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How to Play D20 Games

Learning to play D20 role-playing games such as "Dungeons &Dragons" is not hard provided you have the correct tools. D20 games are a specific type of tabletop role-playing game in which players assume the roles of characters in various adventures. The outcomes of in game decisions and choices are determined by a chosen skill set and the luck of the dice.D20 refers to the 20-sided die, containing numbers 1-20. A D20 dice set will also include other strange-looking dice with different amounts of sides, including pyramid-shaped four-sided dice.

Things You'll Need

Player's Handbook (specific to the D20 game you will be playing)
Set of D20 dice
Pencil
Blank character sheets (usually free to download or copy legally from the back of the handbook)
Role-playing group

Instructions

Read the Book and Meet the Group
- 1
  Obtain and read the player's handbook introduction for a general overview of the role-playing game. Each game takes place in a specific setting. "Dungeons &Dragons," for example, takes place in a medieval fantasy setting. The same D20 dice system is also used for "Star Wars," modern and Western settings as well. While a handbook can be overwhelming, it is the true source of D20 knowledge and the best place for a new player to start. The player's handbook explains the rules of the game environment and character creation in an objective format.
- 2
  Character creation is the most essential part of the game. During the role-playing game, you will be portraying the thoughts and actions of a character. Typically, characters are made with two major considerations: race and class. Race refers to the type of being you will play (elf, human, dwarf) and class describes your character's role (mage, fighter, rogue). Before you attend your first session, you should try to get an idea of what class and race you would like your character to be.You will also receive a certain number of points to distribute into skills and such to shape your character. As the game progresses, characters level up (just like in video games) and get more points and money.
- 3
  Be familiar with the game tools, particularly the dice. You should be able to identify each by sight. Count the sides of the dice at first if necessary.Other tools you might encounter in a D20 game are: miniatures (representational figures of characters), a screen (folding decorated paper to hide the GM's notes from players), and a grid (large map on which miniatures are placed to represent their proximity to creatures and buildings).
- 4
  When you have a general idea of how the game works, it's time to attend your first gaming session. Remember that during the game, you will be in character, and it's important not to take in character actions as offensive out of character. Similarly, it is important to refrain from using out-of-game knowledge in game.

Role Playing Games