The First Session

Imagine.

You have never played Dungeons & Dragons before. The thought of sitting around a table with a group of people, pretending to be fantasy characters and embarking on imaginary adventures just seemed a bit... strange. But when some friends invited you to join their weekly D&D campaign, you figured you'd give it a shot.

You didn't know what to expect going into your first D&D session. Would it be boring? Would you feel totally lost and confused the whole time? Would you feel like a total outsider among the other experienced players? As it turns out, you had nothing to worry about.

From the moment you started playing, you were completely drawn into the world the Dungeon Master had created. As you described the actions of your half-elf ranger, Ellaria, you found yourself getting invested in her backstory and motivations. When the party encountered a band of goblin raiders, your heart started racing as you tried to strategize the best way for the party to handle the fight.

What surprised you most was how collaborative the whole experience felt. Rather than one person controlling the narrative, you were all working together to shape the story. Everyone contributed ideas, improvised dialogue, and rolled dice to determine the outcome of the character's actions. It was equal parts creative writing exercise and interactive role-playing game.

By the end of the 3-hour session, you were hooked. You couldn't wait to get back together with the group the following week to continue Ellaria's adventure. D&D has a reputation for being geeky or niche, but you realized it's really a fun, social, and imaginative experience that can be enjoyed by all kinds of people.

If you've been curious about trying Dungeons & Dragons but have been hesitant, I'd encourage you to take the leap. Find a group of welcoming, patient players and give it a shot. You might be surprised by how much you end up loving it.

For a glance at what a D&D session looks like, check out DnD Roll For It's first campaign! The first episode had some poor sound quality so I suggest jumping in at episode 2.