The last few years have seen the RPG player base grow to the largest it’s ever been, and 2023 is turning out to be the year that many of those players are seeking out new player- and creator-friendly systems to run at their tables. There’s never been a better time to get started playing Dungeon Crawl Classics RPG.
If you're new to DCC, welcome to the Band. I've seen many people ask how to get started, so this guide is my advice. I’m gonna take two approaches here—read through both and decide what’s best for you and your table. This article is for would-be Judges out there, but must of my advice stands for players, too.
What You Need - Answer Number 1
1. DCC RPG Core Rule Book
2. DCC Dice3. Adventure Modules
DCC Core Rule Book - This is the closest thing to an essential item as there is. DCC takes a one-book approach: character creation, spells, monsters, equipment tables—everything you need from a rules point of view is in here. It’s a big, big book—about 200 pages of it are just spells. It’s available in hardback and softcover, both with a variety of alternate covers. There have been a number of different printings over the years, but the changes are mostly in formatting and art—whichever printing you can get your hands on will work. Like all DCC books and modules, the print version comes with a free link for a PDF copy as well.
DCC Dice - As you probably know by now, DCC RPG uses a set of 14 "funky dice" in place of the standard seven RPG dice set. Goodman Games sells official dice sets through their online store and through retailers. I’ve been lucky enough to pick up a few sets at my local independent game shops, but they’re not always easy to come by. If you’re in a city with hobby shops, give them a call and they may be able to order them in. The premium dice sets also come with exclusive art, spells, and items. GG seem to have amped up their dice production lately, and in my experience, they’re much easier to find than they were just a year ago. Impact Miniatures are the manufacturers for Goodman Games, and they sell the dice individually and in sets through different retailers if you look around online.
The dice you’ll need are D3 - D4 - D5 - D6 - D7 - D8 - D10 - D12 - D14 - D16 - D20 - D24 - D30 - D%
As a Judge, I like to have two sets - one for me, and one for the players.
Modules - Your core rule book will contain two adventures, and that’s enough to get started. But one of the greatest appeals of DCC RPG for many of us is the variety and number of excellent adventure modules. While you're encouraged to write your own material, running a few published modules will help you understand the tone and strengths of the system. There are plenty of recommendations out there for the best starter adventure, but honestly whichever level 0 or level 1 module you can get your hands on will should be a great start.
What about this other stuff?
Scratch-off Character Sheets - This is a fun, memorable, and time-saving way to generate a party of characters. Are they essential? Absolutely not.
Judge’s Screen - There are few official Judge’s screens out there. I made my own.
DCC Annual - The Annual is a great book with lots of player and Judge options, but it’s not necessary for beginners.
Tome of Adventure, Vol. 1 - This is a hardback collection of a number of adventure modules. It's a good deal,
Lankhmar, Mutant Crawl Classics, Empire of the East, etc... - These offer new settings and rules that you can combine with DCC or, in some cases, run independently. Like the Annual, they're worth a look, but might overwhelm new players.
A caveat—universal advice is tough to give when it comes to pricing this stuff out because the import and shipping fees vary wildly based on where you live. For example, the New Fan Starter Kit offered by Goodman Games is a great deal, but those of us outside the USA would pay more in shipping than the sticker cost. My best advice is to look around - not only at the big online retailers, but hobby shops (brick-and-mortar and online) in your home country too. They may be able to order it in for you. Hell, I've found out-of-print module for sale on my local grocery store’s website. You’ll be surprised what you find if you really look around.
What You Need - Answer Number 2
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| Two of the many different covers available for the quick start rules. |
1. DCC RPG Quick Start Rules
2. Purple Sorcerer Dice Roller
DCC RPG Quick Start Rules - This free book, available in PDF or paperback, has everything you need to play a level-zero funnel or level-one adventure. I’d actually recommend this book as the starting point for any player, as the layout is clearer for beginners than the Core Rule Book. The PDF is always available on Goodman Games’ website, and paper copies are typically distributed to hobby shops on DCC Day every year.
Purple Sorcerer Dice Roller - This is the easiest and most affordable solution to the funky dice problem. It’s free and intuitive. If you still wanna roll physical dice but can’t find the DCC sets, the Core Rule Book outlines ways you can cheat with standard RPG polyhedrals to simulate the funky dice rolls you’ll encounter. Purple Sorcerer offers many other tools besides the dice roller, too. It's an incredible resource.
You can get started playing for free with just the Quick Start Rules and Purple Sorcerer. I'd recommend that anybody interested in the game just dive right in with these tools.
Demo Nights
Goodman Games offers beginners-only games with experienced Judges through their Demo Night program. These one-off virtual sessions are a great way to get a feel for the rules and tone of the game while meeting like-minded players. Demo Nights seem to happen at least once a week now. My first experience with the game was a Demo Night, and it got me hooked. That was a year ago, and now I never wanna leave the dungeon. Keep an eye on the Goodman Games events page to find the next demo night.
Note: None of the links in this post are sponsored or affiliated.
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