Remote D&D Tips and Tricks

To help support fans playing D&D digitally, we’ve put together a few tips and tricks for safely enjoying D&D with others without breaking out your 10-foot poles.

Basic Rules

The Basic Rules for fifth edition Dungeons & Dragons are available!

• Download the 180-page PDF which includes information on how to create a character, how to play the game, 120 spell descriptions, and tips for Dungeon Masters.
• Everything you need to start playing Dungeons & Dragons can be found here!

Virtual Spaces

Taverns can take on many forms. While it may not be advisable to meet in an actual tavern, you can still gather your party before venturing forth.

• Utilize virtual tabletop platforms like Roll20 and Fantasy Grounds if you prefer using battle maps and minis. You can even find new groups to adventure with online!
• Manage your campaign virtually using D&D Beyond.
• D&D Adventurer’s League content can be played and logged from the comfort of your own home. Learn more about how to organize an official Adventurer’s League game here.
• If you don’t require a battle map and minis to play, programs like Skype, Zoom, and Discord are great for both voice and video chat and free to download.

Adventures

Looking for adventures to run for your group? There are no end of dungeons to delve, castles to raid, or wilderness areas to explore.

• As noted below, the DMs Guild has an extensive library of adventures. This includes a lengthy selection of free material.
• You can also get a first taste of Explorer’s Guide to Wildemount with an adventure preview featuring everything needed to run the Frozen Sick starting adventure. Find out more at D&D Beyond and Roll20.net.
• Dragon+ is our magazine app, that includes adventure material and content each issue. Look for it on iOS, Google Play, and online at dragonmag.com.

Dice

No dice? No problem! If you find yourself dice-less you can still roll a natural 20.

• We have resurrected an ancient and arcane dice roller for all your digital dice rolling needs.
• As James Wyatt discovered a few years ago, virtual assistants like Siri and Alexa can roll a d4, d6, d8, d10, d20, or d100. Just ask!
• Consider the DIY route and create your own paper chits by numbering cardstock pieces and drawing from a hat or bowl to simulate rolling. You’ll be playing D&D like folks in 1977!

Support content creators

• Many content creators in the community may be impacted by the current situation. Check out their work on the Dungeon Master’s Guild and consider tossing a few coins their way if you are able.
• You can also support the online streaming community by watching other adventures. Check out the Dungeons & Dragons category on Twitch and find a new group to watch.

Watch Online

• As noted above, D&D liveplay games and streamed content can be found on the official D&D Twitch channel as well as the broader Dungeons & Dragons category.
• You can also watch a wealth of video content over at the D&D YouTube channel. For example, we've collected Acquisitions Incorporated liveplay games taking place at events into the following playlist.

ADDED ONLINE SOURCES

You can find a number of stories and online resources for remote play—whether D&D or many other games—across a variety of sites, including the following:

• Bustle: Looks at how to run a Zoom game night (by Carolyn Steber).
• BuzzFeed: Lists card and board games (and tabletop games, including D&D), now that we're spending more time at home (by Heather Braga).
• GameRant: Advice on tools to play Dungeons & Dragons during self-isolation (by John Higgs).
• IGN: Everything you need to play D&D from the comfort of your home (by Seth Macy and Jon Ryan).
• iO9/Gizmodo: In addition to listing games for families (noted above), they also list resources for playing games remotely (by Beth Elderkin).
• Lifehacker: A recommendation for how to start playing with the brand-new adventure preview from Explorer’s Guide to Wildemount (by David Murphy).
• NPR: Keeping your game night rolling at a safe distance with online services (by Petra Mayer).
• Polygon: On how to play D&D and other pen-and-paper games without leaving home, by starting a tabletop game online (by Charlie Hall).
• Polygon: The D&D team has started dropping free daily content—including adventures for all ages and activities perfect for kids stuck at home (by Charlie Hall).
• SELF: Ways to keep your social life alive while at home, including getting into roleplaying games (by Anna Borges).
• SYFY Wire: How Dungeons & Dragons players are turning to virtual tabletops in record numbers (by James Grebey).
• The Gamer: How to set up an online D&D session, as it's a good time to learn the ins and outs of playing online (by Stephen Krusel).

These are just a few ways to enjoy Dungeons & Dragons with your friends and loved ones. Let us know what other solutions you find so we can share them with the wider community!