Get Started with Dungeons & Dragons

Ready to start your D&D adventure? This guide covers everything you need to create your first character and begin playing.

New here? Read What Is D&D? first to understand the basics.

What You Need to Play

• Dice set: Seven dice - d4, d6, d8, d10, d12, d20, and d100 (percentile). The d20 is used most often.
• Character sheet: Tracks your hero's stats, abilities, and gear. You can use paper or digital tools.
• Rule reference: The free Basic Rules PDF covers everything you need to begin, or browse the rules on this site.

A typical group is 4-6 players + 1 GM (Game Master).

Core Concepts

1. Collaborative Storytelling

You describe what your character wants to do. The GM describes the world and what happens.

When the outcome is uncertain, you roll dice to determine success or failure.

Example:
You: "I want to sneak past the goblin guard."
GM: "Roll a Stealth check - that's d20 plus your Dexterity modifier and Stealth proficiency if you have it."
You: Roll 12 + 2 (Dex) + 2 (proficiency) = 16.
GM: "The goblin is distracted. You slip past unnoticed."

2. How Dice Work

Most checks use the d20. You roll, add bonuses, and compare to a target number.

Learn more: Read Dice and Rolls for the complete breakdown.

Building Your Character

Every character needs these fundamentals:

Race

Your character's species - human, elf, dwarf, halfling, and more. Each race provides ability bonuses and special traits.

Browse all available races.

Class

Your role and abilities in the party. Common starting classes:

• Fighter: Master of weapons and combat tactics.
• Wizard: Scholar of arcane magic and spellcasting.
• Rogue: Stealthy expert in skills and sneak attacks.
• Cleric: Divine spellcaster and healer.

Browse all classes to find your playstyle.

Background

Your character's history before adventuring, like Soldier or Sage. Backgrounds grant skill proficiencies and equipment.

Browse all backgrounds.

Abilities

Six numbers represent your character's core capabilities:

• Strength: Physical power for melee attacks and athletics.
• Dexterity: Agility for ranged attacks, stealth, and dodging.
• Constitution: Health and endurance.
• Intelligence: Knowledge, memory, and investigation.
• Wisdom: Awareness, insight, and perception.
• Charisma: Personality, persuasion, and force of will.

Learn more: Read Abilities and Skills to understand how these work.

Playing the Game

Combat

When a fight breaks out, the game uses structured turns and rounds. On your turn, you can move, take an action (like attacking or casting a spell), and possibly use a bonus action.

Learn more: Read Combat Basics for the full breakdown.

Exploration and Roleplay

Outside combat, you describe what your character does - talking to NPCs, searching rooms, traveling between locations. The GM may ask for ability checks to see if you succeed.

Learn more: Read Adventuring Basics for movement, resting, and survival.

Progression

As you complete adventures, you gain experience points (XP) and level up. Each level grants more powerful abilities, spells, and features.

Next Steps for New Players

Start Small

Try a one-shot (single session adventure) before committing to a long campaign. This lets you learn the rules without pressure.

Resources

• Free: Basic Rules PDF - official starter rules.
• Reference: Browse this site's rules, spells, items, and quick reference for at-a-glance tables.
• Books: The Player's Handbook is the core rulebook with all options.

Find a Group

• Local game shops: Many host beginner-friendly D&D nights.
• Online: Roll20, Foundry VTT, or D&D Beyond let you play remotely.
• Friends: Gather some friends and learn together - one person volunteers as GM.

Tips for Beginners

Ask questions! D&D is about fun, not perfection. No one knows every rule.

Start with a pre-made adventure. The GM doesn't need to build a world from scratch - published adventures make starting easy.

Focus on roleplay. Your character's personality and choices matter more than optimal builds.

Remember: You're telling a story together, rolling dice to add excitement, and building memorable moments with friends.

Continue learning: Move on to Dice and Rolls to master the core mechanics.