Mastering the Art of Play: A Guide to Becoming a Better Dungeons & Dragons Player

D&D is more than just a game; it's a collaborative story of adventure. I’ve played with really engaged players and unfortunately, unengaged players. Here are some tips to help you be an engaged player and get more from the experience!

1. Know Your Character Inside Out

Ok, this seems obvious, but we can all be better at knowing our capabilities, actions, reactions, bonus actions, etc. It gets more challenging at higher levels, but this really helps combat, puzzles, and challenges flow better.

Beyond the mechanics of our players embody your quirks, motivations, character relationships, and humble yourself to have flaws.

2. Take Diligent Organized Notes

It sucks for your DM to come prepared every session and absolutely no one at the table knows what happened last time or they have forgotten key details about their adventure. Use more than a scrap of paper to take notes.

Not sure how to take notes or where to keep them? Check out this Campaign Journal I made to help you keep track of sessions.

3. Embrace Collaboration

Actively listen to others, respect their ideas, and find ways to contribute to the group dynamic. Get involved in what is happening they way your character would. Collaborative storytelling not only enhances gameplay but also fosters a more immersive and enjoyable experience for everyone including your DM!

4. Be Proactive in Role-Playing

Immerse yourself in the world by actively participating in role-playing scenarios. Use detailed storytelling to describe your character's actions, engage in conversations, and contribute to the unfolding story. The more you invest in role-playing, the more vibrant and dynamic the campaign becomes.

I pass the storytelling baton to my characters. One of my homebrew rules is that if your character is responsible for a kill, you have to describe how that kill happens. Not sure how to be a descriptive storyteller? Check out the 14 Tips for Improving Descriptive Storytelling!

5. Communicate with Your Dungeon Master

Share your character goals, motivations, and ideas. I had a player that would message me after sessions sharing information they keyed in on and I would work that into the story down the road to keep them involved and engaged, kind of their own side mission.

6. Respect Table Etiquette

Again, seems obvious but it’s worth saying. Avoid interrupting others, be patient during turns, and actively engage with the game. Allow for others to role-play and experiment with voices, quirks, and characteristics about their player especially early on. I have had to pull players aside and squash some unfortunate behavior because they were making fun of someone trying something new.

7. Continuously Learn and Grow

There are so many rules, spells, and nuances to D&D that you always have more to learn. Either from a mechanics or storytelling lense. Learn and engage!

Remember, being a better D&D player is not just about mastering the rules; it's about contributing to a shared story and creating lasting memories. May your rolls be high, and your adventures legendary!