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Learn the ins and outs of playing D&D 100% for free
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Dungeons & Dragons is a fun and exciting tabletop roleplaying game—but for many beginners, the cost of the materials to play is a significant barrier. Luckily, there are plenty of ways to experience the world of D&D without spending a dime! We’ll walk you through everything you need to get started, from free online platforms and play tools you can use to tracking down the basic rules at no extra cost and setting up a game. Ready? Let’s get playing!
Things You Should Know
- Download the Basic Rules for D&D 5e, which is free on the Wizards of the Coast website, or check out the full 5e Systems Reference Document (SRD).
- Use platforms like Roll20 and D&D Beyond, which can support your D&D games for free, providing map tools, character sheets, and rulesets.
- Find playable adventures on sites like DMsGuild.com, and use video or voice chat platforms like Discord and Zoom to host sessions (or meet in-person).
Steps
Sample Campaigns
Section 2 of 4:
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Download the Basic Rules for 5th edition (or your preferred edition). Even if you plan to play an in-person game with no digital RPG tools, you’ll still need to go online to download the current edition of D&D (5th edition) for free from Wizards of the Coast. It’s also the most popular edition of D&D—though if you’d rather play an earlier edition, you’ll need to find those basic rules instead. [7] X Research source
- You can find a PDF of the 5th edition Basic Rules here .
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Use the 5th edition Systems Reference Document (SRD), alternatively. While you can absolutely play D&D using the Basic Rules, it has limited playable races, classes, spells, and weapons. Conversely, the 5th edition SRD is an open-source compendium of D&D intellectual property containing the basic rules as well as expanded options for classes, races, and more. [8] X Research source
- Be advised: The SRD is not comprehensive and lacks information on subjects like character generation and famous monsters such as the Beholder for all editions.
- If you don’t want to use the PDF version of the SRD (which is linked above), you can also find hyperlinked versions online, such as:
- Furthermore, if you’d rather play a different edition of D&D, simply use those SRDs. For example:
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Download and print a physical character sheet. If you’re planning to be a player, you’ll need to create a character for the game—but before you do that, you’ll need a character sheet to write on. Character sheets allow you to track your character’s ability scores, hit points, class features, spells, and other important traits, so be sure to download and print one. [9] X Research source
- You can find blank printable character sheets for 5e (as well as pre-made character sheets) here .
- If you are the DM (Dungeon Master), try to assist each player with their character sheets, if needed. Some may be unfamiliar with the process of creating or selecting a character.
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Choose a digital dice-rolling program. Dice are the only material that is required of all players. If you don’t already have a dice set, you’ll need to use digital dice to avoid paying for a set. Luckily, plenty of online dice tools are available, including sites like Rolladie.net , Master the Dungeon , and Aidedd.org . [10] X Research source
- You could even type a phrase like “roll 4d6” into Google, and it’ll roll the dice for you!
- Virtual tabletops like Roll20 and D&D Beyond also have a built-in dice roller; your DM will likely instruct you on how to use it if you ask.
- Remember: rolls using character-specific abilities such as skills or spells may require you to check your character sheet in order to add the correct value to your rolls.
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Section 3 of 4:
Starting the Game (In-Person and Online)
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Find an online campaign if you don’t already have a group. You can use sites like Roll20, Discord, and Start Playing to find upcoming games or campaigns looking for new people to join. Remember to filter for the correct edition of D&D, or else you may accidentally join a game running on a different edition than you meant to.
- Depending on the campaign, you may be able to join the game immediately, or you may need to apply for the game.
- Try looking for games that explicitly "welcome new players" if you're not used to D&D yet (and mention you’re a new player in the application or after you've joined the game).
- Want to with a pencil and paper? Then it’s time to find a group to meet with in person. Ask friends, family, or even work acquaintances if they want to play! So long as someone can be the DM, you’re good to go.
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Decide on a platform to host your game if you play online. Once you’ve joined a group, you’ll need to check what the DM uses to host the game. They may host D&D games using a virtual tabletop such as Roll20 or Foundry , a voice chat service on Discord, or a combination of a virtual tabletop and a voice chat service (like Roll20 and Discord) to run the game.
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Pick a free adventure to play or create one yourself. Adventures are what make your game interesting! And while designing your own campaign storyline could be difficult at first, it can also be the most enjoyable part of the process. You’ll get to choose what characters to include, use any pre-made D&D setting you want, or make up your own mythology. [11] X Research source
- However, if you need help, you can always find free adventures for all levels online on DMsGuild or DriveThruRPG. For example:
- Additionally, a couple of official starter adventures are free on D&D Beyond for anyone who makes an account: Lost Mines of Phandelver , Prisoner 13 , and Frozen Sick .
- Want a place to make your own campaigns? Try using the online Homebewery program, which is 100% free.
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Create or select a character to play as. Depending on the campaign, your DM will have you create a character or select a pre-made one. Check the character creation rules in the Basic Rules or the SRD to better understand the creation process (and ask your DM for help, if necessary). [12] X Research source
- Ultimately, creating a character you feel excited about is important—so don’t stress too much about which race, class, and subclass to choose.
- In some cases, your DM may create a character for you to play instead or have you choose from a list of already-made character sheets.
- Whether you create your own character or choose a pre-made one usually depends on your DM’s style—but if you have a preference, don’t be afraid to voice it.
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Watch live-play games and how-to videos to learn about the game. Official digital versions of D&D books are still paid products and can get expensive. Thankfully, the basics are available for free—especially when it comes to watching instructional videos and live-play games on YouTube and Twitch. You can get a solid sense of how the game is played before starting a single session! [13] X Research source
- For example, you can check the D&D Twitch channel and D&D YouTube channel as well as the D&D category on Twitch for shows.
- You can also visit the Basics of Play article on the Wizards of the Coast website, which will give you a basic idea of how the game works.
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Schedule sessions with the other players and start playing! If you join an already-existing game, check the schedule to know when sessions begin (so you start at the right time). Depending on the campaign, you may start the game immediately after everyone's characters are created or on another day when the first real session starts.
- If you’re scheduling with a new group, pick a time you can all agree on. Don’t settle for a time when you know you’ll be exhausted, unavailable, or unprepared for the game.
- If the set schedule doesn’t work for you, it might be best to find a new group with a schedule that’ll be a better fit.
- Once you start playing, remember that D&D is a complex game. It takes some getting used to! Encourage everyone to read the core materials and watch a few tutorials first.
- Stick with it and prepare beforehand—you’ll be a seasoned player in a super fun campaign in no time!
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Section 4 of 4:
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Download the Dungeons & Dragons Online MMO. To start playing the MMO (massively multi-player online), head over to the DDO (Dungeons & Dragons Online) website and select “Download the game.” It’s free to play and doesn’t require a monthly subscription—so you don’t need to worry about spending a single cent while enjoying D&D in MMO form. [14] X Research source
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Create a free account and install the game. The only prerequisite to playing DDO is creating an account using a working email address on the DDO website. Once you’ve made your account, install the game on your computer.
- Just make sure your computer meets the minimum requirements to play! You can check here .
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Community Q&A
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QuestionWhat are the dice used for?Community AnswerPlayers use the 20-sided dice (commonly called a d20) when trying to determine the success or failure of an action. A pair of 10-sided dice are used to determine percentages (one represents the tens, the other the ones). The other dice are most often used for rolling damage of various weapons/spells. The dungeon master will use the dice for a variety of other purposes; for example, there may be a 1-in-8 chance of wandering monsters while camping for the night in a region, or a 6-sided die roll may to determine which of the six players is attacked by a creature.
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QuestionWhat dice do I need to play Dungeons and Dragons?Community AnswerYou'll need a few 20 sided dice, 12 sided dice, 6 sided dice, 4 sided dice, and maybe a few 10 sided dice.
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QuestionCan I make an account without giving away any personal information like my e-mail or name?Community AnswerNo, you need to at least provide a valid email to create and account.
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Tips
- The most important tool for Dungeons and Dragons is your imagination!Thanks
- If you're frustrated by the incomplete SRD, can't find a good deal on used books, or are just feeling retro, several open license recreations of First Edition rules can be found for free online. These include OSRIC , Basic Fantasy RPG , and Sword and Wizardry .Thanks
- You may also be able to find old DM-created campaigns for free on Craigslist or through other online resources.Thanks
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References
- ↑ https://pages.roll20.net/lp/play-dnd-online-free
- ↑ https://www.dndbeyond.com/
- ↑ https://www.dungeonfog.com/
- ↑ https://www.dmsguild.com/browse.php?filters=0_0_45393_0_0_45462_0_0&pwyw=true&src=fid45393
- ↑ https://www.levelup5e.com/encounter-builder
- ↑ https://discord.com/
- ↑ https://media.wizards.com/2018/dnd/downloads/DnD_BasicRules_2018.pdf
- ↑ https://media.wizards.com/2016/downloads/DND/SRD-OGL_V5.1.pdf
- ↑ https://dnd.wizards.com/resources/character-sheets
About This Article
Article Summary
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To play Dungeons and Dragons for free, play the Wizards of the Coast demo online and read up on the core materials so you don’t need to pay for the books. You can also print off free character sheets to help you create your hero. Once everyone has created their characters, make up your own storyline to make your game unique. If you’re the Dungeon Master, download the Basic Rules and Spells Section of the System Reference Document so you can refer to them while you play. Unless someone in your party already owns a set of dice, use a free online dice roller to save you money. For more tips, including how to play Dungeons and Dragons for free online, read on!
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