How to Play

How to Play a Character

Playing a character in D6 Dungeons is very simple. All you really need to know is what your character can do (as represented by their skills), what they're carrying, and who they are. The first part is easy; just review the four class skills and you're ready. The second part requires a little record keeping if you want to keep track of a bunch of gear.

That last part, knowing who your character is, is both the hardest and funnest part of D6 Dungeons and role-playing in general. How your character looks, sounds, and acts is entirely up to you, and can easily change as the game goes on. There are no rules for this part, so go nuts. Does he speak with a specific voice? Does she always attack goblins on sight? Is he terrified of heights? Does she have a family back home she's constantly talking about? What about a nervous tic? A catchy laugh? An iconic battle cry? The more effort you put into defining your character, the better the story around him or her will be.

One of the most important things you can do as a player in an RPG is to help make the game fun. Don't just show up and expect to be entertained; get in there and advance the story. Do dramatic things, make epic speeches, and really engage with what's going on. Also, be sure to give the other players an opportunity to shine, and when the scene calls for a bit of teamwork, step up and do your part!

How to Narrate a Story

Telling a good story is a skill you develop just like any other: with practice. A simple place to begin is with a basic structure. Put the players in an interesting place, set a plot in motion, guide it toward a confrontation, and give them an incentive to overcome any challenges they face.

Most importantly, allow room for input from the players. When they take the story in an unexpected direction, you should do your best to see it as an opportunity, not a deviation. Roll with what happens and think on your toes and you might just be surprised by where the story goes.

Though your players might be tempted to oppose or even fight one another, player-versus-player conflict really isn't supported by D6 Dungeons. To help keep them all on the same side of the story, you might want to begin the game by explaining that they're all part of the same organization, a peacekeeping force, adventurer's guild, or explorer's league.

D6 Dungeons has been designed in such a way as to make narrating as easy as possible so you can focus more on the plot and arranging challenges instead of memorizing charts, looking up complicated rules, and keeping track of every arrow and day of rations. Go ahead and dream up a great story, throw your players into the middle of it, and let the dice do the rest!

To get a better idea of the pacing and kinds of actions that take place in D6 Dungeons, read the sample of gameplay.