What Is D&D?

Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) is a collaborative storytelling game where you and friends create an epic fantasy adventure together.

The Basics

• One player is the Game Master (GM) - also called the Dungeon Master (DM). They describe the world, control monsters and NPCs, and referee the rules.
• Each other player controls one hero - your character in the story, with unique abilities and personality.
• You talk, imagine, and decide what to do next - there's no board or script. Your choices drive the story.
• Dice decide uncertain moments - when the outcome is risky or unclear, dice rolls keep things fair and exciting.

The Gameplay Loop

Every session follows this pattern:

1. The GM describes the situation: "You enter a dimly lit cavern. Water drips from stalactites, and you hear shuffling ahead."
2. You say what you want to try: "I want to sneak forward and peek around the corner."
3. If it's risky, you roll dice: The GM asks for a Stealth check. You roll 1d20, add modifiers, and compare to a target number.
4. The GM tells you what happens: Success or failure, the story continues based on the result.

What Makes It Special

Unlike video games or board games:

• No "winning" - The goal is to tell a great story together and have fun.
• Infinite possibilities - You can try anything you can imagine. Want to befriend the dragon instead of fighting it? Go for it!
• Your character grows - Gain experience, level up, and unlock new abilities as you adventure.

Next: Get Started to learn what you need to play and how to create your first character.