As the game is played, each PC changes over time and generally increases in capability. Characters gain (or sometimes lose) experience, skills [45] and wealth, and may even alter their alignment [46] or gain additional character classes. [47] The key way characters progress is by earning experience points (XP), which happens when they defeat an enemy or accomplish a difficult task. [48] Acquiring enough XP allows a PC to advance a level, which grants the character improved class features, abilities and skills. [49] XP can be lost in some circumstances, such as encounters with creatures that drain life energy, or by use of certain magical powers that come with an XP cost. [50] a b c Michaud, Jon (November 2, 2015). "The Tangled Cultural Roots of Dungeons & Dragons". The New Yorker . Retrieved February 25, 2020. Darlington, Steven (June 1999). "A History of Role-Playing Part VIII: Dark Times". Places to Go, People to be (8) . Retrieved February 28, 2007. Hall, Charlie (February 14, 2019). "The Stranger Things-themed D&D Starter Set is real, includes Mike's homebrew campaign". Polygon . Retrieved April 26, 2020. Main articles: Dungeons & Dragons gameplay and Character class (Dungeons & Dragons) D&D uses polyhedral dice to resolve in-game events. These are abbreviated by a 'd' followed by the number of sides. Shown from left to right are a d20, a d12, a d%, a d10, a d8, a d6, and a d4. A d% and a d10 can be rolled together to produce a number between 1 and 100.

Northup, Travis (January 6, 2023). "Wizards of the Coast OGL Change Draws Ire From Creators and Fans Alike: 'It's Not Right' ". IGN . Retrieved January 10, 2023. D&D 5th Edition Rules Being Upgraded For 50th Anniversary". Screen Rant. September 27, 2021 . Retrieved September 27, 2021. Witwer, Michael (2015). Empire of the Imagination: Gary Gygax and the Birth of Dungeons & Dragons. New York: Bloomsbury Publishing. ISBN 978-1-63286-279-2. Shaffer, R.L. (August 28, 2009). "Dungeons and Dragons: The Animated Series - Beginnings DVD Review". IGN. Archived from the original on December 3, 2017 . Retrieved February 25, 2020. Johnson, Xavier (August 18, 2022). "Dungeons and Dragons brings huge changes to fifth edition rules under One D&D initiative". Dot Esports . Retrieved August 18, 2022.

Fine, Gary Alan (1983). Shared Fantasy: Role-playing Games as Social Worlds. University of Chicago Press. p.16. ISBN 0-226-24944-1. Dungeons & Dragons Announces Changes to OGL, Some Third-Party Creators Must Report Revenue and Potentially Pay Royalties". ComicBook.com. December 21, 2022 . Retrieved December 21, 2022. Pramas, Chris (July 14, 2008). "Green Ronin and Fourth Edition D&D". Green Ronin. Archived from the original on December 10, 2008 . Retrieved November 20, 2008. Rouchart, Sandy; Aylett, Ruth (2003). Rist, Thomas (ed.). Solving the Narrative Paradox in VEs — Lessons from RPGs. Springer. ISBN 978-3-540-20003-1. {{ cite book}}: |work= ignored ( help)

Brink, Kyle (January 27, 2023). "OGL 1.0a & Creative Commons". D&D Beyond ( Press release) . Retrieved January 27, 2023. Hoffer, Christian (January 27, 2023). "Dungeons & Dragons Will Not De-Authorize Current OGL, Releases Full SRD Under Creative Commons License". ComicBook.com . Retrieved January 27, 2023. Dungeons & Dragons is a structured yet open-ended role-playing game. It is normally played indoors with the participants seated around a tabletop. Typically, one player takes on the role of Dungeon Master (DM) while the others each control a single character, representing an individual in a fictional setting. [24] When working together as a group, the player characters (PCs) are often described as a " party" of adventurers, with each member often having their own area of specialty that contributes to the success of the group as a whole. [25] [26] During the course of play, each player directs the actions of their character and their interactions with other characters in the game. [7] This activity is performed through the verbal impersonation of the characters by the players, while employing a variety of social and other useful cognitive skills, such as logic, basic mathematics and imagination. [27] A game often continues over a series of meetings to complete a single adventure, and longer into a series of related gaming adventures, called a " campaign". [7] [28] [29] Kastre, Michael F. (Spring 1992). "An Industry of the Mind: Examining Today's Video Game Industry". Hispanic Engineer & IT. Career Communications Group. 8 (1): 22–28 (27). Appelcline, Shannon (2006). "Chaosium: 1975–present". A Brief History of Game. RPGnet . Retrieved August 13, 2007.Edwards, Ron. "A Hard Look at Dungeons and Dragons". The Forge . Retrieved February 23, 2007. An essay on the early history of the D&D hobby. Today, Dungeons & Dragons was inducted into the National Toy Hall of Fame at the Strong Museum for Play". Archived from the original on September 18, 2020 . Retrieved June 25, 2020.