What is Dungeons & Dragons?

Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) is the tabletop roleplaying game that started it all. Created by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson in 1974, D&D invites players to create characters — brave warriors, cunning rogues, powerful wizards, and more — and guide them through epic fantasy adventures narrated by a Dungeon Master.

Using a core set of polyhedral dice (the iconic d20 being the star), players attempt actions, cast spells, fight monsters, and explore worlds limited only by imagination. There are no screens, no controllers — just dice, rulebooks, character sheets, and the collective creativity of everyone at the table.

Why Play D&D?

• The gold standard: D&D 5th Edition (2014) streamlined the rules while keeping the depth, making it the most accessible version ever. If you’ve never played a TTRPG, start here.
• Endless variety: From dungeon crawls to political intrigue, horror to high-seas adventure, D&D’s flexible system supports any fantasy story you can imagine.
• Massive community: The largest TTRPG community in the world means endless online resources, actual play shows, podcasts, and local groups ready to welcome new players.
• Character depth: With 13 core classes, dozens of races, and hundreds of spells and feats, character creation is a game in itself.

Core Mechanics

Almost every action in D&D is resolved by rolling a 20-sided die (d20), adding relevant modifiers, and comparing the result to a target number. The Dungeon Master sets difficulty, narrates outcomes, and controls the world and its inhabitants.

Combat is turn-based and tactical, using a grid or theater-of-the-mind approach. Outside of combat, players roleplay conversations, solve puzzles, explore environments, and make choices that shape the story.

What You Need to Play

• Player’s Handbook — The essential rulebook for players ($30-50, or free basic rules at dnd.wizards.com)
• A set of polyhedral dice — d4, d6, d8, d10, d12, and the iconic d20 ($5-15 for a set)
• A character sheet — Free to download and print
• A Dungeon Master — One player runs the world (DM’s Guide recommended)
• Adventure module — Pre-written campaigns like “Lost Mine of Phandelver” are perfect for beginners

Popular Campaign Settings

D&D’s default setting is the Forgotten Realms — a vast, detailed world with iconic locations like Waterdeep, Baldur’s Gate, and Neverwinter. But there are many official settings to explore: the gothic horror of Ravenloft, the African-inspired Exandria (from Critical Role), the dragon-heavy Dragonlance, and the swashbuckling Spelljammer among them.