Things have changed a lot in the RPG world, and fortunately, it is becoming more accessible and popular. We have seen it in series like Stranger Things or Community, and thanks to podcasts like Critical Role or The Adventure Zone, we can follow other players’ games and immerse ourselves in their fantasy worlds and the adventures of their characters if we are too shy to organize it.
This, of course, makes many of us itch to start our own adventures in games like Dungeons & Dragons, Pathfinder, or any similar one. If you’ve never played such games before, it may seem complicated at first, so we’re going to explain how to set up your own campaign in Dungeons & Dragons.
First of all, gather your party
Dungeons & Dragons is a game for the company, so you’ll need at least two people (although it’s more fun with more players who can contribute more). One of the people in the group plays the role of Dungeon Master and is the one who creates the story, directs the narrative, and is in charge of playing the other non-player characters. The role of the Master is to create an engaging story and drive it so that the players can focus on playing their characters, solving a mystery, completing the current dungeon, or whatever the plot requires.
Each player manages a character, which they may have created themselves or have been provided by the Master for the game to be played. Within the world of Dungeons & Dragons, there are different races to choose from: elves, dwarves, humans, goblins, Dragonborn, and others, and various classes such as mage, paladin, or bard, each with a different set of characteristics and skills.
Depending on the character class you choose, the abilities and powers are different. It also depends highly on subclasses that your character has. For instance, if you choose to be a Fighter, you’ll have a reasonable amount of HP for melee and a good big amount of ranged. As a paladin, you’ll have to invest in getting more CON. You can get yourself introduced to all the abilities of paladin by reading the Dungeons and Dragons 5e paladin guide or visiting the official website of D&D. This will help you get prepared for all the circumstances that the Dungeon master will create during the game.
If you are creating the character yourself, choose a combination that you like and think about what you would most like to play: a tiefling rogue, a bardic half-elf, a human warrior. Ideally, the group should be more or less balanced, but in the end, it’s all about having fun and managing a character that invites you to play with them in the adventures you’re going to live with the rest of the team.
The rules are there to help.
Now that we’ve made your heads spin talking about races and classes, it’s time to talk about The Manuals. Within the Dungeons & Dragons catalog, several books cover the rules of the game, the most basic of which are the Player’s Handbook, the Dungeon Master’s Guide, and the Monster Manual. Each of them covers a different aspect, but the most basic you will need is the Player’s Handbook, as it covers the whole process of character creation, combat rules, turns, and many tricks to start building a campaign as a Dungeon Master.
The rules are essential to play, but there are certain times when they become complicated or unnecessary depending on the group and their needs. Don’t be afraid to change the rules or even use your homebrew ones. If the steps for casting spells are too complicated, then change them until you find something that is more fun for you! The important thing is to have fun, and if a part of the system is making the game not work, you can always change or readapt it.
You can also focus the game more on an interpretative tone, monster-killing, or a mix. It depends on what you feel like. You don’t have to be a professional actor, but “acting” helps you get more into the game and can make the game more fun, although you can always just describe what the characters do or how they act.
How to start a game
In addition to these manuals, there is also a Starter Box containing a more summarized manual, a first adventure ready to play, several pre-generated characters, and a set of dice, so you will have all the basics you need for a game. It’s an excellent option to give Dungeons & Dragons the first chance, especially to get the hang of the essential rules and not get stuck when creating a character.
If it is the first time the group is playing, it is also recommended to start with a short and contained game that will only take one or two sessions – the so-called “oneshot.” This way, both the players and the Master can adapt to the rest of the group, the characters, and their dynamics. There are many official pre-generated stories that you can find and use, such as the one in the starter box, and there are several ready-to-play stories available, such as “Curse of Strahd” or “Waterdeep: Dragon Heist.” Using them is as easy as getting the opportunity to buy pre written essays for study reasons.
If you want to get imaginative and create your own stories and world, then go ahead! Don’t be afraid to make a D&D world together or use a familiar setting like Forgotten Realms. Pre-generated stories are an excellent help to understand how to build a game and non-player characters, but you don’t have to limit yourself to them, and you can also start playing in style with an original story.
Remember: good vibes are essential.
One of the most important things in learning to play Dungeons and Dragons is to make sure there is a good atmosphere in the group. There will be stressful or more extreme situations during the game, but it is essential to get along well with the other players and the Master. If something is not working with the game, be patient and try to find a solution.
Dungeons & Dragons is not a game of Master vs. Players. There is no winning, and no one player wins over the rest. In fact, you usually have to collaborate to move the plot along and keep the game going. If a player is actively sabotaging the rest, or a character is trying to shine above the rest by constantly trying to get the limelight, it’s best to talk about it and clear things up. Likewise, if you don’t understand something, ask for help. A good group explains things and gives you the time you need to decide your actions.
The Master usually spends a lot of time preparing the games, so you also need to respect them. Don’t interrupt during descriptions, and pay attention during the narration, so you know what’s going on. Also, if you are a Master, don’t torture your players to follow your way. Your job is also to make the game fun for everyone. If the party decided to explore the nearby town, instead of going straight for the main quest you gave them, improvise a bit and provide them with the experience they crave.
Tools of the trade
In addition to the manuals and the story you will play, you will also need other basics: counters and dice. The counters contain all the character characteristics and skills, and with the dice, you can determine different actions. You may need different types of dice, so it is best to get a couple of different sets. If you are playing in person, remember to have pencils and a notebook handy to jot down relevant things like place names, character names, or summaries of what has happened so far.
There are also websites and apps such as D&D Beyond, which contains all the official books and allows you to create a digital character sheet and consult each characteristic instantly. If you don’t play in person, you can also play through Roll20, which also allows you to store character sheets, create maps, and even make dice rolls, so if you play through videoconferencing, it helps a lot so that you can all see the same scenario and have the same information.
YouTube is your friend, and there are plenty of channels dedicated to explaining rules or providing tips and tricks to make your game better. If you are not afraid of English, the Handbooker Helper from the Critical Role team helps you understand some of the basics of the game. If you want to be a Master but don’t know how to spice up your game, the Game Master Tips from Geek & Sundry are an absolute marvel with tips from different game directors.
If you don’t know where to start with your Dungeons & Dragons game, these are all tips, but they can also be applied to many other role-playing games. The goal is always to have a good time with friends and build a story together, so (as with the rules of the manuals), if you see that something doesn’t work, you can always change it and adapt it. Now go and have fun!
Susan Wallace is a pro gamer and has been a strong influence over the gaming community. She also writes about the positive effects of gaming and how to avoid the negative effects of gaming. Her amazing writing has reached and helped many gamers. She actually helps people decide the best games to play based on their current situation.