Learn to play D&D! Beginner friendly
In this series, I'll teach you how to play Dungeons and Dragons, and even give pointers on how to run games of your own some day.
Free
Details
Bi-weekly / Saturday - 12:00 AM UTC
Apr 25 / Session 0
Session Duration / 3–3.5 hours
6 / 7 Seats Filled
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Schedule
Meet your party members
6/7
About the adventure
This introductory game is designed specifically for players who have never played D&D before, or for those who want a relaxed refresher on the basics. Together we’ll learn the core mechanics of the game: how characters work, how combat functions, and how storytelling and roleplay fit into the adventure. No experience is required, and questions are always welcome. During the session, you'll create a character (or choose from a selection of ready-to-play heroes) and embark on a short adventure designed to showcase the heart of Dungeons & Dragons. You'll explore mysterious locations, interact with colorful characters, solve problems creatively, and face off against dangerous foes. Along the way, I'll guide you through the rules step by step so you can focus on enjoying the experience. My goal is to create a welcoming, beginner-friendly environment where everyone can learn at their own pace. The focus is on collaborative storytelling, imagination, and having fun at the table. Mistakes are expected, and the game is structured so that new players can jump in without feeling overwhelmed. If you've ever been curious about D&D but didn't know where to start, this is your chance. By the end of the session you'll understand the basics of the game, have experienced a full adventure, and be ready to join longer campaigns if you choose to continue your journey.
Game style
Combat Lite
Rules as Written (RaW)
Rule of Cool (RoC)
Roleplay Heavy
Game themes
Meet the Game Master
1 year on StartPlaying
52 games hosted
Highly rated for: Creativity, Inclusive, Rule of Cool
Average response time: 21 hours
Response rate: 100%
About me
Hey guys, I'm Reese! I'm a trans-male DM of 8 years, and I started out as a player- at least, I attempted to. My very first game was with a group of friends that ultimately fell apart because real life hit our DM hard and fast. I would come to know the Curse of D&D on a personal level over the next few years as I tried to enjoy D&D as a player, but ultimately lost DMs over and over again to the dreaded beast known as Real Life. It was in my final game as a player that something sparked within. We were playing on Mondays and Tuesdays when our DM at the time was given an ultimatum. It's her, or the game, and he (respectably) chose her. Our group was distraught, and it was then that I offered to try to run the game for them. That day 8 years ago began my journey and I have been DMing every game I've played since. For as long as I can remember, I've had a creative imagination that demanded I write fantasy novels of all types since I was in elementary school, which then lead me to RPGs later on. I'm a 90s kid, so I've played several in my time, mostly in video form. I first got into longform RP when I was 12-13 years old and stumbled upon my first MUD; text-based games where I could describe in intricate detail what my character was doing and saying. (It definitely became an 'addiction' later on, both as a creative outlet and as a means of socialization with other people, haha). All of this really gave me the necessary tools I needed to both play and run TTRPGs, and I am still running games for people from some of my original groups when I was trying to just be a player at the table. (I'm even DMing for one of my old DMs now!) I'm funny, I know when to draw the line between wacky and serious, and have an eye for detail. You are 100% guaranteed to have a good time in any number of my games, and I hope to see you at the table soon!
View Profile →Character creation
Creating your character
Stats will be chosen via Standard Array or Point Buy and your characters will start at level 1 for this adventure. Characters will be created on the DnD Beyond website, and you can join the campaign via a link that will be in the server. Please don't read over the Phandelver books or cheat in any way- if you do, you will be booted from the community. I say again: Cheating is a forfeiture of your seat. Please play the game in a way that everyone can enjoy. D&D is not a competitive game or a game where you're trying to 'win'.
What to expect
Preparing for the session
Please have a Discord account, a DnD Beyond account, and access to a microphone. You may use the phone app, though the Maps feature is not yet integrated into it, so a web browser will be your best bet.
What Dungeon Daddy Reese brings to the table
We will be using DnD Beyond's Maps tool to keep track of your individual tokens, Discord for voice/video chatting, and the Avrae Bot in the Discord channel just to keep track of characters out of session. My DM style is a combination of Rule of Cool and Rules as Written. If something you're trying to do piques my interest but wouldn't normally be allowed, I have what are called Emphasis Rolls, in which you flip a coin (roll 1d2) to see whether the attempt is either a critical success, or a critical failure. Just as well, I try to do cool, fun, and unique voices for each of my NPCs, but I'm no Matt Mercer or Brennan Lee Mulligan. I'm not a professional actor, voice or otherwise. Please bear with me and be forgiving- I will do the same.
Homebrew rules
You can quaff a potion as a bonus action. Rolling a Nat 20 on initiative gives you a surprise round.
Equipment needed to play
Internet
Microphone
Computer or Mobile Device
Platforms used
Safety
How Dungeon Daddy Reese creates a safe table
Included in our free Session-0 will be a discussion of my personal Lines and Veils (as well as any of the players') and my personal safety system, similar to XNO which is Red, Yellow, Green. At the end of session, those who don't have to leave immediately are free to stay behind and chat, slowly coming out of character or coming down from whatever excitement may have occurred during the game. In addition, Session-0 will also be used for character building and background integration. If you feel confident in your character-building capabilities, feel free to make your own without help, but have it submitted to me MINIMUM one day before Session-1 so that I can review it, or you won't be able to play on that day.
Content warnings
Safety tools used