I heard it from my boyfriend for years: "You should play Dungeons and Dragons! You'd totally love it!" I'd roll my eyes and shrug it off. Dungeons and Dragons is the classic role playing game where you play as a fantasy character going on various quests with a group of friends. While I did love reading the fantasy genre, I was convinced there were better things to do with my time then play another RPG that would eventually let me down. However, one night, Dean dragged me to one of his D&D campaigns and our friend Nate asked if I would like to join. I caved in, sat down, and had one of the most fun times of my life. I now play as a 3rd level sorceress and 2nd level bard (which is a sorcerer whose magic comes from their artistic abilities) and still try to get together with my friends for a campaign when I can. However, I haven't forgotten how overwhelming it was to step into the vast world of D&D so here's some advice for any newcomers to the game.
1. Ignore any stigma you may have heard
No, Dungeons and Dragons is not Satanic. And no, it is not a game that makes people go crazy and kill themselves. Every negative claim you've heard about D&D is the same arguments you've heard adults use when talking about video games or social media. Just take it all with a grain of salt
2. Ask Around Online
If you go on your social media and post "Does anyone play Dungeons and Dragons?" chances are at least one of your friends has played before or is currently involved in a campaign. Message them and ask to see how you can join their group.
3. Coordinate a Schedule
In order for a D&D campaign to take place, all of the members need to be present. The other option is to have a side quest that has no impact on your campaigns overall story. But definitely start a group chat with your campaign members and check to see what days of the week and times everyone is free. Also pick a friend's house to host the meeting at that isn't too far of a location for everyone to drive to.
4. Make sure you're using the same materials
There are three things every D&D campaigner needs: a pencil, D&D dice, and D&D character sheets. A pencil is no problem to find, the dice you can buy anywhere online, but the character sheets get a little tricky. Because the game has been around for so long, there are so many editions coming out, and the character sheets are always changing. My suggestion is to use the 3.5 Edition. It's the one most all D&D players use and it's really simple to navigate with the help of a more experienced D&D friend.
5. When it comes to creating characters, GO FOR IT
The world of D&D is so diverse, and not just because you can play a different species with different powers and different weapons. People play the opposite gender, smart people play stupid characters, and the most shy people play powerful overlords. I myself have a pretty sweet disposition, but my D&D character has been given the nickname "Edgy McEdge Edge" by my friends because of how insane and hardcore he is. Whatever character you can think up in your mind, GO FOR IT. Also be sure to write a backstory as is common D&D practice to really flesh the character out
6. Make a soundtrack or some fan art to keep yourself engaged
D&D is a game that lies entirely in the realm of your imagination, but some people prefer their experiences to be a little more visual. My friend Mattie draws fan art of her character. My friend Nate is the Dungeon Master (or DM) who creates the campaigns every week, so he'll play background noises such as wind blowing through trees when we're in a forest or have inspiring battle music playing when we're engaged in combat. It makes the experience much more immersive
7. Explore story lines you would like to include
A lot of campaigns in Dungeons and Dragons are based in mythology from the Greeks, the Romans, or the Norse. My campaigns have even included Beowulf and Gilgamesh. If you know your DM is open to suggestions, tell them what myths or fairy tales you would like to see! Maybe you'll see it pop up in an upcoming campaign or side quest!
8. Know that whatever happens in the game will never be what you expect
The reason I end with this GIF is because I saw it pop up in a Dungeons and Dragons Meme. It said "What I think my D&D campaign looks like," followed by a picture of Frodo with the Fellowship from Lord of the Rings. The picture was followed by a caption that said, "What We Actually Do," and a photo of King Arthur and his knights running away for their lives in the Holy Grail like cowards. D&D isn't always about being a bad ass, sometimes you'll find your characters in sticky situations that'll make you roll your eyes and think, "Seriously???" People have tried to shoot at their enemy only to shoot their friend in the knee. A sorcerer has transformed into a spider and thrown a troll onto the ground with surprising strength. Characters knock themselves unconscious. One of my friends tried to stab an enemy only to rip their body in half. The reason for this is that everything in Dungeons and Dragons is precipitated by the dice. The higher you roll, the more successful you'll be. The lower you roll...not so much. You may feel buffoonish, but trust me, there'll be some long lasting memories.
Have fun playing!
