Research Guides: Dungeons & Dragons @ The Library: Getting Started

For Players:

Creating Your Character:

Your character is how you interact with the world! Character creation can set you up for success for the type of character you want to play.

5e Character Sheet
This is the official Character Sheet for 5th edition Dungeons and Dragons. There are other versions but all should have the same information.

DnD Beyond
DnD Beyond is an online hub of D&D knowledge. You can create up to 6 basic characters for free. It does require an account and has options to purchase additional content.
Dungeons & Dragons: 10 Things You Need To Know About Character Creation In D&D
As creating a character in Dungeons & Dragons can be overwhelming for newcomers, here are some crucial things to keep in mind.
Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition wiki
This wiki hosts DND 5e content that is setting-specific, play-test content, or unofficial 'homebrew' content. Some content found on this page may not be suitable for play at your table. Check with your DM to see if what you find here is a good fit for your table.
DnD Classes: Handbooks for DnD 5e - RPG Robot
RPGBOT has guides for playing each class. They provide recommend spells and abilities that synergize with different play styles.
Fantasy Name Generators
There are over 1400 name generators, as well as many description generators, guides and various tools you might find helpful

Video Guide:

A comprehensive guide to creating a new character. Great resource for visual learners.

For the DM:

Find an Adventure to Run:

Lost Mine of Phandelver Starter Adventure
Explore this introductory adventure to get started playing the world’s greatest roleplaying game. This link is for DnD Beyond access and needs a free account. We have the physical book here at the library!
The Delian Tomb
This adventure was directly inspired by the adventures created during the first episodes of Matt Colville’s Running the Game series on YouTube.

Matt Colville is an author and Dungeon Master that goes into in-depth breakdowns on rules and adventures. His YouTube channel can be found here!

Hosting a Game:

Games can be held in person. Some people find hosting games online through Virtual Table Tops (VTT) can be easier. These play systems take some time to learn. Each platform has a series of YouTube videos that shows the best way to utilize the functions offered.

Roll20
Roll20® is the most complete solution for digital play. Access character sheets, tokens, rulebooks, dice, and more - with powerful tools to automate the tedious stuff. Free account but does have paid options. Permits browser extension to connect with DnD Beyond or can host character sheets on platform.
Owlbear Rodeo
A TTRPG service with different levels of access by a free account allows you 200MB of storage, access to all tools, and up to 2 rooms.
Tableplop
Free, easy-to-use virtual tabletop and toolset for pen-and-paper roleplaying games.

Making Maps:

First you will want to have an idea for an encounter. This will provide the setting. Then you can build the map based on the setting. Basic maps can be made on paper or even a dry erase board.

On the other hand, there are many fantastic content creators that have maps available for both VTT and for print. You can always find a great map, and then make the encounter for it!

2-Minute Tabletop
2-Minute Tabletop is a website dedicated to enhancing your tabletop role-playing with resources created by passionate artists and writers. Basic versions are pay what you want, with expanded assets for small fees.
Inkarnate
Inkarnate is an online map-making platform that lets you create and manage fantasy maps. There is both a free and paid option.
Medieval Fantasy City Generator
This application generates a random medieval city layout. The generation method is rather arbitrary, the goal is to produce a nice looking map, not an accurate model of a city.

Dungeons & Dragons @ The Library: Getting Started

For Players:

For the DM:

How to Play: