You’re probably here because of that Dungeons & Dragons game. Cool!
Let me just say I’m excited for you! It’s been many years since I sat in the new player chair for the first time. It’s a very exciting thing to learn. Welcome to the first steps of your roleplaying journey.
Welcome if you’re new here. Welcome to the hobby. Welcome to what will hopefully be many, many well spent hours of collaborative storytelling with friends. We’re glad you’re here!
Disclaimer: Statements expressed in this article are strictly my opinion. If you disagree or have a different opinion, that’s okay. I’m not an expert on everything. I’m not always right. I’m just writing from my experience as I know it. Your mileage may vary.
All of us veterans had to start somewhere.
It’s important to remember that from 2024 going forward, we’re going to see an abundance of new and returning players in the roleplaying hobby. I’m going to be putting out a series of articles over the next few months welcoming all of the wonderful new people into or back into this fine hobby.
There’s going to be tons of new information coming at you all at once. I’ll try to help make sense of it where I can. You can reach me via email or contact me on the various social media platforms. My personal messages are (usually) wide open.
Please remember that all of us old timers have been in the new person chair at some point. We’ve all been that new player who didn’t even know where to hang up our coat when we walked in. We didn’t know a d20 from a d10. Heck, some of us didn’t know dice could have more than 6 sides.
What the heck is a roleplaying game?
This question is addressed in almost every Player’s Handbook or core starter set ever written for almost any game. Most games function around a group of players who are portraying a character. One of the players is the Dungeon Master, (or Game Master.) We shorten Dungeon Master to DM to save on the carpal tunnels. (Or GM, again depending on the game.)
The DM is the player, usually at the head of the table, who is going to be in charge of describing the world, portraying all of the monsters, Non Player Characters (NPCs) and other characters the group of Player Characters (PCs) is going to run into. Being a DM is challenging, but something worth exploring once you get the hang of how the game works if you’re willing.
There are lots of resources online to help you get started and show what a roleplaying game session looks like. Critical Role is probably the most well-known Actual Play series in the world as of this writing. Link to their YouTube channel here. Please be aware that not every DM is as cool as Matt Mercer or one of his crew, but your DM is pretty gosh darn cool. (They helped recruit you, right?)
Okay, how do I “portray a character?”
First, you’re going to have to create or possibly choose a pregenerated character. Since there are literally hundreds if not thousands of RPGs on the market, I can’t walk you through creating your first character, but your DM or one of your fellow players can. You’re only limited by your imagination and slightly by whatever rules system the game uses.
Do you have a favorite character from a fantasy movie, TV show, or novel? (Assuming we’re talking about D&D or some similar fantasy game.) Maybe think of your favorite character and a little of what they’re like: Are they good with a sword? Can they cast magic spells? Are they friends with all of nature and speak for the trees? Are they a high-flying monk who bravely charges into every battle? Do they run a cozy bakery when they’re not adventuring?
There are literally hundreds of tropes and thousands of character possibilities in pretty much every RPG. Feel free to put your own spin on your character. Maybe you’re a socially awkward elf in public, but an armored juggernaut on the battlefield. Maybe you’re a dwarf who likes to bake cakes. Perhaps you’re a charismatic human in league with a far more powerful, unimaginable Elder god. The world is your oyster when it comes to making your character’s backstory. (What your character did before becoming a brave adventurer.)
Relax. (*You’ll hear me say this a lot.) Your character’s personality and even backstory can be filled in as we go. Your DM/GM will give you plenty of opportunities to express your character’s wants, desires, needs, goals, and even abilities eventually. No worries.
Oh, and don’t worry about what dice to roll. The DM/GM will let you know what to roll and when. You’ve also got your fellow players to kinda give you a nudge if needed. It’s okay. Just make sure if you borrow dice to return them at the end of the night and don’t shove them up your nose no matter what your best friend says. (*Too much information?)
Yes, those Critical Role folks are talented voice actors. Don’t worry. No one is expected to do that, especially right out of the gate on Day One. Start by asking yourself, “what does my character do in this situation?” Ask yourself, “What would my character say to this person?” When your turn comes around, tell the group what your character says or does.
Congratulations! You’re roleplaying. Later on we’ll maybe add in the funny voices and character quirks. Eventually we might even get into exploration, problem solving, world building (lore,) possibly comedy relief, and combat (in game, not IRL.) Everyone has some aspects they love about roleplaying, and a few that they prefer a little less, maybe.
We’ll hit the brakes on that for today.
Please, have fun at the roleplaying table. Hang out with friends, roll dice, maybe eat some snacks, and unwind for a few hours. It’s about having fun! Welcome to the hobby. Please have fun! More next time.
This was just the most bare bones basic of basics. We’ll get into other types and flavors of games here on my blog. We’ll talk about some player tips and tricks for any given situation. Then we’ll turn to the DM/GM end of things again. Woot! (That’s more my end of the proverbial pond.)
Thank you for being here today with me. I appreciate you. Please embrace the things that bring you the most joy.
Jeff's Game Box 