A Beginner’s Guide to Dungeons & Dragons: Tips and Tricks for New Players

Dungeons & Dragons tips and tricks for beginners to enhance your gameplay, whether in person or online.

We are fairly certain that there is no game quite like Dungeons & Dragons (D&D). It is an amalgamation of storytelling, role playing, and even a bit of chance, where one steps into the persona of an all-powerful wizard, a brave knight, or a treacherous rogue.

The Dungeon Master (DM) narrates tales of epic conquests and guides the players throughout their adventure. The players? Well, they play. They guide their characters through an adventure in which the wonder of shared experience is the true reward.

D&D has never been more accessible than it is now in 2024, with platforms like Roll20 and Elite Adventures (and a ton of digital tools by Wizards of the Coast, the official creators of D&D) making it easy for you and your friends to dive into a first adventure. Whether you’re playing in person or playing D&D online, these platforms help make it seamless and immersive.

Let’s take a look at what you need to get started and dive into some essential tips and tricks to help you on your D&D journey!

What is Dungeons & Dragons?

Dungeons & Dragons is a table-top role-playing game created by Wizards of the Coast. Players unite to journey through epic fantasy realms, conquer adversaries, and crack enigmas, all while taking on the personalities of one-of-a-kind characters with defined roles and dazzling powers.

The art of D&D lies in its boundless flexibility. You can play it however you want; Indeed, the only rule is that there are no rules. Once upon a time, D&D was played around a table with real dice, complicated maps, and tons of real sheets of paper.

But now the experience has gone digital, thanks to Roll20 and Elite Adventures. You can use these sites to play online, meet with your home group, share game-world maps, roll your virtual dice, and this last is key for D&D, imagine like crazy together.

Tip #1: Start with the Basics

The most effective way to embark on your D&D journey is to utilize resources meant for beginners.
If you’ve never played Dungeons and Dragons online before, you can check out our blog to learn Basic Setup for New Players.

If you happen to play on Roll20, you can access pre-loaded versions of these modules, and the virtual tabletop will help guide you through the adventure. If you’d like to learn more about the rules or character creation, we also offer beginner guides that are much more digestible than the rulebooks and the Player’s Handbook.

Tip #2: Use Roll20 for Character Creation

One of the most enjoyable aspects of playing Dungeons & Dragons online is creating your own character. However, for newcomers, this essential component of the game can seem a little daunting.

Not to worry, though. A built-in character creation tool at Roll20 can take some of the pressure off, guiding you through the process of selecting a race, class, and abilities. The site does the math for you, and there’s no need to worry about figuring out the stats yourself.

If you want even more help, or if you simply need a jolt of inspiration, check out our blog on setting up Character Tokens as well. This resource can take you through the process of customizing your character, step by step. Whether you want to create a mighty paladin that can stand up to anyone in a fair fight or a sneaky rogue that can give the Prince of Persia a run for his money, they have all the essentials covered.

Tip #3: Embrace the Role-Playing

Role playing is at the core of Dungeons & Dragons. When you take on a role as a player, you are stepping into the character you have created: making decisions and interacting with the game world that is based on your character’s unique personality, goals, and abilities.

For new players, this might feel a bit daunting. Yet, role playing is the art form where the most memorable moments shine in the heart of the game. Just like the characters you play, with practice, you will find that assuming a role becomes a natural and rewarding part of the game experience.

If you want to dig into deeper storytelling elements or need assistance with your character’s backstory, we also offer some of the best role-playing advice on the web and encourages creativity and immersive storytelling. You can check out our amazing roster of Dungeons Masters right here and decide who seems like the best fit for you.

Tip #4: Simplify Combat with Roll20’s Tools

One of the most major parts of playing Dungeons and Dragons online or offline is the combat. However, it can get overwhelming for beginners trying to figure out the dice rolls, ability usage, and strategizing accordingly. Again, Roll20 can help ease you into the process by providing dynamic character sheets which will automatically calculate your attack, damage, and special ability stats.

The website also provides battle maps where your character tokens move and visually present the action. However, if you’re more interested in refining your combat strategies, we provide player guides to learn tactics, spell combos, and many other ways to optimize your abilities to battle.

You can also explore Wizards of the Coast’s free online resources, such as the Basic Rules, which give you a detailed breakdown of combat, spells, and mechanics that are essential for learning how to fight effectively in D&D.

Tip #5: Think Outside the Box: Creative Problem Solving

Combat is significant, but so is coming up with creative solutions to problems. Imagine that you’re in a dungeon, full of traps and very much like a scene out of a movie, or, say, a video game. You’re not battling your way through; instead, your rogue is a trap disarmer, your bard a cop with a clever illusion that keeps the guards distracted, you’re an adventuring party that simply can’t be stopped. You’re not just warriors but also skilled problem solvers.

If you’re more interested in being a Dungeon Masters (DMs), we also offer pre-built puzzles, scenarios, and encounters that can inspire creative problem-solving for your players. Whether it’s finding a way to outsmart a tricky warlock or sneaking through an enemy’s castle, the possibilities are endless. Remember, a good DM can tell a good D&D story even without the use of fancy visual aids. Check out our schedule for upcoming games right here!

Tip #6: Learn from the Experts

The D&D world has plenty of famous players, streamers, and DMs who have left their mark. One need only look to shows like Critical Role, with Matthew Mercer at the helm, and Dimension 20, designed and directed by Brennan Lee Mulligan, to see how both D&D and tabletop role-playing games (or TTRPGs) in general have ascended to the pantheon of contemporary spoken-word entertainment.

Not incidentally, these two shows also happen to be some of the most mainstream and successful examples of TTRPGs as a storytelling medium. If these shows are meant to be aspirational, then watching them gives a person a pretty good idea of not only what the rules of D&D are but also how the game is best run, played, and experienced in terms of both captivating storytelling and spectacularly immersive visuals!

Tip #7: Play or DM with Elite Adventure’s Resources

If you have a sense of adventure and would like to run a game for players, the role of Dungeon Master (DM) can be yours. Use this guide to help you pick a resource that matches your needs. Both Elite Adventures and Roll20 provide tools you can use to get started, as well as additional resources that may be of interest to you to flesh out your adventure either before or during the game.

You don’t have to do all the work, either. These resources are very much about collaboration, so invite your players along for the ride!

Your First Adventure Awaits with Roll20, Elite Adventures, and Wizards of the Coast

In 2024, beginning your Dungeons & Dragons journey is easier than ever, with the remarkable tools and resources available through Roll20, Elite Adventures, and Wizards of the Coast.

These platforms equip you from the outset, from character creation and rules comprehension to the initiation of your first epic showdown, so you can confidently step into the many layers of the D&D experience and play online.

With the three aforementioned platforms providing powerful virtual environments, you’re assured of entering a limitless world where imagination reigns, dragons fall, and memories from time spent with your party will never fade. So, what are you waiting for? Off you go on your next adventure!

Don’t forget to join our community on Discord using this link https://discord.gg/WBg4RE4pDR for more discussions with fellow players.