Dungeons and Dragons 101 - Brief History - Getting Started With Character Creation

Oct 5, 2026

Upload by Hazel

An introductory guide to Dungeons & Dragons explains its origins, publication history, and its place in modern tabletop role-playing. It describes the cooperative nature of play, the Dungeon Master’s role in guiding story and rules, and how player characters develop through experience points and leveling. The guide then begins character creation, covering how to choose a race and class and summarizing key traits and primary abilities for several options, including Dwarf, Elf, Gnome, Half-Elf, Halfling, Half-Orc, Human, and Tiefling.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryStory & Novel

FormatPDF

Pages9

Reading Time14 min

AccessFree to download

Brief History

What is D&D?

Rolling a Character

Pick Your Race

Pick Your Class

Dungeons and Dragons 101 Brief History: Dungeons & Dragons (abbreviated as D&D or DnD) is a fantasy tabletop role-playing game (TTRPG) originally designed by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson. It was first published in 1974 by Tactical Studies Rules, Inc. (TSR). It has been published by Wizards of the Coast (now a subsidiary of Hasbro) since 1997. D&D's publication is commonly recognized as the beginning of modern role-playing games and the role-playing game industry. There have been many changes and editions to the original publication, but by far the most popular is the 5th Edition (5e) . The 5th Edition was released in 2014, and since its release there have been over twenty other Dungeon & Dragons books published. What is D&D? The game itself is a cooperative adventure with a constantly progressing story. While every player gets a piece of the action, the Dungeon Master (DM) is the one who holds it all together. The DM guides the game and story by presenting challenges and organizing the overall narrative. They also make sure everyone follows the rules. If you're not the DM, you're a player, and your character is a player character, or PC for short. PCs evolve through the campaign based on the decisions they make and what they learn. Each PC has specific characteristics and attributes that will affect those decisions – like extra firepower, a keen mind or an overarching desire to do good – but your decisions as a player will also affect how your character's skills are used, and how they grow or diminish. As you play, the DM will grant your character experience points based on how you contribute to the campaign. Your character will grow and change as you use these points to level up, or earn stronger stats and better skills. Most Popular Books to Learn More: The Player’s Handbook (5th edition) The Monster Manual The Dungeon Master’s Guide *Your Library can also get these for you! Let’s Begin! Rolling a Character To start out, every player must create a character. You can basically be whoever you want to be, but think about who you want to play as. Do you want to be a High Elf Paladin who wants to save the innocent or a Dwarf Rogue who just wants to have some fun? It’s up to you. First: Pick Your Race Your race is what you were born as. Each race has its own set of skills and abilities. Pick the one that speaks to you, or the one you think sounds the best. Dwarf-Bold and hardy, dwarves are known as skilled warriors, miners, and workers of stone and metal. Traits: +2 Constitution, Darkvision, Dwarven Resilience, Dwarven Combat Training, Stonecutting. For more information: [https://www.dndbeyond.com/races/dwarf](https://www.dndbeyond.com/races/dwarf) Elf-Elves are a magical people of otherworldly grace, living in the world but not entirely part of it. Traits: +2 Dexterity, Darkvision, Keen Senses, Fey Ancestry, Trance. For more information: [https://www.dndbeyond.com/races/elf](https://www.dndbeyond.com/races/elf) Gnome-A gnome’s energy and enthusiasm for living shines through every inch of their tiny body. Traits: +2 Intelligence, Darkvision, Gnome Cunning. For more information: [https://www.dndbeyond.com/races/gnome](https://www.dndbeyond.com/races/gnome) Half-Elf-Half-elves combine what some say are the best qualities of their elf and human parents. Traits: +2 Charisma, +1 to two other Ability Scores, Darkvision, Fey Ancestry, Skill Versatility. For more information: [https://www.dndbeyond.com/races/half-elf](https://www.dndbeyond.com/races/half-elf) Halfling-The diminutive halfings survive in a world full of larger creatures by avoiding notice or barring that avoiding offense. Traits: +2 Dexterity, Lucky, Brave, Halfling Nimbleness. For more information: [https://www.dndbeyond.com/races/halfling](https://www.dndbeyond.com/races/halfling) Half-Orc – Half-orcs’ grayish pigmentation sloping foreheads, jutting jaws, prominent teeth, and towering builds make their orcish

FAQs

What role does the Dungeon Master (DM) play in D&D?

The DM guides the game and story by presenting challenges, organizing the narrative, and ensuring everyone follows the rules.

How do player characters (PCs) grow over the course of a campaign?

PCs gain experience points based on contributions to the campaign, which helps them level up and improve stats and skills.

What do you do first when starting to play D&D?

Every player creates a character, starting with choosing a race and then selecting a class that shapes abilities and skills.

Oct 5, 2026

Upload by Hazel