How Do People Play Dungeons and Dragons? Let’s Explore Your Options.
Whether you're gathering around a physical table or a virtual one, we're here to cover the many different ways you can play D&D as a kid or teen.
Stories make us who we are. When we tell stories, we share a part of ourselves that is important to us to other people. This allows folks to know a little more about who we are and where we come from without implicitly stating those elements.
When we create stories, we imbue them with those elements of our spirit; connecting to them and empowering them with what makes us, us. When these stories are collaborative, they become something new. Each person who adds something of their selves to the tale helps to create an admixture that is made up of those building the story. This takes on a life of its own and becomes their story. They can tell it together and allow anyone who listens to understand not just the storyteller, but how the storyteller interconnects with others.
Of all the ways to create stories together, there is nothing like tabletop role-playing games like Dungeons & Dragons. These have an enchanting allure that has been captivating the hearts and minds of players for generations. The blend of imagination, camaraderie, and storytelling fosters a unique and rewarding experience.
As the world becomes increasingly digital, the ways in which all players, especially kids and teens, engage with these games has expanded beyond the traditional tabletop. This piece is meant to unveil a fraction of the plethora of methods for young adventurers to embark on epic quests, emphasizing online play while also delving into the enchanting realm of play-by-post. Whether you're a novice or a seasoned player, there's a mode of play waiting to whisk you away into a world of wonder.
There Are Many Different Ways to Play D&D
Young players today have more options than ever before when it comes to getting involved with D&D. While gathering around the table with friends for an in-person game is always an option, it’s not always the easiest to make happen. What if you don’t have a ride? What if everybody’s busy schedule makes it too hard to met?
Fortunately, you have some alternatives. D&D is fully playable online, either in real time or bit-by-bit. No matter what your party needs, there’s a platform available to help you keep your story going. We’re about to explore 3 different methods that can make playing Dungeons & Dragons both easy and fun.
In-Person Gaming: Crafting Tales Around the Actual Table
Gathered around a table, dice in hand, and character sheets sprawled out, in-person TTRPG sessions are a gateway to fantastical realms. These gatherings create an atmosphere of camaraderie and shared excitement that can be hard to replicate digitally.
The joy of witnessing your fellow adventurers' reactions, the thrill of rolling dice, and the immediate exchange of ideas make in-person D&D sessions a cherished tradition. Kids who play with groups playing in-person role-playing games can build unique levels of camaraderie. However, the logistics of coordinating schedules, geographical limitations, and the need for physical resources can pose challenges.
Play-By-Post D&D: Slow Pace, Deep Character Development
For kids and teens with busy schedules or a preference for a more introspective approach, play-by-post (PbP) offers a captivating avenue to immerse themselves in TTRPGs. PbP allows players to contribute to the story at their own pace, often through online forums or messaging platforms. This means that players can contribute any time, anywhere, and don’t necessarily need to participate at the same time.
While it lacks the immediacy of in-person or live online play, PbP is a canvas for character development, intricate narratives, and thoughtful interaction. With every post, the Dungeons & Dragons story unfolds, creating a tapestry of adventure.
Online Play: The Digital Frontier Makes Gaming Easy
Thanks to modern technology, the allure of D&D (along with all tabletop RPGs) has grown. The hobby has transformed, embracing the digital realm. Online play is a conduit that transcends geographical boundaries, offering a wealth of possibilities for young adventurers to embark on quests with friends from around the world.
Online play retains the heart and soul of TTRPGs while introducing new opportunities to play with a wider range of players. While you may miss out on the real-life dice and props, you gain a much wider audience of fellow players to join you on your next adventure! You can connect with your adventuring party in real time, wherever they live, without worrying so much about schedules, travel, or who needs a ride to get to the session.
What Are the Different Platforms People Use to Play D&D?
If you’ve decided that online play is the way to go, you’ve got two main options for playing TTRPGs online: video conferencing platforms, which let you meet virtually, and virtual tabletop software, which can provide a more detailed gaming experience. Let’s explore both!
Video Conferencing Platforms: Established platforms like Zoom, Discord, and Skype have become the epicenter of online D&D sessions. These platforms provide a virtual gathering space where players can see and hear each other, fostering communication akin to in-person sessions. Screenshare features empower players to display character sheets, maps, and visuals, making it feel like everyone is gathered around a virtual table. Some of these offer additional tools, such as collaborative features in Zoom or dice rolling bots in Discord, that enable games to be played through that application on its own.
Virtual Tabletop Software: Virtual Tabletop (VTT) software offers an immersive platform where young adventurers can experience the joys of TTRPGs in a digital environment. These VTTs combine the essence of dice rolling, character sheets, maps, and miniatures, providing a holistic experience. Below are just a few of the prominent VTTs that have enchanted the Dungeons & Dragons community:
Roll20 stands as a shining example of accessible VTTs, making it perfect for young players eager to dive into the world of online TTRPGs. Its user-friendly interface welcomes both players and Dungeon Masters (DMs), offering built-in character sheets, dynamic maps, and a diverse array of free and premium assets. The Roll20 Marketplace extends the adventure with resources crafted by the community.
Fantasy Grounds, with its robust automation and rule integration, caters to those who yearn for immersive gameplay. While it may have a learning curve, the investment pays off in the form of an intricately detailed and customizable experience. Teens can create campaigns that breathe life into their wildest fantasies.
While quite intricate, Foundry VTT is a haven for young DMs who aspire to craft unique and tailor-made experiences. This platform's modding support is a gateway to unparalleled creativity. Import assets, modify rules, and mold the digital realm to match the contours of your imagination.
Many, many more options exist, and every month offers new means of playing games online. At some point in the near future, we’ll offer an extensive overview of these tools.
More Resources to Improve Your Next Adventure
Whether you’re playing in person or online, it can help to have some extra tools at your disposal. Fortunately, the more technologically gifted players among us have come up with all kinds of resources to make your fantasy realms more interesting, detailed, and fun. Amazingly, many of these resources are free to use. If you’ll be taking on the role of the Dungeon Master for your next campaign, you’ll want to take a look at these secret weapons.
Virtual Minis and Tokens: Websites like Token Stamp and TokenTool empower kids and teens to personalize virtual tokens, breathing life into characters and creatures within their digital worlds.
Free Maps and Assets: The allure of crafting immersive worlds becomes reality with platforms like Dungeon Scrawl, Pyromancers, and Caeora Map Making Assets. These resources offer free map-making tools and assets, while online marketplaces like DriveThruRPG provide affordable map and scenario packs created by the vibrant TTRPG community.
Scenario Generators: Donjon and Goblinist serve as tools for young DMs to spark their creative fires. These generators conjure up random dungeons, encounters, NPCs, and entire campaign ideas, ensuring that the creative well never runs dry.
Find a Way to Play D&D That Works for You
In-person, play-by-post, and online modes of play have forged a diverse landscape within the realm of Dungeons & Dragons and other tabletop role-playing games. The choices are boundless, ensuring that kids and teens can find their own avenue to embark on epic quests. The digital age has bestowed a treasury of options upon young adventurers, inviting them (and you) to explore, imagine, and collaborate with friends from across the globe.
With these friends, we’ll all create new and wonderful stories and then tell these stories to other friends, building a community of symbiotic mythology through which we can all experience one another. All because these stories aren’t just what we say, they’re are who we are.
Join Us for Online D&D, Created Especially for Kids and Teens
Here at Young Dragonslayers™, we’ve found that online game play gives us the best of all worlds. We can connect like-minded players from all over the country (and the world) using platforms that are quick and easy to operate, like Zoom. Gathering around a virtual table feels an awful lot like in-person play, although we haven’t figured out a good way to share snacks yet.
Our inclusive, welcoming games are open to beginners and advanced players alike, and we put an emphasis on social-emotional learning and growth. D&D is a great way to explore identity, express big ideas and emotions, and create meaningful friendships—even online. If this sounds interesting to you, we’d love to have you join us! You can read our FAQ to learn more about us, and fill out an application by clicking this link or the button below.