Rules of the Game
Second only to your imagination, these polyhedral objects (also called "Math Rocks") are the only required tools for playing the game. Typically, a complete set has seven of them (a d4, d6, d8, d10, d12, d20, and d00).
What is a set of dice?
The most important ability score for Fighters, this score determines how accurate your melee weapon attacks are and how much damage you can do with them. It also determines how much gear you can carry.
What is Strength?
Called "DM" for short, this player serves as the story narrator and controls everything about the game outside of the main characters.
What is a Dungeon Master?
This character class is the most straightforward for new players to learn. A frontline combatant skilled in all weapons and armor, who can attack multiple times per round and has a decent chunk of hit points to fulfill their "Tank" role in the party.
What is a Fighter?
This scaly, winged monster is one half of the name of the game. They are well-known for having an elemental breath weapon attack that can single-handedly devastate an entire party of adventurers.
What are Dragons?
Out of a typical set of seven, this is the most important die in the game. Almost every action the players take that has a chance of success or failure requires them to roll it, add modifiers from their character sheet, and compare the result to a target number set by the Dungeon Master.
What is a twenty-sided die (d20)?
Representing your character's agility, this ability score influences all sorts of things, from ranged weapon attacks to initiative rolls and skills like Acrobatics, Stealth, and Sleight of Hand. Even your Armor Class benefits from this skill, unless you are wearing Heavy Armor.
What is Dexterity?
A specialized document (usually a sheet of paper) used to track all the pertinent details and statistics of a player's character in the game.
What is a Character Sheet?
This character class is an expert spellcaster. Usually, you'll find them standing in the back of the party, where it is safe to cast spells without worry of being attacked due to their low hit points.
What is a Wizard?
This extremely common monster is often encountered in groups by low-level adventurers. They lair in caves, excel at hit-and-run tactics, and make great minions for tougher bad guys like Bugbears. They have yellow or sometimes green skin and pointy ears.
What are Goblins?
A common phrase a Dungeon Master says to indicate to the other players that combat has begun.
What is "Roll Initiative"?
Widely considered to be everyone's second-favourite statistic, this ability score is important for all classes because it directly influences how many hit points you wind up with.
What is Constitution?
These six important numerical scores recorded on your character sheet determine your strengths and weaknesses in almost everything in the game. They are called Strength, Dexterity, Constitution, Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma.
What are Ability Scores?
Often seen as essential for every party to have because of their role as a healer, this character class is a devout spellcaster who derives their powers not from studying spellbooks but instead from praying to their gods.
What is a Cleric?
This monster, commonly found in dungeons, often lures its prey to it by disguising itself as treasure chests that adventurers can't resist.
What is a Mimic?
These "points" are accumulated by your character for completing quests and fighting monsters, and allow you to level up in the game. Alternatively, some Dungeon Masters forgo them entirely, instead using the optional "Milestone Advancement" rules.
What are Experience Points?
This ability score is extremely important for Clerics and Druids because it determines the effectiveness of their spells, but it also impacts the Perception skill, so anyone who doesn't want to be oblivious to their surroundings should also invest in it.
What is Wisdom?
This number reflects the amount of damage your character can take before dropping unconscious and is influenced by your chosen class and Constitution score.
What are Hit Points?
When outside combat, this character class serves their party as a stealthy scout, skill expert, or thief; when in combat, they serve as a specialized high-damage dealer who can do more damage with a dagger than a Fighter can with a sword. They sometimes get a bad reputation for being seen as a backstabber.
What is a Rogue?
A large, cube-shaped monster made entirely of transparent ooze that dissolves anything it touches, including adventurers.
What is a Gelatinous Cube?
If your character is trying to hide from an enemy group of monsters, your Dungeon Master might ask you to roll this skill against their Perception check to see if they spot you.
What is a Stealth check?
Sometimes, you just want to talk your way past the door guards instead of fighting them. That's when this ability score comes in handy, because it impacts the Persuasion, Deception, and Intimidation skills. It is also the primary spellcasting statistic for Paladins and Bards!
What is Charisma?
This number represents how hard it is for an enemy to strike your character in combat and is affected by your chosen armor and Dexterity score. Usually, an enemy must roll at least this high on their attack roll to hit you.
What is Armor Class?
This charismatic character class is seen as a jack-of-all-trades but master of none. A performer who pulls magic from song, they can do a little bit of everything the other classes can. Best known for being the class most associated with the phrase: "I'd like to roll to flirt with the dragon."
What is a Bard?
Outside of Dragons, this is perhaps the most iconic monster in the game, as it is featured on the cover of the Monster Manual. It is a deadly creature that looks like a floating orb with a giant central eye and 10 smaller eyes on eyestalks above its head/body.
What is a Beholder?