How do I get started to play Dungeons and Dragons?

Question

I want to start playing D&D but I don't know how to get started. I know it isn't your typical board game.

Anyway, what do I need to get to play the full game? Things to buy, etc.

Answer 1

First, you need a group. A gaming store is a good place to find a group to D&D with. Any bunch of people with good imaginations are excellent cohorts when attempting to slay a demon, get a dragon NOT to eat you, or ...well you get the point. Basic materials, paper, pencil, an assortment of different sided dice, these are also available at gaming stores. If you have a group but no one has any experience, choose a "basic" Dungeons and Dragons module. This will give you ideas on how to create your character, how to form the game, and how to tell the story. You basically have choices, and it's up to your dungeon master how to tell the story so it's exciting. This is one of the reasons it's best to join a group that is already playing. You can get used to the game before attempting to do your own.
Does this help? It's not enormously expensive. The dice and paper and pencil are required, there are other things that are optional such as little figurines of your character, map boards to map out your fight area, etc...

Answer 2

You need a couple friends. 4 is a good starting number.

One of you will be the Dungeon Master - the person who's leading the game and setting up the adventure. The other three players will each be a character.

There's a set called 'The Adventure Begins' (see link)
http://www.amazon.com/Dungeons-Dragons-Adventure-Game-Everything/dp/0786914505

This is a stripped down version that has enough rules to get you started. It comes with a set of dice too. It is limited but it's a relatively cheap starting point.

If you like that you need the following books (make sure to grab the 3.5 edition ones)
1. Player's Handbook <-- It's helpful for each player to have this one)
2. Monster Manual <-- Only the DM
3. Dungeon Master's Guide <--- Only the DM

Paper, pencils (with erasers), and some dice. You can always buy more later.
4-sided
6-sided (4 of these is helpful)
8-sided
10-sided (2 of these is helpful)
12-sided
20-sided

There's some great websites on D&D to give you some adventuring ideas. Books like Dragonlance Chronicles, Lord of the Rings, Conan, and the Shannara series can be inspiration too. There's also a lot of old adventures on ebay from current and previous editions.

Have fun. If you have questions, feel free to shoot me an email.

Answer 3

Ok, first you need a group of people to play with. Don't buy anything until you have at least two, preferably more people to play with. It bogs down with more than six total people at a table, but I've played with groups of seven and eight regularly.

One of you will have to agree to be the DM, or dungeon master. They are the person who describes what is happening and controls the monsters players face.

An idea is to check your local gaming store for groups. And if your store has a Living Greyhawk group, I recommend joining and playing a little while with them. Living Greyhawk is a great way to learn how to play, since the adventures are pre-created and other players will help you create your character.

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At the absolute minimum you will need a Players Handbook. If you DM you will also need Monster Manual 1, and Dungeon Masters Guide. You can buy those all together now as a "starter bundle" and save some money. The larger bundles also come with a play mat and some miniatures.

You will also need a variety of dice. Dice are called by the number of sides they have. A d20 for example is a twenty sided dice. I recommend at LEAST a d20 for each player, you’ll need more as the characters level. You also need an even number of d10s and about 5 each of d4s, d6s (normal dice), and d8s. The longer you play, the more dice you are probably going to buy, but I recommend each of your gamers get their own dice so you don't have to share. That really speeds things up since you don’t have to keep handing dice around the table.

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I RECOMMEND the following:

A campaign book is a great idea. A campaign is a pre-made adventure that makes DMing for new people MUCH easier. My last DM said running a campaign saved him a couple of hours of setup each week. Savage Tides is an example, but that campaign kills LOTS of people, you might want to avoid it for your first one.

Player's Handbook 2 is a great book; it gives lots of new class options and gives a few character setup shortcuts.

I also recommend the Spell Compendium once you have played a while, and the Magic Item Compendium is great too.

The new DnD was written for the use of miniatures and a combat grid. Miniatures are pretty expensive though, so you can give them a skip and either ignore the miniatures rules, or use little paper figures. I've done it both ways and it works just fine.

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For creating character sheets, very little can beat the free spreadsheet HeroForge. While you have to have the books to use it; it is a great time saver when making a new player character. SpellForge also saves lots of time for spell casters. They take a little skill to use, but they work great.

Answer 4

I played the game a lot when I was growing up. THE MOST IMPORTANT item on your list is finding other people who play. You need about ten. It is fun with about six or seven, but it is hard to get that many people together all at once.

Once you have these people, and they probably all play already, and you will be one of the few new guys, concentrate on becoming a good player. Don't worry about being Dungeon Master too sooooon. That is graduate school.

Read about the history here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dungeons_&_Dragons


Now you need what is called The Player's Handbook. Here is what to look for in any good bookstore.

http://wizards.com/default.asp?x=products/dndcore/175240000

There are a lot of informational websites out there... try these:

http://wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/welcome

You will be up against quite a few monsters, so try reading the monster manual:

http://wizards.com/default.asp?x=products/dndcore/177550000

When you are reading through your Players Handbook, you might pick out a favorite role to play, like a Thief or a Magic User. If you want to invest the money, go ahead and buy smaller books written by the D and D people on just those character classes. They will help you play better. Ask your friends if they already own them first....

Two other things to consider. Buy your own set of dice. Many book stores sell them along side the books. And if your Dungeon Master plays this way, go ahead and buy a few mineratures. Pick out about five or so characters... but not all Dungeon Masters use them, so this may be just for fun, if not used on game night.

Be warned. Since I played in the 1980s, they have changed versions, and updated the old classic. The are now on version 3.5 and there are a lot of books out there. Once you have pounded your way through the players handbook, save up some money and go ahead and get the Dungeon Masters Guide.

Be warned, this is not a cheap hobby. Its all about books which cost money, and imagination. You can get some of these books on-line, cheaper, but make sure they are the latest edition.

Those links above are a great place to start, but you will only get out of it what you put into it. You need creative people to play with. The game is a lot of fun, and more enjoyable than any on-line or video game version, if you have a great DM and good players to join your adventure party.

Good luck... (try being a Thief or a Ranger first....)

Answer 5

Keep it simple.
First decide if you want to be a player or a DM.
If you decide to be a DM you'll want to get three books.
Players Hand Book (PHB), Dungeon Masters Guide (DMG), and the Monster Manual. Read the rules about player creation and Running a game. Join Wizards of the Coast Forums http://forums.gleemax.com/forumdisplay.php?s=e39fff50d8afd8571d556fc5b7009fbd&f=8 and or a yahoo group concerning D&D or other type group where you may ask questions and get nice folks to answer. Local Game stores are also quite hlepful with answering questions. Next invite close friends who might have the same interests as you to join the game. Learn to play, while you play. Most important relax and use your imagination.
If you would rather be a player, buy only the PHB and read it. Roll up a character for practice, your DM might want to be with you when you roll up an official character. Ask your frineds if they've ever played or if thier parents have ever played, you might be surprised. Ask if you can join in. If you can't find any one to play with, go to your local game shop and ask if the have any intro D&D games held at the shop or if you are brave and old enough look for groups that are advertising for new players at the shop and find a group there. It's not as hard as it sounds and so fun and rewardeing! I've been playing for nearly 30 years and still love being a DM Adding on to my world and preparing for our monthy game.
I also have a game online at Yahoo Groups for friends who have moved away.
I hope this helps!
Just remember you don't need to memroize everything just have an idea of where to look for the answers or the imagination to make it up.
Start slow and build. And always feel free to ask questions.
Good Luck!
And Happy Adventures!