Parent's Guide to D&D

Welcome Adventurer!

If you are the parent or guardian of a younger adventurer, we welcome you! Navigating the world of Dungeons & Dragons can be daunting, and knowing what they need, and what you should be keeping an eye out for, is difficult if you have no background in the game yourself. We hope this guide helps.

What even is Dungeons & Dragons?!

Dungeons and Dragons, or "D&D" as it's sometimes referred to, is a fantasy tabletop roleplay game where players are lead through a story or campaign by a Dungeon Master (sometime referred to a DM or a Game Master/GM). Using a character sheet as a guide, and dice to help determine success or failure on actions taken, players collaboratively tell the story of their character's involvement with the story and other player's characters.

It was originally designed and developed by Gary Gygax and Dave Arenson, and was first published in 1974. Currently in its fifth edition, Dungeons and Dragons is probably the world's best known roleplay game to date.

What will my kid need to play Dungeons & Dragons?!

Looking online, it can be daunting to see all the books, miniatures, dice and other accessories that can be used to play this immersive game. And all that stuff comes at sometimes very high price. But realistically, you can play D&D without spending a single cent. 

A player only needs a few things to get started:

• a set of polyhedral dice (or an online tool like D&D Beyond which offers a free account to get started)

• a character sheet (again online tools like D&D Beyond offer this in a single interface with character options that you don't need to pay for)

• access to the Player's Handbook (or the Official System Reference Document available for download via D&D Beyond, no subscription necessary)

Anything beyond that is icing on the cake!

If they're looking to be the Dungeon Master for their friends, there are a few more things they will need:

• access to the Dungeon Master's Guide and Monster Manual (look again to D&D Beyond or other online tools for digital copies)

Of course, these are the initial items to get started. There are also maps, and miniatures, and a DM screen, and all manner of additional items both players and DMs can use to help increase immersion of the fun at the table.

How can I find a group for my kid to play D&D?

Finding groups to play with is one of the biggest challenges facing newcomers to D&D. First check your local community boards at schools and libraries to see if anyone is holding game sessions at these locations. You can also chat with your local friendly game store to see if they run D&D sessions on the weekends or after school.

Alternatively, you might like to check out Dungeons & Dragons Australia on Facebook or Discord. We have a thriving community of folks looking for new players, as well as a safe and welcoming space for new players to post about what they're looking for in a new group.

We always recommend that parents and guardians act as an intermediary for meeting these groups. We firmly believe that safety comes first, and we would welcome any feedback if negative experiences are had on any of our platforms.

Lastly, you can also find paid DMs who list sessions online or in person. These professionals offer a range of game types, from one shots (a single game session with the story contained in just the one sitting) or campaigns (longer games with regular ongoing sessions). As always, we recommend due diligence and safety come first when vetting these sessions for your child.

My kid can be shy. How canI help them?

We completely understand that sitting down with a group of complete strangers can be daunting, especially for young adventurers. We have found that sitting beside or around the table can help your child feel like they have a friednly support system to refer to when they get a little overwhelmed. Often, you won't need to do anything necessarily - just being there can help. Short one shot sessions can be a great "taste-test" to a longer game. These are often held at conventions or game stores, where there are also other things to go see and do afterwards, which can also help relieve some of the pressure of running headlong into an unfamiliar social session. 

We don't advise trying to help play for them. Taking ownership of their charcter's actions and responses can be the best part of D&D for some kids. Instead, if your kid seems stuck, maybe list things they could try, or remind them what they can see, leaving the decision up to them.

Letting the DM know they might be shy and slow to warm up to the social ascept fo the table can really help the DM deliver a better experience for your kid. Our DMs have all had experience with having young adventurers at their tables, and know tips and tricks to help get them really stuck into the adventure.

Lastly, be aware that sometimes there may be some big emotions - good and not so good. This is one of the most fulfilling aspects of role play games, and it isn't something to be scared of. They will feel elation when they beat the baddie, and might also feel sad when things don't go quite right. You know your kid best on how to support them through these feelings, but be aware that games like D&D are going to present them with a lot of opportunities to feel different emotions vicariously through their characters. After all, that's the immersive part of the game!

Where to from here?

Dungeons & Dragons is often a lifelong passion for players and DMs alike. 

Whether they become a dice goblin (someone obsessed with collecting multiple sets of dice - it makes Christmas and birthdays so much easier!) or they hoard knowledge like a dragon (collecting the books is a great way to keep them engaged with new and exciting stories and rules), the social skills, math skills and all-round fun that can be had with Dungeons & Dragons is something they will want to share with everyone. 

Why not join a game yourself and see what it's all about?