very promising.
/r/NewDM
But to answer your specific question, let them hire NPCs to assist, or let each player play 2 different characters. It might be a bit challenging at first, but just have fun with it. It’s a game. It’s not supposed to be stressful.
Good luck!
Check out /r/NewDM for answers to this and many other frequently asked questions!
I always recommend The Starter Set from Wizards of the Coast. This has easy to read rules, pregenerated characters so you can start right away and a complete campaign which is really fun and has lots of side quests and hooks to keep the game going for years.
If you're not sure you want to shell out $12.59 USD, then you can try out the Basic Rules as a FREE download from the Wizards of the Coast website. It has the rules for character creating so you can make your own. Download them, read them, and feel free to ask questions. 🙂
The Lost Mine of Phandelver adventure starter kit is on sale on Amazon for $13 today : Dungeons & Dragons Starter Set https://www.amazon.com/dp/0786965592/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_52BASTFH1S2WN38S4STN
I always recommend The Starter Set from Wizards of the Coast. This has easy to read rules, pregenerated characters so you can start right away and a complete campaign which is really fun and has lots of side quests and hooks to keep the game going for years.
If you're not sure you want to shell out $12.59 USD, then you can try out the Basic Rules as a FREE download from the Wizards of the Coast website. It has the rules for character creating so you can make your own. Download them, read them, and feel free to ask questions. 🙂
The Starter Set and the Essentials Kit both come with adventures specifically meant for new players and new DMs. Both sets come with the basic rules (a paired down version of the Player's Handbook that only has a few of the subclass options) and dice. Everything you need to start a game up tonight if you needed to is in there.
In your title you mention the Starter Set, that's a very good story to start with! Is it available in your language?
https://www.amazon.com/Dungeons-Dragons-Starter-Wizards-Team/dp/0786965592
This is good because it has the basic rules. You can also find the basic rules for free online.
Start with thinking about what kind of game you want to run and what kind of game your players want to play. My advice - play good guys. Keep it simple. Tell all of your players to think about a character who wants to do good, help people and work with the other characters. Once they've come up with some ideas, sit down and help them each build a character.
Then run an individual adventure with each player. It doesn't have to be deep - just let them try out the dice rolls, etc. Gives both of you a chance to practice. Super simple story - escort a caravan. Or deliver a message. Or find a child lost in the forest.
Thanks.. It's this one: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0786965592/
If you're looking to *play* D&D, my advice would be to find a game as quickly as possible and learn by playing. Check out the LFG subreddit, or head over to the official D&D Adventurer's League page and sign-up for a session! Just be sure to set expectations and let them know you're a new player.
Before your first session, you should create your character, learn how your character works and ensure you're setup to play (check with your Dungeon Master to see if you need to sign up for Roll20, install Discord or Zoom, how you're rolling dice, etc.).
- Head over to D&D Beyond (free) to create an online character sheet.
- The Dungeon Dudes have a good video on how character creation).
- Flick through the D&D Basic Rules (free) and read the parts that are most interesting to you. Read the entire thing if you can, but focus on the Ability Scores and Combat rules.
- If you have some time to watch a few videos, check out this video by Matt Colville, or this one here by Sherlock Hulmes, or by D&D Beyond here - these will give you a good sense of what to expect and in turn, what will be expected of you!
- Buy some dice if you're playing in person.
If you're looking to *run* D&D for your friends, I wholeheartedly recommend starting with the Lost Mines of Phandelver (PDF) (free). Many of you will be tempted to create your own homebrew setting from the start, but a pre-written adventure like LMoP will give you time to learn the rules and focus on running the game. Besides, it's fairly short (4-5 sessions should be enough) and generic enough that you can personalize it and make it yours. If you want a physical copy, this is also the campaign that comes with the boxed Starter Kit.
If you're running the game over the internet, you should decide on the tech you want to use to run the game. You can:
- use a virtual tabletop (aka "VTT's" like Roll20, Fantasy Grounds, or Foundry),
- use toolsets, like Discord w/ Avrae or D&D Beyond), and/or
- use Google Meet, Zoom, Skype or even conference calls to talk to your group.
For your first session, I'd recommend keeping things as simple as possible, and just use "theater of the mind" with your group on a video call. Once you've figured out how *you* want to run your game, you can shop for a VTT or use a lighter weight solution like Avrae/D&D Beyond. If you're going with digital assistants, note that you can purchase the Lost Mines of Phandelver module from Roll20 or D&D Beyond for digital assets that can make your DM'ing life easier.
For a lighter introduction to DM'ing, check out this video also by Matt Colville. I'd also make sure you have a good understanding of the combat and ability check rules. Once you've made it past your first session, you may want to check out the Dungeon Master's guide to level-up your DM'ing.
Happy Gaming!
First off, sorry for the length. I had nothing else to do and a session tonight, so I've got a DnD itch and a lot of time. I just got carried away and enjoy writing. It's super close to the comment character limit. :/
Intro
So, how to start DnD. It's good to see how it plays. I find <em>Critical Role</em> to be a good place to start. The DM is Mattew Mercer, who is great and moving things along, and the players are all voice actors, so it's nice to listen to. CR is a bit unusual in how well behaved the players are, if you run the game, expect your players to be more annoying. I recommend starting with episode 14, "<em>Shopping and Shipping</em>" as you can pick it up easily, and everything gets a bit better at that point as the new arc starts.
It's also a good idea to figure out what system to use. 5th edition is the current one. I find it to be fairly simple on the surface, with a lot of extra detail in the supplementary books. It's very flexible in tone and complexity, and a solid foundation I expect to see a lot of extra content piled on top of, with extra classes, rules, monsters, etc, in later supplementary books. 5e is probably the best place to start.
What you need
First off, you need friends! I know it may seem cliché, but it is true. You want one person to run the game (the DM) and 3 or 4 (maybe 5, but no more if the DM is new) people to play an individual character. If you don't have enough friends to do DnD, you can probably find new friends with something called The Adventurer's League. You also need a set (or a few) of dice, which contain 6 to 7 different dice. You have a 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, and the most-used 20 sided dice. You also have a "d100"^1 which is a d10 that counts in 10s. They're a bit unusual in early play, so don't worry. Last but not least you need the rules. The basic rules can be found here. If you want the complete rules and a few extra books, I'll PM you. Chaotic Good PDFs are frowned upon here.
Finally, you need to actually play is a story and a Dungeon Master. You can get prewritten stories and adventures that give the DM a framework to build around for money, although I have the 5th ed beginner adventure somewhere on my PC. (It's really useful for a beginner DM.) The DM can also create their own, but that needs a lot of effort. The DM acts as an arbitrator. They say how difficult it is do something, what happens when it's done, what the players see when they go somewhere, etc. They also role-play NPCs, decide what actions enemies take, etc. They are less a player and more the world the players are in.
The two main roles.
The Dungeon Master (Or Mistress)
The DM is often the person that brings the party together, finds people to play DnD, and ties it all together. However, they are not the most important, as that's a bad mindset to have. A DM without players is a person having conversations in their head. It's a symbiotic thing.
Being a DM is very hard, but also by far the most rewarding role if you have the skill and motivation. Being a DM is thinking up the bagpipe gag, is creating a cool city, is roleplaying the city guards who have no time for the player's shit and the shopkeep that warmly welcomes them. It is the role with the most freedom, as you can shape the campaign however you like. (As long as you don't drive your players away.) However, you need to know a lot of the rules by heart (it's easier than it sounds) and a good dose of creativity. The scheming, toying with the players and their emotions^2 all makes it worth it in the end. This is a bit long, but if you fancy the idea of being the DM I'll make a followup "How to DM." comment.
I also fancy the role of the DM myself as it feels like I'm making a world of facades very quickly, faster than the players can notice. The NPCs are fleshed out enough to survive one session without seeming two dimensional, but are not nearly as intricate as the player's characters. Physical locations have enough detail to tide the players over while I make more. However, if the players show particular interest in a character or place, I can build behind that facade to make the thing more and more realistic the closer the players look between running sessions. I also have a lot of pre-made things I can pull up. I might have a general set of bars with different qualities and a cursory list of their stock, with different names for different locations. So if the players go to a seedy bar in a dwarven city, I pull up a seedy bar template and add dwarven flavor to it. I'll also note down any on-the-fly descriptions for later use. If the players start to go regularly, I'll add detail. I'll create regulars with personalities and stories to them, I'll create notable events in the bar's history, etc. That feeling of going from pulling things together quickly to make it seem good enough, then after the session spending hours taking slower more thought out routes to flesh something out.
The Players
This section will be a bit less meaty. The players create a character from a set of races and a set of classes (some books have extra races and classes, and you can take levels in more than one class. So instead of being a level 10 ranger, you could be a level 10 character that is a 3rd level rogue and a 7th level ranger.) They have a sheet that holds the information they need to play their character, that details weapons, spells, abilities, HP, stats, proficiency, what skills they have, etc. Often the player will write a few sentences or paragraphs on their character and their backstory.
You also have personality outlines, which consists of (normally, you can change it up for fun)
2 general traits (Like, "I am new to these foreign lands, and have numerous strange but minor customs others may find confusing.")
An overall ideal (such as "law keeps society together, those that break it should be punished.")
A bond they have (like: "I'm the successor to a major title, but my family was deposed. Some day I'll regain it.") that they will either constantly work on, or be called to fulfill. (like protecting an object from attack.
A flaw they have. (Like "I'm quick to anger, and can hold a long grudge." This could lead to a misunderstanding creating long-term animosity between a player and an important NPC.)
These outlines are used to help the player get in the mindset of their character, and to role-play them better. So if the player outlined above is meeting a noble, because the noble's connections could help them regain their land, and they greet them in accordance with their strange customs, the noble remarks unfavorably about them, then the player should role play not liking the noble, but they shouldn't try and attack them, because that's outside the law. Stuff like that is what makes the player characters so much more complex. Also, don't take my talking up of the DM's role to diminish the player, they can have plenty of fun.
Also, there are many types of players, and they often not just co-exist but may even require other types to do well. Some players just want to see what happens and play DnD, whereas others seize the initiative and direct the group. A party with too many of the first will do very little, and a party with too many of the second will do nothing but bicker. Also, some players are recluse and have a hard time roleplaying their character. Other players like playing hard to role play characters, and their willingness to set themselves up for possible failure (in roleplaying) might help nervous players come out of their shell. Some players make super strong characters without thinking about story, and others make weaker ones because all they think about is story. The strong characters will help the party in combat, the story characters will help the drama aspect of DnD that makes it so engaging. Some pay tons of attention, and can fill in those that don't. And so on. Together, you can get one functioning party!
Buying things!
1) The starter set is great. It has rerolled character sheets, the basic rules, and an adventure that holds the hand of the DM more than others, but also provides plenty of room for growth. Also, it's not even 15 bucks on Amazon.
2) Dice. The starter set ones mysteriously all seem to be cursed to roll low, so new dice are good. Chessex looks good and is cheap, and Q-workshop are expensive but amazing.
3) Dungeon master's screen. Hides notes & rolls, looks nice, and has a quick-lookup of stuff on the back. About 10 bucks, I highly recommend it.
Footnotes
^1 Dice are referred to as d[number of sides.] So a 20-sided one is a d20, and so on. If multiple dice need to be rolled, like with a Greatsword, it's shown as 2d6 + [modifier], where you roll 2 six-sided dice, add that together, then add a fixed modifier. The rules have more detail.
^2 Randomly rolling dice to make them nervous, evily grinning when the players ask something even if the thing is absolutely fine, having that little smile when the players ask if those bagpipes are silent or not, asking the players if they're totally sure if they want to do something then making them live with the consequences are all ways to mess with them.
You can get the book on Amazon for thirteen bucks.
Its only 13 bucks on amazon https://www.amazon.com/Dungeons-Dragons-Starter-Wizards-Team/dp/0786965592
If you're interested in D&D, the starter set for the newest edition is a great deal. It's only 15 dollars here on Amazon. It comes with a guide to get you through level 5, a set of dice, pregenerated characters, and a premade adventure for you to run. It's definitely worth a look.
If you're worried about complexity though, my favorite game to pick up and run with newbies is Savage Worlds. It is 9 dollars right now on Amazon for the entire rulebook. You'd just need a set of dice. Its focus is, "Fast, furious, and fun," and it does it pretty well. The best part is that it's only 150 pages or so instead of the hundreds upon hundreds that most people use for D&D.
Either way, I'd encourage dropping by /r/rpg if you're at all interested. The community is super helpful and there are countless RPGs out there that are tons of fun to run and play.
Hey there and welcome to the wonderful hobby of D&D!
The Basic Rules are free. They dont have everything but you can start the ball rolling before dropping cash on anything.
I'd highly recommend having the group chip in and buy yourselves the Starter Set. It's $15 on Amazon, has the core rules, a set of dice, premade characters, and an adventure that will last you a half dozen sessions or so.
There are free adventures you can fine online though. Here on Reddit or through sites like DMsGuild.
Check out THIS channel on youtube to start picking up some of the basics too.
The Starter Set is a great place to get started--go figure--and comes with everything you need so the rest is up to you. You can play right out of the box, use your imagination or 'theater of the mind' and never have to drop money on the other stuff.
That said, I normally do prefer to actually have a map and tokens for new players as it helps the visualize where everything is. The Adventure Book for the Starter Set has the maps in it and you can sketch them out on grid paper or print them. For the first time you can use anything from legos, to coins, to dice represent characters and bad guys and then as you play more you can pick up better minis.
Personally I normally print off the Region Map and the Map of Phandalin so the players can look at them without you haven't to constantly show them from the adventure book. The high quality digital maps can be purchased from Mike Schley he makes great maps and they're pretty cheap if you prefer them over hand drawing.
I also print off and give each player this handout I made for Actions In Combat
If you don't have the full group of five players you might want to check out this tool that lets you know a decent way to rebalance some of the fights.
I made a little video for brand new DMs who will be looking to run the Starter Set. It does have spoilers so the players shouldn't watch it, but there are some decent pointers and important rules explanations in there (in my biased opinion). I'll be making one for the player's side of things when I have time.
Don't expect to run the whole thing in one go. Your first session will likely clear through Chapter One and the party will reach the first town. I'd estimate four or five games at about four hours apiece to get through the adventure... depending on how focused your group is on the main story.
If you have any Starter Set specific questions, don't be a stranger! I run it all the time to get board gamers into trying out RPGs so I've seen all the content quite a bit.
Check out this video series on Youtube for some basics.
The Basic Rules are free. They dont have everything but you can start the ball rolling before dropping cash on anything.
I'd highly recommend the Starter Set. It's $15 on Amazon, has the core rules, a set of dice, premade characters, and an adventure that will last you a half dozen sessions or so. Its okay that you don't know enough to start a game with friends because this adventure is literally designed for six people who've never played to sit down and learn together.
You won't have the full rules until you pick up a Players Handbook. If you have the money to it up front and think you'll stick with the hobby id recommend snagging it. If you want to make sure this is something for you, you can get started on the Starter Set or Basic Rules then pick up the PHB when you want it.
Hey there and welcome to the wonderful hobby of D&D!
Check out this video series on Youtube for some basics.
The Basic Rules are free. They dont have everything but can get your started before spending any money.
I'd highly recommend having the group chip in and buy yourselves the Starter Set. It's $15 on Amazon, has the core rules, a set of dice, premade characters, and an adventure that will last you a half dozen sessions or so.
The Starter Set is a great place to get started--go figure--and is designed for brand new players and brand new DMs. The adventure is laid out in a way that introduces concepts as you go along rather than expecting you to know everything up front.
If you don't have the full group of five players you might want to check out this tool that lets you know a decent way to rebalance some of the fights.
I made a little video for brand new DMs who will be looking to run the Starter Set. It does have spoilers so the players shouldn't watch it, but there are some decent pointers and important rules explanations in there (in my biased opinion). I'll be making one for the player's side of things when I have time.
Hey there and welcome to the wonderful hobby of D&D! We were all new once, there's no shame in it.
Check out this video series on Youtube for some basics.
Read the Getting Started Guide in the /r/DND sidebar.
The Basic Rules are free. They dont have everything but can get your started before spending any money.
You can also head to your local gaming store and see if they host any tutorial events or if an organized play table has an open slot.
I'd highly recommend the Starter Set if you can find some friends who are also interested in playing. It's $15 on Amazon, has the core rules, a set of dice, premade characters, and an adventure that will last you a half dozen sessions or so. It's a great place to start--go figure--and is designed for brand new players and brand new DMs. The adventure is laid out in a way that introduces concepts as you go along rather than expecting you to know everything up front.
You dont actually need anything at all. You can check out your local gaming shop or start looking for a game online and sit in as a player with no money spent. I would suggest doing a little big of homework first so you understand some of the basics:
Check out this video series on Youtube for some basics.
Read the Getting Started Guide in the /r/DND sidebar.
The Basic Rules are free. They dont have everything but can get your started before spending any money.
You can also ask your local gaming store if they host any tutorial events or if an organized play table has an open slot.
I'd highly recommend the Starter Set if you can find some friends who are also interested in playing. It's $15 on Amazon, has the core rules, a set of dice, premade characters, and an adventure that will last you a half dozen sessions or so.
It's a great place to start--go figure--and is designed for brand new players and brand new DMs. The adventure is laid out in a way that introduces concepts as you go along rather than expecting you to know everything up front.
Aside from the Starter Set the priority should be on getting a Players Handbook. From there it depends on what sort of game you want to play.
You dont actually need anything at all. You can check out your local gaming shop or start looking for a game online and sit in as a player with no money spent. I would suggest doing a little big of homework first so you understand some of the basics:
Check out this video series on Youtube for some basics.
Read the Getting Started Guide in the /r/DND sidebar.
The Basic Rules are free. They dont have everything but can get your started before spending any money.
You can also ask your local gaming store if they host any tutorial events or if an organized play table has an open slot.
I'd highly recommend the Starter Set if you can find some friends who are also interested in playing. It's $15 on Amazon, has the core rules, a set of dice, premade characters, and an adventure that will last you a half dozen sessions or so.
It's a great place to start--go figure--and is designed for brand new players and brand new DMs. The adventure is laid out in a way that introduces concepts as you go along rather than expecting you to know everything up front.
Aside from the Starter Set the priority should be on getting a Players Handbook. From there it depends on what sort of game you want to play.
Check out this video series on Youtube for some basics.
Read the Getting Started Guide in the /r/DND sidebar.
The Basic Rules are free. They dont have everything but can get your started before spending any money.
You can also ask your local gaming store if they host any tutorial events or if an organized play table has an open slot.
I'd highly recommend the Starter Set if you can find some friends who are also interested in playing. It's $15 on Amazon, has the core rules, a set of dice, premade characters, and an adventure that will last you a half dozen sessions or so.
It's a great place to start--go figure--and is designed for brand new players and brand new DMs. The adventure is laid out in a way that introduces concepts as you go along rather than expecting you to know everything up front.
Aside from the Starter Set the priority should be on getting a Players Handbook. From there it depends on what sort of game you want to play.
Check out this video series on Youtube for some basics.
Read the Getting Started Guide in the /r/DND sidebar.
I highly recommend the Starter Set.
It's $15 on Amazon, has the core rules, a set of dice, premade characters, and an adventure that will last you a half dozen sessions or so. It's a great place to start--go figure--and is designed for brand new players and brand new DMs. The adventure is laid out in a way that introduces concepts as you go along rather than expecting you to know everything up front.
The premade characters are big because you want to get straight to the playing not sit there explaining character creation to a brand new player. Without the context of how things are used, its just a wall of data and memorization... which isn't fun.
Not having the Player's Handbook isn't gonna slow you down on the Starter Set... it has all the core rules you need to play... but you wont have character creation rules and a few other things. You can grab the free Basic Rules PDF though which will have a little more in it than the Starter Set including some core character generation options.
If you don't have the full group of five players you might want to check out this tool that lets you know a decent way to rebalance some of the Starter Set fights.
I made a little video for brand new DMs who will be looking to run the Starter Set. It does have spoilers so the players shouldn't watch it, but there are some decent pointers and important rules explanations in there (in my biased opinion). I'll be making one for the player's side of things when I have time.
I highly recommend the Starter Set.
It's $15 on Amazon, has the core rules, a set of dice, premade characters, and an adventure that will last you a half dozen sessions or so. It's a great place to start--go figure--and is designed for brand new players and brand new DMs. The adventure is laid out in a way that introduces concepts as you go along rather than expecting you to know everything up front.
I made a little video for brand new DMs who will be looking to run it and have lots of resources that can help. If you have any questions Im always down to assist.
Check out this video series on Youtube for some basics.
Read the Getting Started Guide in the /r/DND sidebar.
I highly recommend the Starter Set.
It's $15 on Amazon, has the core rules, a set of dice, premade characters, and an adventure that will last you a half dozen sessions or so. It's a great place to start--go figure--and is designed for brand new players and brand new DMs. The adventure is laid out in a way that introduces concepts as you go along rather than expecting you to know everything up front.
The premade characters are big because you want to get straight to the playing not sit there explaining character creation to a brand new player. Without the context of how things are used, its just a wall of data and memorization... which isn't fun.
Not having the Player's Handbook isn't gonna slow you down on the Starter Set... it has all the core rules you need to play... but you wont have character creation rules and a few other things. You can grab the free Basic Rules PDF though which will have a little more in it than the Starter Set including some core character generation options.
If you don't have the full group of five players you might want to check out this tool that lets you know a decent way to rebalance some of the Starter Set fights.
I made a little video for brand new DMs who will be looking to run the Starter Set. It does have spoilers so the players shouldn't watch it, but there are some decent pointers and important rules explanations in there (in my biased opinion). I'll be making one for the player's side of things when I have time.
I recommend this video series. The Combat Episode in particular covers a lot of the rules new players need.
Read the Getting Started Guide in the /r/DND sidebar.
> If you're looking to play in person:
> * Check in with your local gaming store.
> * Local board game/RPG Facebook Groups
> * Local board game/RPG Meetup Groups
> * Post in the subreddit for your town / area
> * Search /r/LFG for posts or make one.
> * LFG tools on Obsidian Portal and PenAndPaperGames > * Sites like FindGamers, NearbyGamers, GamerSeekingGamer
> * Check WarHorn for local postings
> If you're looking to play online:
> * /r/LFG and /r/Roll20LFG
> * Roll20's game finder and LFG forums
> * Fantasy Grounds has a LFG Forum
> * Play via Tabletop Simulator
> * RPG Discord servers: Dungeons & Downvotes, Pair O' Dice, etc...- - -
Your local game store is a great place to start whether you eventually plan to play in-person or online.
More than likely they've encountered others like yourself wandering in and expressing interest and can connect you to them. More often than not they also have calendars or bulletin boards and you can look for folks hosting events or post your own to find some folks.
A lot of the times they also host organized play events like Adventurer's League. While not quite the same as a home game, it would let you sit down at a table and play the game which is the best way to learn. Using that foundation you would then be better armed to seek out recruiting groups or start forming your own.
If you end up building a fresh group, I highly recommend the Starter Set.
It's $15 on Amazon, has the core rules, a set of dice, premade characters, and an adventure that will last you a half dozen sessions or so. It's a great place to start--go figure--and is designed for brand new players and brand new DMs. The adventure is laid out in a way that introduces concepts as you go along rather than expecting you to know everything up front.
The premade characters are big because you want to get straight to the playing not sit there explaining character creation to a brand new player. Without the context of how things are used, its just a wall of data and memorization... which isn't fun.
You can also grab the free Basic Rules PDF though which will have a little more in it than the Starter Set including some core character generation options.
Absolutely any questions you have at any point you can just respond to one of my comments and I'll gladly help out.
I recommend this video series. The Combat Episode in particular covers a lot of the rules new players need.
Read the Getting Started Guide in the /r/DND sidebar.
> If you're looking to play in person:
> * Check in with your local gaming store.
>* Search for local board game / RPG Facebook Groups
> * Search for local board game / RPG Meetup Groups
> * /r/LFG search for local groups or post your own ad
> * Post in the subreddit for your town / area
> * LFG tools on Obsidian Portal, PenAndPaperGames, and WarHorn
> * Sites like FindGamers, NearbyGamers, GamerSeekingGamer
> If you're looking to play online:
> * /r/LFG and /r/Roll20LFG
> * Roll20's game finder and LFG forums
> * Fantasy Grounds has a LFG Forum
> * Some folks play via Tabletop Simulator
> * RPG Discord servers like Dungeons & Downvotes, Pair O' Dice, etc... the /r/RPG wiki has a small list.
Your local game store is a great place to start whether you eventually plan to play in-person or online.
More than likely they've encountered others like yourself wandering in and expressing interest and can connect you to them. More often than not they also have calendars or bulletin boards and you can look for folks hosting events or post your own to find some folks.
A lot of the times they also host organized play events like Adventurer's League. While not quite the same as a home game, it would let you sit down at a table and play the game which is the best way to learn. Using that foundation you would then be better armed to seek out recruiting groups or start forming your own.
If you end up building a fresh group, I highly recommend the Starter Set.
It's $15 on Amazon, has the core rules, a set of dice, premade characters, and an adventure that will last you a half dozen sessions or so. It's a great place to start--go figure--and is designed for brand new players and brand new DMs. The adventure is laid out in a way that introduces concepts as you go along rather than expecting you to know everything up front.
The premade characters are big because you want to get straight to the playing not sit there explaining character creation to a brand new player. Without the context of how things are used, its just a wall of data and memorization... which isn't fun.
You can also grab the free Basic Rules PDF though which will have a little more in it than the Starter Set including some core character generation options.
Absolutely any questions you have at any point you can just respond to one of my comments and I'll gladly help out.
I recommend this video series. The Combat Episode covers a lot of the rules new players need.
Read the Getting Started Guide in the /r/DND sidebar.
I highly recommend the Starter Set.
It's $15 on Amazon, has the core rules, a set of dice, premade characters, and an adventure that will last you a half dozen sessions or so. It's a great place to start--go figure--and is designed for brand new players and brand new DMs. The adventure is laid out in a way that introduces concepts as you go along rather than expecting you to know everything up front.
The premade characters are big because you want to get straight to the playing not sit there explaining character creation to a brand new player. Without the context of how things are used, its just a wall of data and memorization... which isn't fun.
You can also grab the free Basic Rules PDF though which will have a little more in it than the Starter Set including some core character generation options.
Absolutely any questions you have at any point you can just respond to one of my comments and I'll gladly help out.
I recommend this video series. The Combat Episode covers a lot of the rules new players need.
Read the Getting Started Guide in the /r/DND sidebar.
I highly recommend the Starter Set.
It's $15 on Amazon, has the core rules, a set of dice, premade characters, and an adventure that will last you a half dozen sessions or so. It's a great place to start--go figure--and is designed for brand new players and brand new DMs. The adventure is laid out in a way that introduces concepts as you go along rather than expecting you to know everything up front.
The premade characters are big because you want to get straight to the playing not sit there explaining character creation to a brand new player. Without the context of how things are used, its just a wall of data and memorization... which isn't fun.
You can also grab the free Basic Rules PDF though which will have a little more in it than the Starter Set including some core character generation options.
Absolutely any questions you have at any point you can just respond to one of my comments and I'll gladly help out.
Great news! You don't need to buy anything. You can play D&D as soon as you want without spending a dime.
You can grab the free Basic Rules PDF which has the core rules and basic character generation options.
You can watch tutorials like this video series. Combat episode is particularly helpful.
Read the Getting Started Guide in the /r/DND sidebar.
But even so, D&D 5th Edition is streamlined and easy to learn and there are tons of people willing to help teach you. Its not a game you need to sit and read the rules from cover to cover before playing, you can very much sit down to a table as totally fresh and learn by playing--I teach people this way all the time.
Consider checking out your local gaming store and see if they do any tutorials, have Organized Play, or know of groups looking for any members.
You can also use these resources:
> If you're looking to play in person:
> * Check in with your local gaming store.
> * Local board game/RPG Facebook Groups
> * Local board game/RPG Meetup Groups
> * Post in the subreddit for your town / area
> * Search /r/LFG for posts or make one.
> * LFG tools on Obsidian Portal and PenAndPaperGames > * Sites like FindGamers, NearbyGamers, GamerSeekingGamer
> * Check WarHorn for local postings
> If you're looking to play online:
> * /r/LFG and /r/Roll20LFG
> * Roll20's game finder and LFG forums
> * Fantasy Grounds has a LFG Forum
> * Play via Tabletop Simulator
> * RPG Discord servers: Dungeons & Downvotes, Pair O' Dice, etc...
If you end up just reading up on the rules and wanting to start your own group. I highly recommend the Starter Set.
It's $15 on Amazon, has the core rules, a set of dice, premade characters, and an adventure that will last you a half dozen sessions or so. It's a great place to start--go figure--and is designed for brand new players and brand new DMs. The adventure is laid out in a way that introduces concepts as you go along rather than expecting you to know everything up front.
The premade characters are big because you want to get straight to the playing not sit there explaining character creation to a brand new player. Without the context of how things are used, its just a wall of data and memorization... which isn't fun.
You can always bring custom characters in once the group gets to town or something if people want, and now they'll kinda know the ropes.
If you decide D&D is the hobby for you, your first purchase goal should be the Player's Handbook. Its the core rulebook with all of the default character options, spells, etc.
It’s $15 on Amazon here, are you out of the US by chance?
New person to D&D 5e
So I Have read about D&D and i have been meaning to get it. I looked around in amazon and found these 2 5th edition start kits at different prices
regular 5th edition starter kit
and
this includes a 6 different die sets also a lot of printable stuff that get emailed to you
i also heard that i could get character sheets at the coasts of wizards. so i have been wondering which one should i get as a start into this game
The first asks for 20$ and the other asks for $40. The 40$ one looks interesting due to the printable stuff. but is it worth the money? or should i just buy the 20$ one and print stuff from the coasts of wizards. idk tbh. help would be appreciated
You can just buy the starter set - it's got basic rules, a set of dice and a pretty good premade adventure with premade characters. After that, you want the Player's Handbook, Dungeon Master's Guide and Monster Manual. Alternately, you can just download the Basic Rules but I wouldn't really recommend that if you don't really know the game - the 5th Edition DMG has some of the best information about actually running a game that they've ever published.
Alternately, you could just buy a set of dice (search Amazon for "poly dice set" and you can find cheap ones at $11 for 6 full sets) and get a copy of Basic Fantasy Roleplaying. It's a modernized version of the old-school D&D rules and you can download it for free or buy a printed copy from Amazon for $5 - supplements like premade adventures are equally free/cheap.
There's countless other non-D&D RPGs out there that have varying levels of complexity & worldbuilding.
https://unpossiblejourneys.com/ has some good info about picking up the hobby as well.
5e is superb. I've played em all, and it for the most part fits what I like the best.
I'd pick up the 5e Starter Set. It's cheap on Amazon and comes with dice and pregen characters and a solid intro adventure and some basic rules.
Then pickup the Player's Handbook, Monster Manual, and Dungeon Master's Guide.
There aren't a ton of products for 5e. So no need to rush, but the next ones for rules are Volo's Guide to Monsters, Xanathar's Guide to Everything, and Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes. All three have stuff for both DMs & players. Volo's/Mordenkainen's are more helpful to DMs though whereas Xanathar's has more player's options.
The only other products are the adventures. They are full campaigns.
You can also access the Basic D&D rules for free online. www.dndbeyond.com is a great source. You can buy books there for an online database if you prefer that to physical copies. But you can access a TON for free right now (whatever is in D&D Basic and the System Reference Document (SRD) is there).
You seem ready to jump in, so I won't dissuade you from buying any of the core books. But I will throw out some stuff:
The Basic Rules are all you need to play (although they come at reduced number of classes and races), but they will help you understand the rules while you wait for a PHB to come in the mail: http://dnd.wizards.com/articles/features/basicrules
(You can also use DNDbeyond or the SRD to get more classes and races but let's be real, at that point you may as well start buying stuff.)
In addition, if PDFs aren't your thing and you want a (really good) adventure to run out of the box, the 5e Starter Set is highly recommended. It comes with a version of those same basic rules, plus 5 pregen characters you can run out of the box without creating anything. It retails for $20 but routinely goes cheaper (it's $12 on Amazon right now): https://www.amazon.com/Dungeons-Dragons-Starter-Wizards-Team/dp/0786965592/ref=sr_1_1?hvadid=241949512490&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=9006152&hvnetw=g&hvpos=1t1&hvqmt=e&hvrand=14664031953392712194&hvtargid=aud-649564993678%3Akwd-1...
Now, your main question: Do you need a PHB and a DMG? Can you get by with just the PHB, or just the DMG?
As an experienced DM, what I have to say is: Buy the PHB, buy the Monster Manual (you can get by without it; the starter set has a bunch of monsters in the back and the SRD contains almost all of them that aren't "product identity" like Beholders and Mindflayers), skip the DMG for now--especially if you're going to run an adventure.
The PHB is like a souped up version of those basic rules--it has all the necessary rules to run the game, including mundane stuff like travel and item prices etc. But the main thing it has is all the core player options--races, all classes, and 2-3 subclasses per class. You can get more races and subclasses in other books (like Xanathar's Guide to Everything) but they aren't necessary to play.
But do you need a DMG? IMO, no, you don't. It mostly contains optional rules and a bunch of advice and tables. When someone says, "Do I need a 5e DMG?" I point them to the table of contents. Read the table of contents. If these are tools you think you would need, then by all means, buy one. If they are things you think you can skip (especially if you run pregenerated adventures like Storm King's Thunder, Curse of Strahd, Tomb of Annihilation, etc.) then hold off on a DMG until you feel like you need it.
Caveat: It also has almost all the magic items in the game. But you can find many of them in the SRD, or look them up online. http://www.enworld.org/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=64732&d=1414184488&stc=1
I don't own the DMG. Hell, I don't even own a Monster Manual because I'm cheap. But I've been running 5e for six months.
For a crash course watch the first 4 episodes of Matt Colville's Running the Game series.
Either buy the D&D starter kit it comes with basic rules, premade character sheets, a starter adventure, and a set of dice. If you have primer or can wait for shipping you can buy on Amazon for $13. Or do a Google search for local game shops or comic book stores. Most stores will have everything you might want to buy, tables to play at (great if you leave in a small apartment), and you're supporting a local business.
DMing isn't hard. You don't have to know all the rules. When a player has a question about their character ask them to read the rule on their character sheet (or in the rules) then you as DM decide what that means. If they want to do something not in the rules (like try and make peace with goblins) look for an appropriate skill (like persuasion) make up a number (if you think goblins should be hard to persuade so 18) and roll for it.
And remember it's a game. If you don't know what to do, say screw the rules and come up with an idea/compromise that's fair for everyone.
I'm afraid I'm already in a relationship (coming on nine years now), but thanks for being so kind. ^_^
I have a DeviantArt with a bunch of photos of how I usually look. Strong NSFW warning because I did a lot of nude modelling over the past couple of years!
That's too bad about your DM. Have you considered DMing yourself? I'm the DM for my group of friends, and while it's a lot of work, it's incredibly satisfying to see a story come together and see everyone get really invested in it. Grab the 5th Edition Starter Set from Amazon; it's cheap and it'll teach you everything you need to know.
Dungeons & Dragons Starter Set https://www.amazon.com/dp/0786965592/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_WmlkDbCM6E0HD
$13 according to amazon
D&D has a free rulebook with the basics. If you're willing to spend around $10, the D&D Starter Set provides a solid introduction. It gives you some dice, premade characters, the basic rules, and a surprisingly good story that also doubles as a great intro for new Dungeon Masters.
you can first check out your local friendly game store.
but if they cannot get it at a price your budget can afford, then you can support the corporate giants
target https://www.target.com/p/dungeons-dragons-starter-pack-game/-/A-53318738
you might also want to check on Roll 20 and D&D Beyond first because they were giving it away free earlier this spring because of covid.
Okay. You really don’t need much. My Group of idiots had the DnD starter set, seen here. And that’s it. You can go onto DND BEYOND and make characters easily.
As a new starter, I'd highly recommend the D&D Starter Set - Comes with a lot of what you need without over loading you with information.
I would then recommend if you want to create a character taking a look at dndbeyond who allow for creating up to 6 characters for free, gives you a tonne of helpful info and helps calculate stats. Especially helpful for leveling up.
And if you just want to chill, see how the game works and unfurls, take a look at Critical Role who have episodes from their campaigns.
If you shop online, likely amazon is a competitive price.
Dungeons & Dragons Starter Set https://www.amazon.com/dp/0786965592/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_gpFKBbBE2QVSE
If shopping local find a local game store or even target now sells the starter.
If nobody else has supplies, you’ll want to buy a pack of dice. Something like this for players to share:
6x Sets of 10 Polyhedral Dice: Half a Pound of RPG / D&D Dice! https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00JNV7QG8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_FqFKBbG97FJJC
Stay laid back and enjoy it.
Here's the correct (cheaper/official) link. Don't know what's up with that other one. $15.
So i saw this is it the book and set or just the book?
Like I said, I can't say enough about how great the starter set is...and at only $12 with a set of dice, it's basically $6 and will last you a few months depending on how often you play (like I said, you 'll get to lvl 4 or 5)
If you use this then don't even think about buying the monster manual until after, it won't be used at all
The dungeon master's guide isn't needed either, but your DM reading it might get some ideas about how to DM better, but I think just watching critical role on youtube is a better way.
I'm assuming that the Starter Set in question is this one.
There's 5 pre-generated characters that come with this starter set. Assuming that your friend's brother still has those on hand, that means that 5 of you can play as characters and maybe one or two people can be the Dungeon Master. If it's likely that you'll have more people coming that want to play/you've already got a Dungeon Master, you're going to need to generate characters. This is a long and convoluted process, especially for first-timers. The first character that I ever generated was A) not at all following the rules and B) took a couple hours, IIRC. Ask your friend if her brother has a Player's Handbook; this will allow you to create a character that's different from the pre-generated ones, although the increased amount of options may lead to more time taken in generating characters, and you may get bogged down in too many choices.
You could learn and play the game in 8 hours, but probably at LEAST the first half of that is going to be spent learning the rules and generating characters if none of you have ever played before. The general stuff isn't that difficult; for most actions, you state what you want to do, and it's either done or you have to roll a 20-sided die and add some relevant modifier. You then tell the Dungeon Master whatever you rolled and they rule on if you succeeded or failed. The specific stuff (grappling; fall damage; actions in combat that aren't just attack; saving throws; any kind of magic) will get very complicated very quickly.
I'd recommend that you give the Basic Rules a read-through to have some familiarity with what you're doing before just jumping right in. If you want to actually enjoy yourselves and not get bogged down, I'd recommend not digging through the rules when you're actually playing. The DM should just make a ruling about how things should happen, and things should just happen that way, even if the rules say that they don't.
There's no way to finish the campaign that comes with the Starter Set in eight hours, even if you knew exactly what you were doing. Such an adventure that you can sit down and do in the course of one game session would be described as a "one-shot", whereas a longer campaign will span several game sessions. If you and your friends enjoy D&D, you may be able to find another time to continue where you left off, but you won't be able to finish the whole thing in eight hours. The campaign that comes with the starter set is relatively short, as campaigns go. It only goes through fifth level (for perspective, the highest level your character can be in D&D, at least following the rules, is 20th level) and even that takes quite a while to get through. My group and I have played ten sessions of a different campaign now, each lasting about eight hours apiece, and we're only at fourth level so far - granted, my group consists of seven people, so things get bogged down really quickly, as each person out of the seven has something different that they want to be doing in many scenarios.
If you are going to do this, I'd look on it not as a "hey let's do this and it'll be fun for this once" but as a "hey let's try this and maybe it'll be fun and we can continue doing this going forward." D&D's a lot of fun, but it takes a lot of time to get acquainted with things, and it's not something that you can easily encapsulate into a day.
If your new I would say go with 5e.
It's new, exciting, still in production.
The starter set is cheap in Amazon and a good place to start http://www.amazon.com/Dungeons-Dragons-Starter-Set-Roleplaying/dp/0786965592
The basic rules are free here: https://dnd.wizards.com/articles/features/basicrules
Start with the Getting Started / Learning to Play link from the sidebar for some resources. I would highly suggest getting the Starter Set. It does a decent walkthrough without needing to purchase any of the core rulebooks.
One set of dice comes with the Starter set. if everyone enjoys it and you want to continue then each person should have their own set of dice (d4, d6, d8, d12, d10, d20, and percentile dice which is often just a second d10 numbered with 10s instead of 1s).
I think there is a simplified ruleset beyond the basic Rules designed as a "monster hunter" type game aimed at younger players too but I don't have the link handy.
EDIT: Found it! Monster Slayers: Champions of the Elements
- Sly Flourish, The Lazy Dungeon Master is a great place to start for session prep so you are not preparing incorrectly.
- Watch some DMs perform their craft like WotC do the beginning of The Lost Mines of Phandelver. With these types of adventures where you can get access to the module, I like to read the module and pay attention to the DM and ask myself, why did he/she do that that way.
Watch Wizards of the Coast play the Lost Mines of Phandelver. If you have the Starter Set then read along and watch what the Dungeon Master does. It will be a good example of what you need to do. Stop often and ask yourself, why did he do that?
Welcome! D&D can be great fun, but it can also be a challenge to get into if you don't have someone showing you the ropes. Fortunately, the internet makes it a lot better:
1) What You Need
You can start D&D for free with just the <strong>Basic Rules</strong> for Players and DM (PDF). However, the Basic Rules don't give you enough to truly get started unless you've already learned how to play, IMO. It doesn't give you an adventure to run, it doesn't give you characters to play, etc. You can, of course, make all of that on your own (and eventually most people do), but for your first time it is so much easier to run pre-made characters on a pre-made adventure that I consider it pretty much mandatory.
To that end, I recommend the <strong>D&D Starter Set</strong>. It comes with rules, pre-made characters on their own sheets, a pre-made adventure for the DM to run, and a set of dice.
That plus some pens/pencils is all you really need to get started. Extra dice will be helpful (and they're very cheap), but since you typically just roll one die at a time, you can make do with the single set in the Starter Set. There are also online die rollers you can use, though many feel the experience of online dice somewhat lacking in comparison to physical dice.
2) Getting Started
Unfortunately, the people who write D&D aren't terribly good at teaching D&D, so even the basic materials above might be overwhelming. It's much easier to learn if you can see it and follow along first.
To that end, this (and part 2 here) is the most basic video I have found that briefly walks you through how to play the game. If you've never really seen it played before, this is the kind of thing you will be doing. And this is a stream of rather funny people playing the pre-made adventure from the Starter Set.
Between these videos, you should have a pretty good idea of how the game is generally played. (Note: the Escapist stream does not use maps or miniatures, and this is both quite common and totally fine. Just imagine it the best you can and don't worry about it; the maps and minis are often helpful, but they're not necessary).
And with that you should be able to play your own adventure with the Starter Set!
3) That was fun! What next?
There's one final skill you'll need as a new player: making your own character. This video walks you through it very nicely (his channel has more videos for many different classes, check it out).
At this point you'll need to pick up at least some of the core books. The <strong>Player's Handbook</strong> (PHB), the <strong>Dungeon Master's Guide</strong> (DMG), and the <strong>Monster Manual</strong> (MM) are the three core rulebooks. The Basic Rules cover some of what is here, but I still recommend buying all three if you can. Now you're ready to go out, make characters, make your own adventures, and jump right into the full breadth and depth of the D&D experience!
Be sure to check out /r/dnd, /r/DungeonsAndDragons, /r/dndnext (for 5e in particular), and /r/dndBehindTheScreen (about DMing).
4) Advanced Resources
Once you've got at least a bit of a grasp on the core rulebooks, there is a ton of helpful advice on the internet, but much of it won't make sense until you've had at least one session under your belt. I'll just share my two favorite resources, that I think every DM should read at least once:
A) The Angry GM's essays on <strong>How to DM</strong> are some of the best on the web. Start at the bottom of that page ("5 Simple Rules...") and work your way forward. He takes the nuts and bolts of running a D&D game (which the DMG never covers very adequately) and breaks it down into a method that is extremely effective.
B) The Alexandrian's essays on <strong>Adventure Design</strong>. This is one level up from the Angry GM's focus, and it gives you some powerful techniques to apply as you prepare adventures that give your players the freedom to explore and keep plots moving at a good pace. I just picked one of the articles, in this case Node-Based Adventure Design, but he references many more. They're all very educational.
That's all I have for you. I apologize for the long-windedness, but I wanted to be thorough. It's easy to be overwhelmed in D&D, but I guarantee if you take everything one step at a time you can master it and have a great time.
Good Luck and Happy Gaming!
TL;DR -
Buy the Starter Set, watch this and this, and maybe this. Play the Starter Set.
Then buy the PHB, the DMG, and the MM. Watch some of these. Play some more.
http://spelljammer.reddit.com/ is the spelljammer reddit. That is the official DND space fantasy setting. Treasure Planet is a good description. It is basically DND with space buccaneers/pirates. I would recommend picking up the DND starter set (Lost Mines of Phandelver) and running that to get the characters to 5th level and then moving them into the adventure (that starts at 5th level) in the Spelljammer box set that just came out. LMOP is a great starting adventure because it does a great job starting a new Dungeon Master off and slowly taking away the training wheels. It's in the original Starter Set (https://www.amazon.com/Dungeons-Dragons-Starter-Wizards-Team/dp/0786965592/), not the new one.
There is a free level 1-4 intro adventure that prepares you for Spelljammer called "Spelljammer Academy", but it wouldn't be as good of an entry point for a brand new to DND DM.
If you want find a non-DND space fantasy setting, I would suggest looking in /r/rpg. There are several threads that I was able to find searching for "space fantasy recommendations" or "magic space recommendations". A good one is https://www.reddit.com/r/rpg/comments/xu5y8a/what_are_my_best_options_for_space_scifi_with/. There is a link there to the wiki: https://www.reddit.com/r/rpg/wiki/scifi#wiki_science_fantasy. It also includes a link to a Stars Without Number book that adds magic: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/259700/The-Codex-of-the-Black-Sun-Sorcery-for-Stars-Without-Number.
I have played some Numenera, which kind of fits the bill in that there is ancient tech that is so advanced that it basically functions as magic.
There are Dune, Star Trek (no magic, really), and John Carter (Mars is in space, right?) setting book with slightly differing rules that use a 2d20 roll under mechanic that is relatively easy to pick up.
There is /r/sw5e if a Star Wars version of the current edition of DND is more your style.
I haven't played Starfinder so I can't comment on it. It looks cool, but there wasn't enough interest in it around me for me to buy into it.
If you don't mind building the world a bit, Fate (rules light) and Savage Worlds (less rules than DND) can work for any settings. Savage Worlds is really designed for running pulpy settings, including Flash Gordon.
Good luck!
To echo what others have said, buy the Starter Set with The Lost Mine of Phandelver adventure. Read through the rulebook AND look up some YouTube videos to help understand the basics of playing and running a D&D session. You can also read the free Basic Rules which has more info than the Starter Set rulebook. Also, READ THE ADVENTURE BEFORE PLAYING. I DM'd for the first time back in August and ran thru the Starter Set and we started Curse of Strahd last month. It's a blast. Some recommended YouTube videos/channels:
Handbooker Helper series from Critical Role
How to play D&D from Tabletop Terrors
Dungeon Dudes DM Tips (Playlist of various great videos)
How to play D&D from the D&D YT Channel
There are so many resources I used for months prior to playing for the first time but the above videos I went back to a lot. As far as materials are concerned, just get paper, a pen, some dice, and something to roll the dice in so they don't roll off the table. When my friends and I first started, we got these inexpensive but effective dice trays. Unless you plan on playing purely via "theater of the mind," you might want to at least get a battle mat to draw the maps of locations your players will go to; unless you want to print copies of the maps to hand out to everyone, that's an option too. My friends and I use miniatures and terrain but that can come later if you wish. They're not essential tools but they're fun.
Also, your players can use D&D Beyond for creating their characters, which can help understand how it works and they can use the app or website on their phone/mobile device for dice rolls and leveling up versus doing it all with paper and dice. You can also use D&D Beyond as DM for digital books if you don't want to carry a bunch of books around later and would rather just have a laptop/tablet for all of that.
It can be overwhelming at first and learning is the hardest part. For me, I started reading the material first and if there was something I didn't understand, I'd look up a video for it. One thing I also recommend is keep a journal of your sessions. It really helps you keep track of how your campaign is progressing!
"Join thousands of other D&D players who have experienced the exciting adventure in the box: 'Lost Mine of Phandelver,' a 64-page booklet for the DM to read"
emphasis mine, from
https://www.amazon.com/Dungeons-Dragons-Starter-Wizards-Team/dp/0786965592/
and perhaps more tellingly WotC also writes that it's "an adventure", also emphasis mine
"Lost Mine of Phandelver was included in the 2014 Starter Set. This fan-favorite adventure takes place in the Forgotten Realms"
from
https://www.dndbeyond.com/posts/1251-claim-your-copy-of-lost-mine-of-phandelver-and
.... It's an adventure
I always recommend The Starter Set from Wizards of the Coast. This has easy to read rules, and pregenerated characters so you can start right away
Some good places to start:
The Basic rules are free to look at! https://dnd.wizards.com/what-is-dnd/basic-rules
A sample adventure is also free to check out! https://www.dndbeyond.com/sources/lmop
PRO TIP: both of these come in the Starter Set, as well as a set of dice, and character sheets, all for about $20! https://www.amazon.ca/Dungeons-Characters-Character-Rulebook-Adventure/dp/0786965592/ref=mp_s_a_1_5?adgrpid=60593485585&gclid=Cj0KCQjwl92XBhC7ARIsAHLl9amUdbXtZVikihBLxBsd_J-prgWzLUGYCyV2hArxdnePftSb5qMtq94aArxhEALw_wcB&hvadid=310058918609&...
Further to this, you can check out a lot of the Starter Set for free online before spending ~$20 on it (which is totally worth it).
The slim rulebook in the box is available on their website. It’s a good thing to check out and see what you think of it https://dnd.wizards.com/what-is-dnd/basic-rules
The amazing adventure that comes in the box is also available to read online. This is the book the Dungeon Master gets, and it tells them what to say to the players, what the players will fight, etc. This takes a lot of work out of being the DM, and is also a lot of fun! https://www.dndbeyond.com/sources/lmop
The box also includes 1 set of dice, some blank character sheet, as well as some pre-filled character sheets in case you want to start right away!
*NOTE Thrres a new Starter Set coming out soon, which includes a different adventure, and only pre-made characters. Head out to a book store or local game store and look for this box https://www.amazon.ca/Dungeons-Characters-Character-Rulebook-Adventure/dp/0786965592
The starter set, Lost Mine of Phandelver, is available for free on DndBeyond. DndBeyond can also help to create characters, explain spells, items, conditions etc. If you decide to get Lost Mine of Phandelver there, there is a rulebook that goes with it, but DndBeyond sadly does not include that rulebook when you get the adventure.
But there I have a way to solve that:
Click this link to download the rulebook that goes with Lost Mine of Phandelver: Lost Mine of Phandelver Rulebook, pdf format
If you'd rather have a physical copy:
Starter Set (Lost Mine of Phandelver, Amazon Germany)
Starter Set (Lost Mine of Phandelver, Amazon US)
Alternatively, you can get the Essentials Kit with the Dragon of Icespire Peak adventure:
Essentials Kit (Dragon of Icespire Peak, Amazon Germany)
Essentials Kit (Dragon of Icespire Peak, Amazon US)
You don't need to get both, one is enough to get you started
Amazon links starter set/essentials kit:
Starter Set (Lost Mine of Phandelver, Amazon US)
Starter Set (Lost Mine of Phandelver, Amazon Germany)
Essentials Kit (Dragon of Icespire Peak, Amazon US)
Essentials Kit (Dragon of Icespire Peak, Amazon Germany)
Both come with an adventure and should come with a rulebook tailored to that adventure. They should also include pre-generated character sheets. I personally prefer Lost Mine of Phandelver, but it's up to you
Heya, do you have friends who want to play as well? If so, you could buy the Starter set (Lost Mine of Phandelver (Amazon US), Lost Mine of Phandelver (Amazon Germany)), or you could look for it in a local game store. This adventure has a small rulebook specifically tailored for that adventure, so there won't be an information overload on stuff you don't need while you get comfortable. The only thing here is that someone needs to be the Dungeon Master, which could feel like a daunting task at first. Again, the small rulebook and adventure book are there to guide new players as well as new DMs.
If you want help creating a character, visit DndBeyond, a site that can help create characters and explain stuff like spells, items, conditions, etc.
If you need anything specific, don't be afraid to ask
Honestly not sure if that's sarcasm, but thanks?
The Starter Set and some pencils and scratch paper really is all you need to get started. Just get it and read it and start.
Though if each player also has a set of dice of their own it will reduce hassle and make things go faster.
IF you can afford it and are interested in this style of play (I honestly think it's easier for starting players, but people have different opinions, whatever you want is fine), you might want a battle mat, pens, and some basic tokens (there are many cheap alternatives to plastic or metal miniatures, like wood, acrylic, cardboard) to help when running combats.
To be fair, even the free Basic Rules are 180 pages. I’ve had Uni textbooks that weren’t that long LOL.
OTOH, The Starter Set rulebook is only 32 pages. If OP is having trouble with that, we should be able to help.
Just to be clear, neither the Basic Rules nor The Starter Set include everything in the Players Handbook. The Players Handbook is technically the full edition rules, but there are also supplements. The three core rulebooks are the Monster Manual and the Dungeon Master’s Guide, plus the Players Handbook.
The basic rules can teach you how to play the basic game, but it’s a game of make believe, wild imagination, and open world creativity where literally anything is possible.
Start small, and grow over time.
Good luck!!!
Help. I'm a new DM-
1. Where do I start???
Check out /r/NewDM for answers to many frequently asked questions.
I always recommend The Starter Set from Wizards of the Coast. This has easy to read rules, pregenerated characters so you can start right away and a complete campaign which is really fun and has lots of side quests and hooks to keep the game going for years.
If you're not sure you want to shell out $12.59 USD, then you can try out the Basic Rules as a FREE download from the Wizards of the Coast website. It has the rules for character creating so you can make your own. Download them, read them, and feel free to ask questions. 🙂
/r/NewDM
For clarification, I mean the 5e Starter Set is what I started my kids on; they're teens now.
*I" learned D&D using the "red box" sometime in the early 1980s. Personally I have no nostalgia for those old rules, and much prefer the modern editions, but they are available easily as PDFs if you want to give it a try.
I always recommend The Starter Set from Wizards of the Coast. This has easy to read rules, pregenerated characters so you can start right away and a complete campaign which is really fun and has lots of side quests and hooks to keep the game going for years.
If you're not sure you want to shell out $12.59 USD, then you can try out the Basic Rules as a FREE download from the Wizards of the Coast website.
/r/NewDM
I always recommend The Starter Set from Wizards of the Coast. This has easy to read rules, pregenerated characters so you can start right away and a complete campaign which is really fun and has lots of side quests and hooks to keep the game going for years.
If you're not sure you want to shell out $12.59 USD, then you can try out the Basic Rules as a FREE download from the Wizards of the Coast website. It has the rules for character creating so you can make your own. Download them, read them, and feel free to ask questions. 🙂
Good luck!
I always recommend The Starter Set from Wizards of the Coast. This has easy to read rules, pregenerated characters so you can start right away and a complete campaign which is really fun and has lots of side quests and hooks to keep the game going for years.
If you're not sure you want to shell out $12.59 USD, then you can try out the Basic Rules as a FREE download from the Wizards of the Coast website. It has the rules for character creating so you can make your own. Download them, read them, and feel free to ask questions. 🙂
/r/lfg has loads of people looking for players
YouTube has lots of videos explaining the rules.
You’ve come to the right spot! Ask questions!
Good luck!
Help. I'm a new DM-
1. Where do I start???
Check out /r/NewDM for answers to many frequently asked questions.
I always recommend The Starter Set from Wizards of the Coast. This has easy to read rules, pregenerated characters so you can start right away and a complete campaign which is really fun and has lots of side quests and hooks to keep the game going for years.
If you're not sure you want to shell out $12.59 USD, then you can try out the Basic Rules as a FREE download from the Wizards of the Coast website. It has the rules for character creating so you can make your own. Download them, read them, and feel free to ask questions. 🙂
/r/NewDM
Help. I'm a new DM-
1. Where do I start???
Check out /r/NewDM for answers to many frequently asked questions.
I always recommend The Starter Set from Wizards of the Coast. This has easy to read rules, pregenerated characters so you can start right away and a complete campaign which is really fun and has lots of side quests and hooks to keep the game going for years.
If you're not sure you want to shell out $12.59 USD, then you can try out the Basic Rules as a FREE download from the Wizards of the Coast website. It has the rules for character creating so you can make your own. Download them, read them, and feel free to ask questions. 🙂
/r/NewDM
Tips for new DMs
/r/NewDM
Welcome to the game. This question gets asked a lot and so you can find many good answers using the search feature.
/r/NewDM also has answers to this and many other frequently asked questions, plus loads of links to free resources!
But to answer your question, I always recommend The Starter Set from Wizards of the Coast. This has easy to read rules, pregenerated characters so you can start right away and a complete campaign which is really fun and has lots of side quests and hooks to keep the game going for years.
If you're not sure you want to shell out $12.59 USD, then you can try out the Basic Rules as a FREE download from the Wizards of the Coast website. It has the rules for character creating so you can make your own. Download them, read them, and feel free to ask questions. 🙂
/r/NewDM
Here’s some good links to more answers!
Good luck!
Honestly, I would just buy the D&D Starter Set. It has everything you need to start playing, almost exactly like you described, and it's only $13 on Amazon. https://www.amazon.com/Dungeons-Dragons-Starter-Wizards-Team/dp/0786965592
I suggest the getting the starter set https://www.amazon.com/Dungeons-Dragons-Starter-Wizards-Team/dp/0786965592/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=d%26d+starter+set&qid=1652841463&sprefix=D%26D+starter%2Caps%2C128&sr=8-3 It has everything you need to begin playing. And if it's not what you think you don't have to invest further than this. If you are looking to continue however I also suggest this https://www.amazon.com/Dungeons-Dragons-Essentials-Kit-Boxed/dp/0786966831/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=d%26d+essentials+kit&qid=1652841534&sprefix=d%26d+ess%2Caps%2C122&sr=8-3 The Essentials Kit these two are great ways to introduce yourself and anyone else to D&D.
If you are wanting to meet people top lay irl you can try a comic or hobby store. They will have postings at times when they run D&D games or will have ads for groups looking for players.
Finally you c an post here or look here to see if you can find a group to play with https://www.reddit.com/r/lfg/ as well as here https://roll20.net/ Look for "New players welcome" kinda title. If you have any questions of course you're more than welcome to ask here.
Good luck!
Help. I'm a new DM-
1. Where do I start???
Check out /r/NewDM for answers to many frequently asked questions.
I always recommend The Starter Set from Wizards of the Coast. This has easy to read rules, pregenerated characters so you can start right away and a complete campaign which is really fun and has lots of side quests and hooks to keep the game going for years.
If you're not sure you want to shell out $12.59 USD, then you can try out the Basic Rules as a FREE download from the Wizards of the Coast website. It has the rules for character creating so you can make your own. Download them, read them, and feel free to ask questions. 🙂
/r/NewDM
Help. I'm a new DM-
1. Where do I start???
Check out /r/NewDM for answers to many frequently asked questions.
I always recommend The Starter Set from Wizards of the Coast. This has easy to read rules, pregenerated characters so you can start right away and a complete campaign which is really fun and has lots of side quests and hooks to keep the game going for years.
If you're not sure you want to shell out $12.59 USD, then you can try out the Basic Rules as a FREE download from the Wizards of the Coast website. It has the rules for character creating so you can make your own. Download them, read them, and feel free to ask questions. 🙂
/r/NewDM
Generally-speaking, the adventure "Lost Mines of Phandelver" is agreed to be a good starting adventure for D&D. It's included in the D&D Starter Set There's also generally positive feelings about the urban introductory adventure Waterdeep: Dragon Heist, although it faces criticism for >!not actually having a heist.!<
The only two you need are the Player’s Handbook and the Monster Manual. Anything else is helpful but not necessary.
1. Where do I start???
Check out /r/NewDM for answers to many frequently asked questions.
I always recommend The Starter Set from Wizards of the Coast. This has easy to read rules, pregenerated characters so you can start right away and a complete campaign which is really fun and has lots of side quests and hooks to keep the game going for years.
If you're not sure you want to shell out $12.59 USD, then you can try out the Basic Rules as a FREE download from the Wizards of the Coast website. It has the rules for character creating so you can make your own. Download them, read them, and feel free to ask questions. 🙂
/r/NewDM
Tips for new DMs
/r/NewDM
Welcome to the game. This question gets asked a lot and so you can find many good answers using the search feature.
/r/NewDM also has answers to this and many other frequently asked questions, plus loads of links to free resources!
But to answer your question, I always recommend The Starter Set from Wizards of the Coast. This has easy to read rules, pregenerated characters so you can start right away and a complete campaign which is really fun and has lots of side quests and hooks to keep the game going for years.
If you're not sure you want to shell out $12.59 USD, then you can try out the Basic Rules as a FREE download from the Wizards of the Coast website. It has the rules for character creating so you can make your own. Download them, read them, and feel free to ask questions. 🙂
/r/NewDM
Here’s some good links to more answers!
Good luck!
I always recommend The Starter Set from Wizards of the Coast. This has easy to read rules, pregenerated characters so you can start right away and a complete campaign which is really fun and has lots of side quests and hooks to keep the game going for years.
If you're not sure you want to shell out $12.59 USD, then you can try out the Basic Rules as a FREE download from the Wizards of the Coast website. It has the rules for character creating so you can make your own. Download them, read them, and feel free to ask questions. 🙂
Help. I'm a new DM-
1. Where do I start???
Check out /r/NewDM for answers to many frequently asked questions and links to lots of free resources like maps and adventures and random encounters.
But to answer your questions, I always recommend The Starter Set from Wizards of the Coast. This has easy to read rules, pregenerated characters so you can start right away and a complete campaign which is really fun and has lots of side quests and hooks to keep the game going for years.
If you're not sure you want to shell out $12.59 USD, then you can try out the Basic Rules as a FREE download from the Wizards of the Coast website. It has the rules for character creating so you can make your own. Download them, read them, and feel free to ask questions. 🙂
Good luck!!!
/r/NewDM
Help. I'm a new DM-
1. Where do I start???
Check out /r/NewDM for answers to many frequently asked questions.
I always recommend The Starter Set from Wizards of the Coast. This has easy to read rules, pregenerated characters so you can start right away and a complete campaign which is really fun and has lots of side quests and hooks to keep the game going for years.
If you're not sure you want to shell out $12.59 USD, then you can try out the Basic Rules as a FREE download from the Wizards of the Coast website. It has the rules for character creating so you can make your own. Download them, read them, and feel free to ask questions. 🙂
/r/NewDM
And check out /r/NewDM for answers to lots of frequently asked questions, plus loads of links to free resources like random encounters and magic items and maps, maps, maps!!!
Check out /r/NewDM for answers to many frequently asked questions.
I always recommend The Starter Set from Wizards of the Coast. This has easy to read rules, pregenerated characters so you can start right away and a complete campaign which is really fun and has lots of side quests and hooks to keep the game going for years.
If you're not sure you want to shell out $12.59 USD, then you can try out the Basic Rules as a FREE download from the Wizards of the Coast website. It has the rules for character creating so you can make your own.
But to answer your question, the characters only get as powerful as you let them.
What does that mean?
The characters Level up as quickly as you decide. It’s called Milestone leveling. You decide when they should be leveled up.
The other thing that makes characters excessively strong is giving them too much magic, like magic swords and wands and potions and armor. Again, that only happens if you the DM does that!
So you have total control of how strong the characters get and how quickly it happens.
Good luck!
Buy the dungeons and dragons starter set:
https://www.amazon.com/Dungeons-Dragons-Starter-Wizards-Team/dp/0786965592
This has everything to you get you started playing dungeons and dragons. It contains a short campaign, rules, charatersheets and a set of dice.
If you like it which I'm sure you do you can then start buying the player handbook and depending who is the dungeon master he or she would then start buying monster manual and dungeon master guide.
A few recommendations:
- Go get yourself a Starter Set. You can get it from Amazon but now might be a great time to go visit your Friendly Local Game Store (FLGS). A lot of stores have what's called Adventurer's League on Tuesday nights at 7 PM local time. So if you get there early, there are players who can help you answer questions, and Adventurer's League is a good newbie soft spot.
- Watch a bit of LivePlay! People often stream their games online. The biggest one is Critical Role, but I DO NOT recommend that one for new players. Instead, I'd look on the Twitch DND Stream. Personal recommendation - look for a stream run by B. Dave Walters. Tabletop Jocks (a multigaming community I help with) also has a great liveplay.
- Phone A Friend. I'm assuming by your posting (and the throwaway), that you're trying to do this sneaky-like. This is where you rely on your network - often the people you know are geekier than you think, and if not, try calling one of his friends to help. Couple hours should get you going.
- Skip the subterfuge and ask. I know it sounds really cool to show up with dice and pencil ready to go, but honestly, teaching D&D is one of the great joys of being good at D&D. You're depriving your partner of an experience he would almost certainly treasure. I have years and years in this game - I've taught well over a hundred people how to play this game and it's different versions, and there may be nothing better than the moment when a new player suddenly forgets about the paper and the pencils and the dice and the room and the smell of pizza and the can of Diet Coke and everything else, and suddenly, they're in the headspace of this thing they've created - they're a goblin rogue, torn between their craving for shinies against making their new friends angry, and that necklace is very, very, very, very shiny indeed....it is a gift that only games like this can give, and for somebody passing the game to a new player, there is nothing better than sharing that magic.
I am still confused. I swear I am not trying to be an asshole but:
- Starter Set 5E on Amazon is only about 15$ USD
- Starter Set 5e on Wizards.com is only 19.99$ USD
- On DnDBeyond its marked 15$ USD normally but is currently on Sale for about 12$ USD
If you are talking about the DND Core Rule books Set that's a different story all together (Which I just found out is a thing).
Welcome to the game. This question gets asked a lot and so you can find many good answers using the search feature.
/r/NewDM also has answers to this and many other frequently asked questions, plus loads of links to free resources!
But to answer your question, I always recommend The Starter Set from Wizards of the Coast. This has easy to read rules, pregenerated characters so you can start right away and a complete campaign which is really fun and has lots of side quests and hooks to keep the game going for years.
If you're not sure you want to shell out $12.59 USD, then you can try out the Basic Rules as a FREE download from the Wizards of the Coast website. It has the rules for character creating so you can make your own. Download them, read them, and feel free to ask questions. 🙂
/r/NewDM
Here’s some good links to more answers!
Good luck!
I would advise to just start out with the starter set:
https://www.amazon.com/Dungeons-Dragons-Starter-Wizards-Team/dp/0786965592
It just has everything you need to start DMing for a group of friends. And most likely after first game you will buy Player Handbook and go from there. it is an addiction trust me.
Help. I'm a new-
1. Where do I start???
I always recommend The Starter Set from Wizards of the Coast. This has easy to read rules, pregenerated characters so you can start right away and a complete campaign which is really fun and has lots of side quests and hooks to keep the game going for years.
If you're not sure you want to shell out $12.59 USD, then you can try out the Basic Rules as a FREE download from the Wizards of the Coast website. It has the rules for character creating so you can make your own. Download them, read them, and feel free to ask questions. 🙂
Help. I'm a new DM-
1. Where do I start???
Check out /r/NewDM for answers to many frequently asked questions.
I always recommend The Starter Set from Wizards of the Coast. This has easy to read rules, pregenerated characters so you can start right away and a complete campaign which is really fun and has lots of side quests and hooks to keep the game going for years.
If you're not sure you want to shell out $12.59 USD, then you can try out the Basic Rules as a FREE download from the Wizards of the Coast website. It has the rules for character creating so you can make your own. Download them, read them, and feel free to ask questions. 🙂
/r/NewDM
Looks like there's this: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0786965592/ref=ppx_od_dt_b_asin_title_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 on amazon. I can vouch for it from 2020 at least as Amazon is saying I bought from this link at that time for around $12
Go buy the Starter Set. That'll get you core rules and stat blocks.
For your "literally first time" playing, just do a "Goblins in the Room Quest" with 2-3 other Level 1 players. Story doesn't matter, it's training night and we're learning mechanics. Point Buy PC's with starter gear and no magic items for this. You don't need extra complexity of prep.
Again, story is super light. Lord MacGuffin ordered The Party to go murder 10 goblins in a series of rooms because they annoy him. Each room is behind a door in a hallway. One of the doors is locked. If you can't bang out a room description, just take the Cragmaw Cavern or Cragmaw Castle or this map and slap some doors in appropriate places.
In each room is 2d4 of the 10 Goblins. Once they know there's adventurers nearby they'll hide, and will continue to hide as a Bonus Action every turn.
Keep going room to room until there's <4 goblins left. The last one is a Goblin Boss that's making all the noise.
That's it. That's the whole session prep done right there. Run that and learn how much you didn't know you didn't know before preparing anything else for a campaign.
Then take the actual Lost Mines of Phandelver campaign and start running it. I choose to believe the story and NPC's are criminally bland on purpose. This forces baby DM's to re-skin the campaign in your own light. Do that. Just line out all the names and races of the NPC's, replacing them with your own.
DO NOT change the mechanics or major story beats though. Run through LMoP first and see what matters. That should get your PC's to Level 5 or 6. After that adventure, ask the party if their characters want to ride off into the sunset and start new, or sign on for another adventure at Level 1 or 6.
The Starter Set from Wizards of the Coast.
Help. I'm a new DM-
1. Where do I start???
Check out /r/NewDM for answers to many frequently asked questions.
I always recommend The Starter Set from Wizards of the Coast. This has easy to read rules, pregenerated characters so you can start right away and a complete campaign which is really fun and has lots of side quests and hooks to keep the game going for years.
If you're not sure you want to shell out $12.59 USD, then you can try out the Basic Rules as a FREE download from the Wizards of the Coast website. It has the rules for character creating so you can make your own. Download them, read them, and feel free to ask questions. 🙂
/r/NewDM
BUT you are already a player? So you understand the game! That’s great. Here’s some links that might help.
Check out /r/NewDM for answers to many frequently asked questions.
I always recommend The Starter Set from Wizards of the Coast. This has easy to read rules, pregenerated characters so you can start right away and a complete campaign which is really fun and has lots of side quests and hooks to keep the game going for years.
If you're not sure you want to shell out $12.59 USD, then you can try out the Basic Rules as a FREE download from the Wizards of the Coast website.
/r/NewDM has loads of links to free adventures, maps, resources, etc…
Good luck!
And
Welcome to the Realm of Dungeons & Dragons
I always recommend The Starter Set from Wizards of the Coast. This has easy to read rules, pregenerated characters so you can start right away and a complete campaign which is really fun and has lots of side quests and hooks to keep the game going for years.
If you're not sure you want to shell out $12.59 USD, then you can try out the Basic Rules as a FREE download from the Wizards of the Coast website.
What specifically is confusing you? We’re here to help!
Though very simplified, the newest edition of Dungeons and Dragons (5E for Fifth Edition) is still pretty complicated, especially for people with little to none tabletop experience. Do you, other family members, or your son and his friends have experience with any board games more complicated than Monopoly or Life? If not, that's okay, it will just unfortunately take some additional work. I think you can get a good idea without spending much time with just a few steps.
- First, pick up the D&D (Dungeons and Dragons) Starter Set for his birthday. If you can, find a local game/comic store and buy it from them (though it's only $14 on Amazon right now for a steal). Not only is it good to support local businesses, but speak with the employees there and they may be able to walk through the basics with you in person if you learn better that way. This Starter Set is going to be the best way to get your son into it with his friends as well and includes a starter adventure. If you like running it for them you can continue with the story, or let them go on themselves!
- Second, read the 32-page rulebook in that box. You'll really just need the basics. You don't need to know it front to back, the best part about D&D is that if you aren't sure of a rule, you can make it up. The simplified version is that a player rolls a 20-sided die (called a d20) and adds a certain number on their sheet. They need to meet or exceed a certain number depending on what they're trying to do to succeed. Then something happens which is determined by how well they did.
- Third, watch a video for some examples. I took a quick look and found this one which seems pretty good. It goes over the information in the rulebook and gives an example of gameplay.
- Fourth, read up to at least page 7 in the 64-page adventure book with the Starter Set and page 19 if you're feeling ambitious. I would play through the events in page 7 with them to gauge their interest (young kids can have shorter attention spans, especially a group of several kids who may not all be invested). If they all seem excited, you can continue on!
The great thing about the Starter Set is that if your son wants to keep playing, he has a great introductory product with a simplified version of the rules. You can get other books down the line, but the Starter Set allows for HOURS of D&D that's more easily accessible than a couple 300-page rulebooks.
That's the Essentials Kit. The adventure is called Dragon of Icespire Peak. Here is the subreddit: r/DragonOfIcespirePeak
It is similar to the Starter Set adventure, but a tad more expensive and gives a bit less guidance. There is actually a resource to even combine the two adventures since they take place near each other within that realm.
The Lost Mine of Phandelver I find a bit better intro to the game...
And here is a free guide for running it, written by a very experienced DM: https://slyflourish.com/running_phandelver.html
If it's all of your very first times, I would recommend starting with a premade adventure that provides you with the answers to things like 'What DC would this be?' and outlines the general expected flow of things.
First, just in case, the Basic Rules provide everything you need to start playing right now. If you have the Player's Handbook and Dungeon Master's Guide, they add more information, guidance, and options.
For a first adventure, the Starter Set's Lost Mine of Phandelver is a decent starter adventure that you can step away from really at any time you like. If you start playing and don't want to continue down the paths this adventure wants to take you, it's easily modified to your own world or to just leave off and do something else. BUT, it is a good 1-5 adventure for new players and DMs in its entirety.
Once you have a handle on how the game plays, what the rules are, and the kind of things your players are interested in you can homebrew to your hearts content. If you just start with 100% homebrew, it's more likely you will be overwhelmed and miss things.
So that's the rulebook that comes with it, but you'll want to purchase the whole kit to play. It comes with everything you need including pre-generated characters, dice, a DM screen, and a full adventure perfect for beginners. You can also snag the essentials kit, think of it like an expansion pack. Those two kits are cheap and easy ways to get into the game. It's the minimal investment to the game IMO.
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I always recommend The Starter Set from Wizards of the Coast. This has easy to read rules, pregenerated characters so you can start right away and a complete campaign which is really fun and has lots of side quests and hooks to keep the game going for years.
If you're not sure you want to shell out $12.59 USD, then you can try out the Basic Rules as a FREE download from the Wizards of the Coast website. It has the rules for character creating so you can make your own. Download them, read them, and feel free to ask questions. 🙂
Amazon has it very cheap: Starter Set Lost Mine of Phandelver
Sly Flourish - Running Phandelver (free guide from an experienced DM)
Before Phandelver - A Tutorial Adventure Great tutorial pre-adventure that can introduce the module to brand new DMs and players. Breaks things down a bit more and introduced game mechanics in an even more newbie friendly way. Get the starter set first then read through it (not to memorize but to familiarize yourself with the content in general) then read through the tutorial and run that first.
Help. I'm a new DM-
1. Where do I start???
Check out /r/NewDM for answers to many frequently asked questions.
I always recommend The Starter Set from Wizards of the Coast. This has easy to read rules, pregenerated characters so you can start right away and a complete campaign which is really fun and has lots of side quests and hooks to keep the game going for years.
If you're not sure you want to shell out $12.59 USD, then you can try out the Basic Rules as a FREE download from the Wizards of the Coast website. It has the rules for character creating so you can make your own.
/r/NewDM
Dungeons & Dragons Starter Set https://www.amazon.com/dp/0786965592/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_i_56FQDEW29F3VC58W561G this, or the Essentials Kit are worth EVERY PENNY! Good luck and have fun!
If you're interested in "D&D" generally, you might check out one of the D&D adventure system board games. They're designed to be played solo or with teammates. They're probably outside the purview of this subreddit, though.
Those games are simplified versions of the 4th edition of D&D though. If you're interested in 5th edition, I recommend getting the D&D Starter Set. It has everything you need to check out the game and to see if you like it. If you do, you'd probably want to get the Player's Handbook after that. No need to read it all, especially if you're playing solo and don't mind stopping to look stuff up.
Dungeons & Dragons Starter Set https://smile.amazon.com/dp/0786965592/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apan_glt_i_31TRYQ0FY1DBMCW9XCRT
If you can’t find a game to join, you need to create your own.
Do you have any of the books?
I always recommend The Starter Set from Wizards of the Coast. This has easy to read rules, pregenerated characters so you can start right away and a complete campaign which is really fun and has lots of side quests and hooks to keep the game going for years.
If you're not sure you want to shell out $12.59 USD, then you can try out the Basic Rules as a FREE download from the Wizards of the Coast website.
Yes, it’s much easier to learn by joining an established group, but if that just isn’t an option, start your own group.
But you can also try looking at your local friendly Game store.
Or a local bookstore.
Or a local community college.
Or a local University if you’re lucky enough to have one.
Or even post a flier at the grocery store or Starbucks.
If you’re in a small town that doesn’t have any of these, you’ll have to find something online.
If Discord and Meetup.com and /r/lfg and groups.io don’t work out for you, you might want to consider a Play by Post website. Many are free and you can take your time to learn the rules.
RPGCollective.com used to exist. I’ll see if it still does. BRB
I'd recommend finding a local game store to purchase the books and dice from but sometimes.that isn't an option.
Dungeons & Dragons Starter Set https://www.amazon.com/dp/0786965592/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_glt_i_NA5PQS3925YZ72JE9J49
People have given a lot of good answers, so as far as where to begin, here are the easiest entry points:
The starter set is the best way to get into it in my opinion. Some rules, some pre-made characters, and a great adventure. Starter Set
And here is a link to the free Starter Rules to let you learn more if you don’t want to buy anything at the moment: https://media.wizards.com/2020/dnd/downloads/dnd_starter_rulebook.pdf
I always recommend The Starter Set from Wizards of the Coast. This has easy to read rules, pregenerated characters so you can start right away and a complete campaign which is really fun and has lots of side quests and hooks to keep the game going for years.
If you're not sure you want to shell out $12.59 USD, then you can try out the Basic Rules as a FREE download from the Wizards of the Coast website. It has the rules for character creating so you can make your own. Download them, read them, and feel free to ask questions. 🙂
You say you don't want to buy any books. Does that mean you don't have the three core rule books? Have you looked at the free Basic Rules? DnD Basic Rules PDF or DnD Beyond Basic Rules . They can get you by for a while.
The rules may seem overwhelming and not everyone learns rules well simply by reading them so the videos that u/Eladron mentioned can certainly help. As others have mentioned, Matt Coville's Running the Game stuff is more DM oriented than the Handbooker Helper options but both are good. At the bottom I link more options, including DM tips from Matt Mercer.
You will also learn in layers as you gain experience. It isn't necessary to have everything completely memorized when you start. You can look things up as you go, do research between posts (if you are doing play by post) and so on.
Honestly, though, it will be challenging to learn all of the rules well simply by watching a few videos. This is a complicated system.
You might benefit from running the Starter Set adventure Lost Mine of Phandelver , since it is specifically designed to teach new DMs and new players how to play the game. It walks you through the rules and gives you guided experience through practical application. If this is of interest, I can link some well written guides and a 3rd party created introductory tutorial one shot that leads into it. You might gain quite a bit from that and it isn't very expensive. Lost Mine of Phandelver . You can run it with just the free basic rules. At that point you should have a fairly decent understanding of the game and can choose whether to invest further or not.
Beyond that, here are a few more resources that might help:
WASD20 How to Play DnD Pt 1 He has several videos to help.
Geek and Sundry Matt Mercer GM tips (since you like Critical Role you might like Matt's GM tips which is different from Handbooker Helper and geared to Game Master's specifically)
Nerdarchy might be useful as well.
Good luck.
Which one... this Dungeons & Dragons Starter Set (Six Dice, Five Ready-to-Play D&D Characters With Character Sheets, a Rulebook https://www.amazon.ca/dp/0786965592/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apan_glt_i_PBDQSF01X26CBEFM9WWP or
This...
Dungeons & Dragons Essentials Kit (D&D Boxed Set) https://www.amazon.ca/dp/0786966831/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apan_glt_i_H2629NQHY54DQB1TQX3R
We are the kind of people who go... all in... so what do you think?
You will learn in layers so don't stress out too much. Every session you will gain a better understanding of how things work and which things you want to run RAW (rules as writtein), RAI (rules as intended) and which you want to fudge. I have some suggestions below for how to make this a smoother process.
Just keep in mind that a LOT of play testing and careful thought has gone into creating this system. It isn't perfect but messing a lot with it before you understand it can end up with a lot of confusion and frustration. You might actually be happier with a different system if a system based heavily on rules is not of interest to you. We can make recommendations if you want to consider something else.
You might consider running the starter set adventure Lost Mine of Phandelver. Starter Set Lost Mine of Phandelver It actually eases you and your players into the rules and how to play. The following support resources can make it even smoother and simpler...
Before Phandelver - A Tutorial Adventure
r/LostMinesOfPhandelver
Sly Flourish - Running Phandelver
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Or you could simply use the DnD Basic Rules PDF or DnD Beyond Basic Rules as a guide and run these Basic Rules adventures first, to give all of you a better understanding of the game. DMs Guild Basic Rules Adventures (Start with A Most Potent Brew, then follow with Horror at Havel's Cross, then the Hound of Cabel's Tomb and finish with The Horn of Plenty. At that point you should all have a better grasp of the game. The players can create quick PCs through this Fast Character or use these Tutorial Character Sheets and then craft PCs from scratch once you all have a better understanding of the game.
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These tutorial one shots might work for a quick intro as well:
The DnD 5e New Player Tutorial Adventure
Tutorial Adventure - The Dike is Breaking
Tutorial Dungeon (teaches you to create your own)
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Hope that helps some...
Check out /r/NewDM for answers to many frequently asked questions.
I always recommend The Starter Set from Wizards of the Coast. This has easy to read rules, pregenerated characters so you can start right away and a complete campaign which is really fun and has lots of side quests and hooks to keep the game going for years.
However, if you’re sick of LMoP, move on to another published module. Storm Kings Thunder or Hoard of the Dragon Queen are both great next-steps, thoroughly playtested, and there are lots of tips and suggestions available all over the internet.
So my first suggestion is to stick with published modules.
To answer your other question; on keeping players interested…
Use their character sheets. Find out what their strengths are and give each character a moment to shine. They don’t ALL have to shine every session, but set up an encounter or puzzle or trap that’s designed to allow one specific character to be the star. Then do the same for the next character. And the next, etc etc etc… One Session the Barbarian and the Thief each get a chance to do something awesome. Then Session Two, the Cleric and the Paladin get a chance to be awesome.
Tie in their Backstories - characters will buy into your campaign if you give them a reason to. Why did the Dragonborn become an adventurer? Add that to the plot! Does their village need a Hero? Have a Bard in the next tavern sing a song about their last adventure. Or maybe it’s because their village was attacked by Yuan-Ti and they want revenge. Drop rumors in taverns about a Yuan-Ti cult somewhere. Or maybe it’s because they just want to get rich. Spread rumors about a lost city of gold. Whatever they want, give them hints to how they can achieve it.
Ask your Players what they want - the easiest way to keep players interested is to find out what they want to achieve, then incorporate that into your story.
Good luck!
Bare minimum:
- Paper
- Pencils
- A set of polyhedral dice (or a digital dice roller)
- A copy of the Basic Rules, which someone else has already linked
You can scale upward as much as you want from there. You can buy either the Starter Set or the Essentials Kit as entry points. Each come with an adventure and rules to help you start playing.
When you get around to buying th full experience, the main rulebook is the Player's Handbook. If you're planning on DMing in any serious capacity, I highly recommend you also pick up the Monster Manual and the Dungeon Master's Guide - one is a reference for non player characters and creatures to fill your game world, the other is filled with resources, suggestions, and ideas for creating and running a game of your own.
Good luck, and welcome!
You can check out /r/NewDM for suggestions.
I always recommend The Starter Set from Wizards of the Coast. This has easy to read rules, pregenerated characters so you can start right away and a complete campaign which is really fun and has lots of side quests and hooks to keep the game going for years.
But to answer your question; Have you seen the Five Room Dungeon concept?
Basically, it’s a series of 5 encounters. These five can be linked as a long chain, over and over, into a long campaign.
Encounter 1: Entrance/Guardian Encounter 2: Puzzle/Skill challenge Encounter 3: Twist/Surprise Encounter 4: Climax/BBEG Encounter 5: Reward/Cliffhanger
So, for example;
Guardian- the group is passing through a forest, protected by a Dryad who hates humans because they cut down trees and farm animals. She set traps like Tangling Vines and Swarm of Wasps to drive humans out of her glade.
Challenge- the group has to negotiate safe passage with the Dryad. They can try to convince her they aren’t chopping down trees or killing animals. Roll Play challenge.
Surprise- the Dryad falls in love with a human in the group. Now she follows him/her around and praises them for good deeds and scolds them for stepping on plants and other silly stuff. The human needs to try to convince her to stay quiet and just protect her glade.
Big Bad Evil Guy- there is a group of poachers in the glade. They’re the ones actually killing animals and chopping trees. The party has to drive them off either through negotiation/RolePlay or violently through combat.
Reward- the party gets to pass safely through the woods and they now have a Dryad friend they can call on for information or help in the future.
I hope this helps!
Good luck!
/r/NewDM
Help. I'm a new DM-
1. Where do I start???
Check out /r/NewDM for answers to many frequently asked questions.
I always recommend The Starter Set from Wizards of the Coast. This has easy to read rules, pregenerated characters so you can start right away and a complete campaign which is really fun and has lots of side quests and hooks to keep the game going for years. From your post, this is where you’re starting. 🙂
You can also get the complete Basic Rules as a FREE download from the Wizards of the Coast website. It has the rules for character creating so you can make your own. Download them, read them, and feel free to ask questions. 🙂
/r/NewDM
The most important rule is for everyone to have fun. Don’t stress over rules. D&D is a game of make-believe. If you don’t know a rule, make something up and move on. Don’t stop the game to look up rules. Look them up after the session and explain the correct rule at the next session. Don’t retcon the previous mistake, just do it right from then on. No worries!
There’s loads more to know, but the main thing is to have fun. Don’t stress out.
Good luck!
Copy pasta from a while back:
IMO the best starting place is with Matt Colville's Running the Game series, and specifically the Delian Tomb. The /r/mattcolville subreddit is full of great people as well!
I made this for my friend a few months ago as a sort of accompaniment to the series: The Delian Tomb Module.
I started running the game with the Delian Tomb, and then moved into the Starter Set by setting the Tomb in the woods near Phandalin.
I have my issues with the Starter Set, primarily that the adventure is not written as an entry point to TTRPG -- there is a lot left unsaid and the motivations of the antagonists are weak.
As a first time TTRPG player and DM I felt like I had to stick to the book 100% or I would ruin the fun for the players... Turns out that's not at all the case.
The published stuff should be looked at as guides, not playbooks -- and the Running the Game series will help you learn how to navigate outside of the boundaries of the modules.
Good luck :D
Help. I'm a new DM-
1. Where do I start???
Check out /r/NewDM for answers to many frequently asked questions.
I always recommend The Starter Set from Wizards of the Coast. This has easy to read rules, pregenerated characters so you can start right away and a complete campaign which is really fun and has lots of side quests and hooks to keep the game going for years.
If you're not sure you want to shell out $12.59 USD, then you can try out the Basic Rules as a FREE download from the Wizards of the Coast website. It has the rules for character creating so you can make your own. Download them, read them, and feel free to ask questions. 🙂
But to answer your questions;
Not too ambitious if you want a long campaign that gets the characters up to level 20.
Illegal magic is fine, but still allow your characters to have some. They just have to keep it secret and find allies/factions they can trust.
CMI can be literally anything you like; an amulet/phylactery like a lich, a ring, a helmet, but to give the players a bit of help it should probably be something big and stationary.
Most players don’t catch subtle hints so just give a couple subtle hints at each session. Don’t be obvious, especially in the beginning. Maybe don’t even give hints. Let the character play and see if they give up any hints themself.
The point of the campaign is the BBEG. You can’t focus too much on him.
Good luck!
Deal link: Amazon
Deal link: Amazon
Read the Getting Started Guide in the /r/DND sidebar.
You can watch tutorials like this video series. Combat episode is particularly helpful.
Critical Role: Handbook Helper is another great free resource.
I highly recommend the Starter Set for new groups. It's normally $20 but is currently on sale for $7 and has the core rules, a set of dice, premade characters, and an adventure that will last you a half dozen sessions or so. The pregenerated characters have established backgrounds that tie into some of the NPCs and locations but your group can make custom characters and play them and it works just as well. It's a great place to start ((go figure)) and is designed for brand new players and brand new DMs.
The Essentials Kit is another great resource. It started at $25 but looks like it's currently selling $16. It's full of all sorts of handy stuff like GM Screen, items/rules cards for quick reference, dice, and has an adventure that plays from level 1-6 but there are follow up adventures to let the party keep leveling up to 12. There are no pregenerated characters in this box and you will need to build characters before starting the adventure. It and the Starter Set take place in the same area of the game world and the kits work very well together actually.
This unboxing video compares the content of the two boxes, notes the different style of the adventures, and might help you pick one if funds are tight and you can only get one.
Read the Getting Started Guide in the /r/DND sidebar.
You can grab the free Basic Rules PDF which has the core rules and basic character generation options.
You can watch tutorials like this video series. Combat episode is particularly helpful.
Critical Role: Handbook Helper is another great free resource.
I highly recommend the Starter Set for new groups. It's normally $20 but is currently on sale for $7 and has the core rules, a set of dice, premade characters, and an adventure that will last you a half dozen sessions or so. The pregenerated characters have established backgrounds that tie into some of the NPCs and locations but your group can make custom characters and play them and it works just as well. It's a great place to start ((go figure)) and is designed for brand new players and brand new DMs.
The Essentials Kit is another great resource. It started at $25 but looks like it's currently selling $16. It's full of all sorts of handy stuff like GM Screen, items/rules cards for quick reference, dice, and has an adventure that plays from level 1-6 but there are follow up adventures to let the party keep leveling up to 12. There are no pregenerated characters in this box and you will need to build characters before starting the adventure. It and the Starter Set take place in the same area of the game world and the kits work very well together actually.
This unboxing video compares the content of the two boxes, notes the different style of the adventures, and might help you pick one if funds are tight and you can only get one.
O.k. so the Starter Set can be a great place to start: DnD Starter Set
There is a subreddit you can tap into for help: r/LostMinesOfPhandelver
This guide by Sly Flourish can also help: Sly Flourish Running Phandelver
There is actually a pre-campaign tutorial one shot that can be super helpful for dipping your toes in before the main campaign: Before Phandelver - A Tutorial Adventure
And there are a lot of support resources on the Dungeon Master's Guild website that you might peruse through, including maps you can print out: DMs Guild Lost Mine of Phandelver
If that doesn't appeal, there are other options but this may be a great place to start.
Read the Getting Started Guide in the /r/DND sidebar.
You can grab the free Basic Rules PDF which has the core rules and basic character generation options.
You can watch tutorials like this video series. Combat episode is particularly helpful.
Critical Role: Handbook Helper is another great free resource.
I highly recommend the Starter Set if you start putting a group together. It's $15 on Amazon, ((and usually on sale this time of year for like $8)) has the core rules, a set of dice, premade characters, and an adventure that will last you a half dozen sessions or so. It's a great place to start--go figure--and is designed for brand new players and brand new DMs.
The Essentials Kit is another great resource. It started at $25 but looks like it's currently selling $16. It's full of all sorts of handy stuff like GM Screen, items/rules cards for quick reference, dice, and has an adventure that plays from level 1-6. It and the Starter Set take place in the same area of the game world and the kits work very well together actually.
This unboxing video compares the content of the two boxes, notes the different style of the adventures, and might help you pick one if funds are tight.
Read the Getting Started Guide in the /r/DND sidebar.
You can grab the free Basic Rules PDF which has the core rules and basic character generation options.
You can watch tutorials like this video series. Combat episode is particularly helpful.
Critical Role: Handbook Helper is another great free resource.
I highly recommend the Starter Set if you start putting a group together. It's $15 on Amazon, ((and usually on sale this time of year for like $8)) has the core rules, a set of dice, premade characters, and an adventure that will last you a half dozen sessions or so. It's a great place to start--go figure--and is designed for brand new players and brand new DMs.
The Essentials Kit is another great resource. It's usually $25 but looks like it's currently on sale for $16. It's full of all sorts of handy stuff like GM Screen, items/rules cards for quick reference, dice, and has an adventure that plays from level 1-6. It and the Starter Set take place in the same area of the game world and the kits work very well together actually.
This unboxing video compares the content of the two boxes, notes the different style of the adventures, and might help you pick one if funds are tight.
Help. I'm a new DM-
1. Where do I start???
Check out /r/NewDM for answers to many frequently asked questions.
I always recommend The Starter Set from Wizards of the Coast. This has easy to read rules, pregenerated characters so you can start right away and a complete campaign which is really fun and has lots of side quests and hooks to keep the game going for years.
If you're not sure you want to shell out $12.59 USD, then you can try out the Basic Rules as a FREE download from the Wizards of the Coast website. It has the rules for character creating so you can make your own. Download them, read them, and feel free to ask questions. 🙂
/r/NewDM
Deal link: Amazon
Deal link: Amazon
I always recommend The Starter Set from Wizards of the Coast. This has easy to read rules, pregenerated characters so you can start right away and a complete campaign which is really fun and has lots of side quests and hooks to keep the game going for years.
If you're not sure you want to shell out $12.59 USD, then you can try out the Basic Rules as a FREE download from the Wizards of the Coast website. It has the rules for character creating so you can make your own. Download them, read them, and feel free to ask questions. 🙂
Here's a link to the D&D Starter Set on Amazon.
Help. I'm a new DM-
1. Where do I start?
Check out /r/NewDM for answers to many frequently asked questions.
I always recommend The Starter Set from Wizards of the Coast. This has easy to read rules, pregenerated characters so you can start right away and a complete campaign which is really fun and has lots of side quests and hooks to keep the game going for years.
If you're not sure you want to shell out $12.59 USD, then you can try out the Basic Rules as a FREE download from the Wizards of the Coast website. It has the rules for character creating so you can make your own. Download them, read them, and feel free to ask questions. 🙂
Good luck!
/r/NewDM
Theres a starter set thats a very good introduction. They stock it in https://gamersworld.ie/
You could also try the new shop, Underworld gaming in tallaght.
And youll find the same set on Amazon.
Help. I'm a new DM-
1. Where do I start?
Check out /r/NewDM for answers to many frequently asked questions.
I always recommend The Starter Set from Wizards of the Coast. This has easy to read rules, pregenerated characters so you can start right away and a complete campaign which is really fun and has lots of side quests and hooks to keep the game going for years.
If you're not sure you want to shell out $12.59 USD, then you can try out the Basic Rules as a FREE download from the Wizards of the Coast website. It has the rules for character creating so you can make your own. Download them, read them, and feel free to ask questions. 🙂
/r/NewDM
Check out /r/NewDM for answers to many frequently asked questions.
I always recommend The Starter Set from Wizards of the Coast. This has easy to read rules, pregenerated characters so you can start right away and a complete campaign which is really fun and has lots of side quests and hooks to keep the game going for years.
If you're not sure you want to shell out $12.59 USD, then you can try out the Basic Rules as a FREE download from the Wizards of the Coast website.
Here is a link to a dnd starter kit on amazon that includes some ready made characters, a set of dice, a starters rule book, and a starting adventure book. It's a cheap start to what can be an expensive game. Try it out and see if you like it.
If you end up liking it and really wanting to get into it then it just depends on your budget. There are free adventures online, the character sheets are free for download on the Official D&D site, you can use free apps on your phone or computer to roll for you, heck you could probably even find a free pdf of the players handbook online somewhere, though that may or may not be illegal.
If you're willing to invest some cash into it then you'll want the base three books: players handbook, monster encyclopedia, and the dungeon masters guide. You'll also want a set of dice per player. And by dice I mean the 7 dice sets that you can find pretty much anywhere online. Aaand everyone needs a character sheet, which are again free for download.
Now playing the game is pretty free form. Every dungeon master (the person in charge) has their own way of doing things. Personally I don't make my players keep track of how much weight they are carrying or if they've eaten in the last 24 hrs. But some people do and there are rules for it in the books. The players handbook is a long read but it's really good at telling you how to play the game. It lays out what you can do in a turn, how combat works, how to make a character, etc.
Matthew Colville has tons of great youtube videos on the subject if you have the time to check them out. Critical roll is a good dnd series to try out if you don't know what that is. The adventure zone is a hilarious dnd podcast, though it starts out a little rough.
Dungeons & Dragons Starter Set https://www.amazon.com/dp/0786965592/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_glt_fabc_Y6KTM4NS8H19ZD6N7JVD
A fantastic and well worth the investment is the Starter Kit
It doesn't have the full rulebook, but has the SRD which is basically everything you need to know to play D&D. It has a very simple campaign to play and much more! 100% buy this if they haven't played before or have no D&D material currently.
​
If they have already played/have some dice or want to expand further into being a Dungeon master/Game master. This book set is a fantastic gift
​
If you want other ideas, every D&D player is obsessed with dice. The more elaborate they are the better!
Help. I'm a new DM-
1. Where do I start?
I always recommend The Starter Set from Wizards of the Coast. This has easy to read rules, pregenerated characters so you can start right away and a complete campaign which is really fun and has lots of side quests and hooks to keep the game going for years.
If you're not sure you want to shell out $12.59 USD, then you can try out the Basic Rules as a FREE download from the Wizards of the Coast website. It has the rules for character creating so you can make your own. Download them, read them, and feel free to ask questions. 🙂
The easiest way to stat a homebrew monster is to find something similar in the Monster Manual and just rename it.
Good luck!
Also, look at Discord, MeetUp.com, and https://groups.io/g/RPG-Player-Sanctuary/topics for games.
I always recommend The Starter Set from Wizards of the Coast. This has easy to read rules, pregenerated characters so you can start right away and a complete campaign which is really fun and has lots of side quests and hooks to keep the game going for years.
/r/NewDM
Good luck!!!
Check out /r/NewDM
But to answer your question, I always recommend The Starter Set from Wizards of the Coast for brand new DMs.
This has easy to read rules, pregenerated characters so you can start right away and a complete campaign which is really fun and has lots of side quests and hooks to keep the game going for years.
Good luck with your Homebrew campaign. Let us know how it goes! 🙂
Oh man, check out the Starter Set, DND Beyond’s New Player Guide, and the D&D 101 & 102 Learn to Play sessions at the monthly Adventure League Virtual Tabletop Weekend events
| Item | Current | Lowest | Reviews |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dungeons & Dragons Starter Set | - | - | 4.6/5.0 |
^Item&nbsp;Info | Bot&nbsp;Info | Trigger
I always recommend The Starter Set from Wizards of the Coast. This has easy to read rules, pregenerated characters so you can start right away and a complete campaign which is really fun and has lots of side quests and hooks to keep the game going for years.
If you're not sure you want to shell out $12.59 USD, then you can try out the Basic Rules as a FREE download from the Wizards of the Coast website. It has the rules for character creating so you can make your own. Download them, read them, and feel free to ask questions. 🙂
/r/NewDM
| Item | Current | Lowest | Reviews |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dungeons & Dragons Starter Set | - | - | 4.6/5.0 |
^Item&nbsp;Info | Bot&nbsp;Info | Trigger
| Item | Current | Lowest | Reviews |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dungeons & Dragons Starter Set | $13.25 | $13.25 | 4.6/5.0 |
^Item&nbsp;Info | Bot&nbsp;Info | Trigger
| Item | Current | Lowest | Reviews |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dungeons & Dragons Starter Set | $13.25 | $13.25 | 4.6/5.0 |
^Item&nbsp;Info | Bot&nbsp;Info | Trigger
| Item | Current | Lowest | Reviews |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dungeons & Dragons Starter Set | $13.25 | $13.25 | 4.6/5.0 |
^Item&nbsp;Info | Bot&nbsp;Info | Trigger
| Item | Current | Lowest | Reviews |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dungeons & Dragons Starter Set | $13.25 | $13.25 | 4.6/5.0 |
^Item&nbsp;Info | Bot&nbsp;Info | Trigger
| Item | Current | Lowest | Reviews |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dungeons & Dragons Starter Set | $13.25 | $13.25 | 4.6/5.0 |
^Item&nbsp;Info | Bot&nbsp;Info | Trigger
Help. I'm a new DM-
1. Where do I start?
Check out /r/NewDM for answers to many frequently asked questions.
I always recommend The Starter Set from Wizards of the Coast. This has easy to read rules, pregenerated characters so you can start right away and a complete campaign which is really fun and has lots of side quests and hooks to keep the game going for years.
If you're not sure you want to shell out $12.59 USD, then you can try out the Basic Rules as a FREE download from the Wizards of the Coast website. It has the rules for character creating so you can make your own. Download them, read them, and feel free to ask questions. 🙂
In all seriousness, if I were coming new to the game this is where I'd start. It is actually designed for just what you are describing, a place for complete newbies to get a handle on playing D&D's 5th edition. And as someone who has played every iteration of the game over the years, I highly recommend the 5th edition as the base of your gameplay. If you read through that beginners material and have any questions, don't hesitate to send me a direct message. I'd be happy to help.
Adding to this I would heavily recommend the Starter Set. It's got everything you need to start D&D with little to no knowledge going in. If you're looking to get a tad more in-depth I can recommend you get The Players Handbook, it's the basic official ruleset and the book on which all other books are based.
That all being said, when it comes to D&D the most important thing is a willingness to have fun. Some of the best moments in my D&D games have come from bending or outright disregarding the rules. I always love teaching D&D to newcomers so feel free to message me if you have any questions.
I recommend something like this it comes with a basic rule set, premade characters that people can use, a good short adventure, and a small set of dice.
Part of the fun is having someone learn to DM as people learn to play too.
I have ran that adventure for a few groups and it has always been entertaining.
Help. I'm a new DM-
1. Where do I start?
Check out /r/NewDM for answers to many frequently asked questions.
I always recommend The Starter Set from Wizards of the Coast. This has easy to read rules, pregenerated characters so you can start right away and a complete campaign which is really fun and has lots of side quests and hooks to keep the game going for years.
If you're not sure you want to shell out $12.59 USD, then you can try out the Basic Rules as a FREE download from the Wizards of the Coast website. It has the rules for character creating so you can make your own. Download them, read them, and feel free to ask questions. 🙂
/r/NewDM
Where do I start?
Check out /r/NewDM for answers to many frequently asked questions.
I always recommend The Starter Set from Wizards of the Coast. This has easy to read rules, pregenerated characters so you can start right away and a complete campaign which is really fun and has lots of side quests and hooks to keep the game going for years.
If you're not sure you want to shell out $12.59 USD, then you can try out the Basic Rules as a FREE download from the Wizards of the Coast website. It has the rules for character creating so you can make your own. Download them, read them, and feel free to ask questions. 🙂
EXPENSIVE SOLUTION: Buy a 3D printer, best investment I have ever made as a DM. Save up 300 bucks for a resin printer and you will never buy a model again as long as you are willing to put in the work to clean them up. You don't even have to paint them, just grey primer works fine and the quality of models online easily rival store bought models.
Medium solution: Buy the DND Starter set or DND Essentials kit. Both are fantastic for starting the game, have all the basic rules you need and a small adventure to go on.
Cheap O' Solution: All you need to know is the rules and dice. Rules can be found online, dice you will need to buy or use virtual dice for on your phone on off the internet for free as well as a ton of statblock and adventure ideas you can find.
Best place to start is here (see Amazon link below). This gives basic rules and a complete adventure that’s very good. Ideally, each person would have a players guide, but you don’t need that right away.
Each person will need to have a set of die. The friendly local game store will have sets of dnd die, around 8-14 dollars for a set.
You don’t need maps and miniatures to play the the game, but many people like them. If you want, get a dry erase battle mat (again, the game store will have these) and a set of WASHABLE crayola markers from the dollar store. This will allow you to map out the area where the fights are taking place. You can use basically anything as player and monster tokens. DND stores have miniatures but they are a pain to paint and expensive. I usually just make my own tokens. There are many tutorials for this online, but if you want I can share my method as well.
Amazondan aldım ben.
Dungeons & Dragons Starter Box https://www.amazon.com.tr/dp/0786965592/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_i_S36PR4H6P6WBBX8F2922
İnternetten pdfini bulabilirsin ama
I always recommend The Starter Set from Wizards of the Coast. This has easy to read rules, pregenerated characters so they can start right away and a complete campaign which is really fun and has lots of side quests and hooks to keep the game going for years.
If you're not sure you want to shell out $12.59 USD, then you can try out the Basic Rules as a FREE download from the Wizards of the Coast website. It has the rules for character creating so they can make their own.
/r/NewDM has answers to lots of frequently asked questions, as well as links to lots of free resources.
Help. I'm a new DM-
1. Where do I start?
Check out /r/NewDM for answers to many frequently asked questions.
I always recommend The Starter Set from Wizards of the Coast. This has easy to read rules, pregenerated characters so you can start right away and a complete campaign which is really fun and has lots of side quests and hooks to keep the game going for years.
If you're not sure you want to shell out $12.59 USD, then you can try out the Basic Rules as a FREE download from the Wizards of the Coast website. It has the rules for character creating so you can make your own. Download them, read them, and feel free to ask questions. 🙂
Wizards of the Coast also released The Essentials Kit which is similar to The Starter Set but includes rules for a 2 player game (one DM and one Player) and has the adventure Dragon of Icespire Peak. I haven't played this kit, but it looks very promising.
/r/NewDM has lots of links to free resources!
Good luck!
Help. I'm a new DM-
1. Where do I start?
Check out /r/NewDM for answers to many frequently asked questions.
I always recommend The Starter Set from Wizards of the Coast. This has easy to read rules, pregenerated characters so you can start right away and a complete campaign which is really fun and has lots of side quests and hooks to keep the game going for years.
If you're not sure you want to shell out $12.59 USD, then you can try out the Basic Rules as a FREE download from the Wizards of the Coast website. It has the rules for character creating so you can make your own. Download them, read them, and feel free to ask questions. 🙂
Wizards of the Coast also released The Essentials Kit which is similar to The Starter Set but includes rules for a 2 player game (one DM and one Player) and has the adventure Dragon of Icespire Peak. I haven't played this kit, but it looks very promising.
/r/NewDM
Help. I'm a new DM-
1. Where do I start?
Check out /r/NewDM for answers to many frequently asked questions.
I always recommend The Starter Set from Wizards of the Coast. This has easy to read rules, pregenerated characters so you can start right away and a complete campaign which is really fun and has lots of side quests and hooks to keep the game going for years.
If you're not sure you want to spend $12.59 USD, then you can try out the Basic Rules as a FREE download from the Wizards of the Coast website. It has the rules for character creating so you can make your own. Download them, read them, and feel free to ask questions. 🙂
/r/NewDM
With the Starter Set, it has a copy of the Basic rules and the adventure. As well as a set of dice and some pre made character sheets. The Player's Handbook is the first book people suggest to get, even if you are a DM as it has equipment, spells, and rules. The DM will need to refer to this stuff. The Players Handbook is really only necessary for the starter set if your players want to make their own characters instead of using the pre made ones. The set has all the monster stat blocks in the adventure. Really more dice or dice apps so not everyone has to share the one set it comes with is more important than more books.
So really just Starter Set, PHB (Player's Handbook), and s;ome more dice (your players will likely want to supply their own as picking dice can be personal). For future reference there are a lot of books. The main three are Player's Handbook, Monster Manual (which has stats and lore of most of the monsters), and the Dungeons Master Guide (has lots of optional rules, magic items, and ways to help build your own campaign; this one is actually the least recommended of the three). Beyond those three. There are two other class of books I suppose: Modules and Building. Module are full campaigns that can takes characters up to 15th level sometimes, Building can be character options, like more races, classes, etc. More monsters, or more options from a DMs perspective.
Like I said, I suggest dipping your toes in instead of purchasing hundreds of dollars worth of books. (Starter Set)[https://www.amazon.com/Dungeons-Dragons-Starter-Wizards-Team/dp/0786965592/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=starter+set&qid=1631587875&sr=8-3]
This has all you need to get started. I would find a volunteer from your group to have a go at the DMing.
There are a million videos on YouTube of character creation , actual plays of the game and explanations that can help as well.
It is well worth it, good luck
Where do I start?
Check out /r/NewDM for answers to many frequently asked questions.
I always recommend The Starter Set from Wizards of the Coast. This has easy to read rules, pregenerated characters so you can start right away and a complete campaign which is really fun and has lots of side quests and hooks to keep the game going for years.
If you're not sure you want to shell out $12.59 USD, then you can try out the Basic Rules as a FREE download from the Wizards of the Coast website. It has the rules for character creating so you can make your own. Download them, read them, and feel free to ask questions. 🙂
Cool!
Let me clarify, because there are a million DND5e books and they are all kind of confusing.
5e has three core rulebooks:
The Players Handbook - which covers making characters, and the rules for the game in depth.
The Dungeon Master's Guide - which covers advice for worldbuilding, planning and balancing encounters, and magic items, with lots of tables and references.
The Monster Manual - covers the stat blocks and some basic lore for a bunch of different NPCs.
These three books retail for $50, so Wizards of the Coast decided to release a box set to get people interested in the game called "The Starter Set".
https://www.amazon.com/Dungeons-Dragons-Starter-Wizards-Team/dp/0786965592
The Starter Set has dice, an abridged rulebook, some premade character sheets, and a prewritten adventure "The Lost Mine of Phandelvar" with all the monster stat blocks included. This set had everything to actually play the game.
A year or two ago they released a second box set called "The Essentials Kit" which is the one you are getting. The essential kit has a similar abridged ruleset, except this book includes rules for making player characters (as opposed to using premade characters as in the Starter Set). They only include 5 classes: Fighter, Wizard, Rogue, Cleric, and Bard, and they all only cover level 1-6. This set also includes dice, some handouts and a map, and a premade module called "The Dragon of Icespire Peak". This set is also enough to sit and make characters and play the game.
You don't really need the Dungeon Masters guide to play the adventure that comes with the "Essentials Kit". The DMG is only really useful when combined with the other two core rulebooks for making your own adventures.
Get the Starter Set (Amazon link). It has a great beginner-friendly pre-written campaign in it that really helps new DMs and players learn the system. And for background noise tips, watch/listen to MAtt Colville's Running the Game series.
Check out /r/NewDM for answers to many frequently asked questions.
I always recommend The Starter Set from Wizards of the Coast. This has easy to read rules, pregenerated characters so you can start right away and a complete campaign which is really fun and has lots of side quests and hooks to keep the game going for years.
But regarding HotDQ, it’s very linear. Your characters need to kept on track.
Here’s a good thread with useful advice!
Good luck!
I haven't run Ghosts of Saltmarsh, so I couldn't tell you. But most of the big book adventures are fairly long. LMoP is essentially a packet.
If you use Roll20 to play, you can buy the module there and it will come with tokens and maps preloaded. If you play in person and don't mind selling your soul a little, it is on Amazon.
/r/NewDM
What are the kids ages? Teens can play normally but I generally simplify things for 6-10 year olds.
I always recommend The Starter Set from Wizards of the Coast. This has easy to read rules, pregenerated characters so you can start right away and a complete campaign which is really fun and has lots of side quests and hooks to keep the game going for years.
If you're not sure you want to shell out $12.59 USD, then you can try out the Basic Rules as a FREE download from the Wizards of the Coast website. It has the rules for character creating so you can make your own.
As far as a homebrew campaign, I recommend following the Five Room Dungeon design.
Basically, it’s a series of 5 encounters. These five can be linked as a long chain, over and over, into a long campaign.
Encounter 1: Entrance/Guardian
Encounter 2: Puzzle/Skill challenge
Encounter 3: Twist/Surprise
Encounter 4: Climax/BBEG
Encounter 5: Reward/Cliffhanger
So, for example;
Guardian- the group is passing through a forest, protected by a Dryad who hates humans because they cut down trees and farm animals. She set traps like Tangling Vines and Swarm of Wasps to drive humans out of her glade.
Challenge- the group has to negotiate safe passage with the Dryad. They can try to convince her they aren’t chopping down trees or killing animals. Roll Play challenge.
Surprise- the Dryad falls in love with a human in the group. Now she follows him/her around and praises them for good deeds and scolds them for stepping on plants and other silly stuff. The human needs to try to convince her to stay quiet and just protect her glade.
Big Bad Evil Guy- there is a group of poachers in the glade. They’re the ones actually killing animals and chopping trees. The party has to drive them off either through negotiation/RolePlay or violently through combat.
Reward- the party gets to pass safely through the woods and they now have a Dryad friend they can call on for information or help in the future.
I hope this helps!
Good luck!
Dungeons & Dragons Starter Set https://www.amazon.com/dp/0786965592/
I always recommend The Starter Set from Wizards of the Coast. This has easy to read rules, pregenerated characters so you can start right away and a complete campaign which is really fun and has lots of side quests and hooks to keep the game going for years.
I always recommend The Starter Set from Wizards of the Coast. This has easy to read rules, pregenerated characters so you can start right away and a complete campaign which is really fun and has lots of side quests and hooks to keep the game going for years.
If you're not sure you want to shell out $12.59 USD, then you can try out the Basic Rules as a FREE download from the Wizards of the Coast website. It has the rules for character creating so you can make your own. Download them, read them, and feel free to ask questions. 🙂
Check out /r/NewDM
Good luck!!!
Check out /r/NewDM for answers to this and other frequently asked questions.
But to answer your question;
I always recommend The Starter Set from Wizards of the Coast. This has easy to read rules, pregenerated characters so you can start right away and a complete campaign which is really fun and has lots of side quests and hooks to keep the game going for years.
If you're not sure you want to shell out $12.59 USD, then you can try out the Basic Rules as a FREE download from the Wizards of the Coast website. It has the rules for character creating so you can make your own. Download them, read them, and feel free to ask questions. 🙂
Good luck!
I always recommend The Starter Set from Wizards of the Coast. This has easy to read rules, pregenerated characters so you can start right away and a complete campaign which is really fun and has lots of side quests and hooks to keep the game going for years.
The basic premise is that your characters are hired to escort a wagon full of provisions and supplies from Neverwinter to Phandalin.
I detail some other common ways to start a campaign on my Patreon page (all free, of course).
The first three are;
A summons- someone you know is in need of assistance or a favor. For low level characters it could be a relative, like a distant cousin or long forgotten uncle, or even a here-to-fore unknown half-sibling, or possibly a childhood friend or former love (see also; #2). For higher level characters perhaps your reputation is becoming renowned. Did you not know the Bards sing of you? The Duke, the GuildMaster, or even the King therefore requests your aid in an urgent matter.
An accidental discovery- while cleaning out your late uncle's desk, you find a secret panel and a hidden map. While mucking out the stables you find a bag lost (or hidden) in the straw. While casually flipping through a book in a library, a note slips out of the binding revealing a secret message. For low level characters, you quickly send word to your childhood friends. For higher level characters, you could contact colleagues from a past adventure.
An unfortunate event- town guards or Knights of the Crown are rounding up people of a certain appearance, trying to find a criminal. The PCs are gathered in this way as possible perpetrators. Perhaps they then join the hunt, or maybe they overhear another "suspect" complaining of being pulled away from his own adventures, so the PCs ask to join him... once you are all cleared of suspicion, of course.
This could be a good topic for a /r/d100 post.
Good luck!
He's brand new and trying to tell a story to you instead of create a story with you. You brought up your concerns with him, and nothing changed. It's time to fire the DM.
I recommend someone get the starter box or essential box and take up DMing. It's optimized for brand new players and brand new DMs. Usually the person running will need a week or two to read though it before running.
In the meantime, have everyone else in the group take turns running a one shot. Generate random characters here so everyone can let loose with craziness and no fear of killing a character. Make a new random character for each one shot. A list of one page dungeons can be found here if you need inspiration. I recommend not reading through them and have someone pick one at random on game night, spend 30 min prepping, and then just roll with it. The goal is to have a broken half assed adventure that hardly makes sense and maybe TPK's the group. With a goal of that, it's hard to not have crazy shenanigans.
Don't let your current DM kill the joy of DnD.
Check out /r/NewDM for answers to this and many other Frequently Asked Questions.
Help. I'm a new DM-
1. Where do I start?
Check out /r/NewDM for answers to many frequently asked questions.
I always recommend The Starter Set from Wizards of the Coast. This has easy to read rules, pregenerated characters so you can start right away and a complete campaign which is really fun and has lots of side quests and hooks to keep the game going for years.
If you're not sure you want to shell out $12.59 USD, then you can try out the Basic Rules as a FREE download from the Wizards of the Coast website. It has the rules for character creating so you can make your own. Download them, read them, and feel free to ask questions. 🙂
Wizards of the Coast also released The Essentials Kit which is similar to The Starter Set but includes rules for a 2 player game (one DM and one Player) and has the adventure Dragon of Icespire Peak. I haven't played this kit, but it looks very promising.
/r/NewDM
I always recommend The Starter Set from Wizards of the Coast. This has easy to read rules, pregenerated characters so you can start right away and a complete campaign which is really fun and has lots of side quests and hooks to keep the game going for years.
It’s also appropriate for a 12 year old. Or at least as appropriate as D&D gets, LOL
Find four or five friends. Have a conversation with them about what D&D is, its three pillars (exploration, roleplay and combat), and what they should expect to give to and to get from the game. Get everybody on the same page about their expectations and needs. This is called "session zero."
Buy the Starter Kit.
Read the included rulebook cover-to-cover, then have each of your friends read it cover-to-cover. It's not long. It's not really possible to teach D&D from scratch during play. The players need to know the core rules of the game before they sit down at the table. They will forget which dice to roll or which modifiers to add; this is fine, reminding them is easy. But they've got to know the basics.
Have your players choose from among the included pre-generated 1st-level characters. Character creation is complex and can be overwhelming for the new player, plus which it takes a lot of time, so why not skip it for your first time playing.
Run the included adventure, Lost Mine of Phandelver. It's specifically designed and written to be run by first-time DMs for first-time players.
Take your time and have fun.
- Where do I start?
Check out /r/NewDM for answers to many frequently asked questions.
I always recommend The Starter Set from Wizards of the Coast. This has easy to read rules, pregenerated characters so you can start right away and a complete campaign which is really fun and has lots of side quests and hooks to keep the game going for years.
If you're not sure you want to shell out $12.59 USD, then you can try out the Basic Rules as a FREE download from the Wizards of the Coast website. It has the rules for character creating so you can make your own. Download them, read them, and feel free to ask questions. 🙂
It's a product they sell to help introduce people to DnD. Their are currently to different ones https://www.amazon.com/Dungeons-Dragons-Starter-Wizards-Team/dp/0786965592/ref=sr_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=dnd+starter&qid=1623887671&sr=8-3
I can't link too Wizards of the Coast site as I'm at work.
I always recommend The Starter Set from Wizards of the Coast. This has easy to read rules, pregenerated characters so you can start right away and a complete campaign which is really fun and has lots of side quests and hooks to keep the game going for years.
If you're not sure you want to shell out $12.59 USD, then you can try out the Basic Rules as a FREE download from the Wizards of the Coast website. It has the rules for character creating so you can make your own. Download them, read them, and feel free to ask questions. 🙂
However you specifically ask for water based encounters so here goes;
A (pirate?) ship washes ashore, abandoned and decrepit but with strange signs of recent life, like hot embers in the galley stove and clean sheets on the captain’s bunk... is it a ghost ship? or were the pirates simply captured at sea and the ship left adrift? or are they hiding somewhere aboard waiting to waylay investigators?
Kraken’s Emissary
A man comes out from the water, his face and body are covered in seaweed, sea stars and some sponges. Unknown yet to the players, he is a Kraken Priest.
He comes in the name of Aakeratupla, the master beneath the seas (a Kraken, though he will never reveal what it is). It will ask for the players’ most precious items (be it magical or not). Else, it’s master will arrive in 1d10 days to reclaim them himself.
- Castaway
A Kenku and a female human kid cling from a wooden plank floating in the sea. They have no recollection of how they ended up like that, but can at least recall their names: the girl is called Sophie, while she says the Kenku is called Boomer.
The Kenku from time to time may repeat the following phrase: (with a manly gravely voice) “Get out of my boat you monster!”. Moreover, it also makes explosion noises and when it shouts it sounds as several shouts all together.
- Meteor shower
A shooting star crosses the sky. A few seconds later another one shows up. A minute passes and the whole sky starts being covered by a meteor shower. The particles have different colors and sizes, creating some kind of aurora borealis or rainbow with its huge color palette. Is it an omen of something that is to come or just beautiful scenery?
- A bored ancient bronze dragon rises from beneath the waves. His/Her name is Vurvayssun, and has come for some fun and talk, as he/she is extremely bored from not talking to anyone in the past 8 days. When it comes in contact with the boat, it will shapeshift to a hairy dwarven figure. Its hair is the same color as its scales were in its dragon form. There’s nothing that would reveal it is a male or female creature.
It just wants to talk (and boy does it talk!) and can help the players find the way they are going to for 1d4 days before leaving.
- Illegal animal traffickers had been ferrying exotic beasts, but were slaughtered when some of their trophies broke free.
Hope these work for inspiration!
Have you tried the UK Amazon site? It looks like the Starter Set ships internationally from there.... Dungeons & Dragons Starter Set (Dungeons & Dragons Starter Kit): Fantasy Roleplaying Game Starter Set https://smile.amazon.co.uk/dp/0786965592/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_84EE0G6M3YCVZKWWSEB2
A few people have asked how to start playing d&d and generally showing interest. I have posted this else where in here but i recommend people buy 5th edition starter kit, it comes with dice, pre made characters to help new players, a small story to play which is one of the best stories made for 5th edition and it can be used as an opening for any of the campaign books(I recommend storm kings thunder) it works easily with a group of 4-6 people playing but can be done with less.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/0786965592/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_glt_fabc_C4QNS8PEZ2JQKR56Q2H7
If you don't have 4-6 people you want to play with look at you local gaming stores they may run nights in the shop which people can join, there are also lots of groups looking for players on Facebook and the community is surprisingly nice for Facebook groups
1. Where do I start?
Check out /r/NewDM for answers to many frequently asked questions.
I always recommend The Starter Set from Wizards of the Coast. This has easy to read rules, pregenerated characters so you can start right away and a complete campaign which is really fun and has lots of side quests and hooks to keep the game going for years.
If you're not sure you want to shell out $12.59 USD, then you can try out the Basic Rules as a FREE download from the Wizards of the Coast website. It has the rules for character creating so you can make your own. Download them, read them, and feel free to ask questions. 🙂
Good luck, and
Welcome to the Realm of Dungeons and Dragons!
5e is a 64 page system. With a large portion of those pages dedicated to spells and monsters.
5e is a 64 page system. With a large portion of those pages dedicated to spells and monsters.
5e is a 64 page system. With a large portion of those pages dedicated to spells and monsters.
Join us at r/Dnd. All you need is a starter set and some dice and some friends. Technically you could use any dice roller if you don't want to get dice. The starter set has characters and a campaign with all the instructions included. D&D has never been more popular. Even if you don't have anybody to play with, there's always r/lfg. If you don't have anybody nearby, roll20.net is free and works pretty well. If you have a game shop or hobby shop nearby, they can probably hook you up.
You could get into lock picking. Just don't do anything particularly stupid. I know I'm saying that to a 17 y/o guy, but hey it's a neat party trick. Nobody is going to be impressed if you get arrested or shot for breaking in somewhere.
Not my thing personally, but chess has also gotten super popular right now. Whittling is also a hobby my father in-law is a big fan of and all you need is a sharp knife and a piece of wood.
So a handful of tips for a new DM
- Be a fan of the characters. Yes, you're creating the world, but the players are the stars. This means that if you need to change your world because it makes it better for the characters, change it! The story revolves around them, they're not doing a pre-written story where you've decided what their reaction should be. Their choices matter, and their characters should have the spotlight. This will help you avoid things like the dreaded DMPC (basically when a DM has their own PC who is a Mary Sue that the whole plot revolves around). You want to challenge the players and present a realistic world, but in the end you want them to win and be the heroes!
- Don't over prepare! I know it's tempting to build out an entire world and fill it with every detail, but I assure you that 99% of all the work you do will never matter. Matt has Exandria, because he's been slowly building it over a decade, you do not need something like this when you first start! Don't build a whole world, build a town. When the PCs are about ready to leave the town, then worry about the surrounding region. Players can only see to the horizon, don't worry about what is beyond it.
- As a DM, you don't have to be perfect. You might occationally mess up a rule, or make a mistake. That's ok! Same with the players. Don't drown yourselves and them (and slow down the game dragging out rule books to go over minutia every 10 minutes), just do your best and keep things moving.
- For your very first time, I'd recommend doing something like picking up the D&D Starter Set. It has a great introductory adventure, premade characters, all the basic rules you need. It's a great way to try it out for the first time (both for you, and for players!)
- As a DM, Matt's strong point is setting a scene. This is a tough thing to learn, but comes with practice. Keep your descriptions brief, but flavorful; and try to target at least two senses (in other words, don't just tell them what they see, make sure you mention what they hear, or how the walls or ground feels, or a smell that fills a room). However don't forget: people are here to play a game, not listen to your prose. See points 1 & 2 :)
- Don't foget, it's a game! Everyone is there to have fun, including both the DM and the players. If you're doing something and people aren't having fun, do it differently! Maybe your group wants a super serious political intrigue type of D&D! Or maybe they just want to murder monsters and get gold! Both are ok, as long as everyone is having fun
Are you all going to be playing in person, or will you be remote?
If you're all remote, I'd recommend roll20 as an option for playing together and Discord as a group voice chat option. Roll20's free tier is generous enough to get started and there's a reasonable amount of community support if you run into a problem. Discord has the least flakyness I've found in voice chat.
There's so many great RPG's out there it can be overwhelming. Depending on what you've been watching on YouTube/Twitch you might be most familiar with the D&D 5th edition (5E) ruleset? (Thats the one I see streamed the most) Their starter set along with the included adventure of the Lost Mines of Phandelver does a good job, especially in the first section (Goblin Arrows). It's a common enough adventure that there's lots of advice on how to to run it, and people have hacked up lots of supporting material around it.
Should you stay with 5E, I would recommend not getting any of the other official adventures from Wizards of the Coast. Some of them are hot messes and make it very hard for the DM to run. There are lots of other great adventures like: Ragged Hollow Nightmare or Winters Daughter.
Once you get more of a feel of what your group enjoys the most you can pick up different system that focuses on that. 5E excels at plot-heavy heroic quests with lots of combat where you rarely die. A lot of the OSR (Old-School Renaissance) rulesets like Old School Essentials, Whitehack, Knave, etc focus on capturing a more emergent dungeon-driven experience where players must be smart to survive. Blades in the Dark is a great heist game with a cool setting.
Best of luck to you all!
Hi everyone, I'm a newcomer and I just got my group of friends (6-7 people) excited to finally start playing DND. I'm going to be the DM and I plan on buying the starter kit and was wondering if it was enough to just read the basic rulebook and the campaign book that comes with it? Or, do I need to read the Player's Handbook and Dungeon's Master's Guide as recommended in the wiki? I don't want to spend too much time but if it greatly enhances the experience I would be willing to read them. Also, would you recommend the Starter Kit or the Essentials Kit for a complete beginner group? I've read good things about both so not sure which to pick.
This is where you start.
Are you planning to play in person or online?
So I'mma jump in as a reply to make sure you see my comment:
Since some have already highlighted on what to buy and DMing and stuff I recommend a few things:
First, the starter set. This comes with a standard dnd adventure and is a great jumping off point. The only "hard" part is it can be a deadly adventure for new players. So I'd get that and read it over a bit since your going to DM. This is also good because it comes with pre made characters so nobody absolutely has to learn the ins and outs of that. https://www.amazon.com/dp/0786965592/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_fabc_QQJ46QRZH6S09WGY5Z7E
Next, I recommend a battle map. These are WET (not dry) erase maps that are perfect for dnd and you only ever need one. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MQHECUR/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_fabc_DE5PS4F3KM5YF3HBZ317?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
Next bit of advice is you will not finish this adventure in a night so no need to know it front to back. So there's that.
Lastly is that many recommend Critical Role and I honestly dosagrey. Although CR can be very entertaining it can set you up for disappointment because at the end of the day it is entertainment by professional players and not how most will ever play. I do however recommend videos by Matt Colville, specifically this one. https://youtu.be/1K8hGhpQzKg
Get the Starter Set it will get you started on how to be a dungeon master
If you're all beginners, I highly suggest you break the ice with the Starter Kit with the Lost Mines of Phandelver adventure within.
It will contain everything you need to play, it has the adventure book, a streamlined version of the rules and game mechanics, it has pre-generated character sheets and a set of dice.
If it turns out that it's not your cup of tea, you're just out 13$ and you can pass the box onto someone else who might like this.
D&D starter set i 100 movies scratch off bucket list, super su mi pokloni, baš san se oduševija, treća godina da sudjelujem u SS i definitivno najbolji poklon.
Dude. The Starter Set is $12 USD on Amazon.
A great place to start is the D&D Starter Set. It gives you everything you need to run a campaign for a few people, a summary of the rulebooks, and a starter campaign. It really helped us get going. Good luck!
Grab the Starter Kit, it's not even 12$ on Amazon and contains everything you need to run the adventure contained within. You have a lite version of the rulebook, you have the adventure booklet and a handful of pregenerated characters.
hi all, is this rule book: https://media.wizards.com/2014/downloads/dnd/PlayerDnDBasicRules_v0.2_PrintFriendly.pdf
the same of the one on this game?
​
thank you
Yes, there are a few different rule books but if you’re a player you only really need to know the one, it’s the players handbook. Yes it’s big but you don’t need to know everything in there just the stuff that is relevant to your character and what they can do, and even then sometimes you’ll need a refresher regardless of you’ve been playing for 20 years or 20 minutes.
Dungeon masters, or game masters need to be more proficient with the rules and how stuff works as they are responsible for much more of the game than a single player. They should be familiar with the Dungeon Masters Guide, the players handbook, and to some extent the Monster Manuel. More importantly they need to be familiar with what ever adventure (story) you are playing. There a like 2 dozen of them that are pre-written adventures in the most current edition of the game.
The DM (dungeon master) sets the story around you and portrays the world in a fair way and uses the adventure guide book to send the players on a quest. The goal for each adventure is different, some are longer than others. Regardless of the adventure the point of the game is to role play your character through the story acting on or reacting to the stuff around you and finish the story, and most important to that goal is that EVERYONE HAS FUN DOING IT.
As far as the made up rules, often referred to as home-brew, they are additional rules that the players and DMs work about some specific thing in the game. For example one of my players might get to cast a spell in a special way, or get access to magic that they would not otherwise be able to because we talked about it and agreed that they could do the thing.
If you’re a player character, which I recommend for a first time player, you make a character based on a fantasy race, and a class (job), and background or history your character has. The classes range from magical reality bending wizards to no magic fighters that can attack enemies a bunch of times. The races are all your typical fantasy stuff like elves, dwarves, humans, and halflings (hobbits) as well as many more you probably haven’t heard of. The backgrounds are varied and numerous. Really the sky is the limit. Any character you could think up can be built in DnD. That’s part of the fun btw.
Hopefully, your DM has some experience playing and can help you learn the rules. It’s not something you learn in a day, but after playing for a few games (which usually last anywhere from 2-8 hours depending on the group that is playing) you’ll have a rough hang of how your character works. As you play more and encounter different types monsters to kill, non-player characters (NPCs) to talk to, and obstacles to overcome you’ll learn more rules. Eventually, you know enough that you won’t have to look stuff up every time.
I’d also like to emphasize that this game is designed to be played multiple times with the same characters over period of time, called a campaign. There are one and done games called one shots, but if you don’t know how to play your first experience can be a bit frustrating if you don’t have a little help. I suggest if you want to play try to find other people already have some experience playing to help you along. If that’s not possible, then try to get a few friends together and take it slow. You can get the starter kit here and it has all the basic rules in it, and a shorter adventure for you and your friends to try.
Indeed, there is a Starter Set and an Essentials Kit. Both are built to be for first time players. Pick one and it'll have everything you need to start playing.
No need to be nervous! We all started somewhere. There are people who play D&D that are all ages! I am 36 myself, and also female. You will need a group of 3-6 people to play - you can play in person, or online. If you don't have any friends or family that would like to play with you, you can always find more people to play with on this subreddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/lfg/ There are tons of platforms to play online, including roll20, Foundry, Shard, Astral etc.
You will probably need to obtain The Starter Set: https://www.amazon.com/Dungeons-Dragons-Starter-Wizards-Team/dp/0786965592 and choose who will be a Dungeon Master. Dungeon Masters set the scene, the world, play Non Player Characters, and are responsible for the general story arch. The players then interact with the world that the dungeon master sets. It is really cool and I highly recommend!
Hope that gives you a place to start!
First, you sound like a great dad!
While you picked up the books you will need one day, I would highly suggest this starter set
https://www.amazon.com/Dungeons-Dragons-Starter-Wizards-Team/dp/0786965592/
I would do this starter set rather than the essentials kit.
You get stream lined rules and a module, Lost Mines of Phandelver which as a new DM, I think is easier to run than other hard cover modules.
I would also suggest the first few episodes of The Adventure Zone podcast, “there be gerblins” as they fumble through the beginning of this module.
[5e?]
Newb here. My kids and I want to learn and play DnD. Two girls, 11 and 9. I have a few questions and it's been hard to sift through all the info on the internet, I'd appreciate any guidance.
- Assuming their mom also plays, is 3 players enough to have fun? If she doesn't, is 2 enough?
- What should I buy? I have plans on the DnD Starter Set, DnD Essentials Kit, and the Young Adventurer's Collection. But I'm open to better suggestions.
- Is Lost Mine of Phandelver (SP?) a good first campaign for us? I will be DMing but other than watching Matt Mercer on Critical Role I dunno wtf I'm doing.
-
The hardest part is finding a group. Ideally you'll want at least five people, one of which whom wants to be the Dungeon Master. You don't have to play in person: You can play online using webcams or sites like https://roll20.net/ that are set up for virtual play.
Once you have a group, you'll need materias. Ideally, every players hould have a Player's Handbook and the DM should probably also have the Dungeon Master's Guide. Having said that, there are a lot of free resources:
Free basic rules: https://dnd.wizards.com/articles/features/basicrules
Web site with tons of resources, including tools to create characters: https://www.dndbeyond.com/ (you can also buy virtual copies of all the source material here, including the Player's Handbook and Dungeon Master's Guide)
Basic rules on above web site: https://www.dndbeyond.com/sources/basic-rules
Another excellent way to start is to buy one of the starter kits that exist. These have everything you need to get started. There are a couple of options:
The D&D Starter Set: https://www.amazon.com/Dungeons-Dragons-Starter-Wizards-Team/dp/0786965592
The D&D Essentials Kit: https://www.amazon.com/Dungeons-Dragons-Essentials-Kit-Boxed/dp/0786966831
The top review under the D&D Essentials Kit explains the difference between the two. The reviewer recommends getting the Starter Set first, but either one will serve you well.
So this one instead? Currently $11.22
Try also /r/RPG There is an intro kit for 5e which I highly recommend. It is an easy way to learn to DM. The story is straightforward, but interesting enough to engage new players.
You'll need to find/make a group to play with. If you don't already have a group in mind, either ask people you know, go to /r/lfg, or use roll20.net (the most popular virtual tabletop website) for their recruitment board.
Next, you can read the free Basic Rules if you're playing the 5th edition rules (the most recent and most popular edition people are playing, also the easiest to get into). If you're going to run a game as the Dungeon Master (DM, the storyteller), I recommend picking up the Starter Set which has a paper copy of the Basic Rules, some pre-generated characters for players if they don't want to make their own, and a pre-written story for you to use which is great for beginner and veteran DMs/players alike.
If you start getting into the game, you can buy the actual Player's Handbook which has more in-depth rules. And if you're the DM, pick up the Monster Manual for more monsters and more info on the ones in the Basic Rules, and the Dungeon Master's Guide for additional resources on customizing your campaigns and having more info on magic items to give to players, etc.
The "editions" are basically just reissues of the game idea, updated with new rules and such.
The board games are something else entirely - they use some of the same style and use some familiar terms, but Temple of Elemental Evil is to D&D what Monopoly is to real estate management, if that makes sense. If you and your friends enjoy playing lots of different board games, you'll have fun with the D&D ones too. If you want to play a game where you build up characters and a storyline long-term while doing your hacking and slashing (and casting and burning), you'll want the proper game.
The Starter Set is the best place to start. It contains the basic rules, which are also available online, as well as a fantastic adventure to play through, some dice, and so on -- and it's less than $20 USD. The best thing you can do is read through that yourself and decide if it's something you and your friends would like to play.
There's also the recently-released SRD which contains more classes and options. The Starter Set is everything you need to get started - this just gives you more than basic classes.
Finally, if you do decide to play, you ideally want to pick up the other books - the "Player's Handbook", "Monster Manual", and "Dungeon Master's Guide" (all of which you can find easily on amazon or at your friendly local game store). You can also pick up extra dice, figures that you can use to play on a grid, and so on and so on.
But start simple, look at the rules linked above, and you should get a feel for how it all works.
U bet. amazon. Sorry, I was going to but I'm on iPad and got lazy:)
I recommend this video series. The Combat Episode in particular might interest you.
Read the Getting Started Guide in the /r/DND sidebar.
I highly recommend the Starter Set.
It's $15 on Amazon, has the core rules, a set of dice, premade characters, and an adventure that will last you a half dozen sessions or so. It's a great place to start--go figure--and is designed for brand new players and brand new DMs. The adventure is laid out in a way that introduces concepts as you go along rather than expecting you to know everything up front.
The premade characters are big because you want to get straight to the playing not sit there explaining character creation to a brand new player. Without the context of how things are used, its just a wall of data and memorization... which isn't fun.
Not having the Player's Handbook isn't gonna slow you down on the Starter Set... it has all the core rules you need to play... but you wont have character creation rules and a few other things. You can grab the free Basic Rules PDF though which will have a little more in it than the Starter Set including some core character generation options.
If you don't have the full group of five players you might want to check out this tool that lets you know a decent way to rebalance some of the Starter Set fights.
I made a little video for brand new DMs who will be looking to run the Starter Set. It does have spoilers so the players shouldn't watch it, but there are some decent pointers and important rules explanations in there (in my biased opinion). I'll be making one for the player's side of things when I have time.
Absolutely any questions you have at any point you can just respond to one of my comments and I'll gladly help out.
I recommend this video series. The Combat Episode in particular might interest you.
Read the Getting Started Guide in the /r/DND sidebar.
I highly recommend the Starter Set.
It's $15 on Amazon, has the core rules, a set of dice, premade characters, and an adventure that will last you a half dozen sessions or so. It's a great place to start--go figure--and is designed for brand new players and brand new DMs. The adventure is laid out in a way that introduces concepts as you go along rather than expecting you to know everything up front.
The premade characters are big because you want to get straight to the playing not sit there explaining character creation to a brand new player. Without the context of how things are used, its just a wall of data and memorization... which isn't fun.
Not having the Player's Handbook isn't gonna slow you down on the Starter Set... it has all the core rules you need to play... but you wont have character creation rules and a few other things. You can grab the free Basic Rules PDF though which will have a little more in it than the Starter Set including some core character generation options.
If you don't have the full group of five players you might want to check out this tool that lets you know a decent way to rebalance some of the Starter Set fights.
I made a little video for brand new DMs who will be looking to run the Starter Set. It does have spoilers so the players shouldn't watch it, but there are some decent pointers and important rules explanations in there (in my biased opinion). I'll be making one for the player's side of things when I have time.
Absolutely any questions you have at any point you can just respond to one of my comments and I'll gladly help out.
I highly recommend the Starter Set.
It's $15 on Amazon, has the core rules, a set of dice, premade characters, and an adventure that will last you a half dozen sessions or so. It's a great place to start--go figure--and is designed for brand new players and brand new DMs. The adventure is laid out in a way that introduces concepts as you go along rather than expecting you to know everything up front.
The premade characters are big because you want to get straight to the playing not sit there explaining character creation to a brand new player. Without the context of how things are used, its just a wall of data and memorization... which isn't fun.
You can always bring custom characters in once the group gets to town or something if people want, and now they'll kinda know the ropes.
You can also grab the free Basic Rules PDF though which will have a little more in it than the Starter Set including some core character generation options.
Here is a info dump for DMs wanting to run the Starter Set:
Tutorials
I recommend this video series. The Combat Episode in particular covers a lot of the rules new players need.
Read the Getting Started Guide in the /r/DND sidebar.
I made a video for brand new DMs who will be running the Starter Set. It does have spoilers so the players shouldn't watch it, but there are some decent pointers and important rules explanations in there (in my biased opinion).
Tools
Don't have five players? This tool shows you how to rebalance the fights.
These cheat sheets are really handy for some folks.
Maps & Handouts
I made an Actions In Combat handout that I print out for each player.
This album of Maps for the campaign are free use. If you want high quality versions of the ones from the book, Mike Schley sells the entire bundle for $10. Includes high-res versions for both the DM and players.
[This thread](https://forum.rpg.net/showthread.php?760586-Various-maps-I-ve-made-for-the-Starter-Set-(Lost-Mine-of-Phandelver) has lots of user made maps you can look through as well.
Interesting Reading
This post is absolutely fantastic at describing a good way to roleplay Venomfang.
Pact of the Tome has a decent little blog about setting up a group and running them through the Adventure.
Sly Flourish has a blog post about running the adventure as well.
NeuronPhaser has an interesting blog post and links to some likewise neat stuff.
My Realms has decent reading on the lore of the locations used in the adventure. If you're unfamiliar with Sword Coast this can be a good way to make the locations feel more real.
Great news! You don't need to buy anything. You can play D&D as soon as you want without spending a dime.
You can grab the free Basic Rules PDF which has the core rules and basic character generation options.
You can watch tutorials like this video series. Combat episode is particularly helpful.
Read the Getting Started Guide in the /r/DND sidebar.
But even so, D&D 5th Edition is streamlined and easy to learn and there are tons of people willing to help teach you. Its not a game you need to sit and read the rules from cover to cover before playing, you can very much sit down to a table as totally fresh and learn by playing--I teach people this way all the time.
Consider checking out your local gaming store and see if they do any tutorials, have Organized Play, or know of groups looking for any members.
You can also use these resources:
> If you're looking to play in person:
> * Check in with your local gaming store.
> * Local board game/RPG Facebook Groups
> * Local board game/RPG Meetup Groups
> * Post in the subreddit for your town / area
> * Search /r/LFG for posts or make one.
> * LFG tools on Obsidian Portal and PenAndPaperGames > * Sites like FindGamers, NearbyGamers, GamerSeekingGamer
> * Check WarHorn for local postings
> If you're looking to play online:
> * /r/LFG and /r/Roll20LFG
> * Roll20's game finder and LFG forums
> * Fantasy Grounds has a LFG Forum
> * Play via Tabletop Simulator
> * RPG Discord servers: Dungeons & Downvotes, Pair O' Dice, etc...
If you end up just reading up on the rules and wanting to start your own group. I highly recommend the Starter Set.
It's $15 on Amazon, has the core rules, a set of dice, premade characters, and an adventure that will last you a half dozen sessions or so. It's a great place to start--go figure--and is designed for brand new players and brand new DMs. The adventure is laid out in a way that introduces concepts as you go along rather than expecting you to know everything up front.
The premade characters are big because you want to get straight to the playing not sit there explaining character creation to a brand new player. Without the context of how things are used, its just a wall of data and memorization... which isn't fun.
You can always bring custom characters in once the group gets to town or something if people want, and now they'll kinda know the ropes.
If you decide D&D is the hobby for you, your first purchase goal should be the Player's Handbook. Its the core rulebook with all of the default character options, spells, etc.
The first edition starter set is £12 on Amazon. That's cheap, and enough to get started.
The Starter Set is currently $10 on Amazon: https://smile.amazon.com/Dungeons-Dragons-Starter-Wizards-Team/dp/0786965592/
The D&D Starter Set. $9 on Amazon right now.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/0786965592/ Looks like Amazon is the same price but out of stock til February 15.
Honestly, the D&D starter campaign is really good for that. It's $9.99 on Amazon right now, and comes with a few dice and some pregen characters if you want. It's a dang steal.
Plus it has a dragon, which is neat.
$40? The Starter Set goes for about $15 on Amazon. Is this what yous saved up for?
Box contains all you need to play.
The adventure booklet, a light version of the rules, pre-generated character sheets, and a set of dice.
The Starter Set (available on amazon for like $15) is *all* you need to play D&D. I wouldn't recommend buying the books until you've decided whether or not you enjoy playing because it is a hefty investment for something you may not enjoy. You may also want to pick up a few more sets of dice so everyone can share from a pool and the DM can have their own.
​
You can buy the Starter Set here:
​
And some dice sets:
Get the Starter Set off of Amazon for a few bucks, it contains everything you need to have and need to know to run the adventure. The adventure booklet, a streamlined version of the rules, a few pregenerated characters and some dice.
Just read both booklets a few times to familiarize yourself with them. Easy peasy.
Are you going to have the same kids every session? Drop the 4th edition stuff, at least at first. It's more complicated to learn and run than the newest version, 5e. Get the starter set. it's 15 bucks on amazon and comes with everything you'll need to run quite a few 1 hour sessions.
5E - Starter Set - Does it come with the complete LMoP adventure or just a portion? For instance this from Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Dungeons-Dragons-Starter-Wizards-Team/dp/0786965592/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=lost+mines+of+phandelver&qid=1569609866&sr=8-2
Dungeons & Dragons Starter Set https://www.amazon.com/dp/0786965592/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_Zd4LDbF4NJYB3
15 bucks on amazon. Includes a starter dungeon to play, full rule book, full book on explaining everything you need to know, as well as dice and character sheets 🙌🏻
the starter kit is 15$ on amazon and should contain everything you need to give it a shot one night.
The essentials kit is 16$~
you can get several extra sets of dice for 10$
the starter kit and the dice is like 25$ total and can easily get you started.
You can grab the free Basic Rules PDF which has the core rules and basic character generation options.
You can watch tutorials like this video series. Combat episode is particularly helpful.
Critical Role: Handbook Helper is another great free resource.
I highly recommend the Starter Set. It's $15 on Amazon, has the core rules, a set of dice, premade characters, and an adventure that will last you a half dozen sessions or so. It's a great place to start--go figure--and is designed for brand new players and brand new DMs.
The Essentials Kit is another great resource. It's usually $25 but looks like it's currently on sale for $16. It's full of all sorts of handy stuff like GM Screen, items/rules cards for quick reference, dice, and has an adventure that plays from level 1-6. It and the Starter Set take place in the same area of the game world and the kits work very well together actually.
This unboxing video compares the content of the two boxes, notes the different style of the adventures, and might help you pick one if funds are tight.
/r/NewDM
Stay with the Starter SetStarter Set; it's like 12 bucks on Amazon, has easy to understand rules, premade characters, and lots of side quests and plot hooks to keep it running a long time.
Good luck!
/r/NewDM
If you really want to use the old 4e stuff that’s fine. It’s a great system.
But I find it easier to start with 5e.
The rules are free online and it’s a much easier system.
If you’ve got 12 bucks, the starter set is on amazon with a premade awesome complete campaign.
Good luck!
Starter set, the thing you want to start with - as it comes with rules, dice and a published adventure - is $12 on Amazon.
If you ask your friends to help that’s like $3 each.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/0786965592/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_5wa9DbQ6YNR7Y
The core of the game is very simple:
1) The Dungeon Master (DM), controls the game universe and all characters except for the player's characters (PCs).
2) The DM narrates what's going on around the PCs.
3) The players describe what they'd like their character to do.
4) If the DM thinks that there's no chance of failure, they narrate the outcome of the PCs actions.
5) If the DM thinks that there's a chance of failure, they will assign a number to how difficult the task is. This is called the difficulty class (DC). The player will have to roll some dice and add some modifiers based on their character's skills and abilities. Their outcome will be compared to the DC and if they match or beat it they succeed, if they don't then they fail. The DM then narrates the outcome.
And that's basically the core of how it works.
There's a big set of special rules to determine the outcome of combat. When a battle starts the game basically turns into a little combat boardgame (although not every group actually uses a board - some just play using 'Theatre of the Mind' where exact positions aren't carefully tracked.)
You'll be a lot better off with a few more people. It's not impossible to play 2 person (one person DMs and the other is a player), but it will be missing a big chunk of what makes the game great. Each party of adventurers have their own dynamic, and those interactions are a ton of fun and really get you invested. The game's combat rules are also designed for more players.
If you can find at least 2 more people (and no more than 5 more people) you'll be best off. Most people think the game plays best at 4 or 5 players.
Ultimately, DnD is a collaborative activity that relies on all the people involved, but the person with the highest impact on the overall success (and fun) of the game is definitely the DM.
If you want to play with your daughter, you should:
1) Figure out if you can find some more people.
2) Figure out who is going to DM the game. I started when I was 12 (mid 30's now) - 14 is not too young!
3) Pick up the starter set: https://www.amazon.com/Dungeons-Dragons-Starter-Wizards-Team/dp/0786965592/
4) Learn the core rules for resolving situations. The basic rules are included in the starter set but they're also available for free online. The DM especially needs to make sure they know the rules well.
5) Play the game!
The Dungeons and Dragons Starter Set.
Of course, it was $20 at the time.
You could start out in RPGs with something simple like the one-page-RPG Swords and Scrolls (search for one page RPGs to find plenty of other options). This one runs great with a GM and just two or three players. A system like this can generally be played out in an evening or two, much like a board game night and it will give the chosen GM a good low impact crash course on running a simple adventure.
DND is a big step up in the amount of rules knowledge that's needed before you can jump into a game. However something like the Starter Set box should make this as smooth as possible.
Für den Anfang reichen die kostenlosen Basic Rules und entweder das D&D Starter Set oder das Essentials Kit (jeweils etwa 25€).
Für das, was danach kommt, reicht zu 90% das Player's Handbook (45€).
10 is definitely not too Young. 2 people DnD is as difficult as you make it. Don't expect them to solve puzzles or complex 'social' encounters and if you choose to organise a game as their DM. Get an idea what they would like to do.
Do they want to be the heros? The Villians?
Are they city dwellers or open air adventurers?
In my experience 10 year olds are pretty easy with all of the above but it's good to let them air their ideas and it may even help you.
Things you need to get started as a basic rundown:
One of the starter kits will come with everything you need in it bar the full ruleset.
If you really wanna dive in head first:
And DMG.
However, if you'd like even a run through of a game. I'd be willing to DM a one shot to give you an idea of the game and how to create characters that kind of thing, perhaps via Discord?
Edit: I forgot to mention this product was designed as a '1 player' product (1 DM and 1 player). It is similar to the Starters Kit in that it has everything you need to get started bar the full ruleset.
Your questions in order:
>What supplies does a DM need besides dice, a table, and some character sheets?
First of all, find a simple beginner module. You can buy the Starter Set for $13 which has a decent adventure in it. It also comes with dice. You can share one set of dice without much difficulty. Also, if players don't want to get their own dice, there's probably 500 Dice-rolling apps available for mobile devices and that works just fine.
Maps. Since the Starter Set has a lot of dungeons, I like to use 8.5x11 Gridded paper to predraw my map. I also like this because it's easy to cut it into smaller portions to lay out as the party explores the map. Just grab some scotch tape to tape the pieces. Make sure you label them a bit so you know where they go. I like to draw an arrow on each edge with a letter that matches the adjacent dungeon chunks, and then make sure the arrows line up so it's really easy to place them. That will only matter in larger dungeons though.
Character sheets, if you have a game store, they may very well just have some to give you. The Starter Set will come with sheets. I don't remember if it has blank ones but it does have sheets for the premade characters which I HIGHLY RECOMMEND USING FOR YOUR FIRST OUTING AS THIS REQUIRES ZERO PREP WORK FOR YOUR PLAYERS. But if someone in your party is really into building a character, don't stop them.
Miniatures. Everyone has a copy of Monopoly, right? OK then go to a thrift store and buy one for $2. Now you have 6 unique metal figures for the party members, and you have a bunch of houses for small enemies and hotels for medium enemies. Congrats you have all the minis you need. Need something large? Well you're drinking beers, right? Use bottlecaps. Only have $1.50 and can't afford Thrift Store Monopoly? Go tot the bank and get 15 pennies, 12 nickels, and 3 quarters. Now you've got 15 small enemies, 12 medium enemies, and 3 large enemies. Just use whatever works, my dude.
Quick tip: Get some index cards and write each Character and Player's name on them. Do the same for every type of Monster you plan to have them face. Also put the Monster's attacks and abilities on the cards as well. Then order the cards in a stack according to the Initiative Order in combat so you can cycle through the turn order easily and every time a Monster is up you have their important stats right there. You could also put HP and AC on there as well, but I would track that for each monster elsewhere.
​
>There are going to be 6 of us, including myself. What is the minimum length of time I should plan on spending per session?
3 hours is good, but block off 5. If they're into it, you can go longer, but don't ask them to commit for more than 3.
DO NOT BE WORRIED ABOUT EFFICIENCY when people are learning. Take it slow. Try to just get through one encounter the first night, and then gauge the room. 5 Players is a not huge, but large party, so combat is going to be a bit slower and there'll be a lot of moving parts. If your players do not understand what's happening and feel like they can engage with it, they will not remain players.
Quick Tip: During combat, when you call for a player's turn, call out the name of the player who is going NEXT as well. This will refocus that player's attention onto the combat and cue them to start thinking about what they'll do on their turn. At my table this has cut how long combats take by probably a third.
​
>What edition should we play? I don't know any of the differences between them, I've just heard that a lot of people don't like 5th edition for whatever reason.
Every RPG has detractors, and most of them have valid complaints. I don't actually play D&D, let alone 5e, for my regular game, but I still recommend it for you. There's a huge community, the game is very easy to learn and VERY easy to run, and it kind of sits in the middle of everyone's preferences. It's got some customizability, but not enough to be daunting. The system rewards strategic thinking without expressing those rewards through a lot of math and things you need to look up.
What happens is a lot of people OUTGROW 5e and stop really enjoying it. That's fine. We outgrow diapers. Doesn't mean they don't serve an important purpose. I'm hesitant to use that analogy because it implies that 5E is ONLY a beginner RPG and that you SHOULD grow out of it. That depends entirely on you. It's still a great system that you can play for your entire life.
Quick Tip: HarmonQuest is run very differently from how 5E and most RPG systems are. In HarmonQuest their GM does all the die rolling and they entirely use theater of the mind. Understand that there will be more "Work" on the players' parts to approach combat strategically. But don't be afraid to rely less on the map and more on your imaginations to make progress through the session.
Watch this video series: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OoW2CDgztKY&list=PLJmFJXf3BXjwXkNFo_-iwtHb24AuJcXqx
Purchase the Starter Set: https://www.amazon.com/Dungeons-Dragons-Starter-Wizards-Team/dp/0786965592/ and have one of your members volunteer to run the included adventure (which is made specifically to introduce new players to the Game), Lost Mine of Phandelver.
Then purchase the three core books to continue playing if you enjoy it. The players handbook, the dungeon master's guide and the monster manual.
I knew people like you are gonna come
Here have this https://www.amazon.com/Dungeons-Dragons-Starter-Wizards-Team/dp/0786965592
As thorough as the Essentials Kit sounds, it's probably more useful to start with the Starter Set. It has a shorter version of the core rules, some pre-made characters, a set of dice, and a surprisingly good starter adventure module (The Lost Mines of Phandelver). That and a few friends is all you need to get started.
If that all goes well and she wants to dig in deeper, that's the time for a copy of the Player's Handbook. This is the full core rules for players, instead of the trimmed down basics from the Starter Set. It has all the options and rules a player might need.
If (and only if) she decides to take charge and become the Dungeon Master of her own group, that's where the Dungeon Master's Guide and Monster Manual become necessary. The DM Guide is exactly what it sounds like, a guide book for the people who need to know more about running the game on top of everything they know about playing it. The Monster Manual is a giant book of monsters.
Hope that helps, good luck!
Dungeons & Dragons Starter Set $12.99 on Amazon
It's on Amazon JP here
I have hardly ever played. I’ve been a DM since the beginning....way back in the days of the Basic red boxed set from 1983.
I heavily recommend getting and using the 5th Edition Starter Set. You can get it on Amazon for $13 at https://www.amazon.com/Dungeons-Dragons-Starter-Wizards-Team/dp/0786965592/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=lost+mines+of+phandelver+5e&qid=1597670027&sprefix=lost+mine&sr=8-3.
Everything you need is inside: pregenerated characters (the best way to get new players going quickly), the Lost Mine of Phandelver adventure, a set of dice, Basic Player Rules and Basic DM Guide.
100% buy the 5e Starter Set. It has everything you’ll need:
- Pregenerated characters
- Dice
- A copy of the Basic Rules
- A copy of a Basic Dungeon Master Guide
- A solid beginner adventure, The Lost Mine of Phandelver
And it is cheap at about $13 on Amazon!
You're welcome! I'm surprised that the Starter Set is $40 on Amazon for you, as it's only £18 in UK, and when I go on Amazon.com I see it for as little as $12 ( https://www.amazon.com/dp/0786965592/ref=olp_product_details?_encoding=UTF8&me=&qid=1593971833&sr=8-1). I'm afraid that, as far as I'm aware, the only way to obtain the Lost Mines of Phandelver adventure is to buy the starter set.
As for Defiance in Phlan, this is the first I've heard of it, so I can't really comment. I see from a quick Google search that it's freely available online, which is always good. It's also designed for 1st level characters, which is good as 1st level characters are straightforward (ish) for new players to pick up.
Since the real point is just for you and your players to have fun and learn how to play without you having to write an adventure, I'm sure any adventure written by Wizards of the Coast will be absolutely fine. I just recommended Lost Mines of Phandelver because I've run it and found it to be good.
Here’s a link to it on Amazon. It has everything you need.
You can get a DND Starter Set on Amazon for under $15. Here: https://www.amazon.com/Dungeons-Dragons-Starter-Wizards-Team/dp/0786965592/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=lost+mines+of+phandelver&qid=1592708560&sr=8-2
Yeah it should be. Check the board game section.
Amazon also has it, feel free to check this link to see what it looks like. Barms and nobles also has it, any game shop should too.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/0786965592/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_Upf3EbH6CMSZA
You'll still need a grid and token/minis but it has everything else.
That is a good option as well. One thing i will say is get a decent handle on the rules, you dont have to know every nook and cranny, just enough to make quick rulings on the spot, but favour story or mechanics. Even the best DMs get tripped up with weird mechanics and player shenanigans that pop up from time to time.
I started out in the Storm King Thunder story arc as a player, and more to the point this FREE module:
https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/189150/DDIA05-Storm-Kings-Thunder-A-Great-Upheaveal-5e
It is a simple yet engaging module and *should* get you on your DM feet!
If you willing to spend some money i also recommend either the D&D Starter Set (Amazon Canada) as it has pretty much the basics you will need to know on how to run a D&D game and some basic pre-made characters, - OR - the D&D Essentials Set (Amazon Canada) which has a little more "bang for your buck" but allows players to build their own basic characters.
The D&D starter set is on sale right now on Amazon. https://www.amazon.com/Dungeons-Dragons-Starter-Wizards-Team/dp/0786965592/
Has everything you need to play a session.
I assume you mean legally, since you were smart enough to read the sub's rules (including #2), and good enough to not want to pirate stuff anyway.
You can't. You can buy the Starter Set on amazon for dirt cheap.
The D&D Starter Set is a good place to start. Amazon link
I highly recommend the starter sets from Wizard of the Coast.
- $12.40 on Amazon
- Rules booklet for all the rules you need
- Great starting adventure that goes from Level 1 to Level 5.
- Printed pre-made characters
- 6 dice
- $15,58 on Amazon
- Rules booklet for all the rules you need + Character cration rules
- Great starting adventure that goes from level 1 to Level 5.
- Bonus dndbeyond.com content that continue the story up to level 13 via unlock code code but you do need the Player's Handbook for the rueles to upgrade players beyond Level 5.
- 50% coupon code for the Player's Handbook on D&D Beyond
- GM Screen (although it flimsy one)
- 10 dice
- Simple rules for sidekicks that better allow parties of 1 player.
- Blank character sheets. No pre-made characters but you can print the pre-made sheets from the Starter Set for free from here
- Cards for Magic Items the player gain trough the adventure
- Cards for conditions
- Cards for sidekicks
- Storage box or all the cards
I personally think Essentials Kit is a far better product. I liked the adventure quite a bit. It's more "sandboxy" than Starter Set's adventure but it works really well.
Essential's Kit is just much better value for money and the biggest downside of it (no pre-made characters) is a very easy fix by just downloading the free PDF and printing them out yourself.
Still, both are a great way to get into the hobby.
Both adventures require players to think outside the box. You as a DM have to accommodate that or push them in that direction a bit. In both adventures players will die if they take certain challenges head on. For example, a Lvl 1 party can start a fight with a Manticore. In direct combat that can proven to be fatal.
Probably the hardest part of getting started is getting a group together and deciding on a DM. So congratulations, you're already past the hardest part.
As to the rest of your questions: there is no "board" in D&D, not like there is for Monopoly or Clue. Many people use maps on the table to help illustrate the scene and so that everyone knows what's happening, but those are not necessary, especially if you're just beginning.
If you're a little uncertain about how tabletop gaming works, I'd recommend watching some streams, of which there are plenty. Critical Role is probably the best and most well-known, but keep in mind two things if you watch them: 1. They set a pretty high bar, especially with their maps and in-character acting. You do not have to be as good as them to enjoy the game. 2. You also don't have to play the way they play. The nice thing about RPGs is that the correct way to play them is the way that your group enjoys, meaning you should worry more about making sure everyone in your group is having a good time than about whether or not you're doing things the way another group does.
As far as what you need to start, a low-cost way to get into the game are the two starter sets, both of which are available on Amazon. Here's the Starter Set and here's the Essentials Kit. (Note that those are U.S. Amazon links.) You're probably fine with getting either of those. They provide basic rules, some dice, an adventure, and pre-made characters. Of the two, I'd recommend the Starter Set, but that's only because I have no experience with the Essentials Kit. I've heard good things about it, though, so you probably can't go wrong with either one.
If you've got more questions, feel free to message me.
Me and my soon to be group have never played Dnd before. Wanted to start out with the starter kit for 5e that comes with the lost mines of phandelver. I see the product on Amazon here But it says format: book supplement. Does that mean it's the adventure book only, or is this the full set??
Starter set is available on Amazon and I usually see one or two at Target / Walmart too.
All of the 5e books are available on amazon as well, but I'd wait til you get your feet wet to start buying more books.
Help. I'm a new DM-
1. Where do I start?
/r/NewDM
I always recommend The Starter Set from Wizards of the Coast. This has easy to read rules, pregenerated characters so you can start right away (plus the rules to create you own if you want), and a complete campaign which is really fun and has lots of side quests and hooks to keep the game going for years.
If you're not sure you want to shell out $12.59 USD, then you can try out the Basic Rules as a FREE download from the Wizards of the Coast website. Download them, read them, and feel free to ask questions here in this sub. ��
Wizards of the Coast recently released The Essentials Kit which is similar to The Starter Set but includes rules for a 2 player game (one DM and one Player) and has the adventure Dragon of Icespire Peak. I haven't played this kit, but it looks very promising.
Considering how close the break is, how short the break is, how long it takes to complete a campaign, and how much work it takes to create one...
I would suggest running Lost Mine of Phandelver, the starter set adventure. It will teach you how to properly DM as you go, it’s fairly short and has the cool d&d stuff in it.
It’s inexpensive and comes with dice and a basic rule book.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/0786965592/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_qqs-Db7XCR1M4
1. Where do I start?
/r/NewDM
I always recommend The Starter Set from Wizards of the Coast. This has easy to read rules, pregenerated characters so you can start right away (plus the rules to create you own if you want), and a complete campaign which is really fun and has lots of side quests and hooks to keep the game going for years.
If you're not sure you want to shell out $12.59 USD, then you can try out the Basic Rules as a FREE download from the Wizards of the Coast website. Download them, read them, and feel free to ask questions here in this sub. ��
/r/NewDM
If you are not joining an already existing game, then this Starter Set https://www.amazon.com/Dungeons-Dragons-Starter-Wizards-Team/dp/0786965592/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=dungeons+and+dragons+starter+set&qid=1575235051&s=books&sr=1-1 is probably a better first purchase, if you don't know if you will like the game
although the Amazon Black Friday sales have been really good and will probably be similarly matched for Cyber Monday and $82 for the three "core books" is a pretty good deal, but it doesnt come with an actual adventure game to play, you would still probably want one of those rather than making stuff up on your own right away without any kind of guide.
Yeah! Sorry I should of been more specific!
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dungeons-Dragons-Starter-Boxed-Game/dp/0786965592/ref=nodl_
I’m thinking of purchasing this to get a few sessions under my belt, i like the idea of it also been a nice start for my players with some pre generated characters to get them into 5e.
Why would you have to re-write the dragon queen campaign? Sorry I haven’t researched that campaign just yet. Is it that bad? Awkward?
Help. I'm a new DM-
/r/NewDM
- Where do I start?
I always recommend The Starter Set from Wizards of the Coast. This has easy to read rules, pregenerated characters so you can start right away (plus the rules to create you own if you want), and a complete campaign which is really fun and has lots of side quests and hooks to keep the game going for years.
If you're not sure you want to shell out $12.59 USD, then you can try out the Basic Rules as a FREE download from the Wizards of the Coast website. Download them, read them, and feel free to ask questions here in this sub. ��
Wizards of the Coast recently released The Essentials Kit which is similar to The Starter Set but includes rules for a 2 player game (one DM and one Player) and has the adventure Dragon of Icespire Peak. I haven't played this kit, but it looks very promising.
Other than getting a Player's Handbook (or even the basic, for free rules if you don't want to worry about as many options) you can basically start DMing for free (minus cost of dice).
I'd recommend watching some of Gm Tips and Matt Colville's Running the Game videos as a primer, and perhaps starting by running a pre-written module (the one that comes with the Starter Set seems pretty popular, but I'm sure the one that comes with the recent Essentials Kit would work just as well).
Running the Game by Matt Colville is a great place to start. He explains generally what the game is, how to run it, builds an adventure for you, and then spends the next 80 or so videos going on beautifully long tangents about things mildly related to D&D. But the first few episodes are a goldmine for a beginner, if you ever feel compelled to take the spotlight and be a DM. Which if you ever want to start playing with friends, you likely will have to do.
Another option if you don’t want anything to do with that DM business for now is head to your local tabletop gaming shop. Not Target (although they actually do sell some relevant stuff I’ll mention later), I mean a shop specifically built to sell games like Magic the Gathering and D&D. They probably sponsor games you can join and get a taste of how the game works.
Or yet another option, buy the Starter Set which has everything you need to get started. I haven’t played the Essentials Kit but it also seems useful.
However you go about it, I highly recommend starting!
I took a look at Canadian Amazon, and they really do charge you guys a lot for the books, huh? This isn't so bad, though. https://www.amazon.ca/Dungeons-Characters-Character-Rulebook-Adventure/dp/0786965592/ref=mp_s_a_1_8?keywords=players+handbook+5th+edition&qid=1573321671&sprefix=player&sr=8-8
You could get more sets of dice if you wanted, but that comes with one set that can just as easily be shared.
There are tons of premade campaigns out there. I'd recommend kicking off with either the Starter Set or the Essentials Kit. They include basic rulesets, dice, and a short campaign. You can get started with just one of these sets just fine.
If you want to get more into the rules, I'd strongly suggest picking up the Player's Handbook at a minimum - it goes more in depth on the rules and lays out more race and class options for your players than the limited ones in the starter sets. Next priority would be the DM's Guide, which gives tips on how to run the game, random tables for lots of stuff (items, encounters, etc), and suggestions on how to make your own world if you're interested in that in the future. If you do get into homebrew or other published campaigns, you'll also want the Monster Manual- the starter set rules only include stat blocks for the monsters that they use.
Edit: D&D is more than semi-scripted storytelling. Encounters (both combat and non-combat) are generally scripted in the sense that they will occur when certain conditions are met, but the outcomes are dependent on more than just the dice. D&D is a roleplaying game, which means that you (the DM) and the players are playing characters. You play all of the NPCs, and it's your goal to try to understand their motivations and thought processes and have them do what they would do in a given situation. A published adventure might have some scripted outcomes in the event that your players take a predictable course, but if they decide to do something off-the-wall, you'll need to improvise. And of course, you can always tweak the published material if you're comfortable doing so. It's not like Wizards of the Coast is staring over your shoulder making sure that you follow the text to the letter.
Is this the right set?
https://www.amazon.de/dp/0786965592/ref=cm_sw_r_wa_apa_i_YWELDbWY0P9YK
If you and the bois haven't ever played before, one of you should pick up either the D&D Starter Set or the D&D Essentials Kit. They're each $12 on amazon and have a beginning adventure, basic rules set, and pre-gen characters to play. Solid place to start. The Starter set has the adventure "Lost Mines of Phandelver", which is a classic.
If you get through one or both of those, the next step would be for the group to decide who'd be the DM. That person should pick up the Core Rule Set books (Players Handbook, DM's Guide, Monster Manual). It'd help if the other players picked up their own copy of the Players Handbook.
I'd recommend getting the D&D starter set and finding a couple friends that would like to try it out with you. Read the advice in the starter set, look at the other comments in this thread, and maybe check out Matt Colville's running the game series to get ideas, but don't worry if you can't effectively implement their ideas at the very start: Your players have probably never seen or played D&D before, so they aren't comparing you to anything.
In my first D&D game, we had to restart the first combat twice before we interpreted the rules well enough to make it anywhere near fair. The DM told me all the secrets that most DM's would keep to themselves, and was figuring out the rules at the same time I was, but despite his inexperience, the game was amazing.
Here's the link to the starter set on amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Dungeons-Dragons-Starter-Wizards-Team/dp/0786965592/ref=sr_1_3?crid=2TIOTZP3J4VBK&keywords=dnd+starter+set+5th+edition&qid=1567873487&s=gateway&sprefix=dnd+star%2Caps%2C218&sr=8-3
You can use these free basic rules from the company that makes D&D to start designing your own adventures once you finish the one in the starter set: https://dnd.wizards.com/articles/features/basicrules
I would pick up one of the starter sets and playing through the adventure included in it. There are a few options, like the D&D Starter Set or the Stranger Things D&D Starter Set, you can find both online and at either your local gaming store or even at stores like Target or Walmart.
Wizards of the coast do a starter set for DnD, which is relatively inexpensive (and probably even cheaper second hand) comes with basic rules premade characters dice and a campaign for player’s level 1-5. That’s where I started. Everything you need to know to start is there.
The free basic rules PSG is here: https://dnd.wizards.com/articles/features/basicrules
The other thing you need to remember is you’re the DM! You don’t ‘have’ to follow any rules. You can wing as much or as little as you like
Have fun
The Starter Set was designed for you and is excellent.
>ah, I suppose trying to talk to my players for ways I can improve. As for the local shop thing, probably gonna have issues with that personally cuz I've not got a license and live in the country just outside a town with a population of 500 (no license due to near-paralysis level fear being behind the wheel). So I guess it'll be trying to observe other DMing styles, though just seeing that doesn't give me much measure for how much prep to do. My instincts scream at me to overprepare, but that mentally burns me out within hours of getting to work to the point I'm barely coherent for anything but simple conversation, and the burnout lasts for weeks. So even preparation leaves me heavily conflicted and so I push everything back until the last second whe
Has your group run LMoP (Phandelver)? it runs itself and is very player/DM friendly (especially for new players/dm's). https://www.amazon.com/Dungeons-Dragons-Starter-Wizards-Team/dp/0786965592
​
Target also has another starter adventure coming on June 24 https://dnd.wizards.com/products/tabletop-games/rpg-products/essentials-kit (edit: added links)
​
You're a new DM, its gonna be bumpy at first, just accept it, confidence in your abilities will come in time. Every DM started bumpy, skipped players, missed initiative rolls, etc. Like anything it takes time in actually doing it to get proficient, and don't psych yourself out (easier said than done, I'm aware).
​
I try to do just a little bit here and there. Set up a couple encounters, (HP and stat blocks for various rooms), bullet point some conversation points with NPC -> PC's. Then close my notes and go do something else and not think about it until im ready to come back to it.
Trying to set up an entire 5 hour session all at once is kinda rough and will absolutely burn you out.
Look at your start and end of where you want the session to be, prep for that over a couple days / weeks, if your group gets to the end great, if not, no worries and you have prepwork done for next session.
If your group blows through where you wanted to end, see what they want to do/where they want to go and head there. Take a short break, look ahead a bit (which is why the premades work well to hone skills). Your party will have to travel and travel = random encounters so you get a bit of a buffer while they fight some bandits or some goblins or whatever, this might give you some breathing room.
I got really addicted and bought the players handbook, monsters Manuel, and Dungeon master guide probably the first week of playing and read them like crazy. I’m not suggesting that everyone does that, it can hit the bank account pretty hard. There is a cheaper starter set;
Dungeons & Dragons Starter Set https://www.amazon.com/dp/0786965592/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_NbY3CbSMMZSKH
It has the basic rules and a quick campaign to run with character sheets for a few people.
Play d&d instead, its cheaper, much more freedom and literally infinite content: anything you can imagine.
Dungeons & Dragons Starter Set https://www.amazon.com/dp/0786965592/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_PwS2Cb49H93DX
I would recommend picking up this box set
​
For a long time I had digital copies of the books, but I think having the physical character sheets and documentation really adds to the experience. This box set has everything you need to get started and is very straightforward to run and play.
Technically speaking, you don't need anything. You can literally make it all up as you go. "The secret we should never let the gamemasters know is that they don't need any rules.” -Gary Gygax
But for consistency, you want the Players Handbook, followed by the Monster Manual, and then the Dungeon Masters Guide. But the Starter Set has everything you need to get started.
Wizards of the Coast has pregenerated characters you can use for free.
But really it's up to you.
Go with the Starter Set. It's only about $15 USD
Good luck! And welcome to the realm of Dungeons and Dragons!
Dungeons & Dragons Starter Set https://www.amazon.com/dp/0786965592/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_coLUCbA49SGK9
The D&D starter set is a great place to start. For slightly more than a set of dice you get rules, premade characters, dice, and a starting adventure for you and your friends.
I like the expansion called "Dungeons & Dragons" since it adds both more dungeons, and also dragons. The dragons are really a nice touch. They've got a nice box set that's usually under $20, and for people who get really into it, you can play the "advanced" rules. Also, mind flayers. Seriously; if you enjoy Dungeon!, and you haven't already given D&D a shot, consider it.
Watch these:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJmFJXf3BXjwXkNFo_-iwtHb24AuJcXqx
Then buy both of these:
Dungeons & Dragons Starter Set https://www.amazon.com/dp/0786965592/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_tfGJCbCH968N2
Smartdealspro 5 x 7-Die Series Two Colors Dungeons and Dragons DND RPG MTG Table Games Dice with Free Pouches https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01ABST9S4/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_0fGJCb5CBH42R
Not legally no. This sub is very non-piracy.
$20 should be pretty doable. Maybe have everyone chip in $4-5.
You can see what the cost is on www.dndbeyond.com/sources/lmop
But I think it's cheapest on Amazon ($16 + shipping or free if you have Prime): https://smile.amazon.com/Dungeons-Dragons-Starter-Wizards-Team/dp/0786965592/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=5e+starter+set&qid=1552308799&s=gateway&sr=8-1
Going to dinner or a movie is significantly more expensive.
Here are some resources to start you on your path:
You could also pick up the D&D 5e Starter Set. ((Target just had it on sale for $10 too)) It has a quick start version of the rules, pre-made characters, and a really good adventure that will last you around six sessions. If running the Starter Set is something you consider, just let me know and I'll shoot you all my resources to brand new DMs looking to run it.
Pretty much everyone, including me, recommend the Starter Set which comes with LMoP (Lost Mines of Phandelver). It's designed for first time DMs, which means it has extra explanation suggesting how to run the encounters and is fleshed out in more detail than most adventures. It's also a little bit more linear than most adventures... But has a good open-world section in the middle where the party is traveling where they choose sniffing up clues on the location of the penultimate dungeon and generally finding trouble along the way.
If this is to be believed, it's $10 on Amazon right now: https://www.amazon.com/Dungeons-Dragons-Starter-Wizards-Team/dp/0786965592/
Usually I'd expect it to go for $20+, I think? I'm not sure.
The only caveat is that it's level 1-5, so if you're levelled up and don't want to restart you'll have to rescale all the loot/encounters which is half the prep you're trying to avoid. I recommend not doing that. Transition if you're level 1 or 2, reset if higher... Or pick another adventure. Skim the synopsis of some adventures on the WotC site, check reviews quick, and pick one. They're mostly decent.
The Basic Rules are available for free online- that should give you a start until you're able to get more resources. For dice, there are phone apps and online dice rollers available for free (not as satisfying as actually rolling, but it'll work).
Balancing for 2 PCs might be difficult, but it's possible. Best case would be if you can find 1-2 more people interested. Otherwise, perhaps they could each have 2 characters? It might be a bit more difficult to learn at first, but if you take it slow and everyone helps each other, it could work.
Matt Colville has a good series on YouTube about learning to DM. If you want a shorter adventure to start out and get the feel of playing, he has a video where he creates a small dungeon called the Delian Tomb. It's a great small introductory dungeon and he walks you through the creation so you can run it as-is or create your own spin on it. A lot of new DMs have run that dungeon with their groups.
I haven't run any of the published adventures, so unfortunately I can't give you advice there if you're looking for something that lasts several levels. I have heard very good things about the Starter Set (on Amazon for $10 right now), which comes with the basic rules, a set of dice, some pregenerated characters (you don't have to use them if you don't want), and a starter adventure that takes characters from level 1-5. It's recommended for a group with 3-5 players plus the DM, so you may want to try getting another friend involved.
Best of luck!
Someone already gave you a good answer. Here's how I would rank priority if you just want to start by dipping your toes. Honestly with $440 you could buy a ton of stuff, but no reason to buy stuff you may not end up needing.
[5e starter set](https://www.amazon.com/Dungeons-Dragons-Starter-Wizards-Team/dp/0786965592/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1547934592&sr=8-1&keywords=5e+starter+set_ (enough to get a group through levels 1-5 over maybe 7 or 8 sessions; comes with one set of dice)
Everything else: There's quite a few adventure modules now; Volo's guide gives more player races, more monsters, and some lore; Xanathar's has a lot of player options and extra rules; Tome of Foes has a lot of lore, a lot of monsters, and a few player options; Ravnica and Sword Coast give you full campaign settings
Buy the Starter Set (less than $20) and invite a couple of friends over. The starter set has the basic rules of how to play (also available for free download on Wizards of the Coasts website); has pre-generated characters (so you can get right into a game without fussing with rolling characters first); and includes a great introductory module (that will run for several game sessions). It's a fantastic bargain for new players and I can't recommend it enough."
*I'm not a rep for Amazon or WotC
No worries, also you and I could just run something small. But with a decent amount of preparation and watching those videos, you should have at least a basic grasp of things.
Did you get the starter set? It comes with a GREAT beginner DM friendly adventure: Lost Mines of Phandelver.
You don't actually need to speed money on anything else but a set of dice (and even then you can use an app for the rolls). The basic rules can be found online. Otherwise I would recommend the starter set. It has pre made characters, some dice, rules, and an adventure (if I remember correctly). Plus, it's currently on sale.
The starter set is available at bookstores like Barnes & Noble or even at Target. (I wish they had them at Walmarts because they're more ubiquitous.) Also if you have Amazon Prime it's $12 right now: https://www.amazon.com/Dungeons-Dragons-Starter-Wizards-Team/dp/0786965592/ref=sr_1_7?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1545056955&sr=1-7&keywords=d%26d
All 5E adventures are built for parties of 3-5, so you'll need to beef up encounters and hazards. For a shorter campaign, I recommend the starter set: https://www.amazon.com/Dungeons-Dragons-Starter-Wizards-Team/dp/0786965592
Here are some resources to start you on your path:
You could also pick up the D&D 5e Starter Set on sale right now for $12. It has a quick start version of the rules, pre-made characters, and a really good adventure that will last you around six sessions. If running the Starter Set is something you consider, just let me know and I'll shoot you all my resources to brand new DMs looking to run it.
>"I’m thinking of transferring to 5e due to there being more resources,it’s simpler, and more affordable books."
There are 10x more 3.5 books than there are 5e books. Also, on eBay, you can get the three core books for 3.5 for $15 each.
That being said, 3.5 is a lot more complex with not enough return on investment to justify that; especially for players who are new and have no desire to read the books.
Pick up the 5e Starter Set. Run that for your players. See which one they have more fun with. Make your decision then.
It's about to be Halloween, when campaigns get to their darkest moments. Season aside, much of the value of dramatic arts is the threat of darkness; Villains or Tragedy to overcome. As long as good guys win, it shouldn't get too dark.
Really, it all depends on what you consider dark. My campaign currently reads like the exploits of Samson, but if you prefer a more Noah-style adventure, consider the "Lost Mines of Phandelver" adventure.
This'll sound odd, but I have also enjoyed Tails of Equestria, which discourages combat and is utterly bloodless. The stakes can still feel high without even a touch of darkness; Rather than save the world or fight for your life, you'll be using diplomacy and tact to stay afloat.
So the D&D 5e Starter Set adventure Lost Mines of Phandelver is actually pretty great and lines up with what you're looking for rather well.
Starter Setis usually about $15 on Amazon, has the core rules, a set of dice, premade characters, and an adventure that will last you a half dozen sessions or so. It takes the party from level one to about level five depending on what they do.
It's a great place to start--go figure--and is designed for brand new players and brand new DMs. The adventure is laid out in a way that introduces concepts as you go along rather than expecting you to know everything up front.
It also leaves the group near Neverwinter, at level 5, and sets them up perfectly to start off Princes of the Apocalypse, Storm King's Thunder, or a homebrew campaign because anything you want to do you can find on the Sword Coast or catch a boat out of Neverwinter and be off.
The starter set was designed for you.
That's exactly what i did. This starter set teaches you how to play and DM
It comes with a premade characters, a small adventure, rules booklet and one set of 7 polyhedral dice.
As a beginner DM you'll mess up. You'll certainly wont get many rules right and thats ok. As long as you have fun. If you need help just head on to r/DnD or you can find tutorials on YouTube.
Welcome to the game! To start you'll need a few things, and can expand from there.
Here is the basic rules, as well as basic Dungeon Master (DM) rules. They are available in a web based or printable format.
Here is player sheets and some premade characters if you don't feel like going through the process of creating a character to begin with.
You'll also need some dice. Chessex makes some cheap dice to start with.
Here is a nice DM screen/cheat sheet that has information you'll probably need at a glance while running the game.
Think about getting the Starter Set. It comes with a pre-written adventure module, basic rules, premade characters and a single set of dice for a reasonable price.
After that watch Matt Colville on YouTube. He has a very nice series called "Running the Game" that is filled with information and tips, and starts off with a complete beginner in mind.
If you want to start getting serious I would recommend each player getting a Players Handbook. This has information for creating a character, rules for playing the game and other useful information.
As a DM you'll need the Dungeon Masters Guide and the Monster Manual. This has information and rules on running the game, and stat blocks for monsters. You can get all three of these mentioned books in PDF format if you wish, but I find physical copies to be easier to quickly reference.
Here is a website that has infromation I've previously mentioned in a nice web format. It is not a replacement for the books I have mentioned, as some of that information isn't on here.
After all of this you may want to get Volo's Guide to Monsters and Xanathars Guide to Everything. This has even more monsters, player races and variant rules you can add into your game. These are not mandatory but I find them to be a nice addition to the game.
You may decide to start using battle mats and miniatures, these add a lot to the game by making combat more visual and tactical. To start you could do something as simple as printing off squares on paper and using anything to symbolize creatures. You can also get miniatures or make your own monster tokens and a battle mat. This last part can add a lot of expense to the game and isn't mandatory, but most people prefer to use them.
That's a good introduction. There's resources on Reddit to learn the game, including /r/DnD, /r/DMAcademy and /r/DNDBehindTheScreen as well as YouTubers such as Matt Colville, Matt Mercer/Critical Role, Nerdarchy and Web DM.
This is a prewritten message that may not completely apply to you, but it summarizes a lot of the information that a beginner player or DM could use.
Welcome to the game! To start you'll need a few things, and can expand from there.
Here is the basic rules, as well as basic Dungeon Master (DM) rules. They are available in a web based or printable format.
Here is player sheets and some premade characters if you don't feel like going through the process of creating a character to begin with.
You'll also need some dice. Chessex makes some cheap dice to start with.
Here is a nice DM screen/cheat sheet that has information you'll probably need at a glance while running the game.
Think about getting the Starter Set. It comes with a pre-written adventure module, basic rules, premade characters and a single set of dice for a reasonable price.
After that watch Matt Colville on YouTube. He has a very nice series called "Running the Game" that is filled with information and tips, and starts off with a complete beginner in mind.
If you want to start getting serious I would recommend each player getting a Players Handbook. This has information for creating a character, rules for playing the game and other useful information.
As a DM you'll need the Dungeon Masters Guide and the Monster Manual. This has information and rules on running the game, and stat blocks for monsters. You can get all three of these mentioned books in PDF format if you wish, but I find physical copies to be easier to quickly reference.
Here is a website that has infromation I've previously mentioned in a nice web format. It is not a replacement for the books I have mentioned, as some of that information isn't on here.
After all of this you may want to get Volo's Guide to Monsters and Xanathars Guide to Everything. This has even more monsters, player races and variant rules you can add into your game. These are not mandatory but I find them to be a nice addition to the game.
You may decide to start using battle mats and miniatures, these add a lot to the game by making combat more visual and tactical. To start you could do something as simple as printing off squares on paper and using anything to symbolize creatures. You can also get miniatures or make your own monster tokens and a battle mat. This last part can add a lot of expense to the game and isn't mandatory, but most people prefer to use them.
That's a good introduction. There's resources on Reddit to learn the game, including /r/DnD, /r/DMAcademy and /r/DNDBehindTheScreen as well as YouTubers such as Matt Colville, Matt Mercer/Critical Role, Nerdarchy and Web DM.
This is a prewritten message that may not completely apply to you, but it summarizes a lot of the information that a beginner player or DM could use.
If you are feeling a bit daring you could run your own game with the DnD 5e starter set. Its a complete campaign with premade characters, maps, monsters, and plot. It comes with an abridged version of the rules so you don't get overwhelmed right away. The best part is it's only $15 and it comes with a nice set of dice. It's how I started and its an excellent place to start.
Only downside is that someone would have to be the DM. Its quite a bit more work than being a player, but its twice as rewarding. And there is a TON of material out there to help a new DM. Matt Colville's Running the Game YouTube series comes to mind. Honestly, its a lot easier than it looks.
Feel free to PM me if you have questions (about DnD 5th Edition, I've only played that edition, haha)
Hi there /u/Haas-ta .
Luckily you're in an era where there is DMing advice aplenty.
Go download the free basic rules sets from Wizards' website. Grab a few pre-generated character sheets too. Then go watch the first few episodes of Matt Colville's Running the Game series. He talks you through basic DMing tricks as well as how to create your first adventure. By the end of Episode 3 you'll have an adventure designed by Matt that he has talked you through and that you can run in one session.
After that one session you could plan all your future games by yourself, but as a new DM that's quite the daunting task. Instead, I would highly recommend getting the D&D Starter Set. It costs less than $20 - I'm sure amongst you all you can collect that much. The adventure in there is great and is designed for new DMs. That adventure should last for 60-70 hours worth of play time.
Here's how it's played. There's also a starter set that comes with a short adventure, premade characters and dice
Dungeons & Dragons Starter Set https://www.amazon.com/dp/0786965592/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_upFHBbXD1FXZX
Welcome to the game! To start you'll need a few things, and can expand from there.
Here is the basic rules, as well as basic Dungeon Master (DM) rules. They are available in a web based or printable format.
Here is player sheets and some premade characters if you don't feel like going through the process of creating a character to begin with.
You'll also need some dice. Chessex makes some cheap dice to start with.
Here is a nice DM screen/cheat sheet that has information you'll probably need at a glance while running the game.
Think about getting the Starter Set. It comes with a pre-written adventure module, basic rules, premade characters and a single set of dice for a reasonable price.
After that watch Matt Colville on YouTube. He has a very nice series called "Running the Game" that is filled with information and tips, and starts off with a complete beginner in mind.
If you want to start getting serious I would recommend each player getting a Players Handbook. This has information for creating a character, rules for playing the game and other useful information.
As a DM you'll need the Dungeon Masters Guide and the Monster Manual. This has information and rules on running the game, and stat blocks for monsters. You can get all three of these mentioned books in PDF format if you wish, but I find physical copies to be easier to quickly reference.
Here is a website that has infromation I've previously mentioned in a nice web format. It is not a replacement for the books I have mentioned, as some of that information isn't on here.
After all of this you may want to get Volo's Guide to Monsters and Xanathars Guide to Everything. This has even more monsters, player races and variant rules you can add into your game. These are not mandatory but I find them to be a nice addition to the game.
You may decide to start using battle mats and miniatures, these add a lot to the game by making combat more visual and tactical. To start you could do something as simple as printing off squares on paper and using anything to symbolize creatures. You can also get miniatures or make your own monster tokens and a battle mat. This last part can add a lot of expense to the game and isn't mandatory, but most people prefer to use them.
That's a good introduction. There's resources on Reddit to learn the game, including /r/DnD, /r/DMAcademy and /r/DNDBehindTheScreen as well as YouTubers such as previously mentioned Matt Colville, Matt Mercer/Critical Role, Nerdarchy and Web DM.
This is a prewritten message that may not completely apply to you, but it summarizes a lot of the information that a beginner player or DM could use.
> Hello There.
Master Kenobi!
Jokes aside, get the 5th edition starter set. It is the best way to start out getting a grasp of the rules, and offers a great adventure to boot. There is no better way, hands down!
I should mention in case you don't know that there is a free version of D&D 5E called the Basic Rules that can be viewed or downloaded from the Wizards of the Coast website. There is also a System Reference Document or SRD which many people have converted into user-friendly websites such as www.5esrd.com. The SRD contains some additional material not found in the Basic Rules such as additional character classes
You can also buy the D&D Starter Set, which many people say is a great way to start a campaign. It contains a slimmed-down version of the Basic Rules, an adventure, dice, and pregenerated characters, so you should be able to pick it up and play with a little preparation.
Hey you, random person from /r/all. Anyone can start playing Dungeons & Dragons, for free, right away!
Grab the basic rules, maybe pick up the starter set, grab some friends (at a table or on a virtual table like Roll20), and kill some damn illithids!
Dungeons & Dragons Starter Set (5th Edition) https://www.amazon.com/dp/0786965592/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_6CNfBb6YRPZ8D
You can grab the free Basic Rules PDF which has the core rules and basic character generation options.
You can watch tutorials like this video series. Combat episode is particularly helpful.
Read the Getting Started Guide in the /r/DND sidebar.
But even so, D&D 5th Edition is streamlined and easy to learn and there are tons of people willing to help teach you. Its not a game you need to sit and read the rules from cover to cover before playing, you can very much sit down to a table as totally fresh and learn by playing--I teach people this way all the time.
Consider checking out your local gaming store and see if they do any tutorials, have Organized Play, or know of groups looking for any members.
You can also use these resources: > If you're looking to play in person:
> * Check in with your local gaming store.
> * Local board game/RPG Facebook Groups
> * Local board game/RPG Meetup Groups
> * Check out the mobile app GameFor
> * Search /r/LFG for posts or make one.
> * Post in the subreddit for your town / area
> * LFG tools on Obsidian Portal and PenAndPaperGames > * Sites like FindGamers, NearbyGamers, GamerSeekingGamer
> * Check WarHorn for local postings
> If you're looking to play online:
> * /r/LFG and /r/Roll20LFG
> * Roll20's game finder and LFG forums
> * Fantasy Grounds has a LFG Forum
> * Play via Tabletop Simulator
> * Adventurer's League G+ Community
> * Adventurer's League Facebook Group
> * D&D Online Facebook Group
> * RPG Discords: Dungeons & Downvotes, Pair O' Dice, etc...
If you end up just reading up on the rules and wanting to start your own group. I highly recommend the Starter Set.
It's $15 on Amazon, has the core rules, a set of dice, premade characters, and an adventure that will last you a half dozen sessions or so. It's a great place to start--go figure--and is designed for brand new players and brand new DMs. The adventure is laid out in a way that introduces concepts as you go along rather than expecting you to know everything up front.
The premade characters are big because you want to get straight to the playing not sit there explaining character creation to a brand new player. Without the context of how things are used, its just a wall of data and memorization... which isn't fun.
You can always bring custom characters in once the group gets to town or something if people want, and now they'll kinda know the ropes.
If you decide D&D is the hobby for you, your first purchase goal should be the Player's Handbook. Its the core rulebook with all of the default character options, spells, etc.
Usually the local game stores have them or can order it for you if they don't have them in stock.
They are also available on online stores such as amazon https://www.amazon.com/Dungeons-Dragons-Starter-Wizards-Team/dp/0786965592 but I don't know how much they cost with shipping (if free shipping is over 20 or 25$ some minis or extra dice always come in handy and also you don't have to pay the shipping fee)
The physical version of the Starter Set is what you'll want if you and your friends are sitting down around the table to play in person.
Roll20 is a great tool for anyone playing online (though some folks use it for maps and stuff for in-person games) so don't worry about purchasing that version of it currently. Its super awesome that all the maps and monsters are prebuilt and ready to go, but if you're not planning on using Roll20 as part of your game it will only complicate sitting down to play based on your current experience.
The Starter Set box has the core rules, a set of dice, premade characters, and the Lost Mine of Phandelver adventure that will last you a half dozen sessions or so. It's a great place to start--go figure--and is designed for brand new players and brand new DMs. The adventure is laid out in a way that introduces concepts as you go along rather than expecting you to know everything up front.
The premade characters are big because you want to get straight to the playing not sit there explaining character creation to a brand new player. Without the context of how things are used, its just a wall of data and memorization... which isn't fun.
You can always bring custom characters in once the group gets to town or something if people want, and now they'll kinda know the ropes.
Here is my info dump for DMs wanting to run the Starter Set:
Tutorials
I recommend this video series. The Combat Episode covers a lot of the rules new players need.
Read the Getting Started Guide in the /r/DND sidebar.
I made a video for brand new DMs who will be running the Starter Set. It does have spoilers so the players shouldn't watch it, but there are some decent pointers and important rules explanations in there (in my biased opinion).
Tools
Don't have five players? This tool shows you how to rebalance the fights.
These cheat sheets are really handy for some folks.
Maps & Handouts
I made an Actions In Combat handout that I print out for each player.
This album of Maps for the campaign are free use. If you want high quality versions of the ones from the book, Mike Schley sells the entire bundle for $10. Includes high-res versions for both the DM and players.
[This thread](https://forum.rpg.net/showthread.php?760586-Various-maps-I-ve-made-for-the-Starter-Set-(Lost-Mine-of-Phandelver) has lots of user made maps you can look through as well.
Interesting Reading
This post is absolutely fantastic at describing a good way to roleplay Venomfang.
Pact of the Tome has a decent little blog about setting up a group and running them through the Adventure.
Sly Flourish has a blog post about running the adventure as well.
NeuronPhaser has an interesting blog post and links to some likewise neat stuff.
My Realms has decent reading on the lore of the locations used in the adventure. If you're unfamiliar with Sword Coast this can be a good way to make the locations feel more real.
I would recommend the Starter Set: https://www.amazon.com/Dungeons-Dragons-Starter-Wizards-Team/dp/0786965592/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1520494793&sr=8-1&keywords=starter+set+dungeons
It comes with a set of basic rules (you have them online for free too), a good premade adventure for you to run, a set of dice and some pregenerated characters.
Great news! You don't need to buy anything. You can play D&D as soon as you want without spending a dime.
You can grab the free Basic Rules PDF which has the core rules and basic character generation options.
You can watch tutorials like this video series. Combat episode is particularly helpful.
Read the Getting Started Guide in the /r/DND sidebar.
But even so, D&D 5th Edition is streamlined and easy to learn and there are tons of people willing to help teach you. Its not a game you need to sit and read the rules from cover to cover before playing, you can very much sit down to a table as totally fresh and learn by playing--I teach people this way all the time.
Consider checking out your local gaming store and see if they do any tutorials, have Organized Play, or know of groups looking for any members.
You can also use these resources:
> If you're looking to play in person:
> * Check in with your local gaming store.
> * Local board game/RPG Facebook Groups
> * Local board game/RPG Meetup Groups
> * Post in the subreddit for your town / area
> * Search /r/LFG for posts or make one.
> * LFG tools on Obsidian Portal and PenAndPaperGames > * Sites like FindGamers, NearbyGamers, GamerSeekingGamer
> * Check WarHorn for local postings
> If you're looking to play online:
> * /r/LFG and /r/Roll20LFG
> * Roll20's game finder and LFG forums
> * Fantasy Grounds has a LFG Forum
> * Play via Tabletop Simulator
> * RPG Discord servers: Dungeons & Downvotes, Pair O' Dice, etc...
If you end up just reading up on the rules and wanting to start your own group. I highly recommend the Starter Set.
It's $15 on Amazon, has the core rules, a set of dice, premade characters, and an adventure that will last you a half dozen sessions or so. It's a great place to start--go figure--and is designed for brand new players and brand new DMs. The adventure is laid out in a way that introduces concepts as you go along rather than expecting you to know everything up front.
The premade characters are big because you want to get straight to the playing not sit there explaining character creation to a brand new player. Without the context of how things are used, its just a wall of data and memorization... which isn't fun.
You can always bring custom characters in once the group gets to town or something if people want, and now they'll kinda know the ropes.
If you decide D&D is the hobby for you, your first purchase goal should be the Player's Handbook. Its the core rulebook with all of the default character options, spells, etc.
I recommend this video series. The Combat Episode in particular covers a lot of the rules new players need.
Read the Getting Started Guide in the /r/DND sidebar.
> If you're looking to play in person:
> * Check in with your local gaming store.
> * Local board game/RPG Facebook Groups
> * Local board game/RPG Meetup Groups
> * Post in the subreddit for your town / area
> * Search /r/LFG for posts or make one.
> * LFG tools on Obsidian Portal and PenAndPaperGames > * Sites like FindGamers, NearbyGamers, GamerSeekingGamer
> * Check WarHorn for local postings
> If you're looking to play online:
> * /r/LFG and /r/Roll20LFG
> * Roll20's game finder and LFG forums
> * Fantasy Grounds has a LFG Forum
> * Play via Tabletop Simulator
> * RPG Discord servers: Dungeons & Downvotes, Pair O' Dice, etc...
Your local game store is a great place to start whether you eventually plan to play in-person or online.
More than likely they've encountered others like yourself wandering in and expressing interest and can connect you to them. More often than not they also have calendars or bulletin boards and you can look for folks hosting events or post your own to find some folks.
A lot of the times they also host organized play events like Adventurer's League. While not quite the same as a home game, it would let you sit down at a table and play the game which is the best way to learn. Using that foundation you would then be better armed to seek out recruiting groups or start forming your own.
If you end up building a fresh group, I highly recommend the Starter Set.
It's $15 on Amazon, has the core rules, a set of dice, premade characters, and an adventure that will last you a half dozen sessions or so. It's a great place to start--go figure--and is designed for brand new players and brand new DMs. The adventure is laid out in a way that introduces concepts as you go along rather than expecting you to know everything up front.
The premade characters are big because you want to get straight to the playing not sit there explaining character creation to a brand new player. Without the context of how things are used, its just a wall of data and memorization... which isn't fun.
You can also grab the free Basic Rules PDF though which will have a little more in it than the Starter Set including some core character generation options.
Absolutely any questions you have at any point you can just respond to one of my comments and I'll gladly help out.
Great news! You don't need to buy anything. You can play D&D as soon as you want without spending a dime.
You can grab the free Basic Rules PDF which has the core rules and basic character generation options.
You can watch tutorials like this video series. Combat episode is particularly helpful.
Read the Getting Started Guide in the /r/DND sidebar.
But even so, D&D 5th Edition is streamlined and easy to learn and there are tons of people willing to help teach you. Its not a game you need to sit and read the rules from cover to cover before playing, you can very much sit down to a table as totally fresh and learn by playing--I teach people this way all the time.
Consider checking out your local gaming store and see if they do any tutorials, have Organized Play, or know of groups looking for any members.
You can also use these resources:
> If you're looking to play in person:
> * Check in with your local gaming store.
> * Local board game/RPG Facebook Groups
> * Local board game/RPG Meetup Groups
> * Post in the subreddit for your town / area
> * Search /r/LFG for posts or make one.
> * LFG tools on Obsidian Portal and PenAndPaperGames > * Sites like FindGamers, NearbyGamers, GamerSeekingGamer
> * Check WarHorn for local postings
> If you're looking to play online:
> * /r/LFG and /r/Roll20LFG
> * Roll20's game finder and LFG forums
> * Fantasy Grounds has a LFG Forum
> * Play via Tabletop Simulator
> * RPG Discord servers: Dungeons & Downvotes, Pair O' Dice, etc...
If you end up just reading up on the rules and wanting to start your own group. I highly recommend the Starter Set.
It's $15 on Amazon, has the core rules, a set of dice, premade characters, and an adventure that will last you a half dozen sessions or so. It's a great place to start--go figure--and is designed for brand new players and brand new DMs. The adventure is laid out in a way that introduces concepts as you go along rather than expecting you to know everything up front.
The premade characters are big because you want to get straight to the playing not sit there explaining character creation to a brand new player. Without the context of how things are used, its just a wall of data and memorization... which isn't fun.
You can always bring custom characters in once the group gets to town or something if people want, and now they'll kinda know the ropes.
If you decide D&D is the hobby for you, your first purchase goal should be the Player's Handbook. Its the core rulebook with all of the default character options, spells, etc.
Great news! You don't need to buy anything. You can play D&D as soon as you want without spending a dime.
You can grab the free Basic Rules PDF which has the core rules and basic character generation options.
You can watch tutorials like this video series. Combat episode is particularly helpful.
Read the Getting Started Guide in the /r/DND sidebar.
But even so, D&D 5th Edition is streamlined and easy to learn and there are tons of people willing to help teach you. Its not a game you need to sit and read the rules from cover to cover before playing, you can very much sit down to a table as totally fresh and learn by playing--I teach people this way all the time.
Consider checking out your local gaming store and see if they do any tutorials, have Organized Play, or know of groups looking for any members.
You can also use these resources:
> If you're looking to play in person:
> * Check in with your local gaming store.
> * Local board game/RPG Facebook Groups
> * Local board game/RPG Meetup Groups
> * Post in the subreddit for your town / area
> * Search /r/LFG for posts or make one.
> * LFG tools on Obsidian Portal and PenAndPaperGames > * Sites like FindGamers, NearbyGamers, GamerSeekingGamer
> * Check WarHorn for local postings
> If you're looking to play online:
> * /r/LFG and /r/Roll20LFG
> * Roll20's game finder and LFG forums
> * Fantasy Grounds has a LFG Forum
> * Play via Tabletop Simulator
> * RPG Discord servers: Dungeons & Downvotes, Pair O' Dice, etc...
If you end up just reading up on the rules and wanting to start your own group. I highly recommend the Starter Set.
It's $15 on Amazon, has the core rules, a set of dice, premade characters, and an adventure that will last you a half dozen sessions or so. It's a great place to start--go figure--and is designed for brand new players and brand new DMs. The adventure is laid out in a way that introduces concepts as you go along rather than expecting you to know everything up front.
The premade characters are big because you want to get straight to the playing not sit there explaining character creation to a brand new player. Without the context of how things are used, its just a wall of data and memorization... which isn't fun.
You can always bring custom characters in once the group gets to town or something if people want, and now they'll kinda know the ropes.
If you decide D&D is the hobby for you, your first purchase goal should be the Player's Handbook. Its the core rulebook with all of the default character options, spells, etc.
Hey there and welcome to the wonderful hobby of D&D! We were all new once, there's no shame in it.
Check out this video series on Youtube for some basics.
Read the Getting Started Guide in the /r/DND sidebar.
The Basic Rules are free. They dont have everything but can get your started before spending any money.
You can also head to your local gaming store and see if they host any tutorial events or if an organized play table has an open slot.
I'd highly recommend the Starter Set if you can find some friends who are also interested in playing. It's $15 on Amazon, has the core rules, a set of dice, premade characters, and an adventure that will last you a half dozen sessions or so.
It's a great place to start--go figure--and is designed for brand new players and brand new DMs. The adventure is laid out in a way that introduces concepts as you go along rather than expecting you to know everything up front.
Aside from the Starter Set the priority should be on getting a Players Handbook. From there it depends on what sort of game you want to play.
You dont actually need anything at all. You can check out your local gaming shop or start looking for a game online and sit in as a player with no money spent. I would suggest doing a little big of homework first so you understand some of the basics:
Check out this video series on Youtube for some basics.
Read the Getting Started Guide in the /r/DND sidebar.
The Basic Rules are free. They dont have everything but can get your started before spending any money.
You can also ask your local gaming store if they host any tutorial events or if an organized play table has an open slot.
I'd highly recommend the Starter Set if you can find some friends who are also interested in playing. It's $15 on Amazon, has the core rules, a set of dice, premade characters, and an adventure that will last you a half dozen sessions or so.
It's a great place to start--go figure--and is designed for brand new players and brand new DMs. The adventure is laid out in a way that introduces concepts as you go along rather than expecting you to know everything up front.
Aside from the Starter Set the priority should be on getting a Players Handbook. From there it depends on what sort of game you want to play.
There are two good options.
The first would be to pick up the Starter Set and talk to your friends and family to see if they'd be interested in playing.
The other option would be to pick up a Player's Handbook (which you'll want eventually even if you pick up the Starter Set first), read through it a bit, and then look for a group on r/lfg, your local game store, Roll20, Meetup or some other site. A lot of groups will be welcoming to new players.
The subreddit's sidebar has more information. If you have any other specific questions or concerns, feel free to ask.
Your specific questions have been answered so I'm just gonna drop information you might find useful and resources you might want to check out.
I recommend this video series. The Combat Episode in particular might interest you.
I highly recommend the Starter Set for new players.
It's $15 on Amazon, has the core rules, a set of dice, premade characters, and an adventure that will last you a half dozen sessions or so. It's a great place to start--go figure--and is designed for brand new players and brand new DMs. The adventure is laid out in a way that introduces concepts as you go along rather than expecting you to know everything up front.
The premade characters are big because you want to get straight to the playing not sit there explaining character creation to a brand new player. Without the context of how things are used, its just a wall of data and memorization... which isn't fun.
There are two types of spells that require rolls. Ones that use Spell Attacks and ones that use Spell Saves.
A spell attack requires the person using the spell to roll 1d20 then add proficiency bonus and the spell casting modifier (INT, WIS, or CHA depending on their class).
A spell save requires the person being affected by the spell to roll 1d20 and add their save modifier. This number must be the Save DC of the person who cast the spell.
Example:
A wizard with 16(+3) INT casts Firebolt on a goblin and rolls his attack. 1d20 plus 2 from proficiency, plus 3 from INT. Lets say he rolls a 16. The DM now looks at the Goblin's AC and sees that 16 is equal or higher the goblins 15 AC and the attack is a hit.
A cleric with a 16(+3) WIS uses Sacred Flame on the same goblin. Sacred Flame requires the goblin to make a Dexterity Save or take the damage. The DM rolls 1d20 and adds the goblins DEX modifier ... lets say he rolls a 12 so total is 14. The cleric's SAVE DC is 8 plus 2 from proficiency, plus 3 from WIS...so 13. The goblin rolled equal to or higher than the DC so the attack is a miss.
Start with Matt's "Delian Tomb" adventure, found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zTD2RZz6mlo&t=9s
And then buy the Starter Set if it goes well (it will go well).
Thanks for the reply. Is this the one you are talking about (it says "book supplement" so maybe it's the wrong one)? $16 seems like a steal, but I saw someone somewhere mention that the 5th edition really streamlined things for new players and there is separate listing on Amazon that specifically says 5th edition and costs twice as much.
hello, I am a bit late, but here is my copy/paste response, which in particular, will solve your first issue/question
> The price range.
you can checkout the game for absolutely free. here are some links for you. this is all you will need to play or run the game.
- basic rules online for free.
- or here in pdf format
- plenty of free dice-roller apps on your mobile device of choice.
- character builder including a 3-choice-option (race-class-name).
- here you find the starter set character sheets in one pdf, and many other characters with progression from lv 1 to 10.
- admitedly, the adventure part is the hardest to find:
- create your own, there are guidelines in the free rules,
- look for one online,
- or (my recommendation) Matt Colville's Running the Game youtube playlist has a good starting one, just watch the first 4 videos (one hour total) and you are good to go for a good 2-4 hour session.
after this, if you ike the game, do get the starter set, I've heard nothing but good things about the adventure (I own it, but havaen't ran it yet). it is around 20bucks for a game that can give you countless hours of entertainment.
I'd recommend the Starter Set if you can still get it in time. It's written specifically for people who have never played before, and goes from level 1 to about 5. After that, if you feel comfortable you can just roll into a homemade game or start a new one altogether.
You will do hundreds of things "wrong." Realize this now and stop worrying about it. Just keep moving and have fun.
Also, start with the starter set. It was designed for you.
You just describe what happens and play the npc's like they are characters.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-YZvLUXcR8&list=PLlUk42GiU2guNzWBzxn7hs8MaV7ELLCP_
So first off, if you're looking for a group: r/LFG, local game shops, or a virtual tabletop environment (roll20, fantasy grounds, etc), or lookingforgm.com are your best friend.
If you're looking to start your own group with your friends in your local area, there's tons of tips and ways to get started as both a GM and as a player! With the 5th Edition Starter Set you and your friends can dive into the current iteration of DnD and play a pre-written adventure. This includes a lot of content and a basic set of the rules. It's fast, it's cheap (like way cheaper than the other adventure modules), and it'll get you right into the game once somebody steps up to GM.
Running the Game by Matt Colville - A very helpful video playlist that explains the basics of being a DM in the first few videos, and then goes on to other, more specific stuff later. In the first episode he basically makes your first session for you. (Also a bunch of useful stuff in the description)
Dungeons and Dragons Starter Set - Has everything you need to get started. Rules, dice, character sheets, all that jazz. This as well as the video I mentioned above are super useful.
Critical Role - I recommend watching people play the game to get a feel for how it works. This series is a bunch of voice actors playing the game, so I find it pretty entertaining. Don't be intimidated by the length of the video or the audio issues. You could watch pretty much a little bit of any of the videos in this series and get the idea. You can also find other examples with different groups and see how the playstyles differ. Not every DM has to be a professional voice actor to be entertaining after all.
Did you specifically wait until my vacation to challenge the "Must relate to Dungeons & Dragons" rule?
Fuck it. It's staying up. Though the answer is obviously, "use her ring as a spell component".
::EDIT:: If anyone is coming here from /r/all, you know you've thought about playing D&D. You know that was your favorite episode of Dexter's Lab. Well download the FREE Basic Rules from the WotC website, grab some friends, maybe pick up the Starter Set, and start playing!
I'll make a couple suggestions. The first is this video series. This is a great rundown of the game and how it works and it really helped me understand how to play. It will take you an hour or two to get through the videos but it's so worth it. I would recommend having your players watch the first 10 minute video before they show up for the first session or watch it as a group once you're all together (not the whole series, just the intro video.) This will give them an idea of what D&D is all about and what to expect, at least a little bit.
The second resource I'm going to recommend is the D&D Starter Set. This contains a great first adventure for you to run as a DM, as well as pregenerated characters to use and one set of dice. The adventure that the set comes with is The Lost Mine of Phandelver and it literally walks you through everything as you start to DM. It will tell you what to do and hold your hand as you get off the ground. The first session is sort of a tutorial session for you as DM and for the players.
I'd recommend getting some extra dice for your players as well so everyone can play with their own set. If you watch those videos and start off with the Starter Set you should be good to go.
Here is about it: http://dnd.wizards.com/products/tabletop-games/rpg-products/rpg_starterset
Free basic rules (mostly included in Starter Set but IIRC do contain character generation rules): http://dnd.wizards.com/products/tabletop-games/rpg-products/rpg_starterset
And on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Dungeons-Dragons-Starter-Wizards-Team/dp/0786965592
The Starter set and basic rules are a cut down of the player's handbook. They only go to level 5 and have a subset of classes and archtypes.
Certainly enough to see if this game is for you and your friends. If you like it, go buy the PHB.
Cheers!
If you're looking to get into the newest edition, the starter set: https://www.amazon.com/Dungeons-Dragons-Starter-Wizards-Team/dp/0786965592 is a great buy. You can give the campaign that it includes to whoever is going to run the game and you have everything you need to get started. You can also wander over to d20srd.org or https://www.5thsrd.org to access the basic rules.
The starter set, of course. it was designed for you. It easily transitions into a very strong adventure, Storm King's Thunder, as well.
This is the Starter Kit I own. Apparently it is the best way to get started as you get the basic rules and an adventure.
I assume if I ever get into it I will buy the player's guide, but apparently everything you need to run that adventure (which should take an age. Some people say about 6 months of play sessions) and there is no filler i.e. stuff you do not need to know yet.
I really only know 5e, so I can't say what's available for other editions or Pathfinder.
Here's a link to the Starter Set on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Dungeons-Dragons-Starter-Set-Roleplaying/dp/0786965592
I suggest with the starter set. It has everything you need to play. It comes with a premade adventure, set of dice, and an abbreviated Player's Handbook. Might take you around 30 hours to complete. Once you finish the adventure build your world from the adventure, or you can purchase another adventure book and continue with your current characters.
Also, you can search this subreddit for beginner DM advice because this question is asked multiple times a day. Then you will get more tips then five or six replies here.
The 5E "box set" is an adventure from levels 1 to 5, called the Starter Set.
It was only called "Next" in playtesting. Just Fifth Edition now.
The Players Handbook and Dungeon Masters Guide are pretty essential, you can make due without a monster manual for a bit but one of those is highly recommended (you can get them new but they are all a bit pricey so you may want to hunt around a bit for good deals)
Just Google: 5e Player Handbook 5e Dungeon Masters Guide 5e Monster Manual You'll find links immediately to places you can buy them
If you are a creative person and want to be the dungeon master (aka what Abed does) coming up with your own world to play in is very fun and very rewarding but if you feel you could use some help or want to get into the game very quickly and not spend to much time developing your own world you can use some campaign books that have a story set up for you (my favourite so far has been Hoard of the dragon queen but there are tons of others)
Wizards of the coast (current producers of dungeons and dragons) has an official starter set as well that comes with pregenerated characters, dice, and a short story you could try out
Dungeons & Dragons Starter Set https://www.amazon.com/dp/0786965592/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_mvSVzbK0BAJGQ
It's not too expensive, only $17 on Amazon (if you're in the US). If everyone chips in for it, it may only end up being $4-5 per person. That's cheaper than seeing a movie.
Did you know Amazon will donate a portion of every purchase if you shop by going to smile.amazon.com instead? Over $50,000,000 has been raised for charity - all you need to do is change the URL!
Here are your smile-ified links:
Dungeons & Dragons Starter Set
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Es gibt auch einen Beginners Guide von Dungeons & Dragons (Amazon Link. Ist zwar auf Englisch, dafür mit vorgefertigten Charakteren und einem Leitfaden für den GM. D&D ist sicher nicht unbedingt das einfachste System für den Einstieg, aber vielleicht ist es ja etwas für eine spätere Runde.
I see what you mean totally, yeah. I've been playing the game so long, I forget that people need to try it out to see if they even like it. Duh. My bad! <3
Specific for 5E. Each edition has vastly different core rules. 5E is beautiful system, and its starter set is excellent. Tons of us have played it.
Feel free to PM me with questions if you have any. I like helping new players and DMs.
I had never played before, so I bought the Starter Set, then I asked my friends and people I knew via facebook if they wanted to play. So now I DM twice a month for a guy from my church and his brother, some friends, and a woman from my gym. We're having a blast.
Here's a thought, I might be a bit hestitant with 12 year olds, but you might be able to post about a kids game in fantasy grounds on the Looking For Group Page (fantasy grounds is an online tabletop simulator). Another option would be to go to Adventure's League at your local hobby store. It will probably be mixed ages, but it might give you some perspective on the game. The last suggestion would be to just buy the DM's guide and Order a copy of the lost mine of phandelver (available in the D&D starter set) https://www.amazon.com/Dungeons-Dragons-Starter-Wizards-Team/dp/0786965592/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1504050077&sr=8-1&keywords=lost+mine+of+phandelver
Also, remember rule zero: "Roleplaying games are entertainment; your goal as a group is to make your games as entertaining as possible." You don't need to do the rules perfect to have fun.
The Starter Set has a simple rulebook and a simple adventure (but a fun one).
If you have people interested, grab the 5e starter set, pick one of you to be the dm, and then pick a day to play. You guys already have the hardest part done (finding other people to play with). When you have specific questions feel free to post here. :D
Basic rules online: http://dnd.wizards.com/articles/features/basicrules
The Starter Set (Lost Mines of Phandelver) is like $16 on Amazon, so it's not a big investment, you don't need to shell $100 to get the PHB and MM and DMG just yet, and it contains everything you need to get started, basic rules, the adventure booklet, and some pregen characters.
Even comes with a set of dice.
Along with a few friends, that's all you need to get going!
Just like everyone else. Ima suggest lost mine of phandelvar.
https://www.amazon.com/Dungeons-Dragons-Starter-Wizards-Team/dp/0786965592
But it is also sold at Wal-Mart sometimes and Barnes and noble and all gaming magic card stores.
It has phandelvar inside it. And some dice. And level 1 characters. With this and the players handbook you will be just fine..
Read what the other dude posted starting with tl:Dr and buy this box. Then profit. And kill your friends.
Cold you afford $15ish for the Starter Set? It has what you need for months of play.
https://www.amazon.com/Dungeons-Dragons-Starter-Wizards-Team/dp/0786965592
The starter set is fairly cheap. It contains a module and the basic rules as well as a (really cheap) set of dice. https://www.amazon.com/Dungeons-Dragons-Starter-Wizards-Team/dp/0786965592
Another way to do it is this: https://www.dndbeyond.com/
This is the basic rules, monsters, and items. You can get character sheets off here: http://dnd.wizards.com/articles/features/character_sheets
If your roommates enjoy it then I would recommend the PHB and Monster Manual at the very least, I imagine you are DMing since you are the only one with experience.
Amazon does sell the core books for much cheaper than retail: https://www.amazon.com/Players-Handbook-Dungeons-Dragons-Wizards/dp/0786965606/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8
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The starter set is a great intro to the game. All you would need are additional sets of dice.
https://www.amazon.com/Dungeons-Dragons-Starter-Set-Roleplaying/dp/0786965592
The best advice I can give anyone who doesn't have a group to play with and doesn't have "nerdy" friends is become the DM for 5e and invite your friends to a game. They will most likely say "I don't know how to play", tell them it's fine. It's a game you learn as you go. You as the DM will be making a ton of mistakes early on but everyone will still have fun. Everyone will get better as they go. You want to read the Basic Rules, or the part in the PHB called "running the game". It's the small section in the middle between the race/class options and the spells. I did this very same thing when I first started watching Critical Role (I had played before but not 5e) and now we've been playing since 2015 and the problem I have now is too many people want to play. I currently have a full group of 5 and an extra player who plays the character of whoever doesn't show up. We're at the end of a campaign where it doesn't make sense introducing a new character but they should get to make one soon. 5e is the definitive edition to get new people into the game. If you can get them to show up for the first game, most of them will stick around, and they will be the best advertisements you have for the game since because they may not be "nerdy" they will convince other people more easily to try the game.
I recommend to start buy purchasing the starter set and playing through that (It has the basic rules and it starts easy for DM and gets more complicated as it goes to train you). You don't need anything besides this until you finish the campaign in it if you don't want to. https://www.amazon.com/Dungeons-Dragons-Starter-Set-Roleplaying/dp/0786965592/
Optional but recommended, at least once you get your group started:
A copy of the PHB and MM, available from Amazon for less than in stores. https://www.amazon.com/Players-Handbook-Dungeons-Dragons-Wizards/dp/0786965606/ https://www.amazon.com/Monster-Manual-Core-Rulebook-Wizards/dp/0786965614/ A bag of dice so you have enough to share. I recommend the easy-roller dice bag, it's about $25 on Amazon but they guarantee the dice are not defects which is the case with many of the other big bags of dice. The bag contains 15 full sets of 7 dice in various colors. https://www.amazon.com/Easy-Roller-Dice-Polyhedral-Dungeons/dp/B00L2N1OVI
They made a D&D 5e version of Middle Earth, called Adventures in Middle Earth. It's pretty good, but even more work than base D&D.
My recommendation is always the Starter Set. It's a great way to get into the game.
Please, heed the advice of others in the thread. Trying to turn D&D into Middle Earth is... not even slightly easy.
To help represent combat or unique locations mostly. Abilities, movement and positioning are easier to see if you use a grid to define where everything is. 1 square represents 5ft. It's not needed, but most of us have an easier time visualizing what's going on when we can actually see a representation. Like chess you can play it in your head, but much easier with a board set up. But they come in many varieties and at various price points.
It's also fun to collect minis to use, but those are totally optional and expensive so start with pennies or dice and buy things as you actually need/want them.
I would recommend you get the starter set for 5e. Comes with everything you "need" to get started and if you like it you can buy the players handbook and such from there.
Save your group months of headaches and start with 5E. It's a much better system: elegant and intuitive. Buy the Starter Set. it's less than $20 and has a complete adventure that can last you all months.
Two main options:
Attempt to find someone with prior experience to DM for you/teach you as you learn by playing (Might be easier once you start but likely much harder to find/will take longer before you can start), or
One of you takes on the DM role and you start playing! (Will require more work for the DM)
If you go option 2 (which I recommend), check out the 5e Starter Set (https://www.amazon.com/Dungeons-Dragons-Starter-Set-Roleplaying/dp/0786965592/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1488745717&sr=8-1&keywords=5e+starter+set)
This gives you all the rules you need to play, a complete adventure module for the DM to run, and pre-generated character sheets that go up through level 5. Oh, and a set of dice. If you and your friends split the cost it'll be less than 7 bucks a person for enough content to easily give you 20+ hours of playtime. The DM can also find plenty of videos online of people playing the included module and giving advice from a DM perspective on how to run it to get started.
Oh okay, I'll probably gonna invest then into the basic set.
Is this something that would be worth it?
The basic rules are helpful (http://dnd.wizards.com/articles/features/basicrules). I would recommend the starter set though. It comes with a smaller set of rules that can be played with a premade campaign and even comes with some premade character sheets. If your friends enjoy this and want to keep playing you can always pick up the Players Handbook, DM guide, and Monster Manual. Start with the starter set though and ease into the rules. There is a link at the bottom for the starter set.
They have the "book supplement" from the starter set for thirteen bucks. I think that'd be it.
There is a public D&D Discord that might be able to help. https://discord.gg/ZrDhU7X
If you want to start out with something basic, easy to understand and a rulebook that's not almost 300 pages long, i can reccomend picking up the D&D 5th edition starter set. It's a great adventure that eases in all the neccesairy mechanics bit by bit. https://www.amazon.com/Dungeons-Dragons-Starter-Set-Roleplaying/dp/0786965592
Run a published adventure. This is far easy and will get you used to running games in general the system specifically. This is the standard for 5E and it's excellent:
In addition to roll20 which was suggested elsewhere, the starter kit is FANTASTIC for starting out in person. It has the rules you need to get going, options for custom character creation and pre-made characters if you just wanna jump right in. The adventure is a fantastic starting adventure that provides good hooks into a well established area (Faerun/Toril, also known as the Forgotten Realms), and its easy to run as a DM. I provided a link to the canadian amazon store for the product. You might not be able to pick it up from there, but that is the product to keep an eye out for.
Hi, I'm trying to get myself (and potentially my friends) into DnD. I've seen a couple of starter kits, but I was wondering if there were any recommendations from this subreddit?
I have only read the Player's Handbook for 3.5e, but I'm looking to get into 5e.
This deal from amazon being the first I found and seemed to be good for starters, but I wanted some more experienced feedback.
My advice is to start with a published adventure. This will be much easier for you, as a new DM. You'll learn tons. This is the standard starter adventure for 5E:
Your best bet it to get your hands on the 5th edition starter set. You can order it on Amazon or buy it from your local game/comic/book store (even Barnes & Nobel carries it). That set has everything you need to get started (even for a several months of play), and the books inside introduce the game in a pretty straightforward way.
For a general introduction, check out this video.
There isn't really a "concise" resource that will teach you how to play, but watching other people might be a good place to start. One great series to check out is Force Grey: Giant Hunters.
You actually have a lot of options when it comes to price.
If you want to just get started then I would suggest trying out the D&D 5th Edition Starter Set for ~$17 on Amazon. I haven't used it before, but I've heard very good things about it. The Starter Set has everything you need to run a short game for 4-6 players including a shortened rule book, pre-written adventure, and character sheets.
If you want to dive right into the full game then you can pick up the 5th Edition Player's Handbook for ~$30 on Amazon which has all the rules and instructions necessary to make a character and run a game of D&D. If you decide that you will be the one running the game the Monster Manual and Dungeon Master's Guide will be helpful, but still optional.
You also have the option of finding an already existing group and joining with them. One of the best ways to learn D&D is to have a patient veteran take you through everything you need to know step-by-step. If you do not personally know anyone who plays then you could always try checking local game stores and hobby shops to see if there are any games. You can also check r/lfg to find games near you or online. Obviously if the group already has the rulebooks then the cost is potentially free.
Finally if you have anymore questions about the game you could check the D&D 5th Edition subreddit r/dndnext or the non edition specific r/DnD.
I recommend the starter set for new players. Has stuff already setup for the DM and requires little preparation. Also has premade characters. It's a good bang for your buck.
Once you've got some experience under your belt then you can try to tackle innistrad. Can even do something like teleport them there via arcane means to keep their characters. Have any questions feel free to ask.
I would say print out the basic rules from D&D 5e and try it:
http://dnd.wizards.com/articles/features/basicrules
Also, the "Beginner Box" for 5e is great also. It includes premade characters, a set of dice and a really cool starting adventure:
https://www.amazon.com/Dungeons-Dragons-Starter-Set-Roleplaying/dp/0786965592
It's $17 on amazon prime and a great place to start.
Personally, Pathfinder has some neat stuff but combat takes too long. 5e simplifies combat and also focuses a lot on RP which I personally enjoy.
it's not free, and it's not really a one shot, but the Starter Set is a good place to ease into the rules.
If you are playing 5e then the 5e starter set provides a great adventure that covers levels 1-5. If you go through it and feel like you're getting a hang of things by the end of it you can always jump off into your own homebrewed campaign after you finish.
I'd say get the starter set as it has a decent module and even premade characters to practice with.
https://www.amazon.com/Dungeons-Dragons-Starter-Set-Fundamentals/dp/0786965592/
Good character sheets help keep the numbers organized (practice with the premades!).
Monsters are fine, but there needs to be a story. Types of NPCs are in the MM (towards the back are some humanoid typical people types). Start with a structured module to get a feel before you jump into building a world.
And above all have fun!
Dungeon & Dragons Starter Set
Short, basic rules for DM and for players, pregenerated characters and campaign. If you like it, you can then expand and get the DMG, Player's Handbook and Monster Manual and start making your own adventure, or buy some of the adventure books.
https://www.amazon.com/Dungeons-Dragons-Starter-Set-Roleplaying/dp/0786965592
This is a really cool starter set, I really enjoyed the story. You cant really go wrong with this one!
Here is the D&D 5th edition starter set to see if he/you would like it. https://www.amazon.com/Dungeons-Dragons-Starter-Set-Roleplaying/dp/0786965592
D&D is a great bonding experience and can really make you have long lasting hilarious stories you can reflect back on together and with friends.
If you're willing to DM, purchase this:
https://www.amazon.com/Dungeons-Dragons-Starter-Set-Roleplaying/dp/0786965592
It has everything you need to play for months.
Do it! It takes a bit of research and planning, but, there's nothing else like it. And the newest edition is fantastic.
If you decide to, have whoever decides to DM get this:
It has literally everything you need to get started, and enough content to play for several months or more. Feel free to ask if you have questions.
The D&D Starter Set is the best way to take players from level 1-5, and many of the other adventure paths have suggestions for tying into it. It's less than $20 and includes dice.
Get the 5e Starter Set for $12 on Amazon. It has ALL you need including dice and 5 pregen characters.
the starter set is 13 dollars and the rulebooks are 30... that is very reasonable. This particular starter set is more expensive because its out of print and considered to be collectible nowadays, not really through any fault of WotC
You can get the PHB, a set of dice, a note book and a pen for less than a new AAA game.
The only thing to make it even more reasonable would be to have a 15-20 dollar softcover option... but im not going to push it.
First time? Lost Mine of Phandelver:
https://www.amazon.com/Dungeons-Dragons-Starter-Set-Roleplaying/dp/0786965592
Storm King's Thunder is fucking fantastic as well, and well-suited for newer players and DMs.
Assuming 5e??
What are you looking for, do you want to DM and look for a one-shot adventure?
If that is the case, I am a big fan of this adventure. It is made by WotC, originally for the Adventure's League. But it is well written and accessible for a new DM, and consists of 5 short missions with a good mix of fighting and roleplaying.
If you find out that you enjoy the game and are ready for a somewhat regular schedule, you should definitely check out the Starter Set. It is cheap and a very good introduction to longer campaigns.
I would start with updating to 5e. There is a starter kit for $12 on amazon. (Link below) This would be a better place to start and would be more forgiving to learn DMing.
The Starter Set has everything you need to begin playing, including the rules. Great deal.
https://www.amazon.com/Dungeons-Dragons-Starter-Set-Roleplaying/dp/0786965592
If you're willing to DM, get this:
https://www.amazon.com/Dungeons-Dragons-Starter-Set-Roleplaying/dp/0786965592
It has everything you need to start playing the game. PM if you like.
Link or anything? Never heard of it.
The Starter Set is built for new players and is quite good.
https://www.amazon.com/Dungeons-Dragons-Starter-Set-Roleplaying/dp/0786965592
A good place to start is the Starter Set (link below). It has basic rules, a set of dice, and an adventure that will potentially take characters from 1st to 5th level.
Dungeons & Dragons Starter Set: Fantasy Roleplaying Game Starter Set (D&D Boxed Game) https://www.amazon.com/dp/0786965592/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_l7D6xbBXRHB1V
Lots of folks are wanting to run Night Below (NB) in Collabris but sadly it is rather difficult to find. I think running NB is so focused on the Underdark that you miss out on a chance to let the players explore the world at large.
Against the Cult of the Reptile God is a great starter adventure - does require some adjustment for 5E but that sort of stuff is simple.
Lost Mine of Phandelver from the 5e Starter set is a good place to begin as well.
The Sunless Citadel from 3.0 I recall as being an interesting and fun adventure
Don't make the first game that complex - Matt's Starter Dungeon is perfect for getting things going ... if your friends want more THEN expand. I recommend getting the Starter set with Lost