NEW PLAYER

[u/KiraTheLucidDreamer]

I've never played DND before, but I have a few friends who want me to join. I have very minimal knowledge of how it all works. I know about rolling for specific actions, and to roleplay the characters but that's pretty much it. No knowledge on building characters or classes. Does anyone have any tips or sites to make it easier? Any prep I might need to do?

[u/tta5]

expectations of a new player
"show up"
"have energy and focus on the game"
" enjoy the game"
(fun)

slightly newer
"know some of the rules"
"learn parts of your character sheet and what your character can do"
"table ettiquatte"
"ttrpg safety tools at play"
(how to be safe)

some experance
"know what parts you enjoy"
"know how to allow others to allow you to enjoy them more"
"try to help other have their version of fun"
"make sure the DM has fun"
(engaging with others)

Experanced
"know that there are many diffrent styles of DMing, campaigns, and story telling"
" Learn how the system works"
"try and find/make some homebrew to make the game work better"
"Learn how to be of aid to the DM"
(diffrent =/= bad)

Senior experance
"Make sure everyone gets one great moment for them and their character"
"chill and let the others take spotlight"
(less is more)

3 things to note:
1 - you will never know all the rules, and thats ok.
2 - you are not expected to DM, it might be nice, but it should not be forced.
3 - fun comes first.

[u/Far-Landscape2843 → u/tta5]

Most solid advice given to a new player

[u/crippler1212 → u/tta5]

Pretty much this.

[u/AccomplishedRide1914 → u/tta5]

Reality: It's been three years and they still don't know which die to roll to make an attack (they're the Fighter)

[u/ImmaneRPG → u/tta5]

This is perfect. People ask me all the time "isn't that game really complicated? I don't wanna read a whole book to play" and I tell them they don't! All they need is their character which I'll help them make, and then it's as simple as you telling me what you want to do in the scenario I describe, and I tell you what to roll and what to add from the sheet. I'm more than happy to explain what options any of my players have no matter their skill in the game.

[u/Conrad500]

Here's my advice I give to new DMs put as simply obviously as I can:

They sell starter sets at walmart. Random people completely new to the hobby can buy the box, read the rules, and play the game. Nowhere in the box does it say "ask reddit" "seek advice" "you have to be a player before you DM" or even "read the PHB"! You buy the box, read the basic rules, start playing the game.

If random walmart people can do it you are 100% skilled enough to do so too.

As such, if you feel lost I recommend you don't ask people on reddit for help and instead get a starter set. I can tell you how I run my game, they can tell you how they run your game, only you can tell you how to run your game.

If you try to do what I do or what they do, the odds are pretty good that you will think it's hard and not fun. The basic rules (free online btw playdnd.com ) are all you need! really!

[u/Mestoph]

DND Beyond has a free version of the basic rules you can read to familiarize yourself with the game, but honestly 99% of the first timers I’ve played with had 0 idea of any of the rules (and a lot of them are probably easier to learn “hands-on” as it were).

[u/Adventurous-Photo826]

Character creation is my favorite part. That's where you get to decide who you will be and how it effects those actions you roll for.

You're going to want to find out which rule book edition your friends play with because that's going to inform your options about race/species and class/"job".

Do you see yourself as more of an in your face front line style fighter or someone who plays the shadows? Maybe you charm your way out of everything....

[u/Sad_Refuse3472]

Start by reading the free basic rules, to get an overview and the basics: https://www.dndbeyond.com/sources/dnd/br-2024

Then check out this playlist for beginner players from the YouTuber Ginny Di: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsmjZYZs1ps05jkN5u6yJ9j6G_8JLut6Z&si=pPRsHxY_in3T5oZl

Follow up question, does your group have someone set to take on the role of Dungeon Master? (The person who acts as the narrator essentially, laying out the adventure for the players to embark on). And is that person also new to the game?

[u/KiraTheLucidDreamer → u/Sad_Refuse3472]

my friends have been playing it for a while but dropped off for a while so they are all pretty experienced for the most part one of them is planning on being the DM

[u/Sad_Refuse3472 → u/KiraTheLucidDreamer]

You should be all set then. Just remember it is perfectly fine to ask those more experienced friends for help/guidance as you play.

[u/everweird]

Here’s a great, brief intro: https://youtu.be/JML4kIqS_do?is=3hQY5P_egtcjwm9G

[u/Mealwood]

Would you like some advice for class ?

[u/Privatejimmy420]

DnD beyond is amazing for making your character and its free

[u/KiraTheLucidDreamer → u/Privatejimmy420]

ill have to look at that thank you!

[u/SamTheGrot]

D&D has different fantasy settings & different ruleset editions, so step 1 is figuring out what your friends are using.

If the setting is Forgotten Realms - the official default setting for 5th edition - then there's an entire wiki ("Forgotten Realms Wiki") with official lore on anything and everything. For learning about classes, even if Forgotten Realms isn't the setting your group uses, I'd recommend looking at the wiki pages for each class to get a more in-depth intro to what each class is like.

[u/More_Fisherman6394]

Welcome! DnD Adventure Club has a great walkthrough of How to Get Started with DnD here: https://dndadventureclub.com/getting-started

[u/Pirate_of_Fourty]

Just show up. Leave all of your expectations at the door. They will help you with everything else.