HOW TO PLAY • THE DUNGEON MASTER DESCRIBES THE ENVIRONMENT • YOU DESCRIBE WHAT YOU WANT TO DO • THE DUNGEON

MASTER NARRATES THE RESULTS OF YOUR ACTION

IN DUNGEONS & DRAGONS, YOU PLAY A CHARACTER: AN ADVENTURER WHO TEAMS UP WITH OTHER ADVENTURERS, PLAYED BY FRIENDS. WORKING TO-
GETHER, THE GROUP MIGHT EXPLORE A DARK DUNGEON FAR BELOW GROUND, A RUINED CITY ON THE EDGE OF CIVILIZATION, A HAUNTED CASTLE ON A
ROCKY SHORE, A LOST TEMPLE DEEP IN A JUNGLE, OR A LAVA-FILLED CAVERN BENEATH A MYSTERIOUS MOUNTAIN. THE ADVENTURERS SOLVE PUZZLES,
TALK AND NEGOTIATE WITH THE DENIZENS OF THE WORLD, BATTLE FANTASTIC MONSTERS, AND DISCOVER WONDROUS MAGIC ITEMS AND TREASURE.

WHO IS MY CHARACTER? A CHARACTER SHEET FOR BEGINNERS

DWARF • CLERIC

NAME RACE CLASS ALIGNMENT BACKGROUND TRAITS LEVEL

Your name is granted by a clan
elder and belongs to the clan.
A dwarf who misuses or brings
shame to a clan name is stripped
of the name and forbidden to use
any dwarven name in its place.
Pick a name that sounds
Your character’s race is just one of
the many intelligent species that
inhabits the D&D world. It contrib-
utes to your character’s identity by
establishing a general appearance
and the natural talents gained
from your culture and ancestry.
Your character’s class, broadly
described as an adventurer’s
job, defines what special tal-
ents you possess, and well as
the tactics you are most likely
to employ when exploring a
dungeon, fighting monsters, or
Your character’s alignment is
a combination of two factors:
attitude toward society and order
(lawful, chaotic, or neutral) and
morality (good, evil, or neutral).
You are neutral good. Neutral
good characters let their con-
Your character’s background
reveals where you came from,
how you became an adventurer,
and your place in the world.
You are a soldier. War has been
your life for as long as you care
to remember. You trained as a
Traits set you apart from other
characters and should be some-
thing interesting or fun.
You are always polite and respectful
and you’ve lost so many friends that
you are slow to make new ones.
Your level is a number that rep-
resents your overall skill and
experience. You advance in level
by adventuring and gaining expe-
rience points. When you advance
in level, you get stronger, smarter,
faster, and gain new abilities.

good to you, or chose one
from a popular book or movie.
For those with writer’s block,
here are some examples.
Female Names • Amber,
Bonndyl, Eldeth, Gurdis, Hel-
ja, Ilde, Maevgwyn, Nasslin,
Tiswynn, Torbera, Vistra
You are a dwarf. Dwarves hail
from kingdoms carved into the
roots of mountains and have a
strong commitment to clan and
tradition. They are skilled warriors,
miners, and workers of stone
and metal. Though they stand
shorter than other races, their
engaging in a tense negotiation.
You are a cleric. Clerics are inter-
mediaries between the mortal
world and the distant worlds of
the gods. Divine magic flows
through clerics, manifesting as
miraculous effects. Clerics also
posses combat training that lets
science, not law and authority,
guide them to do the right thing.
youth, studied the use of weap-
ons and armor, and learned
basic survival techniques.
IDEALS
Ideals are fundamental moral and
ethical principles that compel you
to act.
You believe it is your duty to give
up your life in defense of others.
Your character is 1st level. A
1st-level character is inexperi-
enced in the adventuring world,
although you might have been
a soldier or a pirate and done
dangerous things before.

Male Names • Adrik, Bruenor,
Dalmor, Eberk, Flint, Harbek, Orsik,
Rurik, Thoradin, Tordek, Ulfgar
Clan Names • Battlehammer,
Darkshield, Fireforge, Frostbeard,
Ironfist, Steelbringer, Thunderfist
courage and endurance is easily a
match for any of the larger folk.
BONDS
them wade into battle with the
power of the gods on their side.
Bonds represents a connections to
people, places, and events.
You fight for those who cannot
fight for themselves.

FLAWS
Your flaw outlines a vice, compul-
sion, fear, or weakness.

You never admit when you’re

wrong.
HOW TO PLAY • THE DUNGEON MASTER DESCRIBES THE ENVIRONMENT • YOU DESCRIBE WHAT YOU WANT TO DO • THE DUNGEON MASTER NARRATES THE RESULTS OF YOUR ACTION

ONE PLAYER TAKES ON THE ROLE OF THE DUNGEON MASTER—THE GAME’S LEAD STORYTELLER AND REFEREE. THE DM CREATES ADVENTURES FOR THE
CHARACTERS, WHO NAVIGATE ITS HAZARDS AND DECIDE WHICH PATHS TO EXPLORE. WHEN ONE QUEST IS FINISHED, ANOTHER ONE BEGINS, CREATING
AN ONGOING STORY CALLED A CAMPAIGN. THERE’S NO WINNING AND LOSING IN DUNGEONS & DRAGONS, THE DM AND THE PLAYERS CREATE AN EXCIT-
ING STORY OF BOLD ADVENTURERS AND NEFARIOUS VILLAINS. IF EVERYONE HAS A GOOD TIME AND CREATES A MEMORABLE STORY, EVERYONE WINS.

WHAT CAN MY CHARACTER DO? A CHARACTER SHEET FOR BEGINNERS

DWARF • CLERIC

THE D20 ABILITIES STRENGTH

Brawn and Power
DEXTERITY
Quickness and Agility
CONSTITUTION INTELLIGENCE
Health and Endurance Reasoning and Memory
WISDOM
Perception and Insight
CHARISMA
Allure and Charm
PASSIVE SKILLS
Passive skills are used in ability

ABILITIES
checks that don’t involve die
Does your sword swing hurt the Six abilities represent your Score: 14 Score: 8 Score: 15 Score: 10 Score: 16 Score: 12
rolls. Such a check represents
dragon? Will the ogre believe character’s physical and men- Modifier: +2 Modifier: -1 Modifier: +2 Modifier: +0 Modifier: +3 Modifier: +1 the average result for a task
your outrageous bluff? Can you tal characteristics: Strength, done repeatedly, or can be used
avoid the blast of a fireball? In Dexterity, Constitution, Intelli- by the DM to secretly deter-
cases where the outcome of gence, Wisdom, and Charisma. +2 Saving Throw -1 Saving Throw +2 Saving Throw +0 Saving Throw +5 Saving Throw +3 Saving Throw
mine whether you succeed at
an action is uncertain, you roll something without rolling dice.
Each ability has a score, ranging +4 Athletics -1 Acrobatics +0 Arcana +3 Animal Handling +1 Deception
a 20-sided die—also known as -1 Sleight Of Hand +0 History +3 Insight +3 Intimidation Passive Perception: 13
from 3 to 20. A score of 10 or 11
a d20—to determine success -1 Stealth +0 Investigation +5 Medicine +1 Performance Passive Insight: 13
is the normal human average.
or failure. Ability checks, attack +0 Nature +3 Perception +1 Persuasion
rolls, and saving throws are the Each ability score has a modifier, +2 Religion +3 Survival
three kinds of d20 rolls and they ranging from -5 to +10. You will
follow these three steps. add or subtract an ability score EQUIPMENT LANGUAGES DARKVISION DWARVEN RESILIENCE
modifier with every roll you make. Chain mail¹, shield, warhammer, 2 han- Common, Dwarvish You see in dim light within a 60-foot You have advantage on saving throws
1. Roll the d20 and add a modifier
FEATURES

from one of the six ability scores.
2. Class features, spells, or
other effects sometimes give a
bonus or penalty to the check.
If there are any, apply them
and determine the total.
Finally, each ability covers a broad
range of skills. A skill already has the
ability score modifier added in, plus
a proficiency bonus if applicable.
THE THREE
daxes, holy symbol, backpack, crowbar,
hammer, 10 pitons, 10 torches, tinder-
box, 10 days of rations, waterskin, 50
feet of hempen rope, mason’s tools,
dagger taken from a fallen enemy as
a trophy, deck of playing cards, set of
common clothes, pouch, sergeant’s
PROFICIENCIES
You experience setbacks with items
you are not proficient with.
You are poficient with all armor, shields,
all simple weapons, battleaxes, handax-
es, light hammers, warhammers, playing
radius of you as if it were bright light,
and in darkness in that radius as if it
were dim light. You can’t discern col-
or in darkness, only shades of gray.
MERCENARY SERGEANT
You were a minor officer among the
Mintarn mercenaries. Mintarn soldiers
against poison, and you have resis-
tance against poison damage.
STONECUNNING
Whenever you make an Intelligence
(History) check related to the ori-
gin of stonework, you add +4 to the
check instead of your normal +0.

CHECKS
3. Compare the total to a target rank insignia, and 10 gold pieces. cards, mason’s tools, and land vehicles.
recognize your authority and influence.
number, called a Difficulty Class. ¹ While wearing this armor, you have disad-
The more difficult the challenge, vantage on Dexterity (Stealth) checks.
An ability check is made when
the higher its DC. If the total equals
you attempt to overcome a
or exceeds the DC, the roll is a
challenge. The DM decides which INITIATIVE: -1 SPEED: 5 SQUARES SPELLS WEAPONS
success. Otherwise, it’s a failure. Your character’s speed is the distance
of the six abilities is relevant, a An initiative check is rolled by all combat- You can cast light, sacred flame, and To attack with a weapon, an attack roll
skill if applicable, and the DC. ants at the start of combat. Everyone takes they can move in 1 combat round. thaumaturgy as many times as you want. is made.
COMBAT

their turn in order from highest to lowest

A saving throw represents an SPELLCASTING ABILITY Twice a day, you can cast two spells Weapon Name Att Bonus Damage

attempt to resist a spell, trap,
poison, or similar threat.
An attack roll determines whether
an attack hits or misses. If the
total of the roll plus modifiers
equals or exceeds the target’s
armor class, the attack hits.
ARMOR CLASS: 18
Your armor class represents how well your
character avoids being wounded in battle.
HIT POINTS: 11
Hit points represent physical and men-
tal durability, the will to live, and luck.
Wisdom is your spellcasting ability for
your spells. The saving throw DC to resist
a spell you cast is 13. Your attack bonus
when you make an attack with a spell is +5.
HIT DICE: 1D8
After a short rest, roll your Hit Die and
regain hit points equal to the total.
from the following list: bless, cure Warhammer +4 1d8 + 2 bludgeoning
wounds¹, guiding bolt, healing word¹,
Handaxe¹ +4 1d6 + 2 slashing
inflict wounds, and shield of faith. The
same spell can be cast both times. ¹ You can throw a handaxe 20 feet, or up to 60
feet with disadvantage on the attack roll.
Spell descriptions are found in the rulebook.
¹ Whenever you cast these spells, the character
©2017 green matter games
being healed regains 3 additional hit points.