This ultimate guide is filled with specific decoration ideas, thoughts on food, D&D activities for the party beyond playing a game, D&D party favors, and budget friendly D&D birthday party ideas.

You’re Invited! D&D Birthday Party Invitations

To throw the ultimate Dungeons and Dragons birthday party, why not start right at the beginning with D&D invitations? There are several ways you can make physical or digital invitations that will have your guests excited to come.

Physical Invitations

The most straightforward physical D&D invitations I’ve found might be ones you can fill in yourself by hand. If you don’t want to fill them all out, though, or plan to send out a lot of invitations, you could always make color photocopies of them. Alternatively, you could make a design through a program like Canva and then print those out on a nice cardstock.  

If you’re not sure what to design or print out, several designers have already made Canva templates that you can upload and edit as needed.

• Adventurers Wanted 
• Attention Adventurer 
• Game On

The nice thing about the digital Canva templates is that they could be used as digital D&D birthday party invitations, too. 

Digital Invitations

If you have everyone’s email address or have created a digital page for your D&D birthday party, making an image with the Canva templates suggested in the Physical Invitations section is a great choice. 

Some people like invitations more catered to the physical space, though. In that case, uploading a design into an evite might be the way to go. If you don’t want to build your own, you can also use a dragon template or a treasure map template for a thematic digital D&D invitation.

Decorations: Setting the Atmosphere for your D&D Birthday Party

You can make a general D&D birthday party vibe or if the birthday person is part of an existing game, you can make the atmosphere in the setting of their current game if you know it.

Although standard Dungeons and Dragons party decorations are great, it can be more fun to transport the party into the world of Dungeons and Dragons rather than simply addressing the game thematically.

What is a D&D Atmosphere?

If you’re not familiar with Dungeons and Dragons as the party host, you can reference materials on the Forgotten Realms. You can also check out our Pinterest board below for a visual feel of what makes a D&D atmosphere.

Basically a D&D atmosphere is a sort of medieval magical aesthetic. If you’re familiar with Lord of the Rings, Dungeons and Dragons was based off of famous fantasy books like that, so that can give you a feeling too.

To set the atmosphere then for a D&D birthday party, you’ll want items that create the aesthetic of a medieval city or forest paired with magical elements. 

Items to Set the Vibe for your D&D Birthday Party

If you choose to go the atmospheric route, there are loads of affordable items that can really create the essence of being in a D&D game.

• Tavern table cover
• Decorative lanterns
• Medieval plates and cups 
• Gold goblets

If, however, the birthday person really enjoys the straightforward D&D look and doesn’t want any question about the theme of the party, there are some great options for D&D party decorations.

• General D&D party decorations
• D&D balloons
• D&D class coasters
• More D&D class coasters
• Black and white D&D cake topper
• Color D&D cake topper 
• D&D cupcake toppers
• Miniatures for decorations or cake toppers

Whichever way you go for the D&D birthday party decorations, make sure to keep reading for tips on how to make other parts of the party thematic and budget friendly. 

A Heroes’ Feast: Dungeons and Dragons Party Food

Just like the decorations, the food for a Dungeons and Dragons themed party can be more thematic to a sort of fantasy setting rather than being focused on literal D&D items. But food that focuses on D&D items and creatures like dice, dragons, potions, and more can be very fun, too! Consider both options below or even a mix and match of the two.

Lore-Based Food

One very straightforward way to have that vibe is to check out the book Heroes’ Feast. It’s a cookbook specifically designed for Dungeons and Dragons lore where the recipes are organized according to races. 

The creators of the Heroes’ Feast cookbook also made the Deck of Many Morsels which could be fun to “randomize” your food choices for the party and could go along with the party activities suggested later in this post.

If you want to focus your time on other elements of the party instead of trying new recipes, you could also make a straightforward “rations” or “tavern” plate in the form of charcuterie boards. Basically any plate of cured meats, cheeses, and breads or crackers can be very thematic. A hearty stew might also be a good option depending on the season. 

Thematic Dungeons and Dragons Food

Sometimes it’s really fun to have snacks that make guests say, “That’s so clever!” Kids often really like seeing their favorite foods dressed up in a new way, too. For a birthday party with thematically fun D&D food, consider some of these options:

• Label glass bottles with colorful beverages as “potions.”
• Put out various berries and call them “Good berries.”
• Use D&D miniatures as cake or cupcake toppers.
• Make some dice shaped cookies.
• Cut some cheese into polyhedral dice shapes. 
• Offer some thematically-wrapped jerky. 
• Bugles can be labeled as “dragon claws.”

A lot of these options make for a great budget-friend D&D birthday party, too. For more tips on considering the budget, check out the end of this guide.

Party Activities for D&D Themed Birthdays

You might not have the time or resources to run an actual D&D game at the party, but that doesn’t mean there’s nothing to do! Here are some ideas for activities for a great Dungeons and Dragons birthday party.

Character Photo Booth

If you’re already creating a D&D atmosphere, then you could create a spot designated for photographs complete with costumes for a fun photo booth! Set up a tripod so party goers can use their own phones. It might be fun to have a list of common photo filter options through commonly used apps like Snapchat. 

Then have different weapons and gear for people to pose with.  You can set up a thematic background with a tavern-like tapestry or even use a premade head cutout background. 

This is also an activity you can let guests know about ahead of time so that they can bring their own costumes if they have any.

D&D Streaming

Streaming either a video or a Twitch channel would be a particularly great activity for a D&D birthday party sleepover. Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves would be a good choice. Depending on the age group, a Critical Role one shot or episode might also be fun. Although it’s not a one shot, my personal favorite episode that works as a stand alone is from Campaign 2, Episode 45.

Roll for Snacks

Ever heard of the popular online show Roll for Sandwich? If not, the creator makes lists of common (and not so common) sandwich items that can be chosen at random with polyhedral dice and eats whatever he comes up with. It’s a pretty hilarious premise and one that could make a great activity at a D&D birthday party.

Your “Roll for Snacks” activity doesn’t have to stick to sandwiches either. Lots of TikTok accounts have had spin off ideas that you could look into like “Roll for Pizza.” Or you could make it more in line with a birthday by doing dessert themed ones. “Roll for Cookie” could include different flavors of pre-packaged cookies that have different decorative toppings like frostings and sprinkles (or something hilarious like mustard!), or you could do a similar idea with “Roll for Cupcake.”

D&D Birthday One Shots

So if the birthday person loves D&D so much that they want a D&D birthday party, then they probably do want to play some Dungeons and Dragons if possible. A birthday themed D&D one shot, or single game session, would be a great fit for the birthday person and a few guests who have a couple of hours. Fortunately, DM’s Guild has a few well-rated and affordable D&D birthday themed one shots that would work well for a party.

Level 1

An Ogre and His Cake

A Feywild Birthday

Level 3

The Wishing Cake

When the Candles Go Out

Adjustable levels 1-5

Cupcakes of Doom

These D&D birthday themed one shots cater to a variety of levels, player ages, and types of birthday themes from silly to scary. Make sure to read each description carefully before choosing one so you have the best one shot for your D&D birthday party. 

D&D Party Favors

It’s fun to give guests a little token to remember the party by, and it’s especially fun when the items are unique, thoughtful, and a reminder of the D&D birthday party in particular.

To find good D&D party favors, you’ll want items that are small, come in bulk, and are relevant to D&D players. That can include things like pens and pencils, candy, stickers, and even temporary tattoos! 

After careful thinking and consideration, here are a list of items I’d recommend to make a great D&D party favor bag: 

• D&D pencils that either have thematic phrases or refer to different classes
• Sword pens
• Sour candy D&D collectible tin
• You could buy a bulk set of dice and put one set in each bag
• D&D stickers
• D&D temporary tattoos
• Party favor dragon boxes

All of these items, including the boxes themselves, meet the criteria of coming in bulk, having a D&D birthday party theme, and have use beyond the party. Guests can use the pens and pencils anywhere, they can stick the stickers to whatever they’d like

D&D Birthdays on a Budget

Frequently it feels as if Dungeons and Dragons is an expensive hobby, but it doesn’t have to be. That also means that a Dungeons and Dragons birthday party also doesn’t have to be expensive! These tips will help make your ultimate Dungeons and Dragons birthday party affordable and clever.

Make standard birthday party items thematic

Did you notice how in the food section I noted that you can make colored sodas into potions? You can do this with basically everything at your Dungeons and Dragons birthday party.  Remember, a D&D birthday party is often more fun if the environment is immersive to the world, and there are plenty of ways to create an immersive world on a budget.

For example, thrift stores and garage sales are great places to find offbeat items that seem fantasy-esque. Mugs, cups, goblets, and tea sets are all great thrift store finds while being thematically relevant to a D&D birthday party. They’re also a great place to find “costumes” for a photo booth if you’re interested in pursuing that idea. Look for items that might match a particular class like jewelry that could be a talisman for a Cleric or big books that might double as a spell tome for a Wizard.

If you would like to be a little more “on the nose” in terms of the Dungeons and Dragons theme, perhaps for a younger child’s birthday party, there are definitely fun ways to do that on a budget, too. Labeling common snacks as thematic can go a long way including:

• Bugles could be “dragon claws” 
• Jelly beans as “dragon eggs”
• Wrapped silverware as “weapon packs”
• Gold wrapped chocolates as “gold pieces”

See our Pinterest board for these ideas and more.

If you want to give out party favors, you could give out “first character” bags that include things like standard pencils, notebooks, and printed character sheets, which are all things that a first time D&D player would need but are also common items that could be found in a drug store or a dollar store. 

Repurpose Existing D&D Items

If your D&D player already has an extensive collection of D&D items, frequently you’d rather save the money to buy them more D&D gifts. If that’s the case, then perhaps they would be alright with repurposing their existing D&D collection for the party, or you could borrow items from D&D playing friends. 

For example, you could use common D&D items like dice as centerpieces in bowls or miniatures for place settings. Some people like to use miniatures for cake toppers, too, although make sure the owner of the miniatures are okay with getting frosting on them first!

Have Fun!

This ultimate guide to throwing a Dungeons and Dragons birthday party covers everything from the invitations to come to the party favors when leaving. You should be all set to have a great D&D birthday party. And if you’re looking for a gift to give at a Dungeons and Dragons birthday party, check out our gift ideas for D&D players and Dungeon Masters.

Kristen

Hi there! I’m Kristen. I’m a game writer, a Dungeon Master, and like you, I love tabletop games. Visit our About page to learn more about me.

I wrote this Cats and Dice article to help you enjoy gaming even more. Did it help? If so, our kitties (and our site) would be grateful for a little gift through Ko-Fi.

The post The Ultimate Guide to Throwing a Dungeons and Dragons Birthday Party appeared first on Cats and Dice.

What makes a D&D heist different from regular D&D?

Before we talk about creating and running a Dungeons and Dragons heist, let’s talk about what a D&D heist is and isn’t and how it differs from running a standard D&D dungeon crawl.

What is a D&D Heist?

A heist is a robbery that typically involves a plan, teamwork, and often some daring elements. The target of a heist is usually something valuable, like money, jewels, or art. In Dungeons and Dragons, heists can also include magical items or lore specific artifacts. Heists can be exciting and suspenseful because they involve risk and clever planning. 

It’s important to note that D&D heists are not the same as more traditional D&D gameplay formats, though, primarily dungeon crawls.

D&D Heists versus Dungeon Crawls

This element of planning, or prior knowledge, is a key part of what makes a D&D heist different from a dungeon crawl. In a dungeon crawl, players are exploring the area for the first time with little to no prior knowledge. They don’t necessarily have a goal in mind or their goal doesn’t necessarily require finesse to solve. Although on a meta level players probably know that there are valuable items within any dungeon, a heist involves a specific and known item that the player characters, or PCs, must retrieve but will be difficult to do so.

D&D heists generally require a different skill set from the players than dungeon crawls. While dungeon crawls often involve strong fighting abilities, interactions with NPCs in heists often involve Charisma checks such as Persuasion or Deception. Stealth and Sleight of Hand are often required, too. Heists normally require these skills with non-playable characters, or NPCs, instead of fighting for three reasons:

• It may hurt the mission rather than help to kill an encountered NPC
• The NPC might be helpful towards the heist
• The NPC might be part of the heist in some way

With this basic understanding of a D&D heist laid out, it’s time to outline and build out the elements of a D&D heist to run one for your players or to plan out your heist as a player.

The Elements of a D&D Heist

D&D heists involve six basic elements:

1. The Target
2. The Setting
3. The Crew
4. The Plan
5. The Execution
6. The Escape

Let’s dig into each of these step by step.

#1 The Target

The target, which can also be thought of as the object, is the item to be taken during the heist. The most important consideration when choosing a target object for the players to steal is determining why it’s important. It can be as simple as an NPC hiring the players to steal the object or as vital as being part of a larger campaign.

No matter why the players are stealing the target object, the object should be considered valuable enough by someone to be worth protecting. The greater known value of the object, the more heavily protected the item would be. 

Alternatively, consider the option that the heist will involve leaving an object behind rather than taking one. This can include magical objects that will let players spy on someone, dummy objects in place of the real item, or false documents to frame an NPC.

#2 The Setting

Because the protection of the target object is just as important as the target itself, the setting is an important part of running any D&D heist. Players will often want to scope out the area beforehand in order to create The Plan, which we’ll talk about more in Step 4.

Make sure to have a strong layout of your heist location and, more importantly, a strong understanding of what the players can actually learn before the actual heist. For example, if they scope out the location at a particular time of day, make sure the comings and goings of NPCs match that time of day. This is where it’s important to consider the object in question. A more known valuable item might be protected by a museum, which will have a very different set of protections than a lesser known item protected by an eccentric billionaire in their mansion.

Additionally, if the player characters want to buy items to assist them with the heist, make sure the items would conceivably be available at their location. Don’t block them from buying glass cutters just because that’ll make it easier for them, but perhaps they could be marked up or considered suspicious if they’re in a large city. 

#3 The Crew

The crew will certainly involve your player characters, but it may involve NPCs as well. As a general rule, it’s better to not include NPCs in the actual heist crew unless your players specifically ask an NPC to be involved. They might do this because an NPC has a skill set they can use, such as lockpicking or prior knowledge about the setting. They might also invite an NPC just because they like them. No matter what, it’s not a problem for players to invite NPCs, but it’s important to keep in mind that the heist is for the players and to let the players take charge of the situation.

Then, as a DM, you will want to take special consideration for your player’s capabilities. For example, if any of your players’ characters are capable of flying or casting the Fly spell, then they’ll be able to retrieve a suspended item or bypass floor traps pretty easily. Sometimes it’s good to include things that make the players feel accomplished, but make sure to also include things that are actual traps for them, too.

This is especially important when it comes to locks. Heists are full of locks, and because of that, it is wise to always prepare for multiple ways that players can bypass any lock such as breaking down doors or finding another entrance. Not only will this make the game more interesting through variety that speak to different PC skill sets, it will also act as a failsafe in case the players have terrible rolls.

#4 The Plan

The plan for how to execute the heist will largely be up to the players. However, Dungeon Masters can sprinkle in recommendations and information as the players create their plan. For example, if their plan is to use bolt cutters to break through a fence, an NPC merchant could casually mention that the cutters only work for certain kinds of metal, which would prompt the players to investigate the fence in question.

#5 The Execution

Much like the plan, the actual execution of the plan will largely be determined by players and dice rolls. A Dungeon Master might want to have ideas for disaster or aid prepared just in case the players’ plan goes too well or too horribly, though. If everything is running too smoothly for it to be entertaining, perhaps an unexpected NPC shows up at an inopportune time or a magical security system was installed against the players’ knowledge. The general rule of thumb is that it’s fun if the players are successful but it’s even more fun if it’s challenging, too.

#6 The Escape

Oftentimes in dungeons, once the player characters get in, it’s not too difficult to then get back out as long as they follow routes they know. Heists often will work differently, though, because getting out is usually just as hard or harder than getting in. The escape also includes offloading the item in question. Even if the player characters were tasked with retrieving the item for an NPC, that doesn’t mean there couldn’t be repercussions if they’re seen at the scene of the crime. Even getting the item to the NPC could pose challenges. Or, if the players stole the item for their own purposes, there could be extra repercussions there.

Complications and Mechanics During a D&D Heist

Complications for D&D Heists

No matter how much planning the PCs do or how good their dice rolls are, half the fun of a heist is the things that go wrong in their attempts. As mentioned in Step 5, make sure to plan for these complications to surprise and challenge your players.

Possible complications during your D&D heist could include:

• A dummy item
• A moved item
• A new security system (such as a new guard rotation)
• Another competing thief team (expected or unexpected)
• An unexpected event at the location (natural disaster, explosions, etc.)
• The item is cursed (knowingly or unknowingly)
• A invisible magical barrier that prevents spells

Unique Mechanics for a D&D Heist

Additionally, you can add unique mechanics to your game specifically for the heist. Here are a few good ones and why you might want to add them.

Flashbacks

Calling for a flashback when in a tough spot allows for a balance between planning an actual play rather than separating the heist into two separate chunks. By calling for a flashback, the players can retroactively prepare for a situation before actually tackling it. This requires some improvisation on the DMs part since the players shouldn’t be able to come up with something that automatically works just because it’s clever. However, it can be as simple as setting a high DC for a roll. You can learn more about the flashback mechanic from DM David.

Traps and Puzzles

Although dungeon crawls and other D&D games often feature traps and puzzles, you will want more subtle ones for your D&D heist game. You can use a resource like The Game Master’s Book of Traps, Puzzles, and Dungeons for ideas. There are pre-made traps designed to be disruptive, painful, or even deadly, along with a random generator for traps and puzzles.

Competition

If a target object for a heist is well known or for some reason in high demand in a D&D campaign, it’s very possible that the player characters aren’t the only ones after it. Other NPCs might be after the same item for some reason, either to or against the players’ knowledge. This competition could add an extra layer of needed mechanics to the heist, either through fighting the competitors, Charisma checks against them, and so on.

Time

A unique element of D&D heists can be a time component. Whether the NPC guarding over the object in question is due to return within a half an hour or disabling a magic spell sets off some sort of alarm, it’s not likely that players will be able to get the object in question at their leisure. This can lead to several different mechanic options. Each player can take a turn as if it were combat to slow down time or a literal timer can be set up as the heist goes along.

Where to Get Inspiration for Your D&D Heist

If you’re looking for more inspiration for running D&D heists, there are plenty of other kinds of media you can reference, both tabletop gaming related and otherwise. 

Tabletop RPG Heist Modules

If homebrewing a game isn’t your thing, you can find premade adventures for heists or prebuilt components for them. You can insert the premade adventures into an existing campaign or play them on their own.

• Here’s to Crime: A Guide to Capers and Heists 
• The Villa Heist
• Diamond Heist
• The Harpers’s Heist
• The Heist at Nimressa
• A Spot of Payback
• Handful of Heists

Other Tabletop RPGs

There are lots of tabletop roleplaying games that are well designed for heists already. Either playing these roleplaying games or watching live or recorded streams of them may give you lots of information either for creating a D&D heist or for executing your D&D heist if you’re a player. Some good games include:

• Blades in the Dark
• Honey Heist
• Fiasco
• Dusk City Outlaws
• One Last Job
• According to Plan

Heist Books

Dungeons and Dragons was created as a means to play out your favorite fantasy books, so getting inspiration for your D&D game through books is a great way to go. There are many books out there for fantasy heists, but these will get you started.

• The Lies of Locke Lamora
• Six of Crows
• Nocturna
• The Feather Thief
• Stealing Rembrandts
• Mistborn: The Final Empire

If you’d prefer to enjoy these books as audio books, you can try out an Audible subscription. 

Heist Movies

To visually see how a heist might play out, you can stream some heist movies for ideas for your D&D heist game. 

• Ocean’s Eleven
• The Italian Job
• Den of Thieves
• Inside Man
• The Bank Job
• Hell or High Water
• Inception

Time to Steal!

As you can see, there are great reasons to run a D&D heist for your Dungeons and Dragons campaign and many ways to do it. You now know what a D&D heist is, how it differs from a standard dungeon crawl, the six elements of a D&D heist, and how to complicate your heists. There are plenty of heist games, books, and movies to inspire your D&D heist as well. So what are you waiting for? It’s time to play or run your D&D heist!

Kristen

Hi there! I’m Kristen. I’m a game writer, a Dungeon Master, and like you, I love tabletop games. Visit our About page to learn more about me.

I wrote this Cats and Dice article to help you enjoy gaming even more. Did it help? If so, our kitties (and our site) would be grateful for a little gift through Ko-Fi.

The post How to Run a D&D Heist for Players that Love to Steal appeared first on Cats and Dice.

How to do that is a little trickier. It requires the right tools, along with a solid understanding of why you want to play solo D&D. After reading this, you’ll have a good sense of why you want to play D&D by yourself, which will help you with how to play and get you on your way. 

Why Play D&D By Yourself?

There are many reasons you might enjoy playing D&D by yourself. Knowing which one applies to you will help you choose the best way to play solo D&D. 

You Can’t Get a Group Together

This is probably one of the top reasons players want to play solo D&D. Finding people interested in playing D&D is no easy task. Your friends might not be committed, and you might not get along with strangers. This is especially tough if you can’t find anyone to run the game as the Dungeon Master. Plus, managing a D&D schedule for 4-6 people can be tricky, and sometimes you just want to focus on the gameplay. 

Related Post: D&D Scheduling Giving You Trouble? These Tips Will Help.

Freedom of Choice

Having other players to bounce ideas around with can make for a compelling gameplay experience. Sometimes, though, you want to be able to make your own choices and feel like the top hero. That’s a great reason to play solo D&D. If this is why you want to play D&D by yourself, then you’ll have a lot of options. 

Ease into the Rules

When you play D&D by yourself, you’ll become familiar with the structure of a D&D module and how to read it like both a player and a Dungeon Master. You will also become familiar with the skills required of a Dungeon Master like improvisation and narrative description. It goes beyond simply reading a module, too. By actually interacting with it, you’ll understand how to present these options to actual players in a full D&D game. 

If you’re a more experienced player or Dungeon Master, it’s also a great way to test out homebrew monsters and items you’ve made, too.

Whether or not you plan to turn your solo D&D gameplay into a book, you can still have a lot of fun. So how do you do it? Keep reading.

How to Play Solo D&D: The Tools You’ll Need

Playing D&D by yourself costs surprisingly little. It can even be free if you do it right. You’ll need your basic D&D tools of course: a character sheet, some dice, and a writing tool. Then, choosing solo D&D tools is as varied as choosing a D&D module. 

Related Post: How to Play Dungeons and Dragons on a Budget

DM Yourself 

Tom Scutt’s DM Yourself is arguably the best way to play solo Dungeons and Dragons. It allows you to play pretty much any pre-existing D&D module like Lost Mines of Phandelver and Dragon of Icespire Peak. The author does note, though, that although you can manage to play any premade adventure with DM Yourself, the ruleset works best with linear games rather than sandbox games like Curse of Strahd. 

DM Yourself acts as a “solo mode” rulebook so you can play D&D alone. It guides you through important modifications for playing D&D by yourself. This inclludes altering your character, how to skim the module you’re using to avoid spoilers, and running both combat and roleplay by yourself. The whole book is 60 pages, but the sections specifically on running the adventure that you’ll want to reference frequently are about 25 of those pages. It even includes a quick reference in the back so you won’t need to use the book much at all once you’re playing.

It also includes tips on playing with specific, popular modules. If you want to play an already popular D&D game with very few modifications from group play, DM Yourself is a great choice. DM Yourself also works well with one shots like Hops to It!, The Wild Sheep Chase, and A Most Potent Brew. 

Solo Adventurer’s Guide

If you want a more freeform solo adventure for your D&D game and to not be confined to the limits of a pre-made module, Solo Adventurer’s Guide is a great option. With multiple tables in the back of the book to help you make the decisions a Dungeon Master would normally make, you’ll be able to put the fate of your character into the dice rather than relying on a DM. And isn’t D&D all about the dice?

To see a sample of how Solo Adventurer’s Guide works, check out this video. It’s recommended by Guilherme Bento, the creator of the module.

“Free” Versions

There is no free version of DM Yourself specifically. It’s already very affordable, but there are tools that function similarly to DM Yourself that are free.

First is the Solo D&D Guide, where a player takes you through their experience of playing a solo D&D campaign. This guide spends a fair amount of time focusing on character build and the kind of advantages you’d have with certain characters. For example, while using a character proficient in Thieve’s Tools and a good passive perception, you could decide that your character always notices traps and locks.

Next is the DM Emulator. This system largely relies on something called the Oracle System, which is a standard d6 table. Basically, whenever you have a question about something that happens in the game, the system will act like a Magic 8 Ball by giving you a yes, no, or some variation thereupon. There are also d6 tables for NPC interactions and for intervening events.

Solo D&D Books

Alternatively, if you don’t want to learn what is essentially an extra ruleset (which is completely understandable), you can always use a gamebook designed to play D&D as a solo player. Anything made by 5E Solo Gamebooks will make a great choice. These books act sort of like Choose Your Own Adventure books with two major differences. 

First, the choices are a lot more complex (as they should be for D&D). You don’t simply choose what path you want to take. You’ll choose what path you want to take and then roll dice to find out the results of that choice. A negative result can be as minor as losing a few HP to as catastrophic as instant death. Not all of the roles are about your character’s health, though. Roleplay and exploration play a big role in these solo D&D adventure books, too. 

Second, you will still have a character you make running through the adventure rather than making the choices yourself. Again, this is to match the traditional D&D experience as much as possible. 

Solo adventure books, in other words, are a great way to play D&D by yourself without having to think through all the mechanics a DM would have to worry about. The adventures are already set up for you to run. All you need is your character and dice, just like you would for any other D&D game. 

Random Dungeon Builders

Sometimes you might simply want to have a quick and traditional D&D experience but have no one to play with. In that case, you can use a simple dungeon generator and make a short dungeon crawl for yourself. The 5e Random Dungeon Generator made by donjon works really well for this. 

To play solo D&D with a random dungeon generator, simply select a party of one, the level your character is at, and any other parameters that are important to you, then generate it. Read over the general features and then start in the first room and take it from there. This generator even has puzzles and traps for you to solve along the way, and hidden treasure, too. You’ll want to do your best to not read too far ahead when you skip from room to room. This will help you avoid spoilers. Otherwise, it’s pretty easy to run a generated dungeon on your own.

In order to play D&D by yourself with a random dungeon generator, you will need a copy of the Monster Manual to run the encounters. Otherwise, this is the easiest way to enjoy solo D&D with the least amount of new materials.

Choosing Solo D&D Tools

When choosing solo D&D tools, think about your answer as to why you’re playing D&D by yourself. Sometimes this will help you choose what tools to use. For example, if you want to take steps toward becoming a Dungeon Master, then you’ll want to play using DM Yourself. If you want to roll some dice and fight some monsters, then a solo book or a dungeon builder might do the trick. Once you have the tools that feel right to you, playing solo Dungeons and Dragons is as simple as following the ruleset. 

If you’re still unsure of which one is right for you, make sure to read reviews and watch videos for each solo D&D tool you’re interested in. That way, you can get a sense of how the game flows, the common problems players might run into, and most importantly, which one will give you the experience you’re looking for.

Playing D&D for Two

A lot of these options work well for playing D&D with two players, too. Two-player Dungeons and Dragons has a few more options, and there are great creators putting out content to help you with that such as D&D Duet. These come from the standpoint of one player and one DM. 

On the other hand, you might want to have two adventurers but find yourself DM-less. All the tools above make it very possible to play D&D with two players and no Dungeon Master. Solo books oftentimes have rules to adjust for it. Randomized dungeons will let you put in the number of players and levels, too. As for DM Yourself, simply remove the Sidekick ruleset and insert the second player. 

Play Other TTRPGs Solo

While it’s clear that you can play D&D by yourself and have a great time, that may not be what you’re really looking for. It’s possible you’re simply looking for a solo tabletop RPG experience, and it doesn’t have to be specific to D&D. 

If that is the case, it should be noted first that DM Yourself and other resources mentioned earlier can be used to play other tabletop games solo, too. Doing so will allow you to maximize your use out of a single ruleset. 

However, some players might want something that’s not specifically catered to Dungeons and Dragons 5E. Player’s Guide to Solo Roleplay might be a good fit, then. It’s not only a guide for solo play, it recognizes that a lot of solo players have never been a Game Master before and adjusts the style of the guide accordingly. It does prompt you to build an adventure rather than playing a pre-made one, though. 

For premade adventures, there are some great tabletop games designed to be played alone. The Lone Wolf Series, for example, provides a classic fantasy solo RPG experience, and it’s free to play at Project Aon. The first book explains how to get started, and you’ll use the same character as you move between books. You’ll know when to move on to the next one based on how the adventure goes. 

Itch.io

Itch.io is also a great source of many wonderful solo tabletop RPGs of all genres, many of which are free. A few interesting ones include:

• Into the Woods…
• Alone Among the Stars
• The Scribe
• The Mansion Incident
• Of Moon and Leaf
• Pokemon Polyhedral

If you find a great solo tabletop RPG on Itch.io, make sure to share it in the comments for everyone to enjoy!

Finally, it’s worth noting that solo RPGs might not be truly solo. As mentioned earlier, a lot of solo games make good duet games, too. Also, rulesets like How to RPG With Your Cat allow you to play with just you and your pet. This is great because your pet is one of the few players you can always count on! Your cat can also act as a player or as the monster, depending on how you want to play (and maybe even on your cat’s personality). 

Yes, you can absolutely play D&D by yourself. A solo D&D game can allow for great exploration and be personally rewarding. It can also make you a better player and a Dungeon Master if and when you join a full D&D game. In other words, there are a lot of reasons to play D&D by yourself, and we hope you have a lot of fun doing so with these tips!

Kristen

Hi there! I’m Kristen. I’m a game writer, a Dungeon Master, and like you, I love tabletop games. Visit our About page to learn more about me.

I wrote this Cats and Dice article to help you enjoy gaming even more. Did it help? If so, our kitties (and our site) would be grateful for a little gift through Ko-Fi.

The post Can You Play D&D By Yourself? Yes! Here’s How to Play Solo Dungeons and Dragons appeared first on Cats and Dice.

What’s even better than simply cool dice? Cool D&D dice sets that match your character’s class. Flower dice will help your Druid’s plant spells grow stronger. Cleric dice will heal your friends more. And Barbarian dice will hit extra hard while raging. 

While it’s kind of a subjective list, we think these are the coolest D&D dice sets for every character class. Some are right on the nose while others give more of a flavor to the class. Still, they are all incredibly unique, and you’ll want to buy some right away.

Coolest D&D Dice Sets for Every Character

Each character class is listed in alphabetical order. Feel free to simply scroll to your character’s class. You could also check out the coolest D&D dice for every character class to see if you’re inspired to give any gifts.

Barbarian

If you play a barbarian, then strengthen your great axe attacks with these Unakite Gemstone Dice Set with Engraved Great Axe. The stone gives an extra heft to the roll. Plus, when you roll a natural 20 on this unique D&D dice set, you’ll know it when you see the double-axe symbol. 

Bard

While there are many different types of bards and many different ways to play bards, pretty much all bards are musical. That’s why you’ll love to play with these Treble Clef Dice. You’ll see a golden treble clef when you crit with these hypnotic gemstone dice. 

Or, to demonstrate you’re as musically gifted as your character board, try these Music Notation Dice. Some of the dice use musical notes, dynamic notations, rests, and time signatures in place of simple numbers so you know just how jarring your Dissonant Whispers will sound.

Finally, for those who play a more chaotic bard, you might enjoy a little “Bardic Inspiration” to your dice. Instead of a 20 on the d20, you’ll enjoy a nice dose of weed. 

Cleric

Want to boost your healing a bit? Then roll with these Cleric Class Dice. You’ll see a heart with a plus sign when you roll a natural 20. More of a fighting Cleric? Don’t worry – these will deal plenty of damage, too. 

Or, if you’d rather, you can help out your party members later with these Purity White Quartz Dice. After all, poison won’t kill them during the battle… hopefully.

Druid

Druids have lots of options when it comes to the coolest D&D dice sets. Many dice crafters create plant and animal dice alike. These Real Rose Dice are a beautiful addition to your in-game Druidcrafting. Or, pay homage to the powers of Wild Shape and Keyleth from Critical Role with these Goldfish Dice.

Related Post: Cat Dice Bags and Cat Dice for Cat-Loving D&D Players

Fighter

Fighters also have a lot of options for unique D&D dice sets. These metal Weapon Dice come in many different colors and styles for whatever kind of weapon you want to use in-game. Or, if your Fighter has a weapon handcrafted by dwarves, you might enjoy these Dwarven Metal Dice.

If your character is a Gunslinger, the industrial subclass to Fighter, then enjoy some Steampunk dice to get into character.

Monk

The coolest D&D dice sets for monks might be based more on your monastic tradition than anything else. These Ambition Restone Dice have that subjective aesthetic of a monk, whereas these Gauntlet Dice are great d6’s for any monk. If you’re playing in a Widemount campaign as a Cobalt Soul monk, then these gorgeous Lapis Lazuli Gemstone Dice are definitely for you. 

Ranger

With similarities to Druid dice sets, Rangers will have a lot of plant and animal options when it comes to unique D&D dice sets. These Beige Forest dice are great if the forest is your favored terrain. Nothing will get by you on survival checks.

Or, if you take the Beastmaster subclass, enjoy these Bear Foot Print dice for whenever your beast companion attacks. The vibrant green gemstone keeps the nature vibes in line. 

Rogue

Everyone knows that Rogues use daggers for days. Your dice can, too, with these Obsidian Dice with Raised Engraved Daggers. Every roll will feel extra sneaky and extra sharp with these sleek black stone D&D dice for rogues.

Check out these awesome D&D dice recommendations for every character class! #DnD
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Wizard

The type of dice you’ll want to use for your wizard might depend on the school of magic. Fortunately, there are lots of unique D&D dice sets for wizards specifically. 

No matter what school of magic your wizard takes, enjoy rolling these Runic Dice as you cast your spells. You probably want these Engraved Rune Dice for some extra d6’s every time you cast Fireball. 

If you’re specifically playing a Necromancer, you might enjoy these Skull Dice or these Skull Smoke Dice for an extra bit of help from the undead.

Warlock

Any good Warlock knows that their patron is always watching. With these Jar of Eyes Dice, it’ll be impossible to ever forget it. Make sure to do your patron proud by rolling maximum damage with these Eldritch Blast Purple & Green Dice, too. 

Related Post: What You Need to Know About D&D Dice

Sorcerer

No control over your magic? No problem! These Molten Magma Dice are sure to deal lots of damage for your Sorcerer no matter their background. Bring on the heat with these Fire Zircon Glass Dice, too. 

You can also pay homage to your Draconic bloodline with these Dragon Black & Red Dice. It will feel like your acestors are always watching you and giving you strength.

Paladin

There’s no better D&D dice set for Paladins than the Paladin’s Virtue. Speckled with pink glitter and gold flecks, each of your hits will be infused with the pious wrath of your god.

Want a little more heft and might to your rolls? Then check out this Rose Gold White Metal set. Just be sure to warn your Dungeon Master that your character will want a matching set of armor to go with it. 

Bonus Classes: Artificer and Bloodhunter

Bloodhunters are not an official D&D class, and Artificers are just recently on the rise with the release of Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything, but they definitely deserve to be mentioned here. Some of the coolest D&D dice sets pair best with these two classes.

For your Artificer, you’ll need a set of these Gears of the Artificer for your rolls. With the hallow design and carved gears on the outside, your dice will be as unique as your Artificer’s creations. Artificers also have that great steampunk aesthetic, so get this Steampunk Dice Set for good measure.

Bloodhunter work with blood magic, so only blood dice will do. (Don’t worry – there’s no real blood involved!) Blood Oath Metal Dice will shimmer nicely under a full moon, and the Blood-Splattered Dice will let your enemies know just what you’re capable of. 

Customizing Your Own D&D Dice Set

If you’ve never found a dice set that seems to uniquely fit you and your D&D character, you could always customize your own.

Don’t worry – I don’t mean making your dice completely from scratch. You can buy a sketch dice set from Mythroll Armory and draw your own designs on dice. If you mess up or want something new, simply take it off with nail polish remover and do it again!

This is a great way to make the coolest D&D dice sets for your character, especially if you enjoy painting miniatures or already enjoy crafty pursuits. Plus, if you’d prefer to use your own paints, you can simply buy a set of blank dice, too.

How to Find Unique D&D Dice Sets for Your Character

Just in case any of the dice on this list don’t seem to fit your character, don’t worry! You can still find the coolest D&D dice sets for your character class. Take these steps to search unique D&D dice sets for you.

1. Write down 5-10 keywords about your character. You can take this information from your character sheet, how you’ve played your game, or words that you or other players would use to describe your character.
2. Think about the kind of dice you’d want in general and your price point. Gemstone dice will cost more but have a lot of beautiful designs and more heft to the roll. Resin dice, though, are more affordable and can have unique designs within the dice.
3. Decide how you want your dice to embody your character. For example, if your character comes from the mountains, maybe you want some stone dice to pay homage to their backstory. 
4. Go to Etsy and search “dice + [your keywords].”
5. Share in the comments what you ended up finding and how you found it!

The best part about D&D dice is you can have as many sets as you want. You can buy some for every character, every class, to celebrate milestones, or just because your current ones keep rolling badly. They also make great gifts for your DM or other players. So go out and buy some new dice today!

What are your favorite unique D&D dice sets for your character’s class? Let us know in the comments, along with where you got them!

Kristen

Hi there! I’m Kristen. I’m a game writer, a Dungeon Master, and like you, I love tabletop games. Visit our About page to learn more about me.

I wrote this Cats and Dice article to help you enjoy gaming even more. Did it help? If so, our kitties (and our site) would be grateful for a little gift through Ko-Fi.

The post The Coolest D&D Dice Sets for Every Character Class appeared first on Cats and Dice.

Fortunately, because of the high demand, there are plenty of ways to play tabletop RPGs online. And not just Dungeons and Dragons either (although it is included!). With a little bit of planning and the right tools, you may find you don’t even miss playing tabletop RPGs in person. Some people even – dare I say it? – prefer playing online!

It’s not difficult to learn how to play tabletop RPGs online, and it involves three steps. First, choose a tabletop RPG that does not require in-person play. Second, gather the online and offline tools you’ll need for the best gameplay. Finally, we’ll get into troubleshooting, evaluating those online tools, and keeping your gaming group up-to-date with the options.

#1 Choosing a Tabletop RPG for Online Play

Not all tabletop RPGs will translate well to an online space. Some, however, will play really well online! Before learning how to play tabletop RPGs online, make sure to choose an RPG that will play well online. It will save you a lot of hassle and heartache in the long run.

Materials

The materials directly involved in a tabletop RPG like dice, cards, and maps can create the biggest potential barrier to online play. That’s not to say that an RPG that requires unique materials can’t be played online, but it could require extra work on your end. (We’ll talk about this more in the “Gathering Tools” section.)

So, examine what materials are needed for the tabletop RPG you want to play online. If it only has a rulebook, you’re probably good to go. It will be easy to get a copy of the rules for everyone. One page tabletop RPGs often found on Itch.io like Honey Heist work really well in an online space for this exact reason.

If the RPG you want to play does have more materials, think about how they can be replicated, reimagined, or removed in an online space. Cards, miniatures, and tokens all can be used with tools like Roll20, Discord, Astral, or Tabletop Simulator for example. Alternatively, if you want to continue to use your physical items, you might consider an extra camera and/or monitor to facilitate that. (Visit the “Gathering Tools” section for more.)

Pretty much every tabletop RPG will need dice, but there are plenty of virtual dice rollers out there for players to use. Some of the best dice roller apps to play tabletop RPGs online (like Dungeons and Dragons) include:

• Wizards of the Coast Dice Roller
• ROLZ
• Google
• Alexa or Siri as a voice command

You can use physical dice at home. Dice don’t need to be converted to an online space as long as your game master is fine with that. If they do want to see the rolls, though, the online tools mentioned before – Roll20, Discord, or Tabletop Simulator – all have dice options within those platforms, too. 

Rulesets

Now, as mentioned before, it’s easy to get and use rulesets to play tabletop RPGs online. You will still want to think about a few things with your rulesets, though. 

First, you need to get a legal copy of the ruleset, either in digital format or as a physical copy. Websites like DriveThru RPG, DM’s Guild, D&D Beyond, and Itch.io make it easy to get legal digital copies of rulesets. Some creators sell physical copies of their tabletop RPGs through these sites, too. Many physical copies of RPGs are available through Amazon or your friendly local game store, too. 

Do not assume that because you could Google a ruleset and find it for free that it is legal! For example, there are bootleg PDFs of the full Player’s Handbook for Dungeons and Dragons, but none are legal. However, anyone can use the Basic Rules for free. 

You want to consider all of this. Different players will have different resources at their disposal. While a digital ruleset generally comes with a lower cost, some players may not have the technology to support a digital rulebook while also using video tools to play the game. 

Next, remember that easier rules or rules you already know will work better in online play. Some players will use online tools for the first time, so learning a new ruleset along with new technology can add unnecessary stress. You’ll have more fun starting off playing a tabletop RPG online that you already know or one designed for an online space, like Alice is Missing. 

Finally, if you don’t know what tabletop RPG to play online or need help with the how to (which we’ll cover more in the next section), check out tabletop RPG streamers. Twitch.tv is a treasure trove of tabletop RPGs for online play. Plus, most tabletop streamers do not play in the same physical space. Watch them live, or replays on YouTube, for ideas for how to play tabletop RPGs online. 

#2 Gathering Tools to Play Tabletop RPGs Online

This is where you’ll see why the right tabletop RPG will really help as you transition to an online space. You can absolutely play tabletop RPGs online with just a computer and a ruleset, but some tools will make your gameplay experience a lot better. 

Physical Tools

Physical tools will go a long way towards enhancing your online tabletop RPG experience. Streamers run into a lot of audio issues, either hearing others or being heard. A good headset and/or microphone does not have to cost a lot, but can save you a lot of trouble. 

Next, if playing by video, some tools will give you a much better experience. You can play tabletop RPGs online with just audio, or even text-based games, but may people prefer to play with video tools as well. A bendable laptop stand will help angle your camera for better video quality, for example. 

Some players even prefer to get a second monitor to connect to their computer. That way, you can go between the rules, a character sheet, dice, and the video tool of choice without needing to constantly switch tabs. Game runners may even want an extra camera for streaming, especially if you want to use your physical game items like maps and miniatures rather than using online ones. 

Tabletop RPGs often take hours to play, too. Playing in person means you often stand up or move about in the excitement of play, giving your legs a chance to stretch. This doesn’t happen as often in an online space. After all, if you stand up, you move away from the action! A good gaming chair will make it much easier to sit for hours on end and keep you involved in the storyline. 

Online Tools

We talked about online tools a little bit earlier on when choosing a tabletop RPG to play. Let’s dig into it a little more now since they can really change how you play tabletop RPGs online. 

Many gamers use Discord because it offers pretty much everything you need in one space for free. Discord has video, audio, and text tools to play tabletop RPGs online. Plus, you can add lots of bots to your server to help with play through dice rolls and music to enhance gameplay. Plus, Discord is not hard to use, but it can take a little getting used to. The video below gives a quick guide on how to use Discord as a player with more options if you want to create your own channel.

Roll20 is another popular choice for playing tabletop RPGs online. Roll20 has all the options that Discord has with two extra benefits. 

First, Roll20 has a comprehensive map tool for Game Masters to use for battlemaps. 

Second, it has an easy way to find games and players to play with. (Discord can have this if you find the right channel, but it’s not as streamlined.) 

Roll20 has a greater learning curve, though. They do have a tutorial built into the system, but it’s generally not as user-friendly as Discord. It’s worth noting, though, that many people use both Discord and Roll20 at the same time.

Tabletop Simulator is another option with very obvious pros and a few cons. For the big pro, Tabletop Simulator does the best job of simulating a physical tabletop space (hence the name). You can place maps, minis, and dice on a “table” that everyone can see and move. The downside? This tool does not have a free option. However, it does not cost a lot and for players who want a game with a lot of components, this can make a big difference.

Finally, if you want to play a tabletop RPG that doesn’t call for any bells and whistles, any video chat tool will work. Zoom has become the platform of choice for personal and professional use everywhere because it’s so easy to use. Plus, the screen sharing option will allow you to use it with other tools, too. 

Game-Specific Tools

As a final note for gathering materials to play tabletop RPGs online, don’t forget the materials mentioned when choosing your RPG! If you decided that your RPG of choice needed cards, dice, tokens, or anything else, you will want to choose an online space with these tools in mind. That’s why you’ll want to choose the game first. You will know what you need before trying to decide which gaming platform is right for you.

#3 Getting Into and Continuing Gameplay

Alright, you have your RPG, and you have your tools for play. Now what? Now it’s time to get playing! This step will require some learning and changing things up as you go along. Fortunately, you can do that as you play the games, so you will have fun, too.

Take a little bit of time first to learn how to use whatever online platform you chose if you don’t already know it. If all players have used a platform before, discuss how you’ll use it together. For example, if everyone has used Discord before, will everyone also roll dice with a dice bot? Also decide on things like if you’ll use video or just audio before you begin to play.

Play a one shot of your chosen ruleset to help everyone get more comfortable with the rules and with online gameplay, too. No one will worry too much about the lasting consequences of their in-game choices while they learn how to play online. It will also help you test out if the online platform you chose works for you.

Once you get into a campaign, at the end of each session (at least at first), check in with players and how online tools worked for them. You can also do this at the beginning of a session, but that way you will have time between games to make adjustments. If players could not hear each other, for example, they will have time to get a good headset and/or microphone. You might even reconsider using video or audio if one gave players a hard time. 

Time to Play Tabletop RPGs Online!

You now have a handle on what it takes to play tabletop RPGs online. As you can see, you don’t need much to get started. Yet you may be missing the most important and obvious piece of all still: a gaming group. Fortunately, we have a guide for finding a tabletop RPG group, complete with a section for online play. 

Once you get going, make sure to check in here and let us know what tabletop RPGs and online tools you like playing with. It will help all of us play more games and have more fun. And that’s what it’s all about.

Kristen

Hi there! I’m Kristen. I’m a game writer, a Dungeon Master, and like you, I love tabletop games. Visit our About page to learn more about me.

I wrote this Cats and Dice article to help you enjoy gaming even more. Did it help? If so, our kitties (and our site) would be grateful for a little gift through Ko-Fi.

The post How to Play Tabletop RPGs Online (like Dungeons and Dragons) appeared first on Cats and Dice.

Reading a D&D character sheet can feel like a lot, and that’s true at first. Soon, though, you will see how everything connects and you’ll find a flow to it. Make sure you have the materials outlined in the next section. Then, get ready for this complete guide to reading a D&D character sheet.

What You Need to Read a D&D Character Sheet

Great news! You can learn to read a D&D character sheet for $0. Wizards of the Coast, the company that owns and publishes Dungeons and Dragons, has great free resources for you. Other websites offer free and low-cost tools to help you play, too. 

First, let’s start off with the character sheet itself. For this guide, we will use one of the character sheets from the D&D Starter Set. (If you want to invest a little into your gameplay, this really gets you a good bang for your buck. I highly recommend it.) For the purpose of reading this now, go ahead and find the Wizard character sheet on Page 7 of their free document.

You can print this out if you’d like or view it on your device. 

Next, let’s get a ruleset going. One other D&D investment I strongly recommend is a copy of the Player’s Handbook. It’s probably the most important $30 you will ever spend for D&D. The Basic Rules will give you what you need to start out (and to read this post), but you’ll want the Player’s Handbook after more than one or two games. Again, if you don’t have it, download the Basic Rules now. You can find a blank character sheet on Page 177 of this PDF if you’d like to view that, too

As a quick note, if you have some experience with reading a D&D character sheet and it doesn’t look like the one above, it might come from a different source. Lots of community creators have made beautiful and unique D&D character sheets. Or, you might have seen a printout from D&D Beyond, a popular and easy-to-use character creation tool. For now, let’s stick to an official sheet for continuity. 

If you printed out the character sheet and/or rules, you might also want a pencil as we go through this sheet to make notes. It’s totally up to you!

Throughout this guide, some words are bolded. These are D&D terms that can be found in the index of the Player’s Handbook to easily learn more about them.

Sections for Reading a D&D Character Sheet

Let’s explain the sections of a D&D character sheet before we go in-depth. You will see seven basic parts of a character sheet.

1. Basic information at the top.
2. Ability Scores on the left.
3. Combat information in the center.
4. Features and Traits on the right.
5. Proficiencies, Languages, and Equipment at the bottom.
6. Backstory information on Page 2.
7. Spells on Page 3.

The free PDF of the Starter Set characters does not include the spell sheet, so you will either want to look to the rules for that or have a copy of the Starter Set with you.

With that, let’s check out each of these parts of the character sheet. They are ordered approximately by how important they are and how often you will use them.

Your Character’s Elevator Pitch

The information you fill in at the top – your name, class, race, and so on – may seem like the most straightforward information when reading a D&D character sheet. Players often agonize over it, though. Why? Because it sets the stage for the rest of your character.

Many players and Dungeon Masters, or DMs, create character names using the Fantasy Name Generator. If you have one locked and loaded, that works, too. Your level and experience points are also easy; your DM will tell you what they are. And hopefully you have your own player name covered!

As for class and race options, this is where you need to pull out the Player’s Handbook or the Basic Rules. Even though the rules present race choices first, many seasoned players will choose a class first and then choose a race to help them maximize their class. As a new player, you’ll likely have the most fun by simply choosing what speaks to you. 

Information on background choices are also available in the rules. Just like your character’s race, your background will help give flavor to your roleplay during the game. It will also give you extra skills beyond your class.

Finally, your alignment helps with making choices as your character. Are they good, evil, or do they decide in the moment? Do they follow the law or a strict moral code, or do they make choices based on their love of chaos? This will help you make choices in game.

Building a character is a whole article for another time, but the ruleset will give you a lot of information. A seasoned DM can help, too. 

Although this article is not about building your character, the information in this section determines all the other information on your sheet, so you will want to understand your character. 

Let’s see how this works on the Starter Set premade Wizard character. Notice this wizard does not have a name, but you do see their class, level, race, background, and alignment. We’ll see how some of this information comes into play later. 

Let’s Talk Ability Scores

Most of your focus during gameplay will go to this part of your D&D character sheet. All of your rolls outside of combat will use numbers found over here, so let’s talk about how to read it. 

First, you have the six main ability scores and what they generally show about your character.

• Strength: how easily your character can lift or push heavy things.
• Dexterity: how quickly or deftly your character can move.
• Constitution: your character’s ability to fight off poison, disease, or other ailments within the body.
• Intelligence: the level of booksmarts your character has, or what kind of information your character has learned.
• Wisdom: your character’s street smarts, or how easily they can intuit information.
• Charisma: the strength of your character’s personality.

There are two numbers in these boxes. The higher value number without a plus or minus sign is your overall score. You don’t really need to look at that number when playing. That’s why it’s often in the smaller bubble. It exists to decide the second number

Instead, look at the number with the plus or minus sign. That’s your modifier. You will add this number to your rolls when your DM tells you to. The bigger the modifier, the better you are at that skill. 

For example, you can see in the character example at the side that this wizard has an Intelligence of 16, giving them a +3 modifier. They are considered a smart character. Their Charisma is only 8, though, giving them a -1 to their modifier. There’s a chart in the Player’s Handbook that explains the math at play here.

Subskills 

All the numbers to the right of these are decided by the main modifiers. They are what I like to call subskills, based on these six main skills. An official character sheet will share in parentheses which skills are based on which. Persuasion, for example, is based on Charisma noted by the (Cha) next to the skill. 

Saving Throws

Above that, you will see a section called Saving Throws. Like the subskills, these will match your modifiers on the left-hand side unless you are proficient in any of them. Then, you will add your proficiency bonus.

Other Modifiers

Then, there’s two spaces above all the modifiers. The Proficiency Bonus is determined by your character’s level. At level 1, you have a Proficiency Bonus of +2. Inspiration, on the other hand, is something earned in game by a Bard or the DM. It doesn’t come up often, so make sure to ask your DM when it does.

Down here, you also see something called “Passive Wisdom (Perception).” Some other character sheets might also include Insight and Investigation as passive scores. These are more or less for your DM. They are a way to help your DM determine if you would be able to notice something without asking you to roll for it. This can allow players to stay in the story more and think of the game less as a game. 

So, for the Wizard character sheet, you can see the modifiers in the example to the right. Take note of the smaller modifiers and how some of the bubbles are filled in. These are the subskills this character is proficient in. This character gets to add their proficiency bonus to these rolls. The character sheet has already added that into the number. Religion, for example, is +5 because the character has a +3 in Intelligence. Then, they add a +2 for proficiency. 

Wanna Fight About It?

Next, we have the second most important section when reading a D&D character sheet, which focuses on combat. At the top, you’ll see three smaller boxes for Armor Class (AC), Initiative, and Speed or movement. 

Your AC determines how hard you are to hit. The faster you are (decided through Dexterity) or the more armor you have on, the higher your AC will be. 

Your initiative decides when your turn is during combat. It matches your Dexterity modifier. Like other modifiers, you will add this number to a dice roll when it’s time to enter combat. 

Your speed decides how far you can move in a turn during combat. How combat works is yet another article.

Below that are your Hit Points, or HP. Every time you get hit, you will lose some of these. The Hit Point Maximum at the top will remind you of all the hit points you are capable of, no matter how many you lose. If your current HP ever gets to 0, your character is unconscious and could die. Temporary Hit Points are added with the help of different spells and effects. Your DM or another player will let you know when to add a number here. 

Now, let’s get to healing and dying. In this left box, you will see the Hit Dice. Hit Dice let you restore some of your HP when taking a short rest in the game ( about an hour in-game). When you rest, you will have Hit Dice equal to your character’s level, so a level 1 character has one, while a level 12 character has 12 to use. The type of die is determined by your class. You regain these after a full rest, or a good night’s sleep.

You can see on the Wizard here that they have 1d6 for their Hit Dice. That means they can roll 1d6 during a short rest to regain that many hit points, up to 8. So if the Wizard were down to 2 HP and rolled a 4 on a d6, they would be back up to 6 HP.

As for death saving throws, we all hope we will never have to make these. But adventuring is dangerous, and it’s likely you will. When your character reaches 0 hit points, at the beginning of your turn, you will instead make a Death Save with a d20. They work like this:

• Roll a 10 or above and you succeed once. 
• Roll a 9 or below and you fail once. 
• If you roll a 1 and you automatically fail twice. 
• If you roll a 20 and you automatically regain 1 HP.

After succeeding three times while unconscious, you become stable. But if you roll three failures while unconscious, your character has permanently died (aside from powerful magic). 

Attacks & Spellcasting

For something more exciting, the Attacks & Spellcasting section helps you to kill some bad guys before they kill you. The weapon you have and the spells you can cast (more on both these later) will decide what you can use to fight and how much damage it will do. The modifier for your character’s weapon will either come from Strength or Dexterity and often will add the Proficiency Bonus.

The Wizard’s shortsword, for example, has a +4 modifier to the attack and gives 1d6+2 damage on a hit. The damage is always the same for that weapon. The modifier for this weapon comes from the Wizard’s Dexterity modifier plus their Proficiency Bonus.

As for the spells, keep reading for “It’s All So Magical” below. Spellcasting works similarly to weapon attacks, which is why it’s noted here. The exact numbers you need, though, are on a different page.

So a standard turn will look something like this while reading a D&D character sheet:

• You roll for Initiative and roll higher than what you’re fighting, so you get to go first.
•  On your turn, you move your movement to get within melee of the creature (next to it) to fight it. You use your weapon, and with the Attack Bonus modifier, you hit because the number is higher than the creature’s Armor Class. You then roll the damage for that weapon to find out how much HP the creature loses. 
• On the creature’s turn, it rolls to attack you as well. It rolls higher than your AC, so it hits you. You lose 2 HP, so you mark that on your sheet. 

A combat turn can look very different. This is just a short example to show you how you would use your character sheet in combat. 

Anything You Can Do, I Can Do Better

If you’ve made it this far, you have the vast majority of what you need for reading a D&D character sheet explained. The Features and Traits section is an important addition, though. Here, you will find extra abilities your character has thanks to their class and race. 

What kinds of things will you find here? Generally speaking, take a look at this section if your DM asks you about:

• Bonus Actions (during combat)
• Darkvision
• Feats 
• Class-specific languages

Basically, if you want to see if your character is extra capable in a particular skill due to their class, race, size, or background in ways others might not be, check here. You can see that the character sheet provided by Wizards of the Coast is very comprehensive, making it a great place to start. 

If you’re looking for something that’s not here that you think should be, check out the “Other Proficiencies and Languages” on the bottom left. Here, you’ll find languages you know, weapons and armor you can easily use, and other tools you know how to use. 

The main difference between this box versus the “Features and Traits” is that these don’t require full-sentence explanations. Instead, it will be things you can simply list.

I Love Your Chainmail!

In the bottom center of a standard character sheet, you’ll see your Equipment section. This is mostly used to see how much money you have on hand, denoted by copper, silver, gold, and platinum. (Electrum is there, too, but it’s kind of the equivalent of a $2 bill. It’s so rarely used, it’s almost not worth having.)

Each section is noted by the initials of the metal, starting with copper as “CP” for “copper piece.” The wizard here starts out with 5 gold pieces, or GP. How much money your character starts with is largely determined by their backstory. A noble, for example, would have much more money than a hermit.

Otherwise, here you’ll find other equipment you are wearing. This is different from other objects and treasure you have, which goes in the “Treasure” section of page two.

This distinction is important for several reasons:

• Armor only helps you AC in combat if you are wearing it.
• Magic items work only if you are attuned to them. (The item description will tell you if you need attunement. The rules will tell you what that means.)
• You can only attack with equipped weapons.

Oftentimes, you will also find adventuring equipment here, things like tinder boxes and bedrolls. This mostly matters for carrying weight. That means that your character can only carry so much before they become encumbered in both fighting and travel. Different DMs handle weight differently, so speak to yours about what information needs to go here. 

What About My Tragic Backstory?

Now, some new players have a bit of difficulty coming up with a backstory or maybe even understanding its purpose. Most backstory information (different from background) goes on page two, especially in the “Character Backstory” section. However, the section in the top right of the first page of your sheet will help you determine and/or remember your backstory. 

These traits won’t necessarily come up as specific calls to action, but they will help you decide what choices your character would make in the moment. So if your character, for example, values honesty and honor above all else, they’re not likely to try to lie to a character in most situations. 

In other words, you can use this section to help narrow down choices for your character. This helps if you feel overwhelmed with options, or if you want your character to offer something unique from the rest of the party. 

There are generators that will help you come up with personality traits for your character and flesh out your backstory. Many DMs also offer a Session 0 for character creation. There, you can discuss different backstory options to answer questions like where you’re from and who you might already know in the game. 

It’s All So Magical

If you decide not to play a spellcaster, like a Barbarian, you’re pretty much done! Most players, however, will play a spellcaster at least once. So, you need to know how to read the spellcasting section of a character sheet. Often found on Page 3, this page is very customizable depending on your class. 

Let’s start at the top. First, you’ll put in your class simply as a reminder. (Once you get to Level 3 or higher, you might add your subclass, too.) Next, you’ll add your spellcasting ability, which is the skill set your class uses to cast spells. Then, you’ll add your spell save DC, which is the number your opponent needs to roll above if they want to resist the effects of one of your spells. Finally, you add your spell attack bonus, which works like a weapon bonus only for spells. The class section of the rules will tell you how to fill all this in. 

Now, which spells you have available to you and where to put them depends on your class, but every class will read this sheet in the same way. 

Each spell has a level noted next to the spell in the rules. When you “equip” a spell, you will list it under that level. Cantrips are considered “level 0” spells and will go there. Many classes will list all the spells available to them, but not every spell is available every day. To make a spell available in a game day, you will check the bubble next to it for preparing spells. To make this even easier to follow and build out, you might want to invest in some spellbook cards for your character’s class.

As you play, you will need to mark each level spell with how many spell slots you have for that level, determined by your class and character level. Every time you use a spell then, you need to note that you used a spell slot and mark which level you used it at. This resets after a long rest. 

The higher your level, the more this will fill out. At level 1, you will only have the Cantrips and level 1 section filled out at most, which will help you ease into things. 

Build a D&D Character Sheet or “Buy” One?

This is a lot of information to take in, especially if you’re a new player. Don’t fear! No one expects you to remember all this right away, or even after a long time. Seasoned players constantly revisit their character sheet and what each part means. So this leads itself to another question, then. Do you want to build out a character yourself with Chapter 1 of the Player’s Handbook, or do you simply want to use a premade one?

There are pros and cons to each. Building your character sheet out yourself gives you a comprehensive understanding of your character and their skills. However, it can take time. The Player’s Handbook helps a lot, but a premade character takes less time and allows you to focus on other rules. You won’t be as familiar with your character, though. 

Some DMs want their players to build characters a certain way. They might use the standard rules in Chapter 1 of the Player’s Handbook by rolling for ability scores. Or, they might use the standard array or point buy methods. Make sure to ask your DM if they have a preference.

As a personal recommendation if your DM has no preference, I suggest that new players start with the D&D Beyond quick build function. Or, use an official character by Wizards of the Coast like the one used in the examples above. 

Use the quick build if you have a sense of what class, race, and background you want to play. Or, choose a completely pre-made character if you have no sense of that at all and want to just try the game out. 

In other words, if you don’t have a strong feeling about the character you play, there’s no reason to add that on to yourself. Just focus on getting the basics down in the meantime. 

The End is the Beginning

If you made it to the end, congratulations! You now have what you need to know about reading a D&D character sheet explained. Make sure to bookmark this page to come back and reference it as needed because we all could use a reminder. 

Once you have your character, you will also want to bookmark the relevant pages in the rules for that character and/or note the pages needed on your character sheet. You can do this according to the ruleset you have. So if you’re using the Player’s Handbook, you might list (PHB p. “X”) next to each spell you have listed to remind you where the spell is and how it works, for example. Everything on your character sheet is intended to help you play the game better. So, go play!

And for the more auditory learners, here’s a loaded but hilarious video explaining it all from the great Crap Guide to D&D. 

What questions do you want explained about reading a D&D character sheet or creating a D&D character?

Kristen

Hi there! I’m Kristen. I’m a game writer, a Dungeon Master, and like you, I love tabletop games. Visit our About page to learn more about me.

I wrote this Cats and Dice article to help you enjoy gaming even more. Did it help? If so, our kitties (and our site) would be grateful for a little gift through Ko-Fi.

The post Reading a D&D Character Sheet Explained: The Complete Guide appeared first on Cats and Dice.

A Note to New Players

If you’re new to the world of D&D, welcome! Let yourself enjoy the excitement and wonder of the newness of it all. You might also feel a bit anxious about the number of accessories that come with D&D. “Do I need a dice bag to play?” you might wonder. Not at all! You really only need these three things to play D&D. Everything else you’ll find you might want along the way.

With that said, if you want a dice bag now, go for it! Your new dice will be happy to have a cozy home. Plus, a nice dice bag can motivate you to keep your new campaign going. At the very least, it’ll stop your furry friend from knocking your dice on the floor all the time.

Cat Dice Bags for D&D Dice

There are tons of cute dice bags you can find online. Many dice bags feature cats and your other favorite animals. These are some of our favorites. If you don’t see yours, let us know in the comments.

Dungeons & Cats Dice Bag

This bag is a must for D&D cat lovers. The cats on this bag each have their own D&D class, so it’ll work great for DMs and players alike. Plus, it’s super roomy to hold all your dice. Buy this cat D&D dice bag from Board Game Solutions.

Lying Cat Dice Bag

The perfect bag for your Deception or Intimidation checks, the Lying Cat Dice Bag will give your dice some extra sneaky power. Reviewers love it for the high-quality material and quick shipping. Get this bag and get the boost of confidence for your Charisma rolls.

Cat Rune Bag

This cat rune bag will call to all the witches at heart. Back to Magic sells loads of beautiful embroidered products, not just dice bags. Their real-life cat companions are wonderful, too! Ollie and Puddy say hello all the way from the U.S. Buy the bag here.

D20 Striped Cat Dice Bag

If you need your cats and your D20 in the same place, look no further. UberDungeon sells loads of cute cat dice bags with D20’s on them, so no one in your house will mistake it for anything else. You can buy the standard black one here. It also comes in blue, brown, red, gray, pink, and green. Or, if for some (crazy) reason you’d prefer an animal other than cats, they have those, too.

Mystical Cat Dice Bag

This D&D cat dice bag gives off the best magical vibes. Great for spellcasters, this dice bag will give an extra sense of enchantment to your rolls. It’s almost as if the cats on the bag are watching you and giving you a little extra guidance. Buy yours now.

Single Cat Dice Bag

Unlike the other cat dice bags on this list, this bag has a single cat’s fact embroidered onto it. The sleek black and piercing stare will make your dice feel protected and ready to roll well when they come out.

Cookie Cat Dice Bag

Love sweets as well as cats? Then you’ll love this cookie cat dice bag. The delicious treats outside may make you want to snack, so be warned! They may make your dice rolls a little extra sweet, too.

Cat Butt Crochet Bag

Cats are known for many things, and one of them is sticking their butts in your face. It seems appropriate, then to have a cat butt bag to honor that. This may be a good bag to store dice that haven’t been rolling well, or to simply store all your dice.

Cat Dice for Tabletop RPGs

Now that you have your cute cat dice bag, why not get some matching cat dice to go with it? Check out these dice sets that feature a cat when you roll a critical success (or failure!).

Grey Cat’s Eye Dice

From paws to tails to cute cat smiles, every single side of each die in this cat dice set is thematic. The d12 has a paw print surrounding each number while the percentile dice feature cat faces and bodies. These cat dice are a must for any cat-loving D&D players.

Dark Purple Cat’s Eye Dice

These beautiful purple gemstone dice feature a lovely silhouette of a cat on the d20. When you roll a natural 20, you’ll see this cat in its place. It’s almost like having a familiar help your rolls.

Opalite Gemstone D&D Dice

For some blue dice with a witchy feel to the cats, check out these opalite gemstone D&D dice. A cat sitting on a crescent moon takes the place of the 20 on the d20. This gives an extra ominous feel to your critical successes.

Raise Holograpic Black Obsidian Dice

These black obsidian dice have an ominous feel to them. With holographic numbers, you’ll see a cat with its eyes closed when you roll a natural 20. It will feel like the gods (or patrons) have blessed you when you roll these dice.

Bonus: Cat Dice Trays

Once you have your cat dice and your cat dice bags, you’ll need something to roll in. Why not get a cat dice tray? These cute trays resemble a cat lying on its back, waiting to attack your roll on its belly. It’ll help you roll a natural 20 every time! (Disclaimer: natural 20s are not guaranteed.)

Do you have one of these cat dice bags and love it? Do you have a different one we didn’t feature on this list? Tag us on Instagram @catsanddice! We’d love to see it and the dice you have inside, too.

Kristen

Hi there! I’m Kristen. I’m a game writer, a Dungeon Master, and like you, I love tabletop games. Visit our About page to learn more about me.

I wrote this Cats and Dice article to help you enjoy gaming even more. Did it help? If so, our kitties (and our site) would be grateful for a little gift through Ko-Fi.

The post Cat Dice Bags and Cat Dice for Cat-Loving D&D Players appeared first on Cats and Dice.

Multiclassing does not need to be complicated in 5th edition. Since it is an optional ruleset, though, it’s important to understand how it works before you decide to build a monk-sorcerer-bard (or whatever cool combination you’re thinking of). You will want to make sure you understand what multiclassing entails and whether or not you meet the requirements to do it before you try. For any multiclassing question you have, we have the answers in this D&D 5e multiclassing guide.

What is D&D Multiclassing in 5e?

Every character in Dungeons and Dragons starts out with a single class. That class determines the character’s skill set. Some classes specialize in spellcasting, while others are great melee fighters. Your class will affect how you play the game, not only in combat, but through your backstory and roleplaying choices, too. 

Once a character reaches a higher level, you can have them multiclass according to the ruleset available on pages 163-165 in the Player’s Handbook. This means that the character will now have more than one class, giving them more abilities beyond what a single class can do. We’ll simplify the official ruleset first. Then, let’s talk more later about why multiclassing might be a good or bad choice for your D&D character. 

Who can Multiclass in 5e?

Before you go any further with D&D multiclassing, ask your Dungeon Master if they allow multiclassing in their game. Like feats and flanking, multiclassing is an optional ruleset. Whether or not your DM allows multiclassing, you will still want to read this D&D 5e multiclassing guide to understand why or why not. But the DM’s ruling is required before you can multiclass. 

Then, anyone can multiclass once two ruleset conditions are met: 

1. They level up.
2. They meet the ability score minimums.

The prerequisites for a class involve having a minimum of 13 in the most relevant score for that class. The chart below gives you the exact ability score you need to multiclass in every D&D 5e class. You can also find (most of) this chart on page 163 of the Player’s Handbook.

Remember, this is for both the class you wish to multiclass to and the class you currently are. So if you are a Barbarian who wants to multiclass into a Warlock, you need a Charisma score and a Strength score of at least 13.

How Does Multiclassing Work in D&D?

Once you’ve met the minimum requirements outlined above and your character levels up, you can now have them multiclass. 

Whenever a character levels up, there are potentially changes to their levels, experience points, hit dice, proficiency bonus, spells, spell slots, and features. Some of these things add to each other when multiclassing, and some of them do not. Here is the breakdown for each kind of change. 

Levels and Experience Points

When you multiclass, you take different levels in each class, which lead to a combined overall level. For example, if you are a Level 5 Fighter who multiclasses into a Rogue at your next level, that means you are a Level 5 Fighter and a Level 1 Rogue for a combined character level of 6. Once you reach level 7, you will decide which class you want to level up (or choose a third one!). 

Just like levels, your experience points equal your overall level and are not separated. So to get the character above to Level 7, you will still need to reach 23,000 XP as shown by the chart on page 15 of the Player’s Handbook. 

Hit Dice

Hit dice are much simpler. You simply take the hit dice for that class equal to the level for that class. Just like with a single class, you always get hit dice equal to your current level. A Level 5 Fighter has 5d10 hit dice, while a Level 1 Rogue has 1d8 hit dice. That would mean your Level 6 character would have 5d10 and 1d8 hit dice. Should your classes happen to have the same type of hit die, then they stack. 

Proficiency Bonus

This one is even easier. Your proficiency bonus always matches the chart on page 15 of the Player’s Handbook for your combined overall level. In other words, multiclassing does not change anything about your proficiency bonus.

Spell Slots

Spell slots (not to be confused with spells themselves, discussed in the features section) are easy if you are not already a spell caster like a monk or a barbarian. You just get the abilities for the levels in your new spellcasting class.

If your character is already a spellcaster multiclassing into another type of spellcaster, things start getting specific for each class. That’s because some classes rely on spellcasting more heavily than others.

First, a rule for multiclassing in all spellcasting classes: your spell slots per level remain roughly the same as if you had not multiclassed. In other words, your spell slots do not simply add together for each class. 

Instead, visit the chart on page 165 of the Player’s Handbook to calculate your specific spell slots. Or, you can use this cool spell slot calculator.

To calculate the spell slots for your D&D multiclassing character, go through these steps:

1. Add all your levels in bard, cleric, druid, sorcerer, and wizard together.
2. Halve your levels in paladin and ranger rounded down.
3. Halve your levels in artificer rounded up.
4. Third your levels in fighter and rogue (if you are an Eldritch Knight or Arcane Trickster).

Once you’ve added these totals together, you will have a calculation for how many spell slots you have and in which level with the help of the Handbook’s chart.

Features

Each class also comes with unique features (not to be confused with feats). Some features stack and some do not. 

Generally speaking, you gain the features for your level in that class. For example, a level 1 barbarian can rage, no matter what levels you have in anything else. A level 2 rouge can bonus action disengage or hide. Whatever features your class has at that level, you generally gain them.

However, some class features do not stack if you already have them. Channel Divinity, Unarmored Defense, or Extra Attack are all features that you do not get more than once, even if you have multiclassed into multiple classes that have these features. 

Spells work in a similar way. You do not get to learn a high-level spell as a high-level character just because you took one level in spellcasting. A character who multiclasses into a wizard, for example, can only choose spells from the Level 1 Wizard spell list. 

As a result, if you multiclass into two spell casters, you might have spell slots for levels of spells you cannot cast. You can instead use those higher-level spell slots to cast lower-level spells at a higher level. 

You do get a new set of cantrips by multiclassing into two classes of spellcaster, though, but only for your new spellcaster class. In other words, if you were originally a bard and take a level in cleric, you will get new cleric cantrips but not new bard cantrips. 

Subclasses

Currently, there is no official way to multiclass between several subclasses of the same class. In other words, the rules do not give the option to stack subclasses of the same class. A druid cannot be part of both the Circle of the Moon and the Circle of Dreams, for example. This is probably because subclass abilities do not occur in a uniform way and were not built for picking and choosing.

This does not mean that your Dungeon Master would not allow multiclassing in subclasses of the same class. If they do, though, it would be a homebrew option and not part of any official ruleset. 

Why Multiclass?

Now that you know the how of D&D multiclassing, you might be wondering why you would multiclass. Alternatively, you may have come to this D&D multiclassing guide knowing exactly why you want to multiclass but haven’t considered why you would not multiclass. Take a moment to consider the options now. 

Roleplay

First, you might multiclass for roleplaying reasons. Some common in-game reasons to multiclass in D&D are below.

• Friendship: Your character might have learned a great deal from another character of another class. 
• Necessity: Hard times might have required a character to develop skills in another class. 
• Opportunity: A character might have had the opportunity to learn or train with someone in a certain class. Similarly, they might have come across an inspirational item. 

Many roleplaying reasons can justify multiclassing. Just make sure your Dungeon Master agrees first.

Combat

Some players multiclass to optimize a character and make them as strong as they can be. Certain multiclassing combinations can create powerful results in combat. For example, multiclassing as a barbarian/rogue can be quite powerful when you consider the following combat example:

1. Use a bonus action to rage in your barbarian class, giving you advantage on the attack.
2. Use your action to attack a monster with advantage.
3. Should that attack hit, you will get to roll sneak attack damage from your rogue class because you had advantage on the attack as a barbarian.

D&D multiclassing, when carefully considered, can provide all kinds of powerful and interesting combat combinations.

Why Not Multiclass?

Everything up to this point may have sounded like a strong pitch in favor of multiclassing. So why wouldn’t you have your character multiclass? There are a few reasons, but they are also good ones.

Your Dungeon Master does not allow multiclassing. 

This is the most straightforward reason to not multiclass. There are many reasons a DM might not allow it. They might consider it difficult to track, imbalanced, unfair, or unfitting to their game. 

If your DM does not allow multiclassing, it may be worth having a short and open discussion about it. Consider pointing them to this D&D multiclassing guide if they have questions. But if your Dungeon Master has settled on not allowing multiclassing, do not push the issue. Multiclassing is an optional ruleset, and it is the DM’s right not to use it.

You will miss out on higher-level features. 

Your character’s overall level still maxes out at Level 20 when multiclassing. That means you will miss out on some higher-level features. Multiclassing is not inherently the most powerful way to play a character for this reason. 

Spellcasters, in particular, might not ever access 9th-level spells if they multiclass too much, even if they have 9th-level spell slots. Again, you can only access spells available to your character’s level in that particular class, so if your wizard never reaches level 17, then they’ll never get that sweet, sweet Wish spell. 

Beyond This D&D 5e Multiclassing Guide

On the off-chance this D&D 5e multiclassing guide did not cover what you need, there are a couple of resources we recommend to accompany it. First, make sure you have a copy of the Player’s Handbook, and read the section on multiclassing thoroughly. (It is found on pages 163-165.) 

Then, watch the Handbook Helper on D&D 5e multiclassing below. 

Finally, make sure to share your thoughts and questions in the comments below. Does anything still confuse you? As a seasoned player, do you have recommendations to players multiclassing for the first time? Share them in the comments to contribute to the best D&D 5e multiclassing guide.

Kristen

Hi there! I’m Kristen. I’m a game writer, a Dungeon Master, and like you, I love tabletop games. Visit our About page to learn more about me.

I wrote this Cats and Dice article to help you enjoy gaming even more. Did it help? If so, our kitties (and our site) would be grateful for a little gift through Ko-Fi.

The post The D&D 5e Multiclassing Guide You Need to Read appeared first on Cats and Dice.

First, there are literally hundreds of pages of rulebook content to read to help us make better characters, understand how to play better, and learn to use our character’s magic. 

Then, there are all kinds of source material to learn more about the worlds we play in. Plus, they make great reads if you’ve ever thought about DM’ing at all. 

Also, if you want to fill the adventuring itch between gameplay and official books just aren’t cutting it, you can enjoy plenty of fantasy fiction to read. Try out reading material from unofficial D&D sources and other RPGs, too. 

So don’t spend too much time reading this post! Sure, there’s a lot to read here, but it’s all in an effort to show you many of the best D&D books for players to read.

Official D&D 5e Rulebooks

Officially, Wizards of the Coast has published four D&D 5e rule books for D&D players to read. That’s just with content for players. It does not include content designed specifically for Dungeon Masters or actual adventures.

Since there are so many official books, this section is divided up into three sections: books that will help you make characters, those for Dungeon Mastering, and adventure books. This serves as a basic categorization as these books can certainly overlap.

Creating Characters

The four books in this section contain everything you need for D&D players to make amazing characters for the 5th edition of Dungeons and Dragons.

The Player’s Handbook

This is an essential book for all D&D players and Dungeon Masters. Many of us read it in pieces as needed. By sitting down and reading it in its entirety, though, you’ll become a much stronger player.

Xanathar’s Guide to Everything

Many consider Xanathar’s Guide to be an extension of the Player’s Handbook and the Dungeon Masters Guide alike. It contains extended subclass options for all player classes, along with additional magic items, game rules, and recommendations for building a campaign.

Volo’s Guide to Monsters

While Xanathar’s Guide helps extend playable classes and tools from the Dungeon Master’s Guide, Volo’s Guide gives more options for playable races and adds more monsters. It also goes deeper into the lore and mechanics of certain monsters from the Monster Manual.

Mordenkainen’s Tome of Foes

If you can’t find everything you want as far as classes and races go in the previous three books, then Tome of Foes makes an excellent fourth. It works as an extension to Volo’s Guide with more lore, more monsters, and most importantly more extensions to playable races. These races include tieflings, dwarfs, gnomes, and halflings. 

Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything

Much like Xanathar’s Guide, this new official D&D 5e book has great options for players and Dungeon Masters alike. The Artificer class is more accessible now along with new subclasses, such as the Wild Magic Barbarian. Players also have the option to serve group patrons as a party.

Curious about DM’ing?

If you want to better understand what your Dungeon Master does or have any interest in becoming a DM yourself, read these D&D 5e books.

Dungeon Master’s Guide

Many of the books for D&D players on this list focus on players rather than Dungeon Masters. However, there is plenty in the Dungeon Masters Guide for players, too, especially information on alternative rulesets.

Monster Manual

The Monster Manual is not a book you’d generally think to sit down and read since most of it contains stat blocks for famous D&D monsters. There are many sections, though, that contain great information on monster lore to help you better understand your foes. If you do read the Monster Manual, just be careful of any temptation you might have to metagame.

Sword Coast Adventurer’s Guide

The Sword Coast is home to one of the most famous locations in the Forgotten Realms: Baulder’s Gate. If you’re interested in learning more about this important location in Faerun, then the Sword Coast Adventurer’s Guide needs to be your next read.

Explorer’s Guide to Wildemount

This was heavily sourced from Critical Role’s world. While there are several books specific to that world discussed later in this post, Explorer’s Guide to Wildemount is an official sourcebook. Here, D&D players will find information on new factions and societies, new race options, along with a new kind of magic called dunamancy.

Guildmaster’s Guide to Ravnica

Ravnica is based largely on source material from Magic: the Gathering. It does not exist in Faerun. Instead, it’s located on a separate plane that consists primarily of a cityscape. In this city, there are ten guilds that make up the foundation of power in Ravnica. These guilds and their power struggles are ripe for great reading for D&D players, along with great campaign building.

What About D&D 5e Adventure Books?

You certainly can read official D&D adventure books if you’d like. There are lots of adventures out there including: 

• Curse of Strahd 
• Hoard of the Dragon Queen
• Tales of a Yawning Portal
• Lost Mines of Phalvender
• Dragon of Icespire Peak
• Acquisitions Incorporated
• Out of the Abyss
• The Rise of Tiamat
• Storm King’s Thunder
• Tomb of Annihilation
• Princes of the Apocalypse

If you read them before you play, though, that would give away major spoilers. So, definitely read these if you plan to run one or if you’ve already played it. That way, you can find all the juicy details you missed. Otherwise, there’s plenty of other reading material to enjoy without the spoilers!

Heroes’ Feast: The Official D&D Cookbook

While it’s not a rulebook, Heroes’ Feast is an official D&D book for players and DMs alike. Divided up by cultural cuisine, such as Elven, Dwarven, and Halfling, it even includes an afterward on enjoying your food while playing. It also includes a section on drinks titled “Elixirs & Ales,” which is sure to delight any game table.

Fantasy Fiction Books for D&D Players

D&D players will most likely love to read anything within the fantasy fiction genre. Dungeons and Dragons, after all, started out as a response to fantasy fiction and the desire to “live” within fantasy worlds. Plus, it’s a great way to cover your craving while waiting for your next game. 

Fantasy in fiction has many sub-genres, and a single book or series can overlap between several of them. Any fantasy subgenre can draw D&D players in, but the books below primarily focus on epic fantasy and young adult fantasy.

Epic Fantasy

If you were to ask anyone on the street to describe fantasy as a genre, their description would sound pretty similar to epic fantasy. The worlds are completely fictional, and the stories feature several characters who go on epic quests. Sounds a lot like Dungeons and Dragons, right? That’s because it is.

Read the Realms

Did you know that there are (at least) half a dozen fiction books out there specific to Dungeons and Dragons lore? Entire series are dedicated to the Legend of Drizzt, the Spider Queen, and the Lady Penitent. You can buy them separately as paperbacks or read them digitally.

Lord of the Rings

Although the Lord of the Rings series is an obvious choice, it needs to be said. Lord of the Rings defined epic fantasy as a genre and played a key role in Dungeon and Dragons’ creation. It may also provide great ideas for your next D&D character and the choices they might make.

The Name of the Wind

The first in the Kingkiller Chronicles, Patrick Rothfuss’ The Name of the Wind tells the epic story of a hero in his own voice who has since retreated to a life as an innkeeper. He is the stuff of legends but believed to be dead. What happened? Reading this epic saga is the only way to find out. D&D players interested in building bards, wizards, rogues, and artificers will find plenty of inspiration when reading this series.

A Song of Ice and Fire

George R.R. Martin’s series became a sensation thanks to HBO’s Game of Thrones. This work of epic fantasy will appeal to those who enjoy the nuances of alignment, the play between good and evil or lawful and chaotic. Many characters and families fight for their right to the Iron Throne while encountering plenty of treachery and peril along the way.

The Lies of Locke Lamora

D&D players who find themselves often rolling up rogues will love The Lies of Locke Lamora. Orphaned Locke deals with the difficulties of city life as a poor child by pursuing thievery. He soon becomes infamous, which leads to its own kind of trouble. Scott Lynch has contributed to many fantasy anthologies, but Locke Lamora is his most known work.

Mistborn 

For D&D players looking to sink their teeth into one long series, Brandon Sanderson’s Mistborn is a good choice. With six books in the series as of this writing, you’ll have plenty to read in between your D&D 5e games. The Final Empire is the first in the series and tells of a young Mistborn learning Allomancy, the magic of metals.

American Gods

Technically, American Gods is not considered epic fantasy. Some D&D players may consider this a less conventional read as it takes place in the modern world. However, Neil Gaiman’s novel will give D&D players loads of ideas for potential gods or patrons their clerics, paladins, and warlocks could follow. American Gods tells the story of Shadow and his chance encounter with a mysterious figure that leads him to discover gods on Earth in a way he never imagined.

The Sword of Shannara 

Aside from the fact that the characters split the party, The Sword of Shannara has a classic Dungeons and Dragons feel to it. In this epic by Terry Brooks, a powerful Warlock Lord can only be defeated by the Sword of Shannara, which in turn can only be wielded by a true heir of Shannara. Shea, unknowingly, is the last heir and has no choice but to pursue his destiny.

Young Adult Fantasy

As a genre, the concept of “young adult” books is pretty new. J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit is considered one of the first young adult fantasy books, along with Madeline L’Engle’s A Wrinkle in Time. In the past few decades, though, the genre has boomed with some excellent fantasy works. The few listed here are just that – a few.

Throne of Glass

Sarah J. Maas has become a central writer in the young adult fantasy genre. Throne of Glass is her longest series, which focuses on a young female assassin. With seven books in the main series, along with some prequel material, D&D players will have plenty to read and enjoy.

A Wizard of Earthsea

Many readers know of Ursula K. LeGuin’s sci-fi, but not many people know she also wrote this important work of fantasy. A Wizard of Earthsea tells the story of Ged, a powerful sorcerer and how he came to be such. Many considered this book to be a children’s book upon its release, although most would classify it as young adult fiction by today’s standards.

Eragon

If you love the “Dragons” part of “Dungeons and Dragons,” then you’ll love Eragon. The protagonist Eragon discovers a beautiful stone that turns out to be a dragon hatchling. This leads him to discover all sorts of magic previously unknown to him and sets him on the path towards the legendary Dragon Riders.

Sabriel

Garth Nix’s Sabriel tells the story of a young woman on her quest to save her father as she becomes the next Abhorsen. Abhorsens are those who stop necromancers and return the dead to death as they belong. The series continues with Lirael and Abhorsen and provides great inspiration for playing paladins, death and grave clerics, necromancers, and magic users in general.

A Court of Thorns and Roses

Remember how Sarah J. Maas is the current queen of young adult fantasy? In addition to the Throne of Glass series, she also wrote A Court of Thorns and Roses series. This series focuses on “Fae” and Maas’ version of the Feywild, which can lead to inspiring character builds for Warlocks with Fey patrons. It also can inspire rangers as the protagonist is well-versed with a bow. The second book, in particular, is one of the highest-rated books on Goodreads.

Graceling

Graceling will make an excellent book for D&D players who love to play characters with secret, deadly powers. Kristin Cashore’s trilogy focuses on Katsa, a person with extreme ability known as a Graceling. She struggles to come to terms with what her deadly powers mean, providing great inspiration for players to build sorcerers and rogues.

Choose Your Own Adventure Books

These classics will hit you with a wave of nostalgia if you’re familiar with them, or help you ou with that D&D craving if you’re not. Not all of them have fantasy themes, but many do. You’ll read through a section and then choose which direction you want to go by turning to the relevant page. You’ll find yourself reading through it over and over again to discover all the possible results.

Unofficial D&D Books and Other Games

For every official D&D rulebook out there, there are dozens of unofficial books for D&D players to read. These include homebrewed adventures, monsters, locations, magic items, and more. They also include books for famous streamed games like Critical Role. And finally, Dungeons and Dragons is not the only amazing TTRPG out there. The last section includes a few recommendations for reading beyond D&D 5e.

General RPG Books for D&D Players

Websites like DM’s Guild have loads of unofficial 5e books for D&D players, but that’s not the only way to read great new D&D reading material. As you’ll see in this section, there are several independent publishers producing great unofficial Dungeons and Dragons books.

*Note: any D&D material published by a source other than Wizards of the Coast is considered unofficial.

The Ultimate RPG Character Backstory Guide

This makes a great workbook to develop your next D&D character without using official D&D character creation material. In fact, you can create a great character for any RPG with this book. Developing an amazing backstory will help you roleplay your character and will help you make strong character choices in your next game. Watch the video below for an in-depth guide to using this workbook.

The Ultimate RPG Gameplay Guide

This book will help prepare you to play any RPG, not just Dungeons and Dragons. (Keep reading for reading options in other RPGs.) Some of the tips are geared towards Game Masters, but others work perfectly for players. Chapters and worksheets in the book will help you brainstorm more limits or options for your character that will lead to better roleplay, and ultimately better gameplay.

Tome of Beasts

Kobold Press has loads of great unofficial D&D books, and Tome of Beasts might be one of their best. It is like the official Monster Manual, but it contains over 400 new monsters you may have never seen before.

A Dragon Walks Into a Bar: An RPG Joke Book

This book of amazingly terrible RPG jokes will kill when your bard casts Tasha’s Hideous Laughter. Or, it’ll just kill your fellow players with the puns. Either way, this joke book makes a great light read for D&D players in between games. 

Critical Role Books

Critical Role is arguably the most famous game of D&D ever played. Voice actors play through a homebrewed campaign live on Twitch every Thursday evening. Thousands of viewers watch it every week. Previous episodes are available on YouTube. Be warned: you’ll find hours of content to enjoy.

Tal’dorei Campaign Setting

Critical Role does not take place in Faerun. Instead, it takes place in Exandria, which has two primary continents. Tal’dorei is the first and where most of Critical Role’s first campaign takes place. The second is Wildemount, the setting for the second campaign. This book gives DMs and players resources for setting a campaign in a whole new world.

Vox Machina Origins

Fans of Critical Role’s first campaign will enjoy this beautiful graphic novel. Vox Machina Origins dives into the stories of the beloved characters from Campaign 1 before the stream began. As of this writing, only the first volume is available, but more will be released soon.

The Chronicles of Exandria Vol. 1 and 2

This artbook will appeal to fans of Critical Role’s second campaign and art lovers alike. The Critical Role team compiled fan art from the early episodes of the second campaign that captured pivotal moments in the story. This will make a great book for fans everywhere to revisit again and again.

The World of Critical Role

History buff meets “Critter” in this book. This book covers not only the history within both Critical Role campaigns, but it also covers the real-world origin story of how Critical Role came to be one of the most famous and beloved games of Dungeons and Dragons.

Books for Other TTRPGs

While Dungeons and Dragons is easily the most famous tabletop roleplaying game, it’s certainly not the only one. The selection below covers some TTRPGs that D&D players are likely to love. Do not consider it a full list in any way, though. Hundreds of amazing games are available to play right now. For many more indie TTRPGs in particular, check out DriveThru RPG and Itch.io.

Pathfinder

Many players loved the 3.5 edition of Dungeons and Dragons, but the 4th edition of D&D was the least popular. Pathfinder came out shortly afterward to preserve the feeling of D&D’s 3.5 edition and earlier ones while adding new flavor. Critical Role’s home game started as a Pathfinder game and switched to D&D once the stream began. All this makes it an obvious read for D&D players.

Lone Wolf

The Lone Wolf series by Joe Dever is one of the earliest and most famous solo RPG books around. They play much like a Choose Your Own Adventure book with three major differences.

1. You can play with dice, indicating resulting outcomes or your health level.
2. The books are designed for adults rather than children.
3. They are available for free online.

The Lone Wolf series has recently been updated to play as a group TTRPG as well. Plenty of adventures and source materials are available to buy.

Star Wars

For D&D players who often think to themselves, “I like D&D, but I wish it were in a sci-fi setting,” then the Star Wars RPG is for you. In addition to their main rulebook, there are several starter sets. Some starter sets focus on a different point in the franchise and provide relevant characters while another exists in the Star Wars universe but provides completely unique characters. The Star Trek RPG provides the same feel.

Call of Cthulu

For the Warlocks out there who think, “Gee, I wish everyone in the game had to deal with an Old One patron,” Call of Cthulu might grant you that wish. It is consistently ranked as one of the best TTRPG systems out there, and the base rules will make a great read for all D&D players.

Monster of the Week

Based on the popular Apocalypse World RPG, Monster of the Week aims to give players an old school RPG vibe with a simplified rules system. It’s a standalone RPG for 3-5 players where you’ll fight monsters in more modern situations scenarios like a government investigation or high school gone wrong.

Need more?

Hopefully, these 30+ recommendations of books for D&D players to read will keep you satisfied for quite a while. If you still feel like you’d like more options, though, find more reading in the following ways:

• Ask for recommendations in D&D forums.
• Check out popular fantasy reads on Goodreads.
• Visit your local library or bookstore and check out displays.
• Bookmark this post and check back for new additions.

Book subscriptions can also allow you to check out a lot of great books for D&D players through simple exploration. Audible is a great option for reading on the go, while Kindle Unlimited is the way to go if you have an e-reader or for reading on your phone.

Finally, if you have any recommendations of books for D&D players to read that are not listed here, share it in the comments! Books, just like D&D, are a great way to connect with others through shared storytelling.

What are your favorite books for D&D players?

Kristen

Hi there! I’m Kristen. I’m a game writer, a Dungeon Master, and like you, I love tabletop games. Visit our About page to learn more about me.

I wrote this Cats and Dice article to help you enjoy gaming even more. Did it help? If so, our kitties (and our site) would be grateful for a little gift through Ko-Fi.

The post 30+ Best D&D Books to Read for Better 5e Gameplay appeared first on Cats and Dice.

“Would you want to play this homebrew class?”

“I homebrew all my games.”

Experienced Dungeons and Dragons players throw around the term “homebrew” all the time. It can be hard for beginners to understand. It’s hard enough understanding the rules as written! (These are also known as RAW.) So what exactly does homebrew mean, and what exactly does a D&D 5e homebrew look like? Find out in this beginner’s guide.

Homebrew. D&D. 5e. What does it all mean?

Here’s the short definition of homebrew as it relates to Dungeons and Dragons (also known as D&D):

“Any content within a Dungeons and Dragons game that cannot be found in an official rulebook.”

Official rulebooks include (but are not limited to):

• Player’s Handbook
• Dungeon Master’s Guide
• Monster Manual
• Xanathar’s Guide to Everything
• Volo’s Guide to Monsters

How do you know if it’s official? If it’s published by Wizards of the Coast, the company that owns and creates new Dungeons and Dragons materials, then it’s official. If it is not, it is considered homebrew.

That means homebrew can relate to a lot of things. Items, classes, races, and maps can all be homebrewed. For example, if a game is not set in the Forgotten Realms, it’s (generally) homebrew.

In other words, any unofficial content is homebrew.

It is worth noting that you can create your own campaign or your own one-shot and have that be the only thing that’s homebrew. Many games available on Dungeon Master’s Guild use items, maps, and more that come from the official rulebooks. The only unofficial part is the game itself. 

So what does 5e mean?

5e is the abbreviation for 5th Edition. If you have only played a few games of Dungeons and Dragons, and they were recent games, most likely you played the 5th Edition. It is the most recent edition and the most popular. For more terms, visit our post on finding a D&D group.

Does my game have homebrew content?

Ask your Dungeon Master (DM) if your D&D 5e game has homebrew content. If your DM is using one of the official games such as Dragon Heist, there is a good chance your game does not include homebrew content. If, however, your DM has written a game just for the players, then odds are better that the content within the game is homebrewed. 

Sometimes it’s not easy to know which content is homebrewed and which is not, though. Maybe you’re watching a live stream of D&D and can’t easily ask the DM. Sometimes a player will use the stats of an official class but dress it up a little differently. This is known as “reskinning” content. 

Ask yourself these questions to quickly decide if something is homebrewed:

• Is the game set in the Forgotten Realms?
• Does the race or class appear on D&D Beyond without the homebrew tag?
• Have experienced players heard of this content?

If you answered no to any or all of these questions, then odds are high that your game has homebrewed content.

Another way to tell is if something seems like a joke. This is not a hard and fast rule, but if an item or a monster seems unbelievably ridiculous, there’s a greater chance someone homebrewed it.

How do I add homebrew content to my game?

A lot of D&D 5e homebrew content exists because it’s so easy and fun to do! To add homebrew content to your game, follow these tips.

Tip #1: Use other’s content first

I know you’re excited to get your homebrew content out there. Without a lot of experience, though, it can be difficult to understand what makes good homebrew content. 

If you make an item, you want to balance it. Don’t make it so overpowered that your game no longer has any challenges. Similarly, you don’t want to make a monster that can kill your players in one round, or vice versa. As a newer player, you might not know how to do this yet.

There’s also a lot of amazing homebrewed content out there already. To find some of it, check out our Pinterest board below. You can also find great content at DMs Guild and Unearthed Arcana. Some DMs and players also enjoy using random generators like this one.

By using other’s content first, you will begin to understand what makes good homebrew content and what does not.

Tip #2: Start small

Change just one thing about an official item or monster and you will have made your first piece of homebrew content! If you introduce a healing potion, for example, you might change one of the dice that a player uses to heal, or you might make it specific to a certain kind of healing. 

For monsters, you can change something a monster is resistant in or vulnerable to based on the setting. You can take an animal, like a bear, and make it ideal for dungeon crawls or graveyards by making it undead. Merge the stats with a zombie, and/or make it vulnerable to radiant damage. Instantly you’ll find yourself with a terrifyingly awesome homebrewed monster.

Starting small also means starting with less important items. A magical ring is less likely to cause problems in the game overall than a player using an untested homebrew class for the entire game. 

Tip #3: Get feedback

Whenever we create something on our own, be it an adventure, homebrew content, or anything else, it can help to get feedback from others. After creating your homebrewed content, share it with some trusted friends and D&D players for feedback.

To get the best feedback possible, ask specific questions about what you want to know. Are you wondering if a monster would overpower your current party? Are you wondering how much your magical item should cost and who it would be ideal for? The more specific your questions, the better feedback you’ll receive.

For more information on finding and creating quality homebrew content, check out this post.

Homebrew content can add a lot of fun and flavor to your D&D 5e game. As you become more experienced, you will want new challenges and to try new things. If all of this is super overwhelming to you, don’t worry: there’s plenty of content to enjoy in the official rulebooks. Just know that whenever you’re ready to branch out and try something new, homebrew will be there for you.

Kristen

Hi there! I’m Kristen. I’m a game writer, a Dungeon Master, and like you, I love tabletop games. Visit our About page to learn more about me.

I wrote this Cats and Dice article to help you enjoy gaming even more. Did it help? If so, our kitties (and our site) would be grateful for a little gift through Ko-Fi.

The post D&D 5e Homebrew: The Complete Beginner’s Guide appeared first on Cats and Dice.