Dungeons & Dragons is a complex tabletop game, mixing the joy of story-telling with cooperative gameplay and difficult strategy. Players must keep track of their character's skills and abilities, be able to improvise, and work well with their party during gameplay. Because there are so many moving parts, jumping into a Dungeons & Dragons campaign can feel overwhelming, especially after taking a fleeting glance at the Dungeons & Dragons Player's Handbook. Despite this, there are many quick and easy ways to help a new player prepare for their first session.
The first tool in a new D&D player's arsenal is the Player's Handbook. This book outlines classes, races, basic gameplay and critical rules that will act as a player's D&D foundation. While it isn't necessary to read the book from cover-to-cover, glancing over every race and class will help new players know what to expect from their party ' characters, as well as aid in their aid in their own character creation. Players will want to take a bit of time reading combat rules and how dice rolls work, however, as these are key elements to the game.
A new D&D player will also want to look into purchasing a set of dice. A full set will include a D4, D6, D8, D10, D00, D12 and the classic D20. Each of these dice are used in different circumstances. Some dice, like the D4 and D6, will be used heavily in combat, especially before the player is a higher level. A D20 is thrown for most Ability checks, like when a player is attempting to sneak into a room or avoid falling off a cliff. New players will soon learn that the D&D stereotype of collecting dice is far too real, as there are many beautiful sets to pick from.
Other Things New Dungeons & Dragons Players Need
While a new player may be tempted to grab a miniature to paint and bring with them to their first session, or potentially invest in sets of fancy spell cards for their newly-minted wizard, these items really aren't important when a player is just getting started. The last seriously important item, one that often gets overlooked, is a pencil and paper. While players will have plenty of time to expand their tool-kit with various Dungeons & Dragons gear, being able to take notes during a session is often invaluable, and needed in later sessions to solve problems or details that could be the difference between life and death. Players will want to pick up a small, easy-to-carry notebook specifically for the campaign, so that they can keep track of critical information and have it in a safe place.
With a basic set of tools in hand, the only other thing a new D&D player needs to bring with them to their first session is their adventurer's spirit. Being open minded, open to asking questions, and willing to learn from party will help a new Dungeons & Dragons player enjoy the intimidating learning process of entering a campaign for the first time. Dungeons & Dragons is a good way to make new friends and enjoy a different aspect of RPG style gaming, and these items offer a solid start for any new player.
