Getting Started

Step 0: Learn the Game (at least a little bit)

Check out the Newbie Guides page on this site to learn about the game. Then, join up with the D&D Newbies and sign up for an event!

Step 1: Find a Group To Play With.

Recommended places to look: /r/LFG and StartPlayingGames, or find a group of people in the D&D Newbies Discord server. Most games rely on using voice chat (sometimes also video) and a Virtual Tabletop, although some games are purely text-based.

Step 2: Follow the Instructions of the Dungeon Master. They'll determine which tools you'll use to play with.

1. Set Up a Discord Server.

Set up a server with this RPG Group Server Template. Then, invite Avrae (and your friends!) to this server. The Avrae discord bot allows for dice rolls and SRD content lookup, and integrates with characters and content on D&D Beyond.

If you want automated event reminders, add Apollo.

2. Become Familiar With a Virtual Tabletop.

   • • Owlbear Rodeo (simplest)

     • Tableplop (intermediate, mobile-friendly)

       1. • Repository of 5e SRD monster files for import

     • Roll20 (intermediate, most popular, can purchase official pre-configured adventure modules)

       1. • Beyond20 browser plugin to integrate D&D Beyond

     • FoundryVTT (maximum configurability)

3. Choose Your Character Sheets.

Either use the built-in sheets from your chosen Virtual Tabletop, or create a campaign in D&D Beyond and invite your players to make characters within it.

4. Have Some Tools & Resources.

   • • Character Token Creator

     • Pre-made Maps

5. Access Online System Reference.

   • • D&D Beyond Basic Rules

     • Quick Reference (mobile-friendly)

     • 5e DM Screen

6. Prepare a Session Zero

   • • Understand how your chosen digital Character Sheets work, so you can help your players make their characters for your campaign.

     • Determine rules for the group. Here's a sample document with expectations.

     • Determine the setting and the party's initial starting location.

     • Determine starting level.

     • Plan a date and time to meet up with your players on Discord for the session.

Lots of Discord Chat Servers host games, or allow DMs to advertise open player slots for their games.

Game-Finding Applications and Services

Demiplane

• • The original founder of D&D Beyond is a co-founder of Demiplane

  • Includes voice and video chat

StartPlayingGames

• • Paid dungeon masters providing high-quality sessions

  • Partners with large conventions for playtesting and organized play

Tabletale Games

• • Beginner-friendly, and welcoming to children

TabletopWizard

• • Subsidiary of How to Be a Great Game Master

Gylded

• Search for in-person and virtual games

CRAWLR

• • Mobile app built on the premise of being "Tinder for D&D"

  • Still in development - expected release Fall 2021

Fiverr Dungeon Masters for Hire

• A platform for creators to post quick jobs and commissions works well for this.

Looking-for-group Forums

• DnDBeyond Looking for Players & Groups

• RPG.net LFG Forum

• Reddit LFG

• Roll20

  • • Roll20 LFG Search

    • Roll20 LFG Forum

    • Reddit Roll20 LFG

• Fantasy Grounds LFG Forums Page

A. Virtual Tabletop (VTT)

There are many choices for running your games online. Roll20, Fantasy Grounds, and FoundryVTT are popular, but Owlbear Rodeo or TablePlop may be worth a look for you and your group if you're looking for something a little more lightweight and/or mobile-friendly.

B. Video Conferencing

Many people use Discord's built-in video chat to play, though some prefer using Zoom, Google Meet, or Jitsi.

C. Play-By-Post (PBP)

Many games are run purely through text chat, primarily without the use of a Virtual Tabletop. This was a common method of roleplaying before voice and video chat was available online, and persists today for those who don't have easy access to those, or have social anxieties regarding their voice or looks. There are two main methods that PBP games are run:

1. Live Text Sessions

   • Players meet at a scheduled time to have their session of D&D, but there is no voice or video chat - only text.

2. Standard Play-By-Post

   • Players communicate over forums at whatever pace they feel is appropriate. 

Discord is the flavor of choice for the current generation of players, and there are entire Discord servers dedicated to hosting PBP games for groups, for example the You Meet In a Tavern PBP server. The D&D World server is a massive Discord server that hosts text-based sessions in a West Marches-style "living world".

D&D Beyond

• Allows you to save character sheet data and even make rolls from the sheet on the page

• Links up with Avrae, a Discord bot that allows you to make rolls using simple commands in chat

• Has a handy mobile companion app

Beyond20

• Browser extension that allows you to link your D&D Beyond character sheet to Roll20, FoundryVTT, Astral Tabletop, and Discord to D&D Beyond character data

Tokens & Maps

• Character Token Creator

• Pre-made Maps

Online System Reference

• D&D Beyond Basic Rules

• Quick Reference (mobile-friendly)

• 5e DM Screen