Dungeons & Dragons 5e

If you're just getting into the tabletop RPG hobby and want to know how D&D works, this video can introduce you to the basics of the game. Essentially, you and a group of three to five friends all sit down at a table to play a game of fantasy adventure where you are the heroes. One player, the Dungeon Master, or DM, will describe your situation, the rest of the players decide what to do, and the DM, who also plays the environment, the non-player characters, the monsters, and the world, says how the situation responds.

Occasionally, when your characters attempt something difficult or dangerous, you'll need to roll dice to determine whether they succeed or fail. Typically, you'll roll a twenty-sided die, add any bonuses from relevant stats or skills, and compare the number to a difficulty, a target number set by the DM. If you meet or exceed that number, you succeed! This is also how attacking works in combat, except the target number is your target's "armor class," or how difficult they are to hit. It's also how you'll make "saving throws," reactive rolls made to avoid sudden danger.

Some characters can cast magic spells, each of which has its own rules, but might involve attack rolls or saving throws to see if their most powerful effects take place. The game also has some rules for exploration, like tracking light in dark places, resources in the wilderness, and how far you can travel in a day. There's also some rules for social play, negotiating with non-player characters. Generally, the focus of Dungeons & Dragons is right in the name: going into dangerous places and fighting monsters! If you're lucky and skilled, you'll come out with treasure, some new abilities, and an unforgettable story to tell.