Dungeons & Dragons – A Beginner's Guide
The most useful thing to know: not everyone needs to buy books. Here is what a group actually needs, what the dice are for, and what is coming.
Techbox, Thessaloniki
What it is, simply
Dungeons & Dragons is a game of storytelling. There is no board, no pieces moving across squares, no winner.
A group sits around a table. One person is the narrator – describing the world, the characters you meet, what happens. The others say what their heroes do.
When the outcome is uncertain, you roll a die.
In essence it is collaborative storytelling with rules. Which is why a game can last three hours – or three years.
Which books you actually need
This is where most people go wrong. There are three core books, but not everyone needs them:
The player's book. The only one anyone who simply plays needs.
For the narrator only. How to build a world and run a story.
Also for the narrator only. The creatures the players will meet.
The crucial part: in a group of five, one copy of each book covers the whole table. Nobody buys their own set.
The current rules are the 2024 revision – since March 2026 officially called "5.5". The publisher adopted the name players had already given them.
The dice – and why there are seven
D&D is not played with ordinary six-sided dice. It needs a set of seven dice with different numbers of faces – four, six, eight, ten, twelve, twenty.
The twenty-sided die matters most: almost every action is resolved with it.
Commercially, dice are a special case: every player wants their own – they are not shared. And most collect many sets, in different materials and colours. They are the safest possible gift for anyone who plays.
How to start properly
The simplest way in is a starter set. It contains simplified rules, ready-made characters, a short adventure and dice.
The recent "Heroes of the Borderlands" was built specifically for people who have never played – with tools and guidance for a first-time narrator.
You do not need to read three hundred pages of rules to play your first session.
What is coming – and it is big news
At Gen Con, in late July 2026, Wizards of the Coast announced the biggest change in years.
Universes Beyond
A new line bringing other universes into D&D:
- World of Warcraft – November 2026
- Star Wars – 2027, revealed as a surprise at the end of the presentation
Also announced: the return of the harsh Dark Sun setting, and a new digital app.
Three major books arrive during 2026, organised into "seasons": Ravenloft: The Horrors Within (horror), Arcana Unleashed (magic), and a third towards the end of the year.
Gift guide
Dice. They always want more – there is no "enough".
A starter set – everything needed for a first session.
An adventure book or a DM screen – always useful.
A good set of dice with a case.
Frequently asked questions
- Does everyone need to buy books?
- No. In a group, one copy of each book covers the whole table. A player needs only the Player's Handbook – and not necessarily their own. It is the narrator who needs the other two.
- What dice do I need?
- A set of seven dice with different numbers of faces. The twenty-sided die matters most. Every player wants their own – dice are not shared.
- How do I start if I have never played?
- With a starter set. It contains simplified rules, ready-made characters, an adventure and dice. You do not need to read the large books to play a first session.
- What is "5.5"?
- The 2024 rules revision. Since March 2026 Wizards of the Coast has officially adopted the name "5.5", which players had already been using. Older 5th edition books remain largely compatible.
- Where can I find D&D products in Thessaloniki?
- At the Techbox store (Al. Papanastasiou 100) and online at techbox.com.gr. You can order online and collect from the store with no shipping cost.
