How To Play Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) is a tabletop role-playing game where players work together to tell a story. One person serves as the Dungeon Master (DM), guiding the world and its challenges, while the other players control characters who explore, make decisions, and shape the adventure.
If you’re new, it’s completely normal to feel overwhelmed — you’re not expected to know all the rules before you begin. This guide breaks everything down into simple, manageable sections, starting with what you need to play, how the dice work, and how to create your first character.
Don’t worry—D&D is easier to learn than you think. Here’s what makes it magical.
Players
Create an epic story together. One person plays as the Dungeon Master (DM), narrating the world, while others play as heroes.
Dice
Roll dice to see what happens. The iconic 20-sided die (D20) is your best friend—high rolls mean success, low rolls… well, things get interesting.
Rulebooks
The manual for your adventure, showing how magic, battles, and choices actually work. Keeping the game fair while leaving plenty of room for creativity.
Space To Play
Your play space is the stage where your D&D story comes to life. Wherever players can gather and focus, an adventure can begin.
D&D uses a variety of dice to help decide what happens in the game, and while they may look complex at first, they’re simple and intuitive once you start playing.
D4
The tiny pyramid of chaos, often used for small damage rolls and surprisingly sharp if stepped on.
D6
The classic cube you already know, used for everything from damage to ability generation.
D8
A reliable middle-ground die that handles solid weapon hits and steady spell effects.
D10
The slightly awkward but dependable die, often used for bigger damage and percentile rolls.
D12
The heavyweight bruiser of the dice family, built for massive weapon swings and dramatic hits.
D20
The star of the show—this is the die you roll to see if your bold plan succeeds or hilariously fails.
Want a closer look at each die and what it’s used for? Check out our Dice Explained page for a clear, simple breakdown of the full set.
Creating a character is your ticket into the story — it’s who you become in the game, how you solve problems, and why every choice and roll suddenly matters.
Choose A
Concept
Are you a brave knight? A clever wizard? A stealthy rogue?
Build Your
Stats
Next, you determine your character’s abilities — their strengths and weaknesses.
Choose Your
Gear
Finally, you equip your character with weapons, armor, tools, and basic adventuring supplies.
Background & Personality
Who were you before adventuring? What do you believe in? What motivates you?
There’s a bit more groundwork involved in creating a character — some new terminology, mechanics, and a few extra steps to learn. But don’t worry — it’s not as complicated as it may seem. Once you have a rough idea of who your character is, our In-Depth Guide breaks everything down clearly and walks you through how to round them out mechanically, step by step.
Character Sheet?
How do I fill this out?
Ability Score?
What are these numbers for?
Proficiency Bonus?
When do I use this?
