Whether you’re an “old school” gamer or just thinking about checking out Dungeons and Dragons for the first time, it’s good to know what you’re in for. DnD is a great way to take a trip to exotic places without ever leaving your living room (or parent’s basement). So, Oh Prince, grab your Mt. Dew and favourite crispy treat and let us return to the days of yore- or the next paragraph.

Dungeons and Dragons was first on the scene nearly 36 years ago as a game. Invented in 1974, it saw several rules changes and some refinement of the last three and half decades, though it say it’s hay day in the mid-80s when everyone short of your Grandmother tried the game at one point or the other.

DnD could best be described as a board game. It has a board, or map, and game pieces that players must move. It has a final objective (usually involving killing something and taking something else) and like most other board games, it has a set of dice. There is where the similarity ends though; at the dice.

Dungeons and Dragons requires a 6, 8, 10, 12 and 20 sided die to place. As crazy as it sounds, they are an important part of the game. They are not used for movement, that is predetermined by the game it’s self, but instead as a “luck and skill” factor for the character’s individual talents. If the character shoots something, battles something or a number of other actions, they will have to roll the dice to see what the result is. Understanding the notation of the dice is important as well. A 1d12 roll is “1 die 12 sided” to be rolled while a 2d6 would be “2 dice 6 sided” and so on. Not knowing your die notation will get you laughed at.

Humans, Elves, Dwarves, Half-Elves and Halflings are all races that can be played through 99.9% of the mods; they are the base classes. Each of these races has areas of strength and weakness. Which one is chosen as the character to be played will help in determining the class of the character.

Class isn’t about money in the Dungeons and Dragons world. Class is about what the character does for the “party”, or group of players. Warriors are the strength and backbone of the group, they provide the party with a fighter’s tenacity and hardiness. Wizards are the magic users, though not as strong and tough as the warrior, they are powerful in their spells. Priests are the healers and moral compass of the party, they provide healing and at higher level, resurrection service to the group to keep them healthy and well rounded. Thieves are the final basic component. They can detect traps and open locks, and they add an element of stealth as well. There are those who would argue that there are more classes available for play, but these are generally considered the basic character classes.

The level and alignment of the character is usually the next things DnD players will ask about. Everything that happens in Dungeons and Dragons in the way of combat and “questing” has the potential to award the player’s character experience points of “XP”. These points will accumulate until they reach a certain total, at which time the character “levels”. Leveling means the character will gain additional skills and is another important element. Alignments in their basic form are Good, Evil and Neutral. This is the character’s disposition. Good and Evil characters can go on a quest together since players, in theory, work together against a common foe. The main advantage of the character’s alignment are more for the sake of playing a role than the sake of game play, since typically all level Xs of a class are on par with each other.

Dungeons and Dragons is still played around the world and has evolved over time to suit its supporters. To get further information, check out the web, your local hobby shop or comic book store. They will have more information on where to find gaming groups in your area. They still exist.

Zeeman Haus enjoys writing articles online on a variety of subjects. You can check out his latest website on Dungeons and Dragons Miniatures which provides deals Dungeons and Dragons Miniatures & Accessories.