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. Realistically, a player only needs a few things to get started:

• a set of polyhedral dice (or an online tool like D&D Beyond)

• a character sheet (again online tools like D&D Beyond offer this in a single interface)

• 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. 

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.

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 one day?