What is Dungeons & Dragons?

By Wouter

Posted: 18 april 2025 om 11:21

In short: Dungeons & Dragons, or DnD or D&D, is a creative tabletop role‑playing game that, through improvisation and imagination, takes players on an epic journey through a fantasy world. The word tabletop literally means ‘table surface’, and in D&D it highlights the physical side of the game. Unlike what some newcomers think, D&D isn’t a video game (though you could say Baldur’s Gate is the digital spin‑off…). Like a classic board game, players sit around a table and play using only miniatures, character sheets and dice!

In D&D each player uses a character sheet to build a hero with unique skills, backstory and goals. During the adventure players act as their characters and describe what they want to do. The game master, called the Dungeon Master or DM, creates and manages the game world, designs challenges and adventures, and reacts to the players’ choices. The DM describes where the characters are, narrates the consequences of their actions and plays all NPCs (non‑player characters) they meet. In short, the Dungeon Master is referee, storyteller and opponent all in one!

Friends playing a tabletop role-playing game, one wearing elf ears and making gestures, showing the fun of Storyforgers.

Group of friends around a table playing a tabletop RPG, engaging with miniatures, dice, and game sheets in a lively setting.

Close-up of a tabletop role-playing setup with a skull prop, dice, and miniatures, capturing immersive gameplay.

A central part of determining how the story unfolds belongs to the iconic twenty‑sided die: the d20. This die decides the success of critical actions for both players and the DM — from persuading a guard of your innocence to striking an enemy with your sword or fireball. High rolls mean success; low rolls usually mean comedic failure.

D&D is all about teamwork. Together with your fellow players you solve puzzles, defeat monsters and complete quests. As the adventure progresses your character grows and gains new abilities and traits, making every session unique. The real secret of Dungeons & Dragons, though, is limitless imagination. You can try any action and tell any story you can dream up. Whether you search ancient ruins for treasure, broker peace between rival factions or confront a dragon, anything is possible.

In short, playing Dungeons & Dragons is an immersive, imaginative experience where you and your friends create and live your own adventures. Already itching to play? Then read on!

The history of D&D

The history of D&D is as fascinating and multifaceted as the game itself. It began in 1974 when Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson, two passionate tabletop wargamers, decided to merge their love of medieval fantasy with their interest in wargaming. In three slim booklets of about 40 pages each they created the very first edition of Dungeons & Dragons, now known as “Original D&D” or “OD&D”. This groundbreaking step not only laid the foundation for the genre of tabletop role‑playing games but also introduced an entirely new form of entertainment that puts players’ imagination at center stage.

Over the years D&D has evolved through several editions, each bringing its own rules and improvements that made the game more accessible and enjoyable to a wider audience. The second edition, known as Advanced Dungeons & Dragons, was released in 1989 and introduced a more structured rule set and a deeper dive into the game world’s lore.

Vintage Dungeons & Dragons Basic Set cover featuring heroes fighting a dragon

Classic Advanced Dungeons & Dragons Player’s Handbook cover with wizard casting a spell

The third edition, launched in 2000, and its 3.5 revision brought major changes, including a new d20 System that streamlined the mechanics. It also made it easier for players to customise and develop their characters, allowing for a richer, more personalised play experience.

The fourth edition of D&D, released in 2008, emphasised tactical play and teamwork with rules that made combat more dynamic. Although the edition received mixed reactions, it pushed the evolution of D&D in a new direction. Some players swear by this version, and it even formed the basis for another well‑known tabletop game called Pathfinder!

The most recent, fifth edition, launched in 2014, is perhaps the most successful to date. For many players it captures the essence of D&D while making the game more accessible to newcomers. With its focus on simplicity and flexibility, the fifth edition combines the best of its predecessors, creating a play experience that appeals to both first‑timers and seasoned veterans.

D&D has also left an indelible mark on pop culture, with references in books, films and TV series. It has inspired countless creatives and imaginative minds to build their own worlds. The game has even influenced modern video games, especially in the RPG genre. The acclaimed Baldur’s Gate, for example, runs entirely on D&D mechanics and picked up numerous Game of the Year awards last year!

How can you start playing D&D yourself?

Getting started with Dungeons & Dragons is easy; all you need is the Player’s Handbook, the Starter Set and a healthy dose of enthusiasm. Want to learn a bit more first? No problem! We’ve written a handy beginner’s guide that explains step by step how you can start ‘playing D&D’.