Starting a Dungeons & Dragons Club at Your School or Library
Starting a Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) club is one of the best ways to encourage creativity, teamwork, and problem-solving in teens. If you've ever considered launching a club but weren’t sure where to begin, this guide will walk you through exactly how we did it. Whether you're a seasoned Dungeon Master or completely new to the game, this step-by-step breakdown will help you set up a successful and engaging club for your students.
Step 1: Gauge Interest and Recruit a Dungeon Master
The first step is to see if students are interested. We put up a sign-up sheet in the library, and once we had enough names, we hosted an informational meeting to go over the basics of the game. Since D&D is a player-driven experience, having a dedicated Dungeon Master (DM) is crucial. Luckily, we had a student eager to take on this leadership role. If you don’t have a student ready to DM, you can lead the first few sessions yourself or ask a volunteer to help.
Step 2: Provide an Overview and Introductory Materials
Most of our students had never played before, so we created introductory packets that explained how the game works in simple terms. These packets included:
A general overview of gameplay and storytelling elements
A breakdown of character creation, including classes, races, and alignments
A worksheet with guiding questions to help students develop their characters’ backstories
These handouts made the learning curve much less intimidating and gave students a strong foundation before diving in. You can download our introductory materials here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/18OSCkEnc1TeRO_pj3TrIeVupCriT-lmcC2BuggbzAzo/edit?usp=sharing
Step 3: Use Technology to Streamline Character Creation
Creating characters from scratch can be overwhelming, especially for beginners. To simplify the process, we used the D&D Beyond app on tablets borrowed from the library. This made it easy for students to select their race, class, and abilities with guided digital prompts.
If tablets aren’t an option for your club, you can print out blank character sheets and guide students through the process manually.
Step 4: Choose a Shorter, Beginner-Friendly Campaign
With 13 students in attendance, we knew a full-length campaign would be difficult to manage. Instead, we opted for a bullet campaign, a shorter and more streamlined adventure that still offers plenty of fun and storytelling. Bullet campaigns are great for large groups because they allow players to experience the game without the long-term commitment of a traditional campaign.
Step 5: Encourage Creativity Outside of Sessions
To keep students engaged, we assigned a creative challenge for our next meeting: draw your character to earn an in-game bonus! This encourages artistic expression and helps players connect more deeply with their characters. Small incentives like this keep students excited between sessions and make the experience even more immersive.
Looking Ahead: Ongoing Resources and Updates
As our club progresses, I’ll continue documenting our process and providing additional resources. If you're considering starting your own D&D club, I encourage you to adapt and use our materials to fit your group’s needs.
Have you run a D&D club before, or are you planning to start one? I’d love to hear your experiences and suggestions—feel free to reach out or leave a comment!
Download Our Resources: https://docs.google.com/document/d/18OSCkEnc1TeRO_pj3TrIeVupCriT-lmcC2BuggbzAzo/edit?usp=sharing
Happy adventuring!
