Learning to Play D&D | Ability Scores & Proficiencies
Today, I’m sharing another entry in my series for brand new players: Learning to Play D&D. If you’re new to tabletop roleplaying games, this one’s for you! In our last video, we talked about the three core pillars of D&D—exploration, social interaction, and combat—and how the basic d20 mechanic works. Now, let’s dig a little deeper and explore what really makes your character unique: their Ability Scores and Proficiencies.
Every D&D character has six Ability Scores: Strength, Dexterity, Constitution, Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma. These numbers help determine how well your character does things like climbing a wall, spotting a hidden door, or charming a shopkeeper. When you create your character, you’ll either roll for these scores or use an array or point-buy system—your Dungeon Master will let you know which approach to use at your table.
In addition to these scores, your character may be Proficient in certain skills or weapons—meaning they’re especially good at them. In 5th Edition, a Level 1 character has a +2 Proficiency Bonus, which they add to any roll they’re proficient in. For example, if your character has a Charisma bonus of +3 and is Proficient in Persuasion, you’d add +5 to any Persuasion checks.
Of course, you can still attempt things you’re not Proficient in—your character just won’t get that Proficiency bonus, but you’ll always get to add the relevant Ability Modifier. And sometimes, even if you’re not trained, a high enough roll can get the job done!
This video also covers how the different dice work—like d4s, d6s, d8s, and d12s—often used for damage rolls and other game effects. And it touches on the “Advantage and Disadvantage” system in 5E, where you roll twice and take the better (or worse) result—an easy but powerful tool that makes certain situations more exciting.
The main thing to remember? You’ll be rolling a lot of d20s, adding your Ability Modifiers and Proficiency Bonuses when they apply, and seeing if you meet or beat a target number set by your DM. And don’t worry—your Character Sheet keeps track of all this info, and I’ll be covering how to use that in the next video in this series!
Above all, remember: this is a game where you’re working together to create a fun and exciting story. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes and have fun trying new things. If you have any tips for brand new players—or favorite moments of seeing this come together at the table—please share them in the comments below.
Thanks for joining me on this new player journey!
Cheers,
Brian