Extraordinary Single Player DnD in 7 Steps

Single player DnD is a great way to spend part of an evening or get in some gaming if your regular group hasn’t met up for a while. It's also very easy to do, and can be extremely fun.

I’ve always enjoyed playing tabletop RPGs by myself. Adventures usually last about 1 hour at a time when I do single player DnD, and they’re always rewarding.


Single player DnD doesn’t have to be hard. Technically, DnD is set up to be played with a group – according to the core rulebooks (Dungeon Master, plus players). However, single player DnD is a lot simpler than it might seem.


First, you have a couple options. There are in fact tabletop roleplay games that have single player options in the core rules, like Eternity TTRPG. If you choose to play Eternity, or a game like it, you’re set – no need to read further as all the work is done for you.


However, if you do want to specifically play single player DnD, here’s info and resources to get started:


  1. Character Creation
  2. Main Story Elements
  3. Scenes of Play
  4. Finishing a Scene
  5. Single Player DnD Modules
  6. Random Generators
  7. Maps, Minis, and Music
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1. Character Creation

Normally, character creation takes place among a group of people who all have ideas for what they want to play. You also have the advantage of a dungeon master who explains some of what the RPG campaign world is about. These influences of course make it easier to decide on your character as they give you context for the game.


In single player DnD, you don’t have those advantages. You create your character (and game) without outside context. This can be a little weird if you’re not used to it, but is in fact liberating.


My advice is to build the character you’ve always wanted to play. Don’t worry about setting, context, the gaming world, or even genre. Just come up with your character’s stats, and a very basic idea of who they are, as a person.


It’s also worth noting that in single player DnD, your individual character also doesn’t have all the options that a normal DnD group might have, when it comes to your class. As you probably know, a “well-rounded” DnD group normally has a strong fighter-type character, a healer, a spell-caster of some kind, and a rogue to be stealthy and disarm traps.


It’s no big deal that you (probably) won’t have all that; it just takes a little consideration.


Personally, my favorite option is not to worry about my character’s lack of a party or lack of well-rounded options, and just have fun playing the race and class I want. I recommend you do the same as it’s easier to manage for single player DnD, and makes for a more satisfying game.


Let your creativity and problem-solving round out your character’s abilities for you, in place of a full party.


However, if you are really set on the idea of having a character that has more options available to them, try out one of the following (multiclass your character or create an adventuring party - below).

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Multiclass Your Character

Have your character multi-class so they gain a wider breadth of abilities. This allows your character to be decent in melee combat, have a few spells they can cast, and be stealthy.


The tradeoff is that your character won’t become exceptional at any one thing, even with time, so it’s not necessarily the perfect choice, either.


Create an Adventuring Party

You may consider giving your character an adventuring party of their own. This fills in gaps that your main character will miss, individually.


The problem is that creating multiple characters – and tracking them – is kind of a pain. Plus, then you’re really playing an entire party, not just one character, which makes single player DnD a bit more complex.


I will say though that I have tried this option on a couple occasions. I played a single player DnD campaign where I “roleplayed” one character and simply had a couple other characters in the background. I created their stats, but not their personalities so much (and didn’t worry about roleplaying them), and that did work pretty well.


It can be fun having an entire DnD party all to yourself. Kind of like playing older Final Fantasy games where you have an entire group you control. If you like the idea, I recommend you try it out.

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2. Main Story Elements

When playing single player DnD, you need to decide what the game is going to be “about.” In a normal DnD campaign, this is something that gets answered for you by your dungeon master. Playing solo, this is something you’ll have to decide for yourself.

To get started, you do not need to create an in-depth world with a massive storyline like you may have seen some DMs do in the past. It’s simply not necessary.


Instead, create a single piece of the world. No depth is needed at this point. A simple name or concept will do. Write down the name or concept of that main story element in a notebook you’ll use for your game.


Your main story elements can be one of the following things. It’s perfectly fine to just start with one of these. If inspiration strikes you, however, feel free to write down a couple ideas:


  • Event: something substantial that’s currently happening in the world, or has happened in its past.
  • Item: some item or trinket unique, of your own creation. This doesn’t have to be an item already in DnD. There are no limits to this item’s power or the way it functions.
  • NPC: non-playable character. Someone influential or meaningful to the world, or to a story you have in mind. This can also be a villain.
  • Organization/ Nation: societies, countries, guilds, coalitions, etc.
  • Town/ Zone: places friendly or unfriendly. Locations, geographical features, etc.


Note that your main story element(s) can be directly related to your character (his or her hometown, family member, or rival).

They can be something he or she wants to obtain, or attain. Or, they can be completely separate.


At some point you will connect your character into your element, but you don’t have to have all that figured out just yet.

Inspiration for Your Story Element

If you’ve never done anything like this before it may be a little difficult to come up with ideas. My recommendation is to think about your favorite movies and books.


Re-create events, items, NPCs, organizations, nations, or towns from those stories. Put them in your game. You’ll be able explore your favorite fictional places in your own way, with your own character.


If you need more ideas, use one of two of these ideas from my gaming group. Note that in most cases the players who created these story elements didn’t know much, or anything at all (except for the name), about the story elements when they initially wrote them down:


  • 4th Princess of Demons (NPC)
  • Arelexius the Indisposable (NPC)
  • Basilisk Hunters (Organization)
  • Broger the Giant (NPC)
  • Curing an Ancient Plague (Event)
  • Evizenium (Town)
  • Harbinging – Rampage of the Arbiter (Event)
  • Key to the Necropolis (Item)
  • Killing Fields of the Seven (Zone)
  • Staff of Ruin (Item)
  • Tierfol the Accursed Kingdom (Nation)
  • Tower of Eight Shrouds (Organization)
  • War of 1,000 Roses (Event)
  • Winds of Fate (Item)
  • Valerian Isle (Town)


If you need more ideas to get your creativity rolling, check out this post on DnD quest ideas. Any of these prompts will help you create your first main story element.


Hand-drawn dungeon map on graph paper

3. Scenes of Play

In scenes, you take the main story element(s) you’ve created, and explore them in more detail. You get to learn things like the story element’s history, its place in the storyline, connection to your character, and much more.



DnD sessions always take place in one setting or event at a time. Think about your single player DnD session as one “scene of play” at a time. This makes the “how to” of solo gaming very doable.


To play, break down your “scenes” into the following 5 steps:


  1. Main Focus & Time Lapse
  2. Scene Setting
  3. NPC’s
  4. Conflict
  5. Theater of the Mind Roleplay


1) Main Focus & Time Lapse

The main focus defines what the scene is “about” or what will generally happen during the scene. You can also decide if the scene takes place immediately following the previous scene, or if some time has passed.


What exactly is the Scene “about,” you ask? It’s about the main story element that you created. You’re going to explore that idea and give it additional substance.


2) Scene Setting

Imagine for yourself everything that your character sees, feels, smells, hears, or tastes. Where is your character? What time of day? What location? What’s the overall feel? What’s it like to “be” there?


Most importantly, connect the setting to your main story. How can you make that centralizing idea come alive through the setting?


3) NPCs

Are there NPC’s (non-playable, or “side” characters) in the scene? Who are they? What are they like? What are they doing? This can be a simple description, which will expand as the scene progresses.


After introducing characters, imagine for yourself anything they say or do. You may end up mentally “roleplaying” in more detail, in step 5 (below). 


4) Conflict

Every adventure has conflict. Here’s where that takes place.


The scene’s conflict can be anything that directly relates to the scene’s main focus/ your main story element. Monsters, physical barriers, mental anguish, distance, time – anything. What is preventing your character from their goal?


For an initial Scene, the conflict may simply be something like “what is my character trying to accomplish in relation to my main story element?” Keep it simple. Go one step at a time in your scenes.


If it comes to it, combat can also count as the conflict for a scene. If you get into battle, I recommend that you either have a monster manual ready, or utilize a random encounter generator to make setting up the fight easier.


5) Theater of the Mind Roleplay

This is the final and most important step in your scene. Here, you decide how your character responds based on everything created in this scene so far.


You may also “roleplay” how other NPCs act and speak for the scene, as well as the outcome for the conflict, and any changes to the setting that take place.


For resolution of conflicts with outcomes that aren’t certain, use the DnD core rulebooks for skills, knowledge rolls, and combat.

A scene of play finishes you’ve mentally roleplayed what you want your character to do for that scene.


Scenes typically take anywhere from a single minute to a quarter of an hour, depending on the complexity of situation you set up. There’s no right or wrong amount of time it should take.

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4. Finishing a Scene

Upon completing each scene, I recommend writing a sentence or two in your notebook to summarize the scene. That way, even if you only get to play for an hour or so each week, you’ll remember what happened last time you played. The consistency of this approach also allows you to build a complex and enjoyable ongoing story.


Once a scene is complete, go to the next scene. Your new scene is again “about” your main story element – only this time, you develop the concept further. Develop the idea one step beyond the conclusion of the scene, prior.


If you need help with how to do this, think about the 5 stages of dramatic structure used in all great stories. Make each new scene a mini version of the 5 stages of dramatic structure:


  • Scene 1: Exposition of your main story element
  • Scene 2: Rising Action of your main story element
  • Scene 3: Climax of your main story element
  • Scene 4: Falling Action
  • Scene 5: Resolution/ Connection to Your next 5 Stage Cycle


Once complete, start the 5 stages of dramatic structure over, but add another layer to your main story element. Something that raises the drama, or the stakes involved. That way, your next 5 scenes through the dramatic structure are more in-depth than before.


Another approach is to create a new main story element, so that you have multiple. Play through 5+ scenes with that element, then go back to your original, or create a third story element. Over time, you can ever combine your story elements and see how their individual stories interweave, creating an incredible tapestry of interrelated dramas.


Rewards

With each scene finished in single player DnD, I give my character rewards (experience, money, items, treasures). Even if I didn’t kill a monster, loot a dungeon, or the like, I still give myself rewards after every scene.

This approach incentivizes you to create a great story.


How? It keeps the focus on your main story element(s), since you still get rewards for purely roleplay encounters and story building. Using this approach, you don’t feel compelled to make all of your scenes focused around slaying monsters.


How much reward should you give yourself?


I recommend giving your character the same rewards you’d get from slaying a monster equal to your current level, for every scene you complete, regardless of whether or not there was combat involved. Do that, and your character will level and scale in power at a very consistent and enjoyable pace.

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5. Single Player DnD Modules

There are single player DnD adventure modules available online. Some of these modules are written for 1 DM and 1 player. If you use the steps outlined above, you won’t have too much trouble, however, playing through them without a dedicated dungeon master.


Having an adventure module on-hand offloads some of the creative workload from you, so that you can focus on having fun. The starting material it provides also fuels your own creativity.


In either case, especially when you’re new to single player DnD, I recommend using a prepared module. They’re inexpensive, easy to set up, and get you into the flow of story creation.


6. Random Generators

I tend to view random generators in the same category as using adventure modules. They’re great for helping you get started. Just don’t rely on them too heavily. The reason is that you can get lost in other people’s ideas and never get into the meat and potatoes of your own story.


There are literally hundreds of random generators online specifically built for TTRPG play. We’re talking everything from random story generators to elf name generators. Random dungeon generators, item generators, encounter generators, and so much more.


My recommendation is to use random generators to help you create your main story element, or to occasionally inspire you for a setting, NPC, or basis of conflict in one of your scenes. Then, get back to your own game and creativity.


Random generators – of course – are terrible at creating a masterpiece. You can do that for yourself with a little practice and effort.


7. Maps, Minis, and Music

I wrote an entire section in my dungeon master tools article on maps, minis, and music for tabletop RPGs. You should check it out. Great artwork, battlemaps, minis, and dnd music makes your gaming experience more in-depth and enjoyable. They help you get into the fabled flow state, which is extremely important for high-quality gaming. Especially for single player DnD.

You don’t need a lot of battlemaps, minis, or music. Just a couple maps, a few minis, and a couple song selections.


Try Single Player Gaming for Yourself

The best way to find out if single player gaming is right for you is to get started. Set up and play for 30 minutes using the advice I outlined above. You’ll be able to tell pretty quickly if you enjoy it.


If you haven’t seen Eternity TTRPG yet and you’re interested in solo gaming, I highly recommend you check it out. Eternity TTRPG can easily be played as a single player, and provides an immense amount of resources to make the game both exciting and simple.


The most important thing to remember is that you get out what you put in. Give it some real effort, put on your best creative thinking face, and have fun. You’ll be glad you did.

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Jacob Tegtman Eternity TTRPG Creator

Author - Jacob Tegtman

Dear reader, I hope you enjoyed this article. Tabletop gaming has been a passion of mine since I was 6 years old. I've played just about every game from Dungeons and Dragons to video games like Final Fantasy. These games have inspired me, made me laugh, made me cry, and brought me endless hours of enjoyment.


I started Eternity TTRPG - and the indie tabletop game that goes along with it (Eternity Shop) - to share my love of gaming with others. I believe that in our technology-driven age, tabletop games help bring a sense of magic and community back into our world.


If you love the site, please share it with others! I have lots of gaming-related material for you to peruse and use in your own gaming sessions. If you have any questions about the site or want to contribute, just send me a message using the "Contact" page, which you can find in the site's footer.

Final Fantasy TRPG layout: Mana grid graphic
By Jacob Tegtman January 20, 2026
Transcribed content from our recent YouTube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kPQfDB2cKSI Transcription Every Final Fantasy hero starts with a choice. Sword or spell. Raw power, or skill. But in Final Fantasy TRPG: Legend Edition, that choice doesn’t stop at your Class — it’s defined by the Jobs you choose from your class, the Circles you unlock, and the Limit Breaks that change the tide of battle. Today, we’re breaking down how Classes and Jobs actually work in Final Fantasy TRPG: Legend Edition — and how they shape your character from level one… to the final boss. Hey everyone, welcome back to Eternity TTRPG channel! If you caught one of my recent videos from before the holidays, we went deep into the Final Fantasy TRPG: Legend Edition core rulebook — and today we’re diving into one of the most iconic elements of any Final Fantasy system: Classes and Jobs ! Whether you’re planning your first character or optimizing a seasoned hero for this recently-released game, this guide has you covered. One of the longest-standing traditions in Final Fantasy is its Job system , and Legend Edition embraces this fully. Classes in this game are the framework or chassis of your character — they determine your character’s HP, MP, trained Skills, associated Jobs, and your Class Limit Break . Jobs are where the cool stuff really happens. Each Job is a set of abilities on a progression track, granting new Features at specific levels — these are called Circles . And you don’t just pick one — your character ends up with three Jobs (or four with optional full buy-in), each advancing at a different speed to give you abilities every level. There are four broad Classes you’ll choose from. Each class has what you could consider as subclasses – in Legend Edition, these are the “Jobs.” So, for example, some of the Warrior Jobs are berserker, dervish, dragoon, fighter, monk, samurai, and so on. So, let’s dive into the four classes: Number 1 - Warrior Masters of physical combat, Warriors excel in strength, endurance, and frontline fighting. Their Limit Break — Action Surge — lets them make extra attacks during an encounter, perfect for dealing burst damage. 2. Expert Battlefield manipulators and support roles go here. Experts rely on their wits and skill versatility, and their Limit Break — Savant — adds bonus dice to Skill rolls based on their level. 3. Mage If magic is your playstyle, Mages are your go-to. They lean into Spellcasting and area of effect mechanics. Their Turbo MP Limit Break doubles the effectiveness of MP spent on magical abilities during an encounter. And number four is Adept The hybrid class — versatile, adaptable, and capable of mixing physical and magical roles. Adepts don’t have a unique Limit Break; instead, they choose one from the other three classes, based on their job build. Now here’s where Legend Edition gets fun. Across the system are 50+ Jobs drawing inspiration from classic Final Fantasy favorites — think Black Mage , Dragoon , Thief , and more — giving you a huge palette of archetypes to mix and match. Each Job grants seven Features – called Circles – over its progression, spaced across levels based on whether the Job is on a Fast, Medium, or Slow advancement track — meaning strategic choices shape how your character evolves through the campaign. So, for example, you may choose the Warrior class because you like its HP, MP, and Skill point advancement numbers, you like its limit break, and you enjoy playing that overall archetype for your character. Then, you pick three Jobs to fill out your character. Say that you want a full warrior build, so you choose your three jobs to be: Dragoon, Knight, and Monk. From here, you’d decide which of those three jobs would be on your Fast advancement track, which should go on your Medium track, and which will be on your slow advancement. Important note here though: only one of your Jobs needs to be associated with your Class. That means the rest can actually be totally outside that box — so yes, you can be a Mage-warrior hybrid if it fits your concept! You could be a warrior class, with the Dragoon, Black Mage, and Chemist jobs. So, here’s the quick breakdown of Job progression: Fast Progression: Abilities at levels 1, 3, and every 3 levels thereafter Medium Progression: Abilities at levels 1, 4, and every 3 levels thereafter Slow Progression: Abilities at 2, 5, and every 3 levels thereafter This staggering system means every level feels like a growth moment. You get new Abilities (“Circles”) from all three of your jobs at the same cadence. But at the same time, you get Circles from the Jobs that are most important to you, at earlier levels. The rule book mentions this too, but if you do want to try out this awesome system, I’d recommend that you don’t stress too much about your first Job choices. There’s a ton of options here, which is great for replayability, and experimenting with side campaigns. But, there’s also too many Jobs to really nail down what you want to ideally play, the first time you try out this game. Probably instead, just pick classes that sound fun, and give it a whirl. To wrap up this video, I’m going to cover my personal favorite Job from each of the first three Classes. Since there’s over 50-jobs, there’s too many for me to dive into – at least today. But hopefully these quick snapshots give you a picture of how Jobs work, what kind of Abilities each provides, and some inspiration for your upcoming game: If I was to play a Warrior Job, I’d start with Dragoon: As you probably know, Dragoons are also often known as Dragon Knights . Dragoons are aerial combat specialists who use momentum for power. Originally trained to pierce the hides of massive foes like dragons, their style revolves around leaping high above the battlefield and crashing down with overwhelming force. Depending on the setting, Dragoons may hunt dragons, fight alongside them, or carry on their legacy after their extinction — but they’re almost always portrayed as guardians who stand against towering threats . In play, Dragoons are defined by the Jump and Blood of the Dragon Circles . Jump removes them from the battlefield for a round before returning with an automatic, high-impact strike. Meanwhile, critical hits generate Blood of the Dragon to fuel powerful Dragon Arts , which are the Dragoon’s situational combat techniques that modify your attacks, defenses, or Jump actions, for additional benefits. Next up, for the expert class, I’d probably start with Squire – I just have so many good memories from playing Final Fantasy Tactics: Instead of perfecting a single discipline, Squires develop adaptability through experience and improvisation. That flexibility makes Squires exceptional team players , able to step into gaps and support allies in many situation. Mechanically, the Squire revolves around Fundaments — where they grant short-term bonuses to allies based on that ally’s Class. Warriors hit harder, Experts perform better at skills, Mages cast more effectively, and Adepts can receive whichever boost fits the moment. As the Squire advances through their Circles, they can grant Fundaments to multiple allies at once, add secondary effects like increased damage or longer debuffs. I’m not always a team buffer kind of guy, but I do like the way Squires here make everyone else better , turning party coordination into a great strength. For my third Job, I’ll choose from the Mage class. This one’s really hard for me as I could see myself actually going like 3/3 mage, or maybe 2/3, at least. But, if I had to pick just one for my remaining Job slot, I’d go with Necromancer: Necromancers are reclusive magic-users whose art is inseparably tied to death and the Shadow. Often misunderstood or feared, they’re immediately recognizable by their Bone Commander — an undead construct that serves as both assistant and bodyguard. While some Necromancers lean into darker reputations, others act as shamans or intermediaries, communing with spirits to resolve unfinished business or bring peace to the dead. Their morality isn’t defined by their magic, but by how they choose to wield it. In play, Necromancers are spellcasters with access to the Necromancy spell list and a powerful Companion system . Their Bone Commander acts on their shared action economy, providing combat presence without needing its own stats or hit points. Their Limit Break, Friends on the Other Side , allows damage from the party to count as Shadow damage, supercharging Necromancer features and reinforcing their role as battlefield controllers who blur the line between ally and undead asset. So! There you have it. From adaptable Squires and sky-shattering Dragoons to shadow-touched Necromancers and beyond, Legend Edition’s Classes and Jobs are all about expression through choice . Your Class sets the foundation, but your Jobs — and how you progress them — define how your character actually plays at the table. Legend Edition feels... unmistakably Final Fantasy. What I really want to know is... from the 50+ jobs available in Legend Edition, what three Jobs would best define your Character? List your Jobs in the comments. Otherwise, thanks for watching! If you enjoyed this breakdown of Classes and Jobs in Final Fantasy TRPG: Legend Edition, hit that like button, subscribe for more content, and ring the bell so you don’t miss our next video.
By Jacob Tegtman January 15, 2026
Transcribed content from our recent YouTube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QQLN8bvlo-Q Transcription If you’re like me, you just watched Stranger Things Season 5, and it was amazing. Personally, I felt like it really hit similarly to the first season – they did a great job. But you're watching Stranger Things, getting hyped about seeing D&D represented in mainstream media, when suddenly Mike declares he's casting a spell, as a paladin... at first level. And you're sitting there thinking, "Wait, that's not how that works." Well, you're not alone. Today we're diving deep into three quick, but glaring D&D mistakes – or, perhaps intentional and fun D&D alternations – that Stranger Things has made throughout its run. I love Stranger Things, so this is by no means a criticism of the show. If anything, some of these mistakes just makes me like it more. Because, let’s get real – most D&D games fudge something in the rules anyways. It’s part of the fun. And no one really wants to be a rules lawyer all the time. What's up, dice rollers! Welcome back to Eternity TTRPG where we explore everything that makes tabletop RPGs amazing. I'm your host, and today we're taking a critical but loving look at how Stranger Things – arguably the biggest mainstream representation of D&D we've ever had – got some pretty fundamental (and sometimes funny) things wrong about our favorite hobby. Now, before we dive in, let me be clear: I absolutely love that Stranger Things brought D&D into the spotlight. The show has introduced countless people to our hobby, and that's incredible. As D&D enthusiasts, we can appreciate the show while also having some fun pointing out where the Duffer Brothers maybe should have consulted their Player's Handbook a bit more carefully. So grab your dice, settle in, and let's explore three quick strange things that Stranger Things got wrong about D&D. Mistake #1: The Demogorgon Campaign Confusion I’m gonna call this “Mistake #1,” by the way, and you’ll find out why in just a minute. But let's start with this big one from Season 1. In the very first episode, we see the boys playing D&D, and Will's character encounters the Demogorgon. Now, the show treats this like it's some kind of final boss encounter, but here's the problem: a Demogorgon in D&D is a CR 26 creature. Basically, a Lv.26 monster. That's endgame content for level 20 characters. These kids are clearly playing low-level characters – probably somewhere between levels 1-5 based on their abilities and the campaign Mike’s describing. A real Demogorgon would obliterate their entire party in a single round without breaking a sweat. It would be like sending a group of mall security guards to fight Godzilla. What the show probably meant to use was a lesser demon or maybe just called it a "demogorgon" as a generic monster name. But for D&D players, it's like watching someone try to drive a car with a boat steering wheel – technically it's transportation equipment, but it's completely wrong for the situation. Is this really a mistake though? I’d say yes, technically. But also, we all know how kids get when playing games. Mike was probably like, “hey, you know what would be cool for my party of Lv.5 adventurers? Give them something that inspires them. Like this CR26 literal god.” It’s the type of move that every DM has done at some point – just go way, wayyy overboard. And again, that’s part of the fun with games like D&D. Mistake #2: The Paladin Spell Situation This one is really funny to me because it happens multiple times throughout the series. Mike's primarily the dungeon master for his group. But when he plays, his character is consistently referred to as a paladin, and we see him attempting to cast spells at what appears to be first level. Here's the issue: in every edition of D&D that would have been available when Stranger Things is set – we're talking late 70s to early 80s – paladins don't get spells until much higher levels. In AD&D (Advanced dungeons and dragons), paladins don't get their first spell until 9th level. Even in modern 5th Edition, paladins don't get spells until 2nd level. But the show has Mike casting spells right from the start. It's a small detail, but it shows a fundamental misunderstanding of how the class works. It would be like showing a wizard swinging a two-handed sword as their primary weapon – technically possible in some circumstances, but it misses the point of the class – for that level, at least – entirely. It’s another “mistake” though that many groups would make, probably especially kids. You want to play a character who can do cool things, at any level. So maybe this was another intentional move on the Duffer brothers’ part, showing not just the rules for D&D, but how people actually play. Mistake #3: The Dice Rolling Drama This one’s more about dramatic license. Throughout the series, we see characters making single dice rolls for incredibly complex situations, and the entire outcome hinges on that one roll. Real D&D involves a lot more dice rolling and a lot more back-and-forth between players and the DM. Combat isn't usually resolved with a single dramatic roll – it's a series of attack rolls, damage rolls, saving throws, and tactical decisions. The show makes it look like D&D is just "roll a d20 and see what happens," when the reality, as we all know, is much more nuanced. The most egregious example is in Season 1 when Will's fate seems to hinge entirely on a single d20 roll. While dramatic moments like this can happen in D&D, they're usually the culmination of a longer sequence of events, not the entire encounter. Of course, filming four kids rolling dozens of dice over and over doesn’t make for great visual episodes, I assume. This one is really more to point out that anyone who isn’t familiar with D&D may be a bit surprised walking into a real gaming session at how many dice really do get rolled. On platforms like Reddit, the D&D community's reaction to these inaccuracies has been... interesting. Players have been discussing these since the show premiered. One user pointed out in a popular thread: "I love that Stranger Things brought D&D to the mainstream, but I wish they'd gotten a consultant who actually understood the game mechanics. It's like they researched D&D by reading about it rather than playing it." Another user noted: "The show gets the emotional core of D&D right – the friendship, the collaborative storytelling, the escapism. But the mechanical details are so wrong that it's distracting for anyone who actually plays." Now, do these mistakes matter? I would argue they don't – Stranger Things is a TV show, not a D&D tutorial. People may come into the hobby with incorrect assumptions on how things work. But, if more people are getting into the hobby, then that's positive. And D&D – or let’s at least say tabletop roleplay games – have experienced unprecedented growth partly thanks to Stranger Things, and that's amazing for our community. So here's what I want to know from you: is there anything else fun or silly that I missed from Stranger Thing’s D&D inaccuracies? I’m sure there has to be more than just these three, so please hit me up in the comments and let me know what you’ve found! And that wraps up our dive into Stranger Things, for today. Remember, this comes from a place of love – both for the show and for D&D. If you enjoyed this quick video, make sure to hit that like button and subscribe for more D&D content. Whether you're fighting demogorgons in the Upside Down or just trying to survive your first dungeon crawl, keep those dice rolling!
Dragonlance
By Jacob Tegtman December 17, 2025
Transcribed content from our recent YouTube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=257fKzW8yzA Transcription Before there was Game of Thrones, Baldur’s Gate, and Critical Role.… there was Dragonlance .  A fantasy saga that defined an entire generation of D&D players — epic wars, tragic heroes, and dragons that actually felt like dragons. But if you aren’t familiar, what is Dragonlance — and why are we still talking about it in 2026? Well to answer that last question, the new “Legends Edition” which is the second Trilogy of Dragonlance is coming to Amazon in February. This is a big deal because getting new copies of the original Dragonlance Chronicles Trilogy, and now this second “Legends” Trilogy was becoming very difficult. I’m hoping these new prints rekindle the spark of one of the greatest D&D settings and novel series of all time, and introduce even more people to its magic. Welcome back to Eternity TTRPG, your home for D&D history, lore deep-dives, and the stories that shaped the game we play today. If you love tabletop RPGs, classic settings, and learning why D&D looks and plays the way it does today, you’re in the right place. So, let’s talk about one of my favorite fantasy settings – and fantasy book series of all times – Dragonlance . Dragonlance started as a bold idea from Tracy Hickman and Laura Hickman , later developed with Margaret Weis at TSR. To answer the burning question you may be having, right off the bat – yes, the Dragonlance adventures came before the book series. At the time, most D&D adventures were simple and modular. You’d kick in a dungeon door, fight some monsters, grab treasure, and move on. Dragonlance asked a very different question. What if Dungeons & Dragons could tell one long, epic story? Instead of disconnected adventures, the Dragonlance team wanted a campaign with a clear beginning, middle, and end. A single, continent-spanning war. A story that unfolded over time, not just session to session. To make that work, players wouldn’t create random characters. They’d play pre-generated heroes, each designed to fit directly into the narrative, with personal arcs baked into the plot. That idea became the original Dragonlance AD&D module series — eventually twelve linked adventures telling the story of the War of the Lance. On paper, it was revolutionary. At the table… it was complicated. The problem is simple. And honestly, you can probably pause the video here and tell me the problem, yourself, based on your own D&D games. It’s basically this: D&D games, and it’s players – are unpredictable. Dungeons & Dragons thrives on player choice, improvisation, and chaos. Dragonlance, on the other hand, needed players to be in very specific places, doing very specific things, at specific times. If the party ignored a hook, skipped a location, or made an unexpected choice, the entire story could fall apart. So the modules relied heavily on railroading — nudging, and sometimes outright forcing, players back onto the intended path. That tension made Dragonlance awkward to run as a campaign. The story was strong, but the format worked against the strengths of tabletop roleplaying. And that’s when Dragonlance found the form it was truly built for. To promote the modules, TSR (that is, the company founded by Gary Gygax and Don Kaye, to publish D&D) decided to release a trilogy of tie-in novels. That decision came late, the original author didn’t work out, and Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman ended up writing the first book themselves — in roughly three months. The result was Dragons of Autumn Twilight, released in 1984. Which, even talking about almost brings a tear to my eye – the book was just that impactful to me in my teenage years. TSR expected modest sales. But instead, the book was a massive hit. For many readers, this wasn’t just their first Dragonlance novel — it was their first D&D novel. It introduced the idea that a D&D party could be the heart of a fantasy epic, with flawed characters, emotional arcs, and long-term consequences. This is basically why Dragonlance matters to D&D history. And not just a little bit. It matters – a LOT. Dragonlance proved that Dungeons & Dragons wasn’t just a game system — it was actually its own entire storytelling engine. If you haven’t read the novel series, I have some amazing news for you, shortly. But at its core, Dragonlance is about one idea: hope in darkness. The world of Krynn is broken. The gods are distant. War is everywhere. People are scared, tired, and cynical. But, the world of Dragonlance isn’t saved by a single chosen hero. Instead, this novel series tells you that the world can be saved when ordinary people choose to do the right thing, even when it’s hard, and even when it feels pointless. That philosophy shaped the tone of the setting. Dragonlance was darker than most TSR-era worlds, but it was never hopeless. Friendship mattered. Faith mattered. Sacrifice mattered. Umm, a lot. Those themes became incredibly influential, especially for party-focused storytelling in D&D campaigns. Dragonlance also changed how dragons were treated in D&D. Before this, dragons were often just very powerful monsters. Dangerous, sure — but still just another encounter. Dragonlance made dragons rare, mythical, and world-shaping. What becomes the mystical return of dragons isn’t just a side quest in this setting. It’s THE central event that changes the balance of power across the entire world. That idea — that dragons should feel legendary, and not just routine — stuck, and it still shapes how dragons are presented in modern D&D. After the success of the original trilogy, Weis and Hickman followed it with Dragonlance Legends, which is what I’ll be getting to more about in just a few minutes. Instead of escalating to an even bigger war, Legends zoomed in. It focused on the twins from the first trilogy: Raistlin and Caramon Majere, and on the topics of ambition, responsibility, and the cost of power. It introduced time travel – which to be honest, I don’t love – personal tragedy, and consequences that felt intimate. This trilogy, too, was a massive success, even hitting the New York Times bestseller list — a first for TSR. For a brief moment, Dragonlance wasn’t just a D&D setting. It actually became the face of D&D storytelling. But Dragonlance’s greatest strength eventually became its weakness. The setting was tightly bound to one story and one cast of characters. Once the War of the Lance was resolved, the world of Krynn felt… finished. New stories struggled to find the same weight. Bigger threats felt repetitive. New heroes had a hard time stepping out of the shadow of the originals. Unlike the Forgotten Realms, Krynn never felt like a neutral playground. It felt like a world where the most important story had already happened. And slowly, Dragonlance faded from the spotlight. Dragonlance went quiet after 2010. But in February 2026, we’re getting a new hardcover release of Dragonlance Legends — collecting the full trilogy with new behind-the-scenes material from Weis and Hickman. It’s not a full revival of the setting. It’s a reminder of an important moment in D&D history, when the game experimented with storytelling in a way that permanently changed how we think about campaigns. This trilogy about the twins: Raistlin and Caramon – is coming after the Chronicles trilogy was rereleased (I believe) just this last year – I got my copy from Margaret Weis at GenCon. These books haven’t been in print for some time. So, if you like what you’ve been hearing about Dragonlance, or you – like me – are a longtime fan, you may want to pick these up. You can get the original Chronicles Trilogy on Amazon now, and the second Trilogy – Legends – is coming out this February. Dragonlance asked a question that D&D is still trying to answer: Is this game about total freedom… or about telling powerful stories? Most tables today try to balance both. And whether you loved Dragonlance or bounced hard off its railroads, its influence is still baked into how D&D is played, written, and remembered. So I want to know — have you read Dragonlance, or played in a campaign set in Krynn? Would you run a Dragonlance campaign today, or does it feel too tied to its story? Let me know in the comments, like the video if you enjoyed it,subscribe for more D&D deep dives, and I’ll see you next time.
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