The Core Mechanic: The d20 Roll

Almost everything you do in D&D that has a chance of failure is decided by rolling a 20-sided die, the d20. This is the heart of the game.

When you want to do something, like swing a sword or persuade a guard, the Dungeon Master (DM) will ask you to make an ability check. You'll roll a d20 and add a "modifier" from your character sheet. You can read the official rules on this in the D&D Beyond Basic Rules.

Formula: d20 roll + ability modifier + proficiency bonus (if applicable)

Your goal is to meet or beat a Difficulty Class (DC) set by the DM. A DC 10 is easy, while a DC 20 is very hard.

Natural 20s and Natural 1s

If you roll a 20 on the die (a "nat 20"), you automatically succeed on an attack roll, often with extra effect. If you roll a 1 (a "nat 1"), you automatically fail. This adds exciting, unpredictable moments to the game.

Understanding Your Character Sheet

Your character sheet holds all the info about your hero. Don't worry about memorizing it all. Here are the key parts to know:

• Six Core Abilities: Strength (STR), Dexterity (DEX), Constitution (CON), Intelligence (INT), Wisdom (WIS), and Charisma (CHA). Each has a score and a modifier (the number you add to d20 rolls).
• Hit Points (HP): This is your health. When it hits zero, you're in trouble!
• Armor Class (AC): This is the number an enemy has to beat with their d20 roll to hit you.
• Skills: These are specific applications of your abilities, like Stealth (Dexterity) or Persuasion (Charisma). If you're "proficient" in a skill, you get to add a special proficiency bonus to your roll.

The Three Pillars of Adventure

A D&D game is typically a mix of three types of activity, as outlined in the official rules:

1. Exploration: Traveling through the world, discovering locations, interacting with the environment, and solving puzzles.
2. Social Interaction: Talking to non-player characters (NPCs). This is where you'll gather information, make friends (or enemies), and drive the story forward through roleplaying.
3. Combat: When diplomacy fails, you fight! Combat is turn-based, with everyone rolling for "initiative" to see who acts in what order.

Actions in Combat: What Can You Do?

On your turn in combat, you can do three things. For a full list of options, see the Actions in Combat section on D&D Beyond.

• Action: Your main activity. This is usually attacking with a weapon, casting a spell, or using a special ability.
• Movement: Move up to your character's speed.
• Bonus Action: Some classes and spells give you an extra, smaller thing you can do. If you don't have one, you don't get one!

You can also use your "Reaction" to do something on someone *else's* turn, but only if a specific trigger allows it (like an enemy moving away from you).