Your First D&D Game

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What happens at a D&D game?

D&D is a story you tell together. The Dungeon Master (DM) describes the world and plays everyone in it. Each other player controls one character and says what that character tries to do. When the result is uncertain, the DM asks for a roll and the dice help decide what happens.

You only need a small part of the rules for your first game. Say what you want your character to do, and the DM tells you what to roll from the numbers on your character sheet.

These four cover most of what you’ll use.

Term	Meaning
Dungeon Master	The player who describes the world, runs the game and applies the rules.
Character sheet	The page or app that holds your character’s numbers and abilities.
Dice	The d20 and the other dice you roll when an outcome is uncertain.
Your turn	Your chance to move and act during a fight.

One roll, start to finish

Your character tries to sneak past a guard. The outcome is uncertain, so the DM asks for a Dexterity check, a roll for moving quietly.

The numbers are an example. The DM compares your total with a target called the Difficulty Class (DC), where 15 is medium.

01 Dungeon Master

Field	Text
Identify by	The player who describes each scene and asks what you do.
What	The Dungeon Master is the player who runs the game, applies the rules and plays every creature the characters meet. In the free rules reference, the role is the GM, short for Game Master.
So what	The DM turns everyone’s choices into one story and decides when a roll is needed.

Field marks

Field	Short answer
Who	One player
When	Throughout the game
Cannot	Decide your character’s choices

Confused with: Opponent

The DM plays the monsters, but the DM isn’t your opponent. The DM applies the rules and helps the whole table tell the story.

02 Character sheet

Field	Text
Identify by	Your character’s name and numbers, printed, in an app or on plain paper.
What	A character sheet is the record of what your character can do. You’ll use a few numbers most: ability modifiers, attack bonus, Speed, Armor Class (what an attack on you must reach) and Hit Points (which go down as you take damage).
So what	The character sheet has the modifier you add when the DM asks for a roll, so keep it in front of you.

Field marks

Field	Short answer
Who	You, for your character
When	During play
Cannot	Explain every rule

Confused with: Rulebook

The character sheet records your character, and a rulebook explains the game. Ask the DM before the game whether to make a character or use one you’re given.

03 Dice

Field	Text
Identify by	Dice with 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 and 20 sides, called d4, d6, d8, d10, d12 and d20.
What	Dice are what you roll to settle uncertain results. The d20 decides success or failure, and the other dice mostly roll damage.
So what	In 2d6 + 1, the 2 is how many dice, the 6 is how many sides, and you add 1 to the total.

Field marks

Field	Short answer
Who	Everyone at the table
When	When the DM asks
Cannot	Choose what you attempt

Confused with: Natural 20

A natural 20 means the d20 itself shows 20, before you add anything. On an attack roll, a natural 20 always hits and a natural 1 always misses.

04 Your turn

Field	Text
Identify by	The DM calling your name in a fight. Everyone rolls Initiative when the fight starts, and that sets the order of turns.
What	Your turn is your character’s chance to move and act in a fight. You can move up to your Speed and take one action, such as Attack, Dash, Help or Hide.
So what	Your turn is when you tell the DM what your character does. Talking briefly is free. When you can’t decide, the Dodge action makes you harder to hit.

Field marks

Field	Short answer
Who	Your character
When	Once each round of turns
Cannot	Take more than one action

Confused with: Bonus Action

A Bonus Action is an extra action on your turn. You get one only when a feature, spell or ability on your character sheet says so.

How do you play well?

Most of it is arriving ready and sharing the fun.

Habit	Why it helps
Know your character’s basics	A rough idea of what your character can do is enough.
Bring dice, pencil and paper	You can roll when asked and note what changes.
Plan your turn while others play	Thinking ahead keeps the fight moving when the DM calls your name.
Listen before you speak	Everyone at the table gets a chance to shine.
Choose actions everyone enjoys	Your character’s choices should add to the whole table’s fun.

When you’re unsure, ask the DM.

Sources

These public sources were checked on 22 October 2026. Dungeons & Dragons and D&D are trademarks of Wizards of the Coast, used here only to name the game.

Source	Date	Address
Wizards of the Coast, Basic Rules: Playing the Game	September 2024	dndbeyond.com/sources/dnd/free-rules/playing-the-game
Wizards of the Coast, Basic Rules: Creating a Character	September 2024	dndbeyond.com/sources/dnd/free-rules/creating-a-character
Wizards of the Coast, System Reference Document 5.2.1, CC BY 4.0	April 2025	media.dndbeyond.com/compendium-images/srd/5.2/SRD_CC_v5.2.1.pdf
D&D Beyond, How to Play D&D		dndbeyond.com/how-to-play-dnd
D&D Beyond, Playing D&D for the First Time? Here Are Some Tips	January 2018	dndbeyond.com/posts/139-playing-d-d-for-the-first-time-here-are-some-tips