D&D Rules Basics

Terminology
- 5E means fifth edition (the current edition of the game).
  - Previous editions are 1E, 2E, 3E, 4E.
- D&D means Dungeons and Dragons.
- DM means Dungeon Master (the storyteller).
  - GM, or Game Master, is a more system neutral term.
- PC means player character.
- NPC means non-player character.
- AC means armor class (how well a character is protected from attacks).
- “Cocked” means when a die isn’t laying flat on one side and therefore must be rerolled.
- d20 means a 20 sided die (additionally there is the d4, d6, d8, d10, and d12).
Basic Game Play
- The DM describes the scene.
- The players describe their characters’ actions.
- The DM tells the players the result.
- Repeat the process.
The Three Core Activities of D&D Adventures
- Exploration.
- Social Interaction.
- Combat.
Characters
- Ability Scores (generate modifiers for dice rolls)
  - Strength.
  - Dexterity.
  - Constitution.
  - Intelligence.
  - Wisdom.
  - Charisma.
- Species.
  - Human, dwarf, elf, etc.
- Classes (a character’s job).
  - Fighter, rogue, cleric, wizard, etc.
- Experience Points
  - One method used for characters to reach higher levels in their class.
  - Character levels are 1st level to 20th level.
Core Game Mechanic
- Roll the d20 and add a number (called a modifier).
- …to attack rolls (to hit something).
- …to saving throws (to resist an effect).
- …to skill checks (to use a skill like Acrobatics, Performance, or Persuasion).
- Compare the total of the d20 roll, plus the modifier, to a target number.
- You must meet or exceed the target number to succeed on the roll.
- Rolling a 20 is referred to as a “natural 20,” and is often followed by cheers!
- Rolling a 1 is referred to as a “natural 1,” and is often followed by swearing!
Combat
- Takes place over several rounds.
  - Each round is 6 seconds in game time.
- Movement.
  - Move up to your speed.
- Action.
  - Attack, cast a spell, use a class or species feature.
- Bonus action.
  - …only if you have a feature that requires a bonus action to use.
- Attack rolls.
  - Try to hit a creature’s armor class (AC).
  - Rolling a natural 20 on an attack roll is a critical hit, or simply a critical, which does extra damage, and is often followed by cheers!
  - Rolling a natural 1 on an attack roll is an automatic miss, and is often followed by swearing!
- Hit Points.
  - The amount of damage a creature can take before going unconscious.
  - Generated from hit dice.
    - A number of hit dice equal to a character’s level (1-20).
- Damage.
  - Reduces a character’s hit points.
  - Temporary hit points are an additional buffer.
  - When a player character reaches 0 hit points they drop unconscious and must make death saving throws.
- Death Saving Throws (or death saves).
  - Rolled at the start of a dying character’s turn.
  - Roll the d20, with no modifiers, and hope to get 10 or higher.
  - Three successes means the character is unconscious but stable.
  - Three failures means the character dies.
  - Rolling a natural 20 on a death save means the player character regains one hit point and is conscious, and is often followed by cheers!
  - Rolling a natural 1 on a death save means the player character suffers two failures, and is often followed by swearing!
Magic
- Cantrips.
  - Spells that can be used each round of combat. They do not consume spell slots.
- Spell slots.
  - A consumable resource used to cast spells of 1st level or higher.
- Concentration.
  - Required by some spells with a longer duration.
  - Damage can disrupt concentration on a spell.
Resting
- Short Rest.
  - At the end of which a character can spend hit dice to heal.
- Long Rest.
  - Recover all hit points, hit dice, and spell slots.
  - Recover expended uses of class abilities and species traits.