Welcome adventurers! In this series, we’ll explore the rules of Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition (D&D 5e), focusing on the d20 system that forms the backbone of gameplay.

Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) is a fantasy tabletop role-playing game (RPG) where players create characters and embark on adventures within a story created by a Dungeon Master (DM). The 5th Edition (5e) of D&D is the latest version of the game, known for its streamlined rules and accessibility, making it easier for new players to jump in while still offering depth and complexity for veterans.

The d20 System: At the heart of D&D 5e is the d20 system, named after the 20-sided die (d20) that is used to resolve most actions in the game. The d20 system is a straightforward yet versatile mechanic that keeps gameplay fast-paced and dynamic. Here’s a quick overview of how it works:

• Rolling a d20: Whenever your character attempts an action with a chance of failure, you’ll roll a d20. This includes actions like attacking an enemy, dodging a trap, or persuading a guard. The result of the roll, plus any relevant modifiers, determines the outcome.
• Ability Checks: Ability checks are used to determine the success of actions related to your character’s abilities (Strength, Dexterity, Constitution, Intelligence, Wisdom, Charisma). For example, lifting a heavy object might require a Strength check, while deciphering an ancient text might need an Intelligence check.
• Skill Checks: Skills represent your character’s specific training and expertise. Each skill is associated with an ability score. For instance, Stealth is linked to Dexterity, and Arcana is linked to Intelligence. When you perform a skill check, you roll a d20 and add your ability modifier and proficiency bonus (if you’re proficient in that skill).
• Saving Throws: Saving throws are your character’s defense against various dangers, such as poison, spells, or traps. Each saving throw is tied to an ability score. For instance, dodging a fireball might require a Dexterity saving throw, while resisting a poison might need a Constitution saving throw.
• Attack Rolls: When you attack in combat, you roll a d20 and add your attack bonus (based on your ability score and proficiency with the weapon). If the total equals or exceeds the target’s Armor Class (AC), you hit and roll for damage.

Critical Hits and Misses: A roll of 20 on the d20 (known as a “natural 20”) is a critical hit, which means your attack automatically hits, and you get to roll extra dice for damage, doubling the damage dice. Conversely, a roll of 1 (a “natural 1”) is a critical miss, which usually means the attack fails automatically, regardless of any modifiers or the target’s AC.

Advantage and Disadvantage: Sometimes the odds are in your favor (or against you). When you have advantage, you roll two d20s and take the higher result. When you have disadvantage, you roll two d20s and take the lower result. Various abilities, spells, and circumstances can grant advantage or impose disadvantage.

Combat Maneuvers: In addition to standard attacks, characters can perform combat maneuvers that often require specific actions or abilities. Examples include grappling, shoving, disarming, and using special attacks granted by class features or feats. These maneuvers can alter the course of combat and provide tactical advantages.

Exploration and Interaction: Beyond combat, D&D 5e encourages exploration and interaction with the game world. Characters can investigate mysteries, negotiate with NPCs, and explore dungeons filled with traps and secrets. The d20 system remains central to resolving challenges in these contexts, ensuring that every action has consequences and opportunities.

Character Creation in D&D 5e

Step 1: Choose a Race

• Options: Select from various fantasy races such as Humans, Elves, Dwarves, and more exotic choices like Tieflings or Dragonborn.
• Modifiers: Each race provides bonuses and penalties to different ability scores, influencing your character’s strengths and weaknesses.
• Traits: Races also grant unique traits such as Darkvision (ability to see in dim light), racial languages, and specific abilities like weapon proficiency or spell-like abilities.

Step 2: Choose a Class

• Classes: Pick a character class like Fighter, Wizard, Rogue, or Cleric, each offering distinct abilities, spells, and combat styles.
• Proficiencies: Gain proficiency with certain weapons, armor types, saving throws, and skills based on your class choice.
• Class Features: Access unique abilities at different levels, enhancing combat prowess, magical skills, or stealth capabilities depending on your chosen class.

Step 3: Determine Ability Scores

• Rolling Method: Roll 4 six-sided dice (d6) and add the three highest results to generate an ability score. Repeat this process six times to obtain scores for Strength, Dexterity, Constitution, Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma.
• Point Buy: Allocate a fixed number of points (usually 27) across ability scores to customize your character’s strengths and weaknesses.
• Standard Array: Assign predetermined scores (15, 14, 13, 12, 10, 8) to your abilities, reflecting a balanced approach to character creation.

Step 4: Describe Your Character

• Background: Choose a background that details your character’s history and provides role-playing hooks, such as Sage, Criminal, or Folk Hero.
• Personality Traits: Define your character’s demeanor, ideals, bonds, and flaws, shaping their motivations and interactions within the game world.

Step 5: Equipment and Finishing Touches

• Starting Gear: Obtain starting equipment based on your class and background, including weapons, armor, and essential items for adventuring.
• Customization: Spend starting gold (or use provided equipment) to further customize gear and outfit your character for their initial adventures.

Rules Behind Character Creation:

1. Ability Scores: Determine the basic capabilities of your character, influencing combat effectiveness, skill checks, and saving throws.
   • Modifiers: Calculate modifiers based on ability scores, which adjust rolls involving that ability (e.g., Strength for melee attacks, Dexterity for ranged attacks).
2. Race Features: Benefit from racial abilities like Darkvision, bonuses to specific skills, and sometimes innate spellcasting abilities or resistances to certain types of damage.
3. Class Features: Access unique abilities tied to your chosen class, such as spellcasting, martial maneuvers, sneak attacks, or divine blessings.
4. Background Benefits: Gain proficiency in specific skills and tools, reflecting your character’s past experiences and providing role-playing opportunities.
5. Alignment and Traits: Determine your character’s moral and ethical outlook (alignment) and establish personality traits that guide their actions and decisions in-game.
6. Leveling Up: As you gain experience points (XP), your character progresses, acquiring new abilities, improving existing skills, and gaining access to more powerful spells or combat techniques.

Character development in D&D 5e is not static; as your character embarks on adventures, they gain experience points (XP) for overcoming challenges and completing quests. Accumulating XP allows your character to advance in level, gaining new abilities, improved proficiency bonuses, and access to more potent spells or combat features. Leveling up offers players the opportunity to further specialize their characters, shaping their abilities to suit their preferred playstyle and narrative arc.

In Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition (D&D 5e), rolling for stats typically involves using dice to determine the values of your character’s six ability scores: Strength, Dexterity, Constitution, Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma. Here’s a detailed explanation of the dice used and how to roll stats:

Dice Used in Rolling Stats

1. d6 (Six-sided Die):
   • Used: Occasionally for certain character creation methods or specific game mechanics.
   • Example: Some methods allow rolling d6s to generate ability scores, typically by rolling multiple dice and summing the results.
2. d20 (Twenty-sided Die):
   • Used: Mainly for resolving actions and checks during gameplay, not typically used for rolling ability scores.
   • Example: Rolling a d20 to determine if an attack hits or if a character successfully completes an ability check.
3. 4d6 (Four six-sided dice):
   • Used: Commonly for generating ability scores using the “4d6 drop lowest” method.
   • Example: Roll four d6 dice, discard the lowest roll, and sum the remaining three dice to determine one ability score. Repeat this process six times to generate all six ability scores.

How to Roll Stats

Method: 4d6 Drop Lowest

1. Rolling Procedure:
   • Roll four six-sided dice (d6).
   • Discard the lowest roll.
   • Sum the values of the remaining three dice.
   • Repeat this process six times to generate six numbers, each corresponding to one of your character’s ability scores.
2. Assigning Scores:
   • After rolling six sets of 4d6 drop lowest, assign these numbers to your character’s six ability scores (Strength, Dexterity, Constitution, Intelligence, Wisdom, Charisma).
   • Arrange these scores as desired, often based on your character’s class and intended playstyle. Some methods may allow you to assign these numbers freely, while others might require placing them in order of the rolls.
3. Optional Adjustments:
   • Some Dungeon Masters (DMs) or game groups may allow additional adjustments, such as rerolling particularly low scores or using alternative methods like point buy or a standard array to ensure balance and fairness among player characters.

Considerations:

• Variations: Different groups may have house rules or prefer alternative methods for rolling stats, such as using a standard array or point buy system for more predictable and balanced results.
• Character Concept: Choose ability scores that align with your character’s background, class abilities, and role-playing aspirations, ensuring a cohesive and engaging character for your adventures.

By using the 4d6 drop lowest method or other agreed-upon character creation methods in D&D 5e, players can create diverse characters with unique strengths and weaknesses, ready to face the challenges of their campaign world.