I hope you're doing well. 🙂
My random question is (because I think you've mentioned DND) : For someone wanting to start playing dnd, what advice would you give?
Thank you for asking! Always exciting to see somebody else getting into D&D. I haven’t played as much as others, but hopefully this will help get the ball rolling.
First rule everyone should know: No D&D is better than bad D&D
We’re all here to have fun, so if you're not having fun then you should stop
It doesn’t even have to be because you’re having a problem with a person at the table, it could just be the story everyone is telling is just not one you want to participate it
We have a limited time on this earth, don’t force yourself to do something you don’t really want to do
Next, don't do a paid campaign for your first game
There are a lot of paid campaigns online and while I'm not opposed to the idea, you're still learning and so shouldn't have to pay for a DM
If you don't have somebody to play with in person, check out your local gaming store to see if anybody is running a game, failing that, roll20 and D&D Beyond forums are a good place to start
Once you find a group, make sure to communicate any boundaries or triggers you have early
This is a role playing game and depending on the game, things can get intense, so make sure you're at a table that will respect those boundaries
After that, talk to the DM as much as possible
DMs want you to ask about the story they're trying to make, you're not bothering them with questions, I promise you
If you're having trouble figuring out a backstory, they're the best person to ask; and if they're being cagey about helping you, that's red flag
Also, try to get to know the other people at the table before game time
If you're playing with strangers, you should have a session zero allowing everybody to chat and get a feel for each other
These are the people you're going to be telling this story with, take the time to listen to them and ask about their characters
This is collaborative story telling, so communication and listening to each other is essential
I'd also recommend starting with a low level campaign (levels 1-3) to get a grasp of the rules
Staring with a martial character (barbarian, fighter, rogue, or monk), might also be best too as you don't have to keep track of spells
Of course, if a martial class isn't fun for you, disregard, I'm sure you can figure it out
I'd also say that at the minimum you should buy The Player's Handbook. The rest can come with time and necessity
D&D Beyond is also a really good resource when it comes to character sheets and creation
Also, remember that the game you're going to play isn't going to be like a live play or Baldur's Gate
You're a bunch of nerds playing make believe with more math; chances are a lot of it is going to be derivative, and that's okay
So long as you and everyone else at the table is having fun, that's all that matters
