Dungeons & Dragons For Dummies

434 Pages·2005·13.35 MB·english

by  Bill Slavicsek

Dungeons &
Dragons
¤
FOR
DUMmIES(cid:139)
by Bill Slavicsek and Richard Baker
Foreword by Kim Mohan
Editorial Manager for DUNGEONS& DRAGONS
Dungeons & Dragons¤For Dum m ies¤
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About the Authors
Bill Slavicsek: Bill Slavicsek began playing the DUNGEONS& DRAGONSroleplay-
ing game with his friends during his formative teenage years in New York City.
This was in 1977, the same year that Star Warsand Terry Brooks(cid:213)s T he Sw ord
of Shannaradebuted. This trilogy of epic fantasy combined with comic books
and horror novels to forever influence Bill(cid:213)s outlook on life and entertainment.
In 1986, Bill(cid:213)s hobby became his career when he joined the staff of West End
G ames. There, as an editor and game designer, Bill worked on a number of
board games and roleplaying games, including G hostbusters, Paranoia, Star
Wars: T he R oleplaying G am e,andTorg: R oleplaying the Possibility Wars. Later,
Bill went on to use his vast knowledge of the Star Warsfilms and associated
extensions to write two editions of A G uide to the Star Wars U niverse for
Lucasfilm, Ltd. (published by Del Rey Books).
1n 1993, Bill joined the staff of TSR, Inc., then publishers of the DUNGEONS&
DRAGONSgame lines, as a game designer and editor. His design credits for the
company include the A lternity Science Fiction G am e (which he co-designed
with Richard Baker), the d20 M odern R oleplaying G am e, the d20 Star Wars
R oleplaying G am e, the Star Wars M iniatures G am e, U rban A rcana, C ouncil of
Wyrm s, and the Eberron C am paign Setting.
Since 1997, Bill has been the Director of Roleplaying G ames Research and
Development for Wizards of the Coast, Inc., the company that now publishes
all DUNGEONS& DRAGONSnovels and game products. He oversaw the creation of
the d20 Roleplaying G ame System and the newest edition of the DUNGEONS&
DRAGONSgame. Bill leads a talented staff of game designers, developers, and
editors who produce award-winning game products for DUNGEONS& DRAGONS
and other d20 System game lines, including roleplaying game supplements
and accessories, adventures and campaign books, and prepainted plastic
miniatures. He lives with his wife Michele, two cats, and more comics, toys,
and books than he knows what to do with (cid:209) and that(cid:213)s okay by him.
Richard Baker: Richard Baker is an award-winning game designer and a
best-selling author. He(cid:213)s worked on the DUNGEONS& DRAGONSgame lines since
1991. Rich traces his D&D experience back to 1979, when he began playing
the DUNGEONS& DRAGONSgame as a 7th-grader. He spent a significant amount
of his high school and college years playing D&D at every opportunity, and
after serving as a surface warfare officer in the United States Navy, Rich decided
to take a shot at working on the game he grew up playing (cid:209) and so he joined
the staff of TSR, Inc. and became a game designer.
Rich(cid:213)s list of D&D design credits numbers over 50 game products, including
the Origins Award-winning Birthright Campaign Setting, the Alternity Science
Fiction Roleplaying Game(which he co-designed with Bill Slavicsek), and the
newest edition of the DUNGEONS& DRAGONSgame. He has also served as cre-
ative director for the Alternity and FORGOTTENREALMSgame lines. As an author,
Rich has published seven fantasy and science fiction novels, including City of
Ravens, Forsaken H ouse, and the New York Times bestseller Condemnation.
Rich is currently employed as a senior game designer at Wizards of the Coast,
Inc. and works every day on new products for the DUNGEONS& DRAGONSgame.
He married his college sweetheart K im in 1991; they have two daughters,
Alexand Hannah. When he(cid:213)s not writing (a rare occurrence), Rich likes to
hike in the Cascades, play wargames, and root for the Philadelphia Phillies (cid:209)
because somebody has to.
Dedication
Bill Slavicsek:To everyone who ever imagined an amazing adventure, I offer
this key to D&D. When I first found the game, it helped focus and expand my
imagination and creativity. And it was a lot of fun. Today, I still have fun play-
ing the game, and my gaming group meets every Thursday evening to brave
whatever new challenges I dream up for them. I hope you(cid:213)ll find the same
outlet for imagination and fun as I(cid:213)ve enjoyed for almost thirty years.
Richard Baker:To K im, Alex, and Hannah for being patient with me through
nigh-constant work in evenings and on weekends for many months now. I
promise that I(cid:213)m going to take my computer for a drive deep into the woods
sometime soon and leave it there so it can(cid:213)t ever find its way home again.
Author(cid:144)s Acknow ledgm ents
Bill Slavicsek:The current edition of the DUNGEONS& DRAGONSgame owes its
existence to a lot of talented people. The work that Rich and I have done on
this For D ummiesbook would not have been possible if not for the original
effort of a formidable team of creatives and business people. Peter Adkison,
for purchasing TSR, Inc., merging its products and staff with Wizards of the
Coast, Inc., and providing the vision for what the new edition of the game
would be. My creative team on the massive redesign project, which included
Jonathan Tweet, Monte Cook, Skip Williams, Richard Baker, K im Mohan, Julia
Martin, John Rateliff, Ed Stark, Dawn Murin, Todd Lockwood, and Sam Wood.
The business team, past and present, who help bring D&D products to market,
which includes Ryan Dancey, Keith Strohm, Cindy Rice, Mary Kirchoff, Anthony
Valterra, Chris Toepker, Liz Schuh, Mary Elizabeth Allen, and Charles Ryan.
I have to acknowledge the efforts of my current staff. This amazing collection
of designers, developers, and editors work everyday to push the envelope
and expand the horizons of our products, and as much as I lead them, they
influence the way I think about and approach game design and D&D. Every
part of this For Dummiesbook owes at least a little to the ideas and work of
Richard Baker, Michele Carter, Andy Collins, Bruce Cordell, Jesse Decker,
Michael Donais, Rob Heinsoo, Gwendolyn F.M. Kestrel, Stacy Longstreet,
Michelle Lyons, Kim Mohan, David Noonan, Christopher Perkins, John Rateliff,
Stephen Schubert, Matthew Sernett, Ed Stark, Chris Thomasson, Rob Watkins,
Jennifer Clarke Wilkes, and James Wyatt.
Finally, thanks to everyone at Wiley Publishing who worked with us on this
book, including Melody Layne, Christopher Morris, and Jean Rogers, and to
everyone at Wizards of the Coast, Inc., who help us make great games on a
regular basis.
Richard Baker:Many people of exceptional creativity have worked on the
D&D game over the years. Without the work of game designers, editors, and
artists such as Gary Gygax, Dave Arneson, Jim Ward, Kim Mohan, Z eb Cook,
Jeff Grubb, Steve Winter, Bruce Nesmith, Tim Brown, Troy Denning, Roger
Moore, Ed Greenwood, Mike Carr, Harold Johnson, Andrea Hayday, Jon Pickens,
Lawrence Schick, Skip Williams, Dave Sutherland, Jeff Easley, Larry Elmore,
and countless others, D&D would not have grown into the beloved hobby of
millions of fans across the world. Countless other authors, artists, develop-
ers, and editors have contributed over the years; we(cid:213)re sorry that we can(cid:213)t
thank them all.
A special acknowledgement is in order for Peter Atkinson, Ryan Dancey, and
other folks who were instrumental in bringing the D&D game and many of its
designers to Wizards of the Coast, Inc. Through their efforts, they reinvented
and reinvigorated the game at a difficult and crucial time in its life cycle.
A special thank you to good friends and colleagues who have shared in the
authors(cid:213) own D&D games over the years. Rich would like to thank Ed Stark,
John Rateliff, David Eckelberry, Shaun and Miranda Horner, David Wise,
Thomas Reid, David Noonan, James Wyatt, Warren Wyman, Duane Maxwell,
Andy Weedon, Dale Donovan, Bud Stiles, Thomas Chatburn, Tom Herrington,
Doug McNichol, Gary Canter, and Clayton Ball. My games have been the
better thanks to your participation.
Publisher(cid:213)s Acknowledgments
We(cid:213)re proud of this book; please send us your comments through our online registration form
located at www.dummies.com/register/.
Some of the people who helped bring this book to market include the following:
Acquisitions, Editorial, and C om position Services
M edia D evelopm ent
Project Coordinator:Adrienne Martinez
Project Editor:Christopher Morris
Layout and Graphics:Joyce Haughey,
Acquisitions Editor:Melody Layne LeAndra Hosier, Lysney Osborn,
Melanee Prendergast, Heather Ryan,
Copy Editor:Jean Rogers
Mary Gillot Virgin
Technical Editor:Wizards of the Coast, Inc.
Proofreaders:Joe Niesen, Tammy Todd
Editorial Manager:Kevin Kirschner
Indexer:Rebecca R. Plunkett
Media Development Supervisor:
Art Credits: Des Hanley, Hugh Jamieson, Rob
RichardGraves
Lazzaretti, Todd Lockwood, Steve Prescott.
Editorial Assistant:Amanda Foxworth Wayne Reynolds, Arnie Swekel, Steve
Cartoons:Rich Tennant (www.the5thwave.com) Tappin, Lars Grant West, Sam Wood
Publishing and Editorial for Technology Dummies
Richard Swadley,Vice President and Executive Group Publisher
Andy Cummings,Vice President and Publisher
Mary Bednarek,Executive Acquisitions Director
Mary C. Corder,Editorial Director
Publishing for Consumer Dummies
Diane Graves Steele,Vice President and Publisher
Joyce Pepple,Acquisitions Director
Composition Services
Gerry Fahey,Vice President of Production Services
Debbie Stailey,Director of Composition Services
Contents at a Glance
Foreword....................................................................xix
Introduction.................................................................1
Part I: D&D Crash Course..............................................7
Chapter 1: Preparing for Adventure.................................................................................9
Chapter 2: Your First Character......................................................................................21
Chapter 3: Starting Out as a Fighter...............................................................................31
Chapter 4: Starting Out as a Rogue................................................................................43
Chapter 5: Starting Out as a Sorcerer............................................................................53
Chapter 6: Starting Out as a Cleric.................................................................................63
Chapter 7: Playing the Game...........................................................................................73
Chapter 8: Practice Session............................................................................................85
Chapter 9: Finding a D&D Game to Join........................................................................95
Part II: Building a D&D Character.............................105
Chapter 10: Defining Your Character...........................................................................107
Chapter 11: Choosing a Class.......................................................................................119
Chapter 12: Figuring Out Your Character(cid:213)s Ability Scores........................................135
Chapter 13: Picking a Race............................................................................................143
Chapter 14: Selecting Feats...........................................................................................151
Chapter 15: Picking Skills..............................................................................................169
Chapter 16: Choosing Armor, Weapons, and Gear.....................................................183
Chapter 17: Choosing Spells.........................................................................................195
Chapter 18: Advancing Your Character.......................................................................211
Part III: Playing Your Best Gam e...............................217
Chapter 19: Handling Yourself in a Fight.....................................................................219
Chapter 20: Making the Most of Magic........................................................................237
Chapter 21: Roleplaying and Working Together.........................................................263
Chapter 22: Character Building for Experts................................................................279
Part IV: The Art of Dungeon M astering.......................291
Chapter 23: Running the Game.....................................................................................293
Chapter 24: Building a Dungeon...................................................................................313
Chapter 25: Keeping Your Players Happy...................................................................331
Part V: The Part of Tens ............................................341
Chapter 26: The Ten Best Sorcerer Spells...................................................................343
Chapter 27: The Ten Best Cleric Spells........................................................................347
Chapter 28: The Ten Best Low-Level Monsters..........................................................353
Chapter 29: The Ten Best Mid-Level Monsters...........................................................359
Chapter 30: The Ten Best Dungeon Master Resources.............................................363
Chapter 31: The Ten Best Player Resources...............................................................369
Chapter 32: The Ten Best D&D Novels........................................................................373
Glossary...................................................................377
Index.......................................................................391
Table of Contents
Foreword.....................................................................xix
Introduction..................................................................1
About This Book...............................................................................................1
Why You Need This Book................................................................................2
How to Use This Book.....................................................................................2
D&D Terminology.............................................................................................3
How This Book Is Organized...........................................................................4
Part I: D&D Crash Course......................................................................4
Part II: Building a D&D Character.........................................................5
Part III: Playing Your Best Game...........................................................5
Part IV: The Art of Dungeon Mastering................................................5
Part V: The Part of Tens.........................................................................5
Icons Used in This Book..................................................................................6
Where Do I Go From Here?..............................................................................6
Part I: D&D Crash Course...............................................7
Ch ap ter 1: P rep aring for A d ventu re . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9
What Is D&D? ....................................................................................................9
Objectives of the D&D Game........................................................................11
Storytelling............................................................................................11
Adventure goals....................................................................................12
Character victories..............................................................................12
Looking at the Components of the Game....................................................12
Players and characters........................................................................13
The Dungeon Master............................................................................13
The adventure.......................................................................................14
Supplies you need................................................................................14
One Game Rule to Rule Them All.................................................................17
Joining a D&D Game.......................................................................................19
Ch ap ter 2: Y ou r First Ch aracter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21
Defining Your Character................................................................................21
Name......................................................................................................22
Race........................................................................................................22
Class.......................................................................................................23
Level and X P..........................................................................................24
Ability scores........................................................................................24
x
D ungeons & D ragons For D um m ies
Special abilities.....................................................................................24
Key statistics.........................................................................................25
Feats.......................................................................................................25
Skills.......................................................................................................25
Gear........................................................................................................26
Spells......................................................................................................26
Playing Your Character..................................................................................27
Taking turns..........................................................................................27
Roleplaying............................................................................................27
Your imagination is the limit...............................................................28
Choosing Your Character..............................................................................28
Chapter 3: Starting Out as a Fighter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31
Who Should Play a Fighter?..........................................................................32
How to Play a Fighter.....................................................................................32
Selecting a Fighter..........................................................................................33
Regdar, Human Fighter..................................................................................34
Brenna, Human Fighter..................................................................................36
Tordek, Dwarf Fighter....................................................................................38
Quarion, Elf Fighter........................................................................................40
Chapter 4: Starting Out as a R ogue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43
Who Should Play a Rogue?............................................................................44
How to Play a Rogue......................................................................................44
Selecting a Rogue...........................................................................................45
Kerwyn, Human Rogue..................................................................................46
Shadow, Human Rogue..................................................................................48
Lidda, Halfling Rogue.....................................................................................50
Chapter 5: Starting Out as a Sorcerer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .53
Who Should Play a Sorcerer?........................................................................54
How to Play a Sorcerer..................................................................................54
Selecting a Sorcerer.......................................................................................55
Wellyn, Human Sorcerer................................................................................56
Eronni, Human Sorcerer................................................................................58
Valanthe, Elf Sorcerer....................................................................................60
Chapter 6: Starting Out as a Cleric . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .63
Who Should Play a Cleric?............................................................................64
How to Play a Cleric.......................................................................................64
Selecting a Cleric............................................................................................65
Jorune, Human Cleric....................................................................................66
Tiann, Human Cleric......................................................................................68
Eberk, Dwarf Cleric........................................................................................70