TTRPG Resources
Welcome, adventurer! Whether you’re brand new to tabletop role-playing games or just looking for helpful tools and links, this page will guide you through the basics — and beyond.
What Is a TTRPG?
A tabletop role-playing game (TTRPG) is a collaborative storytelling experience where players take on the roles of characters in a shared world. One person acts as the game master (GM), describing the setting and adjudicating the rules. The rest of the players interact with the world through their characters using dice, character sheets, and imagination.
While Dungeons & Dragons is the most well-known system, it’s just the tip of the iceberg — many other systems exist, each with their own flavor, mechanics, and accessibility.
Beginner-Friendly Game Systems
These are great entry points for new players and GMs:
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Dungeons & Dragons 5e — The classic fantasy RPG. → Basic Rules (Free) → D&D Beyond
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Cairn — A minimalist, exploration-focused game with a free ruleset. → cairnrpg.com
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Knave — Rules-light fantasy with flexible character creation. → Learn more
Want more options? Explore the Systems
Essential Tools
Some tools make play smoother, especially online:
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Owlbear Rodeo — A fast, free virtual tabletop. → owlbear.rodeo
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Tabletop Audio — Free ambient soundscapes for any setting. → tabletopaudio.com
See the full tools list → Tools
Character Sheets
Don’t worry if it looks confusing at first — it all starts making sense once you begin playing!
Terms
Like most hobbies, TTRPGs have a number of terms and jargon that can be intimidating at first. I’ve listed a few here and you can visit the Glossary to read the full list.
- System – The set of rules used to play a game. Different systems have different ways to handle combat, movement, skills, and storytelling. Examples: Dungeons & Dragons, Cairn, Shadowdark.
- Mechanics – The specific rules that tell you how to do something in the game (for example, how to roll dice to see if you hit a target).
- Session – One meeting where the game is played. It could last a couple of hours or a whole day.
- Campaign – A series of connected game sessions that tell an ongoing story with the same characters.
- One-shot – A short adventure designed to be finished in one session (though sometimes it takes more).
- Adventure Module – A prepared story or setting, often published, that a group can play through.
Where to Find Games
- StartPlaying.games — Join a game run by a professional GM.
- r/lfg — Reddit’s “Looking For Group” board.
- Local library, game stores, and Discord communities are also great places to start.
📖 Read: How to Find a Group to Play With
Still Curious?
Want more recommendations? More systems? Weird indie games? One-shots? I’m always updating this page — check back anytime or contact me.
Thanks for visiting, and may your dice roll in your favor.