Getting Started: Dungeons and Dragons

“You are not entering this world in the usual manner, for you are setting forth to be a Dungeon Master. Certainly there are stout fighters, mighty magic-users, wily thieves, and courageous clerics who will make their mark in the magical lands of D&D adventure. You however, are above even the greatest of these, for as DM you are to become the Shaper of the Cosmos. It is you who will give form and content to the all the universe. You will breathe life into the stillness, giving meaning and purpose to all the actions which are to follow.”

- Gary Gygax, creator of Dungeons and Dragons

Dungeons and Dragons (D&D), is a game that needs little introduction having been around since the 70s, but it has evolved over time and 5 different editions. It has ebbed and flowed in popularity, but finds itself at its zenith due to the success of shows like Critical Roll and Netflix’s Stranger Things. D&D is a role-playing game where groups of friends get together to create legendary characters who band together to defeat evil foes, dangerous monsters, and wicked puzzles. Adventures will take you from The Sword Coast to the Underdark, to the cursed land of Barovia and beyond. One player will take the roll of Dungeon Master or “DM”. It will be up to this player to build a world and story in collaboration with their players.

If you think yourself ready to brave the wild dangers of the Forgotten Realms, or if you want to try your hand at building an entire world of your own, read on for our beginner buyer’s guide for D&D.

Players will need three core rule books to start: The Dungeon Master’s Guide, The Player’s Handbook, and The Monster Manual. These three hardcover books will give you and your players all the rules and tons of tools to build and play your characters as well as create the world in which their adventures will happen, not to mention all the rules for the nasty creatures that inhabit it. Players will also require a set of Polyhedron dice (D20, D12, D10, D8, D6, D4, and a percentile die), of which there are a variety to choose. With your rule books and your dice, you are ready to create and play your own stories, in the theater of your mind.

 If you are interested in running the game but not writing your own content, there is a huge library of pre-written adventure books that you can purchase for your party. Such titles include Descent into Avernus, The Tomb of Annihilation, The Curse of Strahd, The Hoard of the Dragon Queen, and many, many, more.

 Finally, if you prefer to play a game with more visual aids, you can collect and paint your own miniatures and play on a grid map to help keep track of the fury of combat. If so, we recommend also purchasing a can of spray primer, a bottle of super glue, some brushes, and a set of paints. Different types of flocks and base effects can also be used to give your miniatures a beautiful scenic finish. Be sure to message us or come in for a visit at the Outpost, if you would like to ask any questions.