Getting into Dungeons and Dragons can sometimes feel overwhelming for new players who have no past experience with similar games or systems.
When the game feels overwhelming, you’ve probably started in the wrong place, as there are some really good starting points to get new players introduced to the game and familiarize them with the game’s rules and mechanics without overloading them with information.
By finding the proper campaign for a beginner, you or anyone you’re introducing to the game will have a better chance of learning the ropes and having a good time. Aside from campaigns, you also have different editions of the game, which have varying mechanics and rules.
The one that’s considered “easiest” is the fifth edition – also known as 5e. Let’s start by taking a look at the different campaigns that new players should begin with!
Before we jump into the list, I’d like to remind you that it also comes down to personal preference but these campaigns are excellent choices for new players as they offer well-crafted characters, a lot of exploration, interesting NPCs, different types of interactions, varying amounts of combat, and good storylines with exciting role-playing possibilities.
You’ll find links to the campaigns in the article.
Lost Mine of Phandelver (2014)
Levels: 1-5
Lost Mine of Phandelver takes place in the region of Phandalin, located on the Sword Coast. Your party has been hired to transport a wagon full of supplies from a distant city called Neverwinter to Phandalin.
Upon arriving in Phandalin, the party discovers that the town has been overrun with goblins and that it must be retaken and restored. While doing so they uncover secrets that the town has been hiding for a very long time.
This adventure is perfect for a group of newly-introduced players, including the role of the Dungeon Master. The campaign is designed to be somewhat simple and straight to the point with great guidelines for narration, a simplified rulebook, and plenty of room for exploration, role-playing, and combat.
It also does a great job of introducing the core mechanics of the game to novice players, including combat, character advancement, and skill checks. Additionally, Lost Mine of Phandelver comes with pre-generated characters that players can choose to adopt instead of hustling through the process of character creation.
Phandelver isn’t exclusively designed for new players. In fact, the campaign can be experienced and enjoyed by veterans and beginners alike. It’s a popular starting point for newcomers and a beloved classic for old-timers.
The adventure is included in the Starter Kit, which will provide everything you need to get started with Dungeons and Dragons.
Princes of the Apocalypse (2015)
Levels: 1-15
While Princes of the Apocalypse isn’t as simplified, short, and guiding as many of the other campaigns on this list, it’s still a great experience for novice players who don’t mind diving deep into a venture that will take some time to finish, which will teach them about the game as they progress through level 1 to 15.
Taking place in the Dessarin Valley in the Forgotten Realm, Princes of the Apocalypse presents a threat from four elemental cults who strive to unchain their elemental powers to bring destruction to the world.
In this well-written module full of exploration and investigation, players must find out about the cults and stop them from realizing their plans. The party will be presented with clues as to how the catastrophe can be prevented, but they must collect the information through wit, charms, and other cunning methods.
Opting for longer adventures often leads to more character development, epic battles, rewarding moments, and exposure to various mechanics and rules. You’ll cement relationships with both NPCs and other characters in your party through the long journey, making the outcomes of certain battles and challenges even more intense.
Princes of the Apocalypse is the perfect springboard for the beginner who isn’t afraid to learn the ropes, and roam outside their comfort zone. By the end of this epic adventure, any player who’s completed it will be ready for more adventures without hesitation.
Curse of Strahd (2016)
Levels: 1-10
Curse of Strahd is among the most popular campaigns for the fifth edition of Dungeons and Dragons. It’s a horror-themed adventure that takes place in a dreadful realm known as Ravenloft, which is ruled by the vampire Strahd von Zarovich, who is one of the most notorious villains in DnD.
Players will be put through the daunting task of finding a way to escape the realm and uncover Strahd’s secrets along the way – in the hopes of removing him from his seat. The campaign sets itself apart from many other campaigns because of its dark and atmospheric theme and Gothic elements.
The campaign requires a lot of investigating and roleplaying, which some players might find frightening while others think of it as the perfect springboard for future campaigns. Curse of Strahd comes with a number of optional mechanics and rules to improve immersion and tension.
One example is the Dungeon Master’s sanity system which is used to keep track of the players’ mental health as it starts to take a toll with every horrendous situation they’re faced with.
Curse of Strahd isn’t a simplified campaign at all, but it isn’t on the list because it facilitates gameplay for players, but rather because the campaign provides Dungeon Masters with a pretty straightforward way to manage the campaign and roleplay an awesome villain without much prior experience.
In addition to that, Curse of Strahd contains interesting elements, a rich and detailed world, well-designed non-player characters, and conflicts that will give you goosebumps.
Death House (2016)
Levels: 1-3
Death House is the perfect campaign for players who’re excited about Curse of Strahd but want to ease into the campaign by learning about Ravenloft through an introductory campaign that sets the mood for the following adventures in Curse of Strahd.
While Curse of Strahd can run for an extended period of time, Death House is a short horror campaign.
When the party enters the village of Barovia, they run into two characters who ask the party to extinguish whatever strange being they allegedly have living in their basement. If the task is accepted, the party will find themselves exploring the Death House and its story.
It’s suggested that you play Death House before playing Curse of Strahd as it might help you to know the setting of the campaign, which you’ll learn a little bit about through Death House.
Dragon of Icespire Peak (2019)
Levels: 1-7
Dragon of Icespire Peak is truly a beginner-friendly campaign, made accessible and easy to run for both new and experienced players and Dungeon Masters. The campaign is included in the Essentials Kit, which is a popular addition to the Starter Kit in D&D 5e.
Dragon of Icespire Peak takes place in the town of Phandalin, located in the vicinity of the Sword Coast. The story then forces players to leave Phandalin when a white dragon nesting in Icespire Peak starts threatening the areas surrounding Phandalin.
Players must set out to deal with the dragon and other dangers in the area while also investigating strange happenings.
The best part is that players can choose to accept these quests in any order they like, allowing the party to pick the parts they’re curious about before they proceed. Flexibility is an element that I believe is good for beginners when it’s matched with a simple design – this campaign achieves this.
The campaign is designed in such a way that new players will be able to digest the information with ease and not feel overwhelmed.
Instead, players start out doing smaller low-level tasks at the beginning of the campaign and are then sent out on gradually harder quests, which gives players time to adapt to the format before setting out on an epic mission.
Lastly, Dragon of Icespire Peak contains helpful tips and provides guidance for players and Dungeon Masters throughout the campaign.
Baldur’s Gate: Descent Into Avernus (2019)
Levels: 1-14
Baldur’s Gate is the go-to campaign for novice players who’re looking to experience the dark and evil themes of hell. Players will be tempted to make deals with the devil as they travel through the Nine Hells, where corruption grows stronger by the day.
Their actions have consequences, so any temptation that might seem lucrative at first could come back to punish you later on in the campaign. The power of choice is something that’s highlighted in this campaign.
Baldur’s Gate is the perfect introductory campaign to Dungeons and Dragons, as it will have players going from level 1 to 14 as they advance through the first layer of the Nine Hells, Avernus. The party’s journey through this hellish landscape will have them facing infernal powers, challenges, and intriguing interactions.
When alas, a war between the devils and demons of the realm breaks out, the party will have gained enough experience to navigate the game. When the party stands to face the archdevil himself, they should’ve reached the highest level, making for an epic battle.
Overall, the campaign has a well-crafted story, the plot is engaging and gives players the drive they need to pursue their goals, the objectives of the campaign are clear to the players, and the campaign comes with a lot of pre-made content that can be used for players who struggle with creating their own content.
Waterdeep: Dragon Heist (2018)
Levels: 1-5
Waterdeep: Dragon Heist is one of the best introductory campaigns for those who don’t fancy the high-fantasy and horror elements of Dungeons and Dragons, as the story is set in an urban environment.
Additionally, the campaign puts emphasis on roleplaying rather than combat mechanics, making it a suitable pick for those who want more experience roleplaying.
If you, on the other hand, think a campaign needs to involve a lot of combat, then I suggest you try Waterdeep as this will challenge your beliefs. The campaign is set in the town of Waterdeep, an urban city where things are happening under the radar.
The campaign includes a lot of engagements and exchanges with NPCs, as the party needs to asses and investigate the most notable citizens in Waterdeep without raising suspicion and gaining the attention of law enforcers. The party can, for instance, do this by cunningly winning the trust of these characters or manipulating them.
The party will have the ability to choose what villain they’re going up against. There are four main culprits in total and the playthroughs change drastically depending on which one you choose, which makes it possible to play the campaign several times without having the same experience.
Tomb of Annihilation (2017)
Levels: 1-11
Tomb of Annihilation takes place in the jungle peninsula of Chult, on the continent Faerun, where people have been afflicted by a deadly curse that slowly makes them wither away, and no cure to the curse has been found. The party is sent out to a lost city, where the source of the curse is believed to be located.
The adventure forces players to navigate the dangerous jungle while gathering resources and finding clues that point to the lost city’s whereabouts. Once the city has been found, yet another mystery awaits the party – accompanied by many challenges.
Tomb of Annihilation might not be designed uniquely for new players, but it’s definitely a good pick for those who want to experience many different elements of Dungeons and Dragons all packed into a great storyline.
Players will have to use their wit as they’re faced with a wide variety of challenges throughout the adventure. The campaign also presents a lot of exploration opportunities to players as they venture through the jungle.
Roleplaying and combat are also frequent elements as players will find both dangerous creatures and non-player characters along the way.
Lastly, Tomb of Annihilation is a flexible campaign that allows players to bend the adventure to their own liking and pace a bit more than many other campaigns do, which is an important thing to take into consideration when onboarding new players.
Storm King’s Thunder (2016)
Levels: 1-11 (Can start at level 1 or 5)
Storm King’s Thunder is considered among the best campaigns for beginners to start with. The story takes players through a chaotic world where giants who were once controlled have been unleashed and are wreaking havoc.
The party must set out to find out why the giants are destroying everything in their way before mankind grows too weak to counterattack.
The campaign presents a world that is full of challenges in the form of dangers and other intrigues that will keep the players wanting more. As a Dungeon Master, you’ll have an easier time running the campaign because it facilitates some of the challenges that one might face when running large-world campaigns.
Storm King’s Thunder isn’t a combat-heavy adventure, but you will still run into it every now and then and the battles are often good enough to keep you satisfied for a while. Overall, the book is well-written and the campaign is structured in such a way that it makes it very easy to run.
The intro section of the book takes you through levels 1 to 5 and is full of valuable information that the Dungeon Master will need. The one thing that the campaign lacks is motivation to continue, something to keep players drawn into the story so much that they can’t wait for the next part.
The lack of compelling hooks can be nullified by being creative with the plethora of NPCs, magic items, monsters, and quests that you’re given. Using these in a way that excites your party will have them longing for the rest of the campaign.
Alas, you’ll find some really awesome settings in the adventure and a couple of quite epic fights. The pace of the story can be fine-tuned to suit your party, which can act as a counterweight to the, sometimes missing, driving forces.
Ghosts of Saltmarsh (2019)
Levels: 1-12
Presenting the first adventure on the list that takes place out on the sea. Ghosts of Saltmarsh is an epic collection of marine stories that introduces players to the mysteries of the oceans in Dungeons and Dragons. These stories can be played individually or grouped to create a longer adventure.
The story takes place in the town of Saltmarsh, which seems to be a calm and collected coastal village at the beginning of the adventure. However, underneath the surface, something seems to be happening that will put the village of Saltmarsh in dire need of assistance if anyone is to survive.
Ghosts of Saltmarsh offers ship-to-ship combat, creatures from the deep seas, undead pirates, deities, magic items, and much more. The entire campaign, consisting of seven adventures is truly an epic story that must be experienced by both beginners and veterans – especially if the nautical theme is to your liking.
Players can choose to play only one of the stories, or several of them in any order, which makes it a good choice for beginners as they don’t need to feel bound to a complex plot or character for too long. Instead, they can choose where to go next, which makes it possible to try a lot of new things in one single campaign.
Additionally, the campaign is designed for new players and starts out at level 1, giving players a chance to develop their character and understanding of the game as the story advances. It’s also very easy to customize the adventure to suit any playstyle your party likes.
You’ll find many different elements and aspects of the game in these stories, leaving you with a little bit of experience in many fields.
The Wild Beyond the Witchlight (2021)
Levels: 1-8
The Wild Beyond the Witchlight can feel like a daunting task for new Dungeon Masters at first glance. But in reality, it provides the proper guidance for any Dungeon Masters to build up their experience with the game.
Transported from their own world to the realm of Feywild, a magical realm full of fantastical, the party is stranded with few answers and many questions. As they arrive, they are quickly invited to a carnival called Witchlight Carnival, which seems to have appeared out of nowhere.
As time goes on, it becomes more and more obvious that there’s something strange about the circus and the prominent character who’s managing it. The party has to navigate through strange mazes and circus attractions where they’ll meet both friends and foes to find an answer to what’s going on.
Because the story takes place on another plane, you, as a DM, must familiarize yourself with the realm and the basic set of rules of the game.
You will learn the rest as you progress through the adventure. Apart from its other-worldly elements, which you most likely have heard of before, the campaign is easy to adopt and quite light on combat.
It’s an open-world story where players aren’t forced to do anything, yet also able to do everything. The party is not bound to much except for the non-player characters who guide the party between areas.
Instead of focusing strongly on combat, the campaign sheds light on investigation methods, cunning social techniques, and the ability to see that which isn’t obvious.
Early-level interactions can turn out to play an important role in the story later on, which makes it important for players to remember some of the details they’re presented with throughout the story.
You’ll like this one if you like puzzles, roleplaying, and exploration.
Candlekeep Mysteries (2021)
Levels: 1-16
Candlekeep Mysteries is a collection of 17 adventures that can be played individually to ease into the game or as part of a linked adventure if you’re wanting to play a long campaign. They’re written by different authors and designed with new players in mind, as most of the early stories are easy to run.
One might say that the complexity ramps up a bit during some of the adventures in the collection, which makes it a viable option for players with varying experience. The first couple of adventures will teach the Dungeon Master valuable lessons in a simple environment that isn’t too open-ended.
All adventures take place in or around Candlekeep, a fortress that doubles as a library. Even though the stories are found and set in the same area, they’re still disconnected from one another and can be played as the party desires.
Because all the stories in the collection are set in the same area, you’ll get to know the setting of the rest of the campaigns by playing one, which is an awesome way for new players to familiarize themselves with an area step-by-step, without having to stick to the same story for too long.
The theme of the adventures in the collection range from political conflicts and dimensional rifts to murder investigations and typical dungeon crawls. Then there’s everything in between. You’ll find something that floats your boat,
Tales From the Yawning Portal (2017)
Levels: 1-11+
Tales From the Yawning Portal isn’t your regular type of campaign. Instead, the book contains 7 of D&D’s most prominent and classic adventures, but they’re rewritten to fit the fifth edition of the game (5e).
The short stories included in the book offer an awesome way for new players to experience Dungeons and Dragons’ history with a modern and simplified touch.
Each of the seven stories in the book has managed to capture the essence of the game’s golden in different ways. They’re all dungeon crawls with varying difficulty levels – some are considered chaotic and intense while others have been balanced deliberately to shepherd new Dungeon Masters and players into the game.
The first adventures are perfect for novice DMs, as they’ll be given advice on how to run the campaign as the story goes. This is specifically true for the first adventure in the collection, The Sunless Citadel, which is considered a great introductory campaign.
The book also contains these stories:
- The Forge of Fury
- The Hidden Shrine of Tamoachan
- White Plume Mountain
- Dead in Thay
- Against the Giants
- Tomb of Horrors
This mixture of adventures and pieces of D&D history is designed for players of all levels, and can be used as inspiration for other campaigns or played through as they are. It should be noted that the campaigns in the book aren’t connected to one another.
Any Dungeon Master who wishes to create a full-fledged campaign using the seven stories in the collection has to be creative to tie them all together as there’s little connecting them from the start.
Instead, they provide a mix of different elements, themes, and playstyles, which introduces newly-started players to a little bit of everything.
Aside from the introductory campaign, The Sunless Citadel, the others are typical dungeon crawls. Take into consideration that these stories were initially written a long time ago, and even though they’ve been revamped, certain elements that one might expect from a 5e campaign might not be there.
If you keep in mind that this is nostalgia, then you’ll get what you’re after. The golden era of Dungeons and Dragons served in modern packaging.
Prepared! (2015)
Levels: 1-11
Prepared! is a collection of short one-shot adventures published by Kobold Press, who’ve released plenty of well-received D&D campaigns over the years.
The book is 26 pages long and consists of a dozen adventures, which will take you from strange alien factories and goblin fortresses to mysterious structures appearing before your eyes. It provides background information, adventure elements, descriptions of each area, and ideas for continuing the stories.
The theme of the adventures is a well-balanced mixture that will have players laughing one moment and the next fully focused because of how intriguing it is. Regardless of the story, I’m sure you and your party will be entertained by these short adventures.
As a Dungeon Master, you’ll get plenty of assistance on how to keep the game moving forward. Additionally, the adventures aren’t pure combat, instead, they’re a good breed between combat, interaction, and investigation.
The stories, monsters, challenges, and plots in the book should be implemented in your other campaigns to improve the experience. It’s a neat book to have on hand if you’re running out of inspiration.
Bonus: Tome of Encounters
Tome of Encounters was partly designed to showcase the new rules featured in the fifth edition, but also to display the variety of playstyles accessible to you. The book comes with 25 encounters to challenge players of various levels and game experience.
These 25 mini-adventures come with new monsters, NPCs, and challenges that are designed for characters between levels 1 and 10.
Additionally, the Tome of Encounters is the perfect source for challenges when you’re starting to run dry as a Dungeon Master. Think of it as a gap filler for your future adventures.
This 54-page book is a bridge to larger campaigns that can be used to prepare but also to implement in your other campaigns when you’re out of inspiration.
How Do I Start a D&D Campaign For Beginners?
Now that you’ve gathered information regarding the different adventures and, possibly, found one that you and your party got excited about, it’s time to prepare the campaign.
Knowing where to start can be difficult for newcomers, as there’s so much to take in. With the right campaign, you’ll be introduced to the game without feeling overwhelmed.
Some campaigns are better suited towards new players, but might require an intermediate or somewhat experienced Dungeon Master, while other campaigns are perfect for Dungeon Masters who aren’t experienced at all, as they’ll be guided through the experience. Pick accordingly when selecting your first campaign.
Before you start playing, make sure you’ve got everything you need to get the game going. You’ll find a ton of tips in our guide that goes through everything you need to understand the basics of Dungeons and Dragons.