For some, especially those who aren’t used to roleplaying with others, it can seem a little intimidating at the start. There’s a lot involved in creating a character, and a lot of mechanics to learn and navigate. But for those who love RPGs and spending time with fellow fantasy nerds, there’s no need to fear. Every tabletop veteran starts somewhere.
Updated May 1, 2022, by Demaris Oxman: The vast popularity of Dungeons & Dragons shows no sign of abating anytime soon. With new sourcebooks for 5th Edition still releasing regularly, and new players constantly picking them up, the fanbase only continues to expand. Unfortunately, it’s not uncommon for a new gamer, eager for an epic fantasy adventure to sit down at a D&D table, only to wind up confused, frustrated, and discouraged by a game they had hoped to enjoy. To help newcomers avoid these situations, this list has been updated with more tips on how to choose the right campaign and party, get invested in the story, and fall in love with the magic of this classic tabletop game.
12 Choose The Right People To Play With
As a first-time player, it helps to have a mixture of experienced and new players at the table. Obviously, old-timers’ knowledge can help speed up the process of learning D&D’s somewhat dense and complex systems. Meanwhile, having one or two other new players at the table helps avoid the feeling of being on the spot.
Unfortunately, many gaming communities — including those surrounding tabletop RPGs — have their share of elitists or gatekeepers. Avoid joining campaigns with players who share these attitudes, which can be discouraging and ultimately make the game less fun. New players, especially shyer gamers, should find a party of friends who make them feel at ease as they get into character, make mistakes, and learn the ropes. Learning the game together can ultimately be a fun bonding experience.
11 Take Time To Create A Backstory
D&D gives players an incredible amount of freedom in their roleplaying — so new players should give themselves an interesting role to play! Choosing a race, class, and background is important, but thinking about what they mean for an individual helps breathe life into a character.
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Sketch out this character’s upbringing, their core personality traits, impactful events in their lives, and what led them to strike out on their adventure. Once players do this, it’ll be easy to picture how their character reacts to an ogre rushing at them, an NPC telling a lie, or a fellow party member engaging in wild antics. It can also make the game much more rewarding. If players are invested in their fictional character, it’s natural to want to know what will happen to them next, to want to take them on a journey to achieve their goals.
10 Keep The Player’s Handbook Nearby
The Player Handbook is every D&D player’s bible. Here, information can be found on every race, class, background, spell, god, aspect of combat, and more. New players should take time to read through it in their own time and gain an understanding of the mechanics, particularly ones that pertain to their class.
Keep it handy during sessions as well, to quickly look up spells or items if need be. However, in the midst of the game, players might not always be able to find speedy answers by flipping pages — leading into the next point.
9 Ask Questions
Not sure what a spell’s description means? Can’t remember what AC or DC stands for? Don’t know what it means to be behind cover? Ask! Pausing the game’s action for a few seconds is worth it to help make sure everyone is on the same page and having a good time.
More often than not, DM’s and other players will be glad to answer questions for friends who are learning the game. And if they aren’t…well, refer to the first point. They might not be the best people to play with, especially for a first campaign.
8 Communicate & Speak Up
Following on from the previous point, it’s important for party members to talk to each other and discuss. In every campaign, situations will arise that require players to make choices. If players are new to the game, they shouldn’t let that fact keep them from speaking up.
Share ideas on how the party might distract that guard or break into that ominous tower. Does the new player’s character have a spell that’ll teleport or disguise the party? Interrupt, and let others know — new players have a lot to offer! This kind of strategizing and discussion is especially fun when players stay in character, adding to the atmosphere.
7 Don’t Take Over
While some new players might have trouble speaking up, it’s also not uncommon for some newcomers to try and center themselves at the table. Remember that D&D is a collaborative effort — working together is the most important aspect of the game. Every party member deserves a voice, so don’t drown others out.
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New players should feel free to share their ideas and roleplay their hearts out, but make sure everyone else gets to do so as well. Approach every situation as a team, whether it’s a horde of giants or a dark maze of underground tunnels.
6 Take Notes
A lot can happen in one session, and after a week (or two or three, depending on how busy players’ lives are) has passed in real time, it might be hard to remember everything that transpired the session before. So make notes of important plot points, especially ones that were relevant to one’s own character, to avoid feeling lost once everyone rejoins to play again. The character sheet has plenty of space for note-taking — and if it runs out of room, feel free to attach more paper.
In addition to making plot notes, it can also help new players to make notes on certain mechanics. If a player finds themselves forgetting that they have to reload a certain weapon, or prepare specific spells, write it down. Those who play spellcasters often find it helpful to write out spell descriptions on note cards, rather than flipping to the appropriate page every single time. The same may apply to weapons, magic items, and more.
5 Expect The Unexpected
Veteran TTRPG players and game masters know that it’s incredibly rare for anything to go as planned. Players might circumvent a DM’s masterfully engineered fight with a wild gambit from a bard or rogue. On the other hand, someone’s bad roll might result in that gambit going down in literal flames.
Every time a player rolls a die, there’s no way to know what’s going to happen. Part of learning to play D&D is learning how to improvise. This is where understanding a character’s backstory can come in especially handy – it makes it easy to react to even the wildest situations.
4 Embrace Every Roll, Even Critical Fails
It’s a natural instinct to wince when that 1 appears on a d20. But no matter how dire things look, it’s still possible to turn that situation into a humorous moment, or use it to help another player shine.
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For example, if a wizard fails to recall knowledge that should be obvious to them, players can cause hilarity by describing their dumbfounded expression or frantic sputtering. If a barbarian charges into the fray only to get knocked out, the cleric might have a chance to show off their new healing spell — and express their character’s exasperation. Roleplaying critical fails and working together to overcome them is part of the fun.
3 Know That Rules Are More Like Guidelines
This is a little different for every group of gamers, as some adhere to the rules more strictly than others. But for more casual campaigns, like ones that first-timers usually join, rules are a little more flexible. Among groups of friends, enjoying the journey is often more important than the letter of D&D law.
A DM might decide to give a player advantage or disadvantage on a given roll if it makes sense for a player’s character; for example, a scholar rolling a history check in their area of expertise. What’s more, certain situations might not be covered in the rulebooks, and DMs and players must discuss how characters are affected. It’s all part of creating an immersive universe.
2 Stick With It
Don’t get discouraged if the first session doesn’t go perfectly. Sometimes, there will be bumps in the road as new players learn the game. It might seem a little dense and overwhelming the first time one jumps into the Forgotten Realms, but that’s okay.
There’s a lot to learn when starting D&D, and unlike with video games, there’s no code to remember things for the players. Don’t expect to memorize all the mechanics right away; they’ll become second nature with time. Of course, if players decide that D&D isn’t for them, that’s perfectly okay too. Just remember that it takes some time to learn, and give it more than a session or two to get going.
1 Have Fun
This might seem like the most obvious aspect of any game, but it’s also one that’s easy to forget. In the middle of bloody fights or intense situations, some players might get a little overbearing. It’s important to remember not to take the game too seriously.
Don’t be afraid to say or do something silly, if that’s what’s most in character. Comic relief definitely has its place in D&D, especially when the going gets tough. If players and their friends are laughing together, the game is going right. Roll the dice and venture forth!
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