Getting started with Dungeons and Dragons!
Dungeons and Dragons (D&D) is a tabletop role-playing game that has been captivating players since it was first published in 1974. But if you're new to the game, it can be a bit overwhelming to figure out where to start. Here are the top five things you need to start playing D&D:
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The Player's Handbook - The Player's Handbook is the core rulebook for D&D and is essential for anyone looking to play the game. It contains all the rules you need to create your character, as well as details on combat, skills, and more. The current edition of the Player's Handbook is the fifth edition, or 5e.
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Dice - D&D uses a range of polyhedral dice, including a four-sided die (d4), six-sided die (d6), eight-sided die (d8), ten-sided die (d10), twelve-sided die (d12), and twenty-sided die (d20). You'll need at least one of each type of die to play, and it's a good idea to have multiple sets in case you need to roll multiple dice at once. Head to your local game store, checkout handmade dice makers like Naevi's Oddities or Firebolt Dice, or check out dice sites like dieharddice.com or krakendice.com!
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Character Sheet - Your character sheet is where you'll record all the details of your character, including their name, race, class, abilities, equipment, and more. There are many online character sheet generators available, or you can download and print a blank character sheet from the Wizards of the Coast website.
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Adventure - To start playing D&D, you'll need an adventure to guide you through the game. The most common way to play is to have a Dungeon Master (DM) run the game for a group of players. The DM will create a story and a world for the players to explore, and will guide them through encounters and challenges along the way. There are many pre-written adventures available for purchase from places like the DM's Guild (www.dmsguild.com), or you can create your own.
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Friends - Finally, you'll need a group of friends to play with! D&D is a social game that's best played with a group of people who are excited to explore a fantasy world together. You don't need to know anyone who's already playing - many game stores and community centers run D&D groups, or you can find players online through forums or social media.
With these five things, you'll have everything you need to start playing Dungeons and Dragons. As you play, you'll learn more about the game and the many ways you can customize your experience to fit your style of play. So gather your dice, invite some friends, and get ready for an adventure like no other!