I'm probably going to play my first game of DND this week! Any suggestions or tips? What do I need to know?
Have fun!
No, seriously, that's a tip. Remembering that this is a game and ultimately you are here to have fun is a great mindset to go into a game with. It's really easy to get anxious about not being a good actor/roleplayer, but honestly, it doesn't matter, just have fun with it! In one of my earliest TTRPG experiences as a player, one of the other players asked me something in character and I just froze up for like ten minutes because I was anxious about answering. Don't be worried about stuff like that; if your fellow players/DM aren't terrible, they'll get it. We've all been there.
If you've not yet made a character or not characterised them yet, a good idea for a first character is making someone who's an exaggerated version of yourself, so that you're not having to worry about if this action is in-character for your character. Adapt your character to fit your needs! One of my players isn't so good at talking in character, so they made it a trait that their character just doesn't talk all that often.
Don't be afraid to think outside the box a bit - as a DM, I love it when my players come up with creative solutions! That said, if you genuinely stump your DM and they need some time to recalibrate, give them that bit of time. I know I've been in that situation before, recently I've needed to be like 'gimme 10 minutes this area doesn't have a map yet but I can cobble one together' in the middle of session.
Also, don't be afraid to ask for clarification when you need it for rolls/rules. Even in the simplest-to-understand games, it's a lot to keep in your head, and part of your DM's job is to help you with that stuff, either from their knowledge or looking it up. We've been playing for years and my players still need to ask what they're rolling all the time.
That's all I can come up with at the minute - if anyone else has any tips, leave them in the notes!
