Dungeons & Dragons
Quick Start Guide 5e

What you need to run a game

• Players 2-5 ideal for beginners.
• Dice Set D20 is essential, full set is ideal | Dice Roller.
• D&D Adventure or your own homebrew story.
• Basic Rules or Player's Handbook.
• DM Screen (optional, but ideal for a quick references).
• Notebook or Digital Notes.
• Character Sheets | Quick Character Generator.
• Battle Maps & Minis (optional but usefull for combat).

Creating your first character can be a little daunting at first, you may find it easier to use some Premade charater sheets.

Picking a character will require the following:

• Race (e.g. Elf, Dwarf, Human): Affects stats and traits.
• Class (e.g. Fighter, Wizard, Rogue): Defines your abilities and role in the party.
• Background: Adds a flavor, skills and roleplaying hooks.
• Ability Scores: Strength, Dexterity, Constitution, Inteligence, Wisdom, Charisma.
  Use one of these methods:
  • Standard Array: 15, 14, 12, 10, 8
  • Point Buy: Spend points to customise
  • Roll: 4xD6, drop the lowest, do this 6 times for each ability score

Why not try our Quick Character Generator for some unique randomised and well-rounded characters. It's ideal for new players or for those who short on time.

Whenever your character tries someting risky (like attacking, picking a lock, or persuading a guard), roll a D20 and add your modifier (from your ability scores of proficiency). If the result is equal to or higher than the Difficulty Class (DC) set by the Dungeon Master (DM), you succeed.

Example: You want to jump across a chasm. The DM may set a DC of 14, You roll a D20 then add your strength modifier if you have one. A 14 or more means you have successfully jumped accross the chasm.

• Initiative: Everyone rolls a D20 + Dexterity modifier to determine turn order.
• On Your Turn, you can:
  
  • Move (up to your speed)
  • Perform an Action (Attack, cast a spell, dash, etc.)
  • Bonus Action (if your class or spell allows it)
  • Reaction (used outside your turn for things like opportunity attacks)
• Attack Rolls: Roll a D20 + Attack modifier, beat the enemy's Armor Class (AC) to hit
• Damage: Roll the weapon or spell's damage dice and subtract from enemy HP

• Use your character's traits, background, and personality to interact with the world.
• Ask questions, solve puzzles, negotiate with NPCs and explore.
• D&D is ust as much about storytelling and creativity as it is about rules.

• Gain experience points (XP) or reach story milestones to level up.
• Each level gives you new abiliies, more hit points, and better stats.

• Ask Questions: Everyone starts as a beginner.
• Focus on Having Fun: Don't stress about getting every rule right.
• Stay in Character: Try to think and act like your character would.
• Work Together: D&D is a team game, help your rellow adventurers
• Respect the DM and the other players

• D&D Beyond: Digital characters sheets and rules
• Quick Character Generator
• Digital Dice Roller

Starting with a one-shot adventure like:

• Lost Mine of Phandelver - (Great for beginners)
• Dragons of Stormwreck Isle (Introduction box set)