As a coordinator of D&D Adventurers League events I get to interact with lots of people who are very new to the hobby. Many of them come with little or no understanding of the game and others come having watched live streams of games like Critical Role. No matter how exposed they have been to the game they all come in with some preconceived notions of what D&D is like. Sometimes they are accurate but often they are not very realistic. As a result, I have developed a list of the top 6 things that I always discuss with new players before, during, and after their first game.
1 - Don't Use Character Generators
Now don't get me wrong. I love tools like D&D Beyond and the More Purple More Better character sheets. But I find that it is important for new players to understand the mechanics behind creating a character before they start relying on a tool to crunch the numbers for them. Being able to understand that when an ability score increases it can impact other aspects of your character is key. Using a tool that automates these processes when you first start diminishes the learning process.
2 - Don't Optimize At First
Many players like to make sure that all of their characters can do the most damage or are optimized to have the most powerful spells or have the best magic items. You may hear people referring to this as "min/maxing". There is absolutely nothing wrong with this kind of game play but it shouldn't be the end-all-be-all of your play experience. Find a class and race that you think you will enjoy and go with it. Don't worry if you aren't doing massive damage or succeeding on all your skill checks. Just get the feel for the game at first.
3 - Read the Book
D&D is a complicated game with lots of resources. As a player of a DM you are never expected to have everything memorized. However, you do need to have an understanding of what your character can do. Before you play for the first time, make sure you read the sections in the Players Handbook (or other resource) that covers your race, class, and spells. I personally make it a habit to do this whenever I get to play. Especially if it is a character that I haven't played in a while.
4 - Create a Strong Backstory
One of the things I love most about playing D&D is the fact that I get to be anyone and anything I want to be. D&D 5e has a huge variety of races and classes that your can combine in almost endless combinations. Add in the Background mechanic (including traits, flaws, and ideals) and you have even more flexibility. After that it is all about your imagination. Create your own head canon about your character. Write it all down and keep it with your character sheet. Heck, even browse the internet to find the perfect image to represent your character. All of this will help you to bring the character to life at the table.
5 - Don't Be Afraid to Ask Questions
This is probably the most important piece of advice. We were all first time players at one point. I even to this day find that I sometimes have questions that I ask fellow players and DMs. There is nothing wrong with asking for help or clarification. D&D has lots of dice, numbers, stats, etc. It is a challenge to keep up with it all. But, you have several other people at the table that are there eager to make it a fun experience for you all.
6 - D&D is About Collaborative Storytelling
Not every game is going to be Critical Role. Not every DM has the ability to do funny voices or provide props and 3D terrains; the thing to remember is that the story isn't just the responsibility of the DM...they are just the weaver of the story. They players are the real storytellers and it is their decisions and actions that make it memorable. It is more enjoyable if you work together with your table mates to make an epic adventure out of each session. Feel free to be engaged and make the world your own.
I hope this is helpful and that it might encourage some of you new players to get out there and try a game. If you don't have someone you know who plays, call up your local game shop and see if they have Adventurers League or other D&D tables going that welcome new players. I'm sure they can help you out.
Do you have helpful hints that you like to give new players? Please share them in the comments below. I would love to hear about it.