TTRPG Welcome

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.

Terms

Like most hobbies, TTRPGs have jargon and terms that can be intimidating at first. I’ve listed a few here; you can visit the Glossary to read a more comprehensive 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.

Beginner-Friendly Game Systems

Here are some great choices to start with. Some systems even have specific Starter Kits to help get you started.

Dungeons & Dragons 5e — The classic fantasy RPG. Tons of resources available. Not the simplest game, but still very approachable.
Cairn — A minimalist, exploration-focused game with a free ruleset.
- cairnrpg.com
- Cairn character sheets
Knave — Rules-light fantasy with flexible character creation.
- Second edition
- First edition — Simpler and cheaper.

Want more options? Explore the Systems

Essential Tools

Some tools make play smoother, especially online:

Owlbear Rodeo — A fast, free virtual tabletop.
Token Stamp — Create character tokens from images.
Hero Forge — Craft 3D avatars of your characters.
LegendKeeper — Organize your game and fantasy world, and share with your players.

See the full tools list → Tools

Digital Assets

Maps, tokens, audio and other digital assets by great artists are what make tabletop gaming shine.

Tabletop Audio — Free ambient soundscapes for any setting.
Forgotten Adventures — Tokens, battle maps and mapmaking assets to make your game come alive.

There are more Assets where those came from.

Modules & Adventures

A module is a published supplement to a game system which provides additional material for that game. That could be character options, pre-written adventures or even changes to rules. It’s this ecosystem that allows TTRPGs to really be a creative bastion and expand our understanding of what is possible.

DriveThruRPG — Adventures, settings, systems and all sorts of independent content can be found here in either PDF form, or printed on demand.
Itch.io — Itch is a more general game/creative marketplace, but a number of TTRPG authors sell/distribute their games and modules there.

Where to Find Games

My advice here is to bring your existing friends or family together and try playing a single one-shot with them to see if any of them are interested in playing something more regularly. It is usually easier if you are willing to be the game master. Still, even if not, it’s often easier to organize a game with your existing social group rather than trying to find another group somewhere else.

It is possible that your existing social group is not interested in playing, in which case finding some other like-minded folks, either in person or online, is the next best option.

Local libraries and game stores are great places to start; they may have existing drop-in sessions you can attend. However, smaller communities may not have this option either.
Discord is a social platform hosting various communities, including many communities around TTRPG products. Suppose you see this icon on a site. You can usually click it to join their Discord community. Many of these communities have channels for people looking for games to play.
StartPlaying.games — Join a game run by a professional GM.
Tabletop Wizard — Basically a place to search and list ads for existing or potential gaming groups.

📖 Read: How to Find a Group to Play With

Video Resources

How to play D&D — Absolute beginner’s guide — An amazing intro to D&D by Ginny Di. (Part of an equally awesome playlist for new players).
Cairn RPG First Impressions — Walking through creating a character and impressions of the first edition of Cairn.
Learn How to Play Mothership 1.0 — Learn the rules of Mothership, a sci-fi/horror TTRPG.
How to Play Nimble TTRPG — A quick intro to playing the Nimble RPG.

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.

TTRPG Tools