Free D&D

The closest thing we have to a D&D Quickstart

    Dungeons & Dragons doesn't really have an official quickstart, at least not of the same type that we can find for many other RPGs. Instead, we will need build our own, which I think requires a little bit of explanation. On top of that, because it is generally assumed that D&D will be the entry point for most people into the hobby, I think it's a good idea to provide a little bit of insight into D&D as it exists today and what you will find when you click the links below. 

Dungeons & Dragons - Fifth Edition (5E) - 2024 Rules

    Most people will be aware that D&D has been around for a long time, at least since the 1980s (thanks, Stranger Things), so what does it mean to start playing D&D today? Is it still the same game that originated in 1974? The short and simple answer to that question is "no." You can also just ignore all this and trust that the information below will get you started playing D&D, but if you want to dive into the history and versions of the game later then read on.

    We are currently on the fifth edition of the D&D core rules, which launched in 2014, and then had a major update in 2024. The shorthand for the current version of D&D is "5E", but that does get a little murky thanks to the recent update (or revision) of the rules. So now many players will refer to the version they are playing as D&D'14/5E 2014 or 5.5E/5E'24/D&D 2024, as appropriate. You get the idea, it's complicated. 

    Unfortunately, the complication of 5E doesn't stop there, thanks to the fact that 5E can realistically be considered an open gaming ecosystem which encompasses more than just D&D 5E. I'll refrain from diving into that topic fully, but will happily direct you to Mike Shea's video on the topic if you are curious.

Free, but not simplified

    The link below will lead take you to the current version of the "basic rules" for D&D. These rules are not simplified, but they are slightly reduced compared to what you would get with the core rulebooks. The D&D Beyond Basic Rules contain all the rules for the game, for Players and Dungeon Masters, but with a limited selection of subclasses, a reduced Dungeon Masters Guide, and a reduced Monster Manual. Having said that, you and your friends could get many, many hours of gameplay and fun from the Basic Rules without ever having to buy the core rulebooks. I will also link to the official "Learn to Play" page, which eventually links to the free rules. 

D&D 2024 Basic Rules - start with "Playing the Game" and work your way through the headings from there. My only advice would be that you can pretty much stop once you read the first section of the "D20 Tests" subheading and move on to "Character Creation". 

Learn to Play - the official landing page for new players presented by Dungeons & Dragons.

The Teaching Adventure

    One of the great benefits of the quickstarts we find for other games is the inclusion of an adventure designed to introduce people to the game and use the simplified rules presented in the quickstart. Again, D&D is missing this component; however, we do have an excellent adventure which will teach one player to serve as the DM, walk everyone through the game experience step-by-step, and includes pre-generated characters. 

Peril in Pinebrook was written by a well respected game designer and adventure writer in the RPG industry, who is also an educator. While the adventure is written with a younger audience in mind, it serves as an excellent introduction to D&D for anyone of any age. Don't be put off by the "adventure for young players" tagline.

For a second option, I think that Sly Flourish's City of Arches has a really great introductory scenario, which he generously includes in the free City of Arches preview. The scenario "Golgoron Arises" can be found on page 10 of the preview, and the follow-up adventure "The Obsidian Skull" can be found on page 38. Both of these present the core mechanics of D&D 5E, explained well, and within a fun setting that really nails the high fantasy expectations many people will have for D&D.

Further Reading

    Here are a few YouTube channels, playlists, or blogs that I found to be the most helpful and enjoyable as I started my journey with D&D.

Sly Flourish - a blog from the Lazy Dungeon Master, Mike Shea. The blogger, author, and YouTuber who has had the greatest impact on the way I think about the game as a DM and player. 

Ginny Di - the "New D&D Players Start Here" playlist from Ginny Di. One of the best YouTube content creators for D&D and RPGs in general. She's fun, makes great videos, and covers everything we need to know as players and DMs. She has a "New DMs Start Here" playlist, too!

Running the Game - a landmark YouTube series created by Matt Colville, who now leads an RPG publisher with their own game MCDM. Running the Game has the sole mission of demystifying the role of the DM and encouraging everyone to give it a try. Here's a fleshed out version of the adventure Matt creates in the beginning of this series: The Delian Tomb.

Baldur's Gate 3 Cast Play D&D - lots of people recommend watching "Actual Plays" of RPGs as a way to see the games in action, but I think they are only really valuable in this context if the show is intended as an introduction to the game for the players at the table and the audience at home. This show is the best example I've seen.

A Party of Two

    If it's hard for you to find a traditional RPG group of one GM and 3-4 Players, then one-on-one play is another great option! D&D Duet is an excellent example and resource for playing the game with just two people. Sure, they are a couple, but there's no reason their example can't be followed by platonic friends.

I Love D&D

    This post isn't the place where I gush about my love for D&D, but I wanted to make it clear that I think Dungeons & Dragons is still a great place for people to start playing RPGs. I know that there are simpler systems out there, which may serve as an easier entry point to the hobby for many people. I know that not everyone loves the fantasy genre. But I really love D&D as it exists today, and I'm so happy that I finally gave it a chance. I love that all my friends were excited to finally get their chance to play, too. 

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