Dungeons & Dragons
Step into a world of adventure, magic, and endless possibilities with Dungeons & Dragons. Whether you're discovering tabletop roleplaying games for the first time or are a seasoned adventurer with years of experience, D&D offers every group a unique adventure.
What is Dungeons & Dragons?
Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) is a fantasy tabletop roleplaying game in which you and your fellow players experience a story together. Unlike a traditional board game, not everything is predetermined. You decide what your character does, how you respond to situations, and what choices you make.
One player takes on the role of Dungeon Master (DM) and guides the game. The DM describes the world, plays the characters and monsters you encounter, and makes the adventure unfold. Each of the other players plays their own character and decides how that character acts.
The result is a combination of storytelling, improvisation, strategy, imagination, and dice.
How do you play D&D?
A typical D&D session begins when the Dungeon Master describes the situation. Perhaps your group is standing at the entrance to an ancient dungeon, a village is under attack by goblins, or your party has received a mysterious assignment.
The players then decide for themselves what to do.
Want to open the door? The DM might ask you to make an ability check. Want to attack a monster? You'll roll attack dice. Want to cast a spell? Your character sheet shows you what options you have.
Many actions are resolved using a D20, a twenty-sided die. Your roll is combined with your character's attributes and skills to determine whether your action succeeds.
But D&D isn't just about winning. Sometimes the most interesting choice is the one that completely changes the story.
The Dungeon Master
The Dungeon Master, often abbreviated as DM, guides the game and brings the world to life.
The DM:
- Describes locations, situations, and events
- Plays NPCs and enemies
- Determines how the world responds to players' choices
- Guides combat and other challenges
- Uses prewritten adventures or creates their own story
- Makes sure everyone at the table has fun
The DM doesn't have to come up with everything themselves. There are several adventure books and campaign books available that contain complete adventures, worlds, and storylines.
What do you need to get started?
D&D can be as simple or as involved as you like. For your first game, you basically need a few things.
A group of players
D&D is played with a Dungeon Master and several players. A group of around 3 to 5 players plus a DM works great, but other group sizes are possible too.
A character
Each player creates their own character. You choose a species/race, class, background, and abilities, among other things. For example, you could play a powerful Fighter, a mysterious Rogue, a mighty Wizard, or a versatile Cleric.
Your character is recorded on a Character Sheet, which lists your attributes, skills, equipment, spells, hit points, and more.
Dice
D&D uses different polyhedral dice. A standard 7-piece dice set contains:
- D4
- D6
- D8
- D10
- D10 percentile
- D12
- D20
The D20 is the most important die for many actions.
The rules
The Player's Handbook contains the most important rules and information for players. It covers character creation, classes, spells, equipment, and the basic rules of the game, among other things.
There are also special books for the Dungeon Master, containing additional rules, monsters, resources, and adventures.
An adventure
To actually play, you need an adventure. This can be an official D&D adventure or a story created by the Dungeon Master.
What D&D products are available?
At Cardstore, you'll find different types of Dungeons & Dragons products. This makes it easy to build a collection that suits your play style.
Rulebooks
The essential books for playing D&D. These include books for players and Dungeon Masters, as well as comprehensive rules for character creation, spells, monsters, and gameplay.
Ideal if you want to create your own adventures or expand your game further.
Adventure Books
Official adventures and campaigns that you can play with your group right away. These books contain storylines, locations, NPCs, monsters, and other information the DM needs.
You can follow an adventure from start to finish or use parts of it in your own campaign.
Campaign & Setting Books
Want to play in a fully realized fantasy world? Campaign and setting books let you discover new worlds, locations, factions, characters, and stories that add depth to your own campaign.
Starter Sets
Want to try D&D for the first time? Starter Sets are an easy way to get started. They typically contain everything you need to play your first adventure with a group.
An excellent choice if you don't yet have an extensive collection.
Dice Sets
Dice are an essential part of D&D. Alongside standard dice sets, countless colors, materials, and designs are available.
Many players also collect different sets so they can use a set that suits each character or adventure.
Miniatures
Miniatures let you place characters, monsters, and NPCs on the gaming table. They're especially useful during combat and make the game more visually engaging.
Dice Accessories
From dice bags and dice trays to dice towers and other accessories, the right accessories keep your dice organized and complete your gaming table.
Maps & Terrain
Battle maps and terrain let you visualize combat and locations. This makes it easier to track movement, distance, and position during encounters.
Character Accessories
For players who want to bring their character fully to life, there are various accessories available, such as character journals, spell cards, and other useful aids.
D&D for beginners
You don't need any experience to play Dungeons & Dragons. The most important thing is that you are curious and want to experience a story together with others.
You also don't need to know all the rules by heart. During play, you will naturally learn how the most important mechanics work. The Dungeon Master and the other players can help you with this.
Our tip for beginners: start with a Starter Set or a suitable introductory set, collect a dice set and choose a character that you enjoy playing. From there, you can expand your collection step by step.
D&D is your story
The best thing about Dungeons & Dragons is that there is no fixed way to play the game. Maybe you want to become a heroic paladin who saves the world. Maybe you prefer playing a cunning rogue who would rather talk than fight. Or maybe a simple mission to find a missing person eventually turns into an adventure that lasts multiple gaming sessions.
You make the choices. The dice determine the outcome. Together, you create the story.
Discover our collection of Dungeons & Dragons products at Cardstore and start your next adventure.