Try tabletop RPGs
Dive into Dungeons & Dragons or other tabletop role-playing games for collaborative storytelling and epic adventures.
- Time:
- 60 min
- Cost:
- free
- Difficulty:
- moderate
- Where:
- Indoors
- Best:
- With others
Most people's first exposure to tabletop roleplaying is an invitation to a weekly campaign, which is a large commitment to make about something you have never done. To try tabletop RPGs sensibly, start with a one-shot: a complete story in a single session, with characters already made for you.
Why try tabletop RPGs is worth an hour
Character creation is a genuine barrier, frequently taking a whole evening before any play happens. Pre-made characters remove it entirely and let a first session be actual play. The one-shot format then removes the commitment question: you find out whether you enjoy this in three hours rather than by signing up for six months of Thursdays.
How to try tabletop RPGs step by step
- 1
Find a one-shot, not a campaign
A complete story in a single session. It answers whether you enjoy this without any ongoing commitment.
- 2
Use pre-made characters
Character creation can consume an entire first evening. Pre-generated sheets get you playing immediately.
- 3
Pick a rules-light system
Many systems fit on a few pages. Heavy rulebooks are a poor introduction to what is essentially collaborative storytelling.
- 4
Say what your character does, plainly
No accents or performance required. Describing an action is the whole of what playing involves.
- 5
Ask the referee rather than the rulebook
Whoever is running the game will simply tell you. Looking rules up in the middle of a scene is what slows sessions down.
Tips to get more out of it
- Watch a recorded session first if you are at all unsure. It shows you the format far faster than any written explanation.
- Agree at the start what content the table wants to avoid. Most groups do this now and it works well.
- Local game shops and libraries frequently run beginner sessions with everything supplied.
Ways to mix it up
If assembling a group is the obstacle, solo journalling games exist and are played alone with dice and a notebook. If you have played before, running a one-shot yourself is a very different and surprisingly approachable experience.
Try tabletop RPGs: frequently asked questions
What is a one-shot?
A complete roleplaying story played in a single session, usually with pre-made characters. It is the best possible first exposure.
Do I need to do voices?
No. Describing what your character does in plain language is entirely sufficient and is what most players do.
Do I need to buy a rulebook?
Not to start. Many rules-light systems are free, and beginner sessions at shops and libraries supply everything.
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