5 Ways to be a better D&D player

Picture by Me! (Tim Chu)

A lot of these might be common sense, but they are still often forgotten or disregarded. So DM’s, feel free to print this and tape it to the back of your DM screen for the entire party to behold.

1. BE NICE. I know, I know. But it had to be said. Even if you’re playing a chaotic evil character, you can still be a nice player. The key aspect to this is to know the difference between when you’re being a jerk, and when your character is being a jerk, because there is a difference. I tend to gauge this by asking myself, “Would this action enhance everyone’s experience?” If not, then I don’t do it. Example: trying to steal your entire party’s gold while they sleep isn’t you playing your character, it’s you being a jerk.
2. BRING SNACKS. This one is easy. Honestly, who doesn’t love snacks? Nobody. And who knows? You may even get an inspiration point depending on how great your snack is.
3. STAY OFF YOUR PHONE. One of the easiest ways to get on your DM’s bad side is by being on your phone (wait, is the DM my mom?!?). How would you would feel if you spent hours preparing a session only to find that your players would rather slash fruit on their phones? Not so great. So take time to appreciate the warm meal that your mother — *cough* I mean session, your DM prepared for you.
4. PREPARE. This can mean a lot of different things, from knowing how your spells work to leveling up your character before a session. And I’m not saying you have to know every rule in the handbook, especially if you’re a new player, but you should come with some level of preparation so it doesn’t slow down the game. In fact, the best way to come prepared to a session is to…
5. TAKE NOTES. Nothing can slow down a game like forgetfulness and lack of information. You shouldn’t have to ask your DM what the Queen’s name is. You’ve only been trying to find her lost amulet for the last 12 sessions.

If you’re having trouble with that last bit (or want to throw some shade to another player), I’ve created a FREE guide on some best note-taking tips for D&D.

Click Here for your Free Guide!