D&D: Dungeons and Dragons
About half a year ago, some friends of mine were talking about this thing called D&D. I had never heard of it before so, since I'm always into learning new things, I decided to do some research on it. And I got absolutely hooked.
The way D&D works is: 1) the DM describes the scenario the players are in; 2) the players choose what they would like to do; 3) the DM determines whether or not the players succeeding in doing it, either by simply narrating it or by having them roll dice.
That means that it's the DM's job to not only help the players tell the story they want to tell, but also keep them engaged in the story and immersed in this imaginary world. It's the DM's job to help new players get familiar with the rules and game mechanics. It's also a DM's job to try to adapt their game to its players. Some D&D groups enjoy a bit more roleplay and storytelling, while others just really want to endlessly go out and slay monsters.
Battlemaps tend to be a crowd favorite. Although they're not necessarily a must-have for smaller groups, when you're in a party of 4 or more players, combat and combat turns can become a bit chaotic, as some people may have a hard time keeping track of where everyone is, including their own character. Battlemaps usually come hand-in-hand with something to represent the players, either a miniature or a simple paper cut-out token.
Other than these, different DM's use different things: sound effects, different lighting, different scents (such as incense), miniatures of the treasures their players find, fake money, etc. The possibilities are endless. If you're the DM, it all comes down to trying out several things and figuring out what works best for you.
Modules work as little add-ons to the game. Maybe you already have the majority of your world but could use some extra dungeons or towns. In this case, adventure modules are just what you need. If you require a more fleshed-out game that also includes a pre-created world, then a campaign is what you need.
Whether it is a full campaign setting or an adventure module, there are several out there for you to use. If you're just getting started into D&D and are hoping to save some money, then you can find several homebrew ones at the Dungeon Masters Guild that are free to download.
Another way to give Dungeons and Dragons a try is to just run a one-shot. Unlike campaigns, that can last from a few months to several years, one-shots are designed to last only one or two sessions, with an average of 3 to 8 hours.
What is D&D?
D&D stands for Dungeons and Dragons and it's a collaborative improvised story-telling RPG tabletop game. You have one DM and a few players and all you need to play it is some dice, pen and paper... and your imagination. Unlike RPG's that exist, for example, in video games, the world of D&D exists only in the minds of its players, which means nothing is set in stone. There is no premade environment, no premade characters, no premade end to the story.It's the players who get to build their own story.
Usually, it's also all the players who choose the setting in which they want to play (horror, fantasy, sci-fi...) although some players may rather want their DM to surprise them.The way D&D works is: 1) the DM describes the scenario the players are in; 2) the players choose what they would like to do; 3) the DM determines whether or not the players succeeding in doing it, either by simply narrating it or by having them roll dice.
Who is the DM and what does he do?
The Game Master or Dungeon Master is the storyteller. He's the narrator and also the referee. He's the one who imagines the setting, the world, the monsters, the NPC's and then describes them to the players. When dice are not rolled, he's the one who decides how a player-choice based event will play out. When there is an argument about a more technical aspect of the game or its rules, it's the DM who has the final word. On D&D, the DM is God (and, sometimes, they get to play God too!).That means that it's the DM's job to not only help the players tell the story they want to tell, but also keep them engaged in the story and immersed in this imaginary world. It's the DM's job to help new players get familiar with the rules and game mechanics. It's also a DM's job to try to adapt their game to its players. Some D&D groups enjoy a bit more roleplay and storytelling, while others just really want to endlessly go out and slay monsters.
D&D immersion
As I said before, pen and paper and a set of dice (and maybe the basic rules) are all you'll really need to play Dungeons and Dragons. However, some DM's choose to expand beyond that, in order to make the story more immersive for their players.Battlemaps tend to be a crowd favorite. Although they're not necessarily a must-have for smaller groups, when you're in a party of 4 or more players, combat and combat turns can become a bit chaotic, as some people may have a hard time keeping track of where everyone is, including their own character. Battlemaps usually come hand-in-hand with something to represent the players, either a miniature or a simple paper cut-out token.
Other than these, different DM's use different things: sound effects, different lighting, different scents (such as incense), miniatures of the treasures their players find, fake money, etc. The possibilities are endless. If you're the DM, it all comes down to trying out several things and figuring out what works best for you.
Premade Campaigns and Modules
However, some people may not be into worldbuilding and think that, for that reason, D&D is not for them. If you fit this category, do not despair: D&D has a TON of already prebuilt campaigns and modules available for you to just run a game and not have to worry too much about the worldbuilding aspect of it.Modules work as little add-ons to the game. Maybe you already have the majority of your world but could use some extra dungeons or towns. In this case, adventure modules are just what you need. If you require a more fleshed-out game that also includes a pre-created world, then a campaign is what you need.
Whether it is a full campaign setting or an adventure module, there are several out there for you to use. If you're just getting started into D&D and are hoping to save some money, then you can find several homebrew ones at the Dungeon Masters Guild that are free to download.
Another way to give Dungeons and Dragons a try is to just run a one-shot. Unlike campaigns, that can last from a few months to several years, one-shots are designed to last only one or two sessions, with an average of 3 to 8 hours.
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