Dungeons & Dragons, often abbreviated as DnD or D&D, is one of the pioneers of the Tabletop Roleplaying genre and has been enormously influential on games and our pop culture.

The game leader (known as the Dungeon Master) describes and "plays" the world, while the players each play their own adventurous character. Unlike video games and other board games, you as a player can do whatever you want within the fantasy world of the people at your table. 

Who knows, your character might be a rugged anti-hero taking on an ancient evil, a troubadour from a traveling circus solving a murder mystery, or a noble dwarf trying to steal a treasure from under a dragon's nose. 

The sky's the limit!

…But maybe all that free choice is a bit overwhelming at first. Especially creating your first character can be quite intimidating. That's why here is a simple guide to provide some inspiration and information for the class of your first character in the fifth edition of Dungeons & Dragons!

Note: This is meant to help give you an idea of what character you might want to play, not as an explanation of how to roll stats or fill out a character sheet. 

Tip: Always discuss with your Dungeon Master first when creating a character. 

This prevents, for example, you unexpectedly showing up with a beautifully crafted steampunk samurai in a game set in classical mythology. 

It may also be that some classes or races do not appear in their world, and that some game rules work differently in their game.

This is easiest in a “Session Zero” where everyone at the table discusses their expectations for the campaign before it begins!

In the fifth edition of Dungeons and Dragons, your character's class is the most important aspect. You might already know some from games you've played or what you've seen in movies and series. The different classes are archetypes of the type of characters you might want to play. It is essentially a portrayal of your character's abilities, for example, whether they are a heavily armed and armored warrior, or a well-learned old wizard with a book full of spells. How many hit points you have, what kind of armor you can wear, which weapons you fight with, and the magical spells you can use are all determined by class.

In DnD, the biggest difference between the classes is between those that can use magical spells (like wizards), and those that primarily fight with weapons (like fighters). In between are “hybrid” classes that can do a bit of both (like paladins). 

Tip: Usually, it is easier to start with an armed or “hybrid” class at the beginning. These are the easiest to play and simplest to start with, as the magic system in DnD can be quite complex if you're still getting used to the other rules of the game. Note: this is a tip and not a guideline. There are countless players who have started with a complex class without confusion. The most important thing is to play a character you are enthusiastic about!

Here is a small list of the standard classes and examples of popular characters from movies, series, and books:

A fierce warrior who becomes invulnerable to normal weapons in a rage-induced trance. Barbarians are the strongest and toughest class in DnD. They laugh off most injuries they sustain, fight without armor, and crush monsters with the largest weapons.

Think of: Viking berserkers, the Hulk, Conan the Barbarian.

A graceful troubadour who draws magic from their music and storytelling. 

Bards fight more often with sharp words than with honed weapons, and their charms make them the master of any social situation. Usually, this class is mainly focused on supporting the group, although their spells can cause quite a bit of damage.

Think of: Jaskier/Dandelion from The Witcher, court jesters and troubadours, or Starlord from Guardians of the Galaxy.

A healing priest who receives powerful magic from their god. They are the most versatile class of DnD, as their powers depend on their domain. Some clerics are primarily focused on supporting the group, others fight with weapons and armor, while others perform magical tricks in the name of their trickster god.

Think of: Arwen and Elrond from Lord of The Rings, Knights Hospitaller, or Loki from the MCU

A priest of long-forgotten nature gods and forest spirits, who can assume the forms of animals with ancient rituals. Druids master the magic of the natural world, which they usually use to support the group, but also to attack monsters.

Think of: Celtic druids, Sirius from Harry Potter, or Radagast from The Hobbit.

A master of martial arts who is versatile in fighting with weapons and armor. With a healthy mix of studied technique and physical strength, this class deflects most attacks and delivers the heaviest blows in return.

Think of: Brienne from Game of Thrones, Gimli from The Lord of the Rings, but also historical fight masters like Fiore dei Liberi and Liechtenauer.

A warrior monk trained to evade attacks with their martial arts and to disable even the most heavily armored warriors within seconds. Monks can control and manipulate the energy in living beings, which can be used by them to deliver inhumanly fast attacks or to command the elements.

Think of: Warrior monks of the Shaolin Temple, Naruto, Tai Li, and Aang from Avatar: The Last Airbender.

A noble knight who has sworn an oath to fight for a just cause, or the will of a god. This class is heavily armored and heavily armed, but can also heal wounds with magical powers and defeat dark enemies. 

Think of: The knights of the round table, the Jedi from Star Wars, or Heimdall & Thor from the MCU.

A wild warrior who combats dangers on the borders of the civilized world. Some of this class have animal companions that fight alongside them, while others specialize in hunting dark monsters. 

Think of: Aragorn from The Lord of the Rings, Geralt from The Witcher, or Jon Snow from Game of Thrones.

An agile class specializing in stealth, theft, and fighting with cunning tricks. Rogues are thieves, assassins, and spies, able to slip past enemies unnoticed and find a crafty solution to every problem.

Think of: Robin Hood, Arya Stark from Game of Thrones, or the Assassins from Assassin’s Creed.

A class that has magical powers from birth due to a magical bloodline. Sorcerers have learned to control this unstable form of magic, allowing them to give their spells powerful new effects.

Think of: Yennefer from The Witcher, Scarlet Witch from the MCU, Professor X from X-Men.

A class that has made a pact with a supernatural being in exchange for dark magic. Warlocks must always follow the will of their patron, whether it is a cunning devil, monstrous demigod, or a sparkling fairy.

Think of: Jack Sparrow, Bran Stark from Game of Thrones, Faustus

A class that derives their magical powers from their extensive knowledge of magical science. Wizards store all magical spells and secret formulas they have learned in a large, thick book, which they always carry with them. 

Think of: Gandalf from The Lord of the Rings, Doctor Strange from the MCU, or Hermione from Harry Potter.

Hopefully, with this brief explanation and examples, you have an idea of which class you might want to play!

In the Essentials Kit, besides everything you need as a group to start, you will also find the game rules and a brief explanation of how to create a character for several classes (Bard, Cleric, Fighter, Rogue, and Wizard).

In the Dnd 5th edition Player’s Handbook, you will find the comprehensive explanation of how to create a character sheet for each class. The Player’s Handbook also contains the technical information and aspects of the different classes (all abilities you receive, which weapons you can use, etc). At the back, all spells are sorted by class, super handy!

Are you looking for a beautiful dice set that matches your character? You can find it here!