How to play Dungeons & Dragons, the Stranger Things way — in UAE

by


The roles: Who does what

Dungeon Master (DM)

  • Acts as storyteller, referee, and world-builder

  • Describes settings, plots, NPCs, and encounters

  • Reacts to player choices (yes, you can try to be a chaos-loving rogue!)

  • Ensures everyone is having fun

Players and layer Characters (PCs)

  • Work together to survive, solve puzzles, fight monsters, and get treasure

    • Reddit wisdom: The DM is not against the players. The goal is collaboration, not murder-hobo chaos…unless everyone agrees, of course.

    The essentials: What you need to play

    You don’t need a full game store to start D&D. Here’s the starter pack:

    • The Player’s Handbook (5th Edition) – core rules for character creation and gameplay

    • Dice set: D4, D6, D8, D10, D12, and D20

    • Character sheets – to track stats, abilities, equipment, and HP

    • Pencils and erasers – for all those adjustments mid-game

    • Adventure – either a pre-written module or a DM’s homebrew story

    • Optional: miniatures and grid maps for tactical combat

    How to create your hero

    Before the adventure begins, players need a character.

    Step 1: Pick a race

    Step 2: Pick a class

    Step 3: Assign ability scores

    • Core stats: Strength, dexterity, constitution, intelligence, wisdom, charisma

    • Determines how well your character performs tasks like attacking, sneaking, or persuading NPCs

    Step 4: Pick background and alignment

    Step 5: Gear up

    • Weapons, armor, tools, and magical items

    • Track everything on your character sheet

    How to play: The basics

    1. Adventure begins

    2. Player actions

    • Describe what your character does: Talk to the NPC, pick the lock, sneak past guards

    • DM decides if action is trivial (auto-success) or requires a dice roll

    3. Combat

    • Initiative determines order of action

    • Roll dice to hit and calculate damage

    • Use spells, skills, and teamwork to survive encounters

    4. Exploration and puzzles

    • Solve riddles, navigate traps, and explore dungeons

    • Rewards: gold, magic items, knowledge, XP

    5. Leveling up

    • XP earned through combat, quests, and clever thinking

    • Gain new abilities, spells, and perks as you level up

    Lakshana is an entertainment and lifestyle journalist with over a decade of experience. She covers a wide range of stories—from community and health to mental health and inspiring people features.

    A passionate K-pop enthusiast, she also enjoys exploring the cultural impact of music and fandoms through her writing.


    Leave a Comment