Tabletop Role-Playing 🇺🇸United States20th century

Dungeons & Dragons

Q: What edition of D&D should I start with?

5th Edition (2014-present) — most popular, most accessible, best supported. Wizards of the Coast released 'One D&D' 2024 update, mostly backward compatible with 5E.

Q: How long does a D&D session take?

3-5 hours typical. One-shot adventures: 3-4 hours. Full campaigns can run 20-100+ sessions over months or years, with sessions weekly/biweekly.

Q: Do I need to buy expensive books?

Basic Rules are free at dnd.wizards.com. Starter Set ($20) has everything for beginners. Full Player Handbook is $50 but not required. Digital tools (D&D Beyond, Roll20) reduce cost.

Q: How does combat work in D&D 5E?

Roll initiative (d20 + Dex mod) for turn order. Each turn: Move up to speed + take Action (attack, cast spell, etc.) + Bonus Action (some classes) + Reaction (opportunity attack). Attack: d20 + ability + prof vs AC. Damage: weapon-specific dice + ability mod.

Q: Who is the greatest DM?

Modern era: Matthew Mercer (Critical Role, since 2015) — considered the most influential DM in D&D history for his voice acting + narrative style. Historical: Gary Gygax + Dave Arneson (co-creators). Also famous: Chris Perkins (Wizards of the Coast senior story designer).

Q: Is D&D really having a resurgence?

Yes — 5th Edition (2014) + Stranger Things (2016+) + Critical Role (2015+) drove D&D to unprecedented popularity. 50+ million active players globally (2024). Wizards of the Coast's revenue from D&D 5x since 2014.

Foundational tabletop role-playing game (TTRPG) — a Dungeon Master narrates adventures for 3-7 players, who create characters and roll polyhedral dice (d4/d6/d8/d10/d12/d20) to resolve actions in a shared fantasy world.

📐table + optional battle map⏱~240 min🌤indoor

What is Dungeons & Dragons?

Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) is the world's first commercial tabletop role-playing game (RPG), designed by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson and published by Tactical Studies Rules (TSR) in 1974. It grew from Gygax's Chainmail miniatures wargame with Arneson's Blackmoor campaign fantasy dungeon crawls added. In D&D, 3-8 players create characters (with race like Human, Elf, Dwarf; class like Fighter, Wizard, Cleric, Rogue; alignment like Lawful Good, Chaotic Neutral) and cooperatively adventure in a fantasy world narrated by the Dungeon Master (DM). Rules resolve action outcomes via polyhedral dice: d4, d6, d8, d10, d12, and d20 (the iconic '20-sided die'). Rolling a d20 + modifiers vs difficulty class (DC) determines success/failure. D&D has been published in multiple editions: OD&D (1974), AD&D (1977-89), 2nd Ed (1989), 3rd Ed (2000), 4th Ed (2008), 5th Ed (2014-present, most popular ever). Owned by Wizards of the Coast (Hasbro) since 1997. D&D has 50+ million players globally as of 2024, boosted by shows like Stranger Things and the podcast/streaming series Critical Role.

Quick facts

How it works

Objective

Cooperative — party progresses through story crafted by DM, with characters overcoming challenges, gaining XP/loot, and eventually completing campaign story arc.

Match structure

Session flow: DM narrates scene → players declare character actions → DM narrates outcomes (using dice rolls when uncertain) → repeat. Sessions include combat (initiative-based turns), exploration (skill checks), and social (roleplay + persuasion checks).

Rules

Basic rules

Player creates character
Choose Race (Human, Elf, Dwarf, Halfling, etc.) + Class (Fighter, Wizard, Cleric, Rogue, etc.) + Background.
6 core ability scores
Strength, Dexterity, Constitution, Intelligence, Wisdom, Charisma — determined by rolling 4d6 (drop lowest) 6 times or standard array.
d20 + modifier vs DC
Ability check, attack roll, saving throw all use d20 + relevant modifier vs Difficulty Class.
Hit Points (HP)
Damage removes HP; 0 HP = unconscious, then death saves (3 successes = stable, 3 failures = death).
Combat = initiative + turns
Roll d20 + Dexterity modifier = initiative order; each character has 1 turn per round (Move + Action + Bonus Action + Reaction).
Levels 1-20
Characters gain XP from monsters/challenges; each level grants HP + features + spells.
DM has final word
DM interprets rules + adjudicates edge cases; can override for narrative/fun.

Advanced rules

Class-specific abilities
Fighter: 4 attacks at level 20. Wizard: prepare spells from spellbook. Rogue: sneak attack + expertise. Cleric: divine spells + channel divinity.
Spellcasting
Cantrips (unlimited) + spell slots per level. Requires verbal/somatic/material components.
Multiclassing (optional)
Take levels in multiple classes for hybrid characters.
Feats (optional)
Special abilities replacing ability score increases at levels 4/8/12/16/19.
Resting
Short rest (1 hour): recover some HP + spell slots. Long rest (8 hours): full HP + reset most abilities.
Death saves
At 0 HP: roll d20 each turn — ≥10 = success, <10 = failure. 3 successes = stable; 3 failures = dead.
Advantage/disadvantage
Roll 2d20 take higher (advantage) or lower (disadvantage) — 5E signature mechanic.

Scoring

Cooperative storytelling — no formal score. Success measured by campaign completion + character advancement.

Action	Points
XP (Experience Points)	Earned from monsters + milestones → character levels
Character Level	1-20; each level = new abilities
Gold + Loot	In-game currency + magic items
Death	Character removed unless resurrected (very high-level magic)

Win condition · Cooperative — party achieves campaign story goals. Not typically win/lose.

Playing area

Called

table + optional battle map

Dimensions

Any table; combat maps 1-inch grid on 4×4 ft mat typical.

Table with character sheets, dice, DM screen, and optional miniatures + battle mat.

Equipment

Polyhedral dice set
d4, d6, d8, d10, d12, d20 (+ percentile d10). Each player brings own set.
Player Handbook (PHB)
Rules for character creation, spells, combat. 5th Edition ~316 pages.
Dungeon Master Guide (DMG)
Rules for DM: creating adventures, world-building, treasure.
Monster Manual
Statistics for creatures monsters + NPCs face.
Character sheets
Track stats, HP, spells, gear, XP.
DM screen
Cardboard tri-fold hiding DM notes + quick reference.
Miniatures + battle map (optional)
1-inch scale figures on grid mat for tactical combat.
Pens, pencils, notepads
Note-taking for players and DM.

Officiating

DM is single referee — adjudicates all rule interpretations + narrates outcomes.

Dungeon Master (DM)

Strategies

Balanced party composition
Include Tank (Fighter/Barbarian) + Healer (Cleric) + Damage (Rogue/Ranger) + Utility (Wizard/Bard).
Communicate with DM before session
Discuss character concept; get DM buy-in on backstory.
Focus on role-playing over rules
Best D&D moments come from character interaction, not min-maxing stats.
Use bonus actions + reactions
5E maximises damage/utility by using every action type each turn.
Track spell slots + rests
Manage limited resources (spells, ability uses).
DM: prepare enough, improvise the rest
Have main story hooks ready; let players surprise you.

Terminology

DM (Dungeon Master): Referee + narrator + rules interpreter.
PC (Player Character): Character controlled by player.
NPC (Non-Player Character): Character controlled by DM.
d20 / d4 / d6 / d8 / d10 / d12: Polyhedral dice with 20/4/6/8/10/12 sides.
AC (Armor Class): Difficulty for attackers to hit; higher = harder to hit.
HP (Hit Points): Character/creature life; 0 = unconscious/dead.
XP (Experience Points): Progress toward next level.
DC (Difficulty Class): Number to beat with d20 roll for success.
Save (Saving Throw): d20 roll to resist effect (poison, spell, etc.).
Advantage/Disadvantage: Roll 2d20, take higher (adv.) or lower (dis.). 5E signature mechanic.
Nat 20: Rolling 20 on d20 — automatic hit + critical damage.
Nat 1: Rolling 1 on d20 — automatic miss.
Critical hit: Nat 20 attack = roll damage dice twice.
Long rest / Short rest: 8-hour rest (full recovery) / 1-hour rest (partial).
Level up: Gain new abilities + HP at each new character level (1-20).
Cantrip: 0-level spell — cast unlimited times without spell slot.
Spell slot: Uses per day for leveled spells.
Modifier: +/- to d20 roll based on ability score, proficiency, etc.
Alignment (LG/CE/etc.): Lawful/Neutral/Chaotic + Good/Neutral/Evil = 9 alignment combinations.

Major competitions

D&D Adventurers League (organized play)
ongoing · worldwide · since 2014
Winter Fantasy Convention
annual · USA (Fort Wayne, IN) · since 1974
Gen Con (largest gaming convention)
annual · Indianapolis, USA · since 1968
PAX gaming conventions (D&D games)
quarterly · USA/Australia/Europe
Critical Role (streaming show)
weekly · worldwide · since 2015

Where it is played

Governing bodies

Wizards of the Coast (Hasbro subsidiary)
Founded 1990 · Renton, WA, USA
Official site ↗
TSR (original publisher, 1973-1997)
Founded 1973 · Lake Geneva, WI, USA

Famous names & records

Famous athletes

Gary Gygax (USA, 1938-2008) — Co-creator D&D 1974 with Dave Arneson
Dave Arneson (USA, 1947-2009) — Co-creator D&D; developed dungeon-crawl format
Matthew Mercer (USA) — DM of Critical Role; most-famous modern DM
Vin Diesel (USA, actor) — Long-time D&D player; funded 1980s Chronicles of the Sword
Stephen Colbert (USA) — Famous D&D player; played Wizard on his own show
Joe Manganiello (USA, actor) — Big D&D advocate + campaign runs
Deborah Ann Woll (USA, actress) — Runs D&D charity streams
Critical Role cast (Sam Riegel, Laura Bailey, Travis Willingham, Ashley Johnson, Marisha Ray, Taliesin Jaffe, Liam O'Brien) — Streaming celebrities

Records

First commercial RPG
Dungeons & Dragons — 1974 by TSR (1974)
Most popular RPG edition
D&D 5th Edition (2014-present) — 50+ million active players (2024)
Longest continuous D&D campaign
Various — 40+ years (some 1970s campaigns still running) (2024)
Highest fantasy franchise revenue
D&D + video games + films — $100+ billion combined (2024) (2024)

Learn this sport

beginner

1
Buy 5E Starter Set
$20 - includes rules, dice, 5 pre-generated characters, and 'Lost Mine of Phandelver' adventure.
2
Join a table (in-person or online)
Local gaming store, university club, or Roll20/Foundry VTT online.
3
Play first session
3-4 hour session as pre-gen character; learn by playing.
4
Create your own character
Player Handbook full character creation.

intermediate

1
Multi-session campaign
20+ sessions over months; deep character arcs.
2
Try DMing
Run short one-shot adventure for friends.
3
D&D Adventurers League
Organised play at gaming stores; standardized shared world.

advanced

1
Long-form campaigns (1-3+ years)
Character levels 1-20; deep world-building.
2
Streaming / actual play
Critical Role, Dimension 20, D20 - inspire your own show.
3
Convention DMing
GM at Gen Con, PAX, D&D Live for hundreds of players.

Frequently asked

What edition of D&D should I start with?+