How do we start playing
Everybody
Dungeons & Dragons (D&D), and what do we need to buy?
The first thing you could do is try to attend a Learn-to-Play (L2P) session with a Dungeon Master (DM) (the exclusive term used for Game Master (GM) in D&D.) There, you’ll probably be given a character sheet, and experience a short, one-shot adventure.
Free Mode
π Before investing in D&D, you may want to try running the Role-Playing Game (RPG) your group. Yes, you can play D&D for free! Download the official, free Basic Rules for D&D.
- Part 1 is about creating a character, providing the rules and guidance you need to make the character youβll play in the game. It includes information on the various races, classes, backgrounds, equipment, and other customization options that you can choose from. Many of the rules in part 1 rely on material in parts 2 and 3. (If you want to really want to skip this step, you get download some Pre-Generated Character Sheets.)
- Part 2 details the rules of how to play the game, beyond the basics described in this introduction. That part covers the kinds of die rolls you make to determine success or failure at the tasks your character attempts, and describes the three broad categories of activity in the game: exploration, interaction, and combat.
- Part 3 is all about magic. It covers the nature of magic in the worlds of D&D, the rules for spellcasting, and a selection of typical spells available to magic-using characters (and monsters) in the game.
- Part 4 is about tools for Dungeon Masters. It includes information and stat blocks for monsters, advice for building combat encounters, and magic items. (Someone from your group will have to become the DM. Only they will really need to read this part of the guide.)
What to Buy for a Group of Newbies
What to Buy for Players
π We recommend doing this with friends who have patience, and are just as excited to try it as you are. Once you’ve played a few games with your family and friends using these basic rules, and once you’re ready, consider purchasing a Player’s Handbook (PHB).
| Hardcopy (ISBN13) | Softcopy |
|---|---|
| PHB: 978-0-7869-6560-1 | PHB on D&D Beyond |
We also recommend downloading the D&D Beyond app, the official digital toolset and game companion for Dungeons & Dragons with online versions of the official books, including rulebooks, etc.
Digital Tabletop Gaming at Home, 2020.
There are also a lot of digital apps for dice-rolling (convenient for gaming emergencies, like if you forgot to bring your equipment on game night, or if you lost them.) We recommend the d20 Calculator.
… and some pencils, erasers, etc. D&D is known as a pen-and-paper RPG.
What to Buy for Dungeon Masters
| Hardcopy (ISBN13) | Softcopy |
|---|---|
| PHB: 978-0-7869-6560-1 | PHB on D&D Beyond |
| MM: 978-0-7869-6561-8 | MM on D&D Beyond |
| DMG: 978-0-7869-6562-5 | DMG on D&D Beyond |
The Monster Manual (MM) contains all the books you’ll need to run a game of D&D, from dragons, giants, mind flayers, and beholdersβa monstrous feast for Dungeon Masters ready to challenge their players and populate their adventures.
While the Dungeon Masterβs Guide (DMG) provides the inspiration and the guidance you need to spark your imagination and create worlds of adventure for your players to explore and enjoy. It’s really useful for new DMs, who want inspiration on how to take their games to the next level.
Going Beyond the Core Rulebooks
π Experienced DMs might want to start collecting additional/optional D&D Sourcebooks to further augment their games and players with advanced rules and customized experiences.
Choose an Adventure
π Having completed the Lost Mine of Phandelver and/or Dragon of Icespire Peak, your group might want to continue to play more campaigns… but it’s a lot of effort for the DM to create a new campaign from scratch. Thankfully, there are official adventures available!
If you're feeling really adventurous, there are many more unofficial resources available on the DM's Guild! (Talk to your Group before doing this in the game.)
Going to Other Worlds
π While most of the Adventures above take place in the Forgotten Realms (along the Sword Coast, on the continent of FaerΓ»n, on the plane of Abeir-Toril,) experienced DMs may take their group on an adventure to another plane altogether!
| Region | Hardcopy (ISBN13) | Softcopy |
|---|---|---|
| Wildemount | Explorer’s Guide to Wildemount: 978-0-7869-6691-2 | Explorer’s Guide to Wildemount on D&D Beyond |
| Netherdeep | Critical Role: Call of the Netherdeep: 978-0-7869-6786-5 | Critical Role: Call of the Netherdeep on D&D Beyond |
| Title | IP | Released |
|---|---|---|
| Stranger Things Dungeons & Dragons Starter Set: 0630509716296 | Stranger Things | May 2019 |
| Dungeons & Dragons vs. Rick & Morty: 978-0-7869-6688-2 | Rick & Morty | Nov 2019 |
Board Games
Check out these D&D-themed board games!
- Adventure Begins
- Betrayal at Baldur’s Gate
- Dungeon Mayhem
- Great Dalmuti, The
- Lords of Waterdeep
- Warriors of Krynn
- D&D Adventure System*
- D&D Monopoly**
π²πΎ In Malaysia, you can claim for income tax relief the purchase of “books, journals, magazines, printed newspapers, and other similar publications in both hardcopy and electronic forms.”
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