by John Petelle

Created on: February 02, 2009

As a general rule of thumb, younger players will have less income at their disposal, and it is certainly true that this would prevent them from assembling a collection of all the Dungeons & Dragons products on the market. In most cases however, trying Dungeons & Dragons out shouldn't cost them anything more than their time.

One of the best ways to find out if a young gamer will enjoy playing Dungeons & Dragons is by watching games in play. A visit to the local game or hobby shops and comic shops too - will often yield a bulletin board advertising Dungeons & Dragons groups playing in the area. Some stores will also have weekly games that are played in the store, and these provide a great opportunity for the fledgling player to observe Dungeons & Dragons in action and get a feel for whether they would enjoy playing.

An important consideration to keep in mind is that different groups will have varied styles of play. Viewing several different groups and their methods of play will provide a better overall picture of how the game operates. Once the prospective Dungeons & Dragons player has found a group that provides an enjoyable atmosphere and gaming experience, the next step is to inquire about being able to play.

Gamers are, by nature, a fairly sociable lot, and even if there isn't room in the group for another full-time character, there may be an opportunity to sit in as an assistant to the Dungeon Master. In addition to being a great way to learn the rules of the game, the Dungeon Master may welcome the opportunity to have a new voice take on some of the minor roles that interact with the other players. In this fashion, the younger player can get experience playing without any monetary investment since he or she will be utilizing the Dungeon Master's materials.

Once a player decides to move forward with playing Dungeons & Dragons, there are some costs that will typically be involved. For a player, the basic items needed include a set of dice, a copy of The Player's Handbook, and a miniature figure to represent the character. The dice and miniature figure can be picked up for a combined price of less than ten dollars at most gaming or comic shops, or can be ordered online for similar prices through sites such as Chessex and eBay. The Player's Handbook is likely to represent the highest investment to begin with as it has a list price of $34.95. For gamers seeking a bargain, this cost can usually be reduced to around $15-$25 by shopping for used versions online through sites such as Amazon or eBay. As most gamers are quick to acknowledge though, shopping at local gaming/comic stores helps keep them in business.

As a more advanced player, who decides to branch out into running a game as a Dungeon Master, or simply moving beyond the basics', the costs go up pretty quickly. For a young player who is just starting out though, the materials can be kept to a minimum and there is plenty of enjoyment to be had without spending much money.

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