The Best Books & Podcasts for New Dungeons & Dragons Players

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Lucas Maxwell has been working with youth in libraries for over fifteen years. Originally from Nova Scotia, Canada, he is been a highschool librarian in London, UK for over a decade. In 2017 he received the UK’s School Librarian of the Year award and in 2022 he was named the UK Literacy Association’s Reading For Pleasure Teacher Champion. He loves Dungeons & Dragons and is the creator of Let’s Roll: A Guide for Setting up Tabletop Roleplaying Games in Your School or Public Library. You can observe him on Twitter and on his weblog.

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It’s no secret that I like Dungeons and Dragons. I write lots about it and play it as a lot as I can. It’s been an enormous assist to me emotionally and socially. I actually have a Dungeons and Dragons podcast with three improbable authors, and I’ve written a ebook on the way to arrange D&D in a college and public library.

So, it’s no shock I additionally love studying about Dungeons and Dragons and listening to podcasts that debate it. I take heed to a whole lot of podcasts, and D&D has shortly crept up and grow to be a giant favorite of mine in terms of taking in info. A giant chunk of my spare time is spent writing issues about Dungeons and Dragons, studying about D&D, and listening to D&D podcasts. And there’s nothing unsuitable with that as a result of it’s a recreation that brings me a whole lot of calm and happiness.

If you’re model new to the sport, although, the place do you begin? What do you have to learn? What do you have to take heed to? I’m right here to offer you a listing of each books and podcasts to get you began! Dungeons and Dragons is a tremendous expertise, however it may be overwhelming at first, so right here’s the place to begin!

The Black Dice Society Podcast

Set within the terrifying realm of Ravenloft, The Black Dice Society is an official Wizards of the Coast actual-play podcast. It has a tremendous numerous forged and is actually gut-wrenching and terrifying. This is a welcome break from what is often a comedy-themed run of Dungeons and Dragons podcasts. Expect werewolves, vampires, gothic settings, and a whole lot of terror. That mentioned, the Ravenloft setting is a superb place to begin for newcomers, and easily listening to D&D podcasts was how I obtained again into the sport after a few years out.

Not Another D&D Podcast

I like this podcast as a result of not solely is it actually, actually humorous, but it surely additionally tells a improbable story. Currently on its third marketing campaign, it’s a massively participating and enjoyable story to take heed to. I find it irresistible due to the fight, to be sincere. I actually like how the Dungeon Master will enable issues to occur so long as they match the story and appear enjoyable (the “rule of cool” personified). It’s a very immersive, enjoyable world that has been created right here, one that you just received’t need to depart any time quickly.

Three Black Halflings Podcast

This podcast doles out some wonderful suggestions for a brand new Dungeon Master and participant from a various forged of characters. There are a whole lot of laughs and a whole lot of severe discussions about variety in Dungeons and Dragons, movie and tv, and much more. The halflings discuss popular culture as a lot as they do D&D, as there may be a whole lot of crossover to be explored. It’s a captivating hear that’s effectively price your time!

Welcome to Dragon Talk by Shelly Mazzanoble and Greg Tito

Shelly Mazzanoble and Greg Tito run the Dragon Talk podcast, which is a improbable assortment of conversations with D&D gamers from each nook of the globe. This wonderful ebook highlights essentially the most memorable conversations about Dungeons and Dragons and as well as, gives a fast but informative historical past of the sport. From academics that use D&D to encourage impoverished youth to authors who run D&D to empower writers of color, this ebook talks about D&D’s impression in a very enlightening method, and I extremely suggest it!

Dungeons and Dragons Player’s Handbook cover

D&D Player’s Handbook by Wizards of the Coast

This is the D&D ebook. Of all the D&D equipment and add-ons, that is the holy grail that D&D gamers want to hunt out if they’re new to the sport. It actually has all of it. Yes, there are new additions that make the sport extra enjoyable that aren’t listed, however this has the whole lot that you must get began. You don’t must memorize it, you don’t must even research it; I recommend studying it in small chunks and by no means leaving dwelling with out it. Use it to make your character, get a deal with on how the mechanics work, or just learn cool stuff concerning the completely different races within the recreation.

Dungeons and Dragons Starter Set by Wizards of the Coast

This manages to condense the Player’s Handbook right into a a lot smaller model plus it comprises pre-made characters so you possibly can soar straight into the motion. It additionally has a tremendous starter journey known as The Lost Mines of Phandelver, which is brilliantly written. The rule ebook inside is easy and simple to know. If you might be model new to Dungeons and Dragons, this actually is the place to start. I can’t suggest this set sufficient. It’s like having a bunch of books in a single: the rule ebook, the journey, the participant’s handbook, all stripped down and able to go!

Journeys through the Radiant Citadel cover

Journeys Through the Radiant Citadel by Wizards of the Coast

Written by an enormous forged of numerous voices, this D&D marketing campaign ebook options 13 adventures for gamers of ranges 1-14. It’s an excellent place to begin in the event you’re seeking to start a sequence of one-shot adventures tied to a mysterious and stylish place often called the Radiant Citadel. This ebook has one thing for everybody, together with a bunch of recent monsters to cope with. However, it additionally has adventures for new DMs that want one thing mild to get them began. It’s an excellent ebook that represents a whole lot of new voices and experiences within the Dungeons and Dragons world.

Explorer’s Guide to Wildemount by Matthew Mercer

This is a improbable useful resource for new gamers or Dungeon Masters seeking to get into the sport at an entry-level. There are 4 actually nice quick adventures, to not point out a bunch of recent issues for gamers to do. I believe, mixed with the Player’s Handbook, it is a fabulous useful resource to make use of as a brand new D&D Player. This is the world created by the massively fashionable Critical Role group throughout their second marketing campaign. It’s a pleasant strategy to carry new life into your marketing campaign but additionally an excellent place to begin.

In the top, a whole lot of new gamers simply desire a character sheet and a few cube. However, it may be a whole lot of enjoyable to dive into these podcasts and books to actually immerse your self on this planet of Dungeons and Dragons!