Learning to Play D&D | Ability Scores & Proficiencies

Today, I’m sharing a new installment in my Learning to Play D&D series—perfect for players who are brand new to tabletop roleplaying games or just getting started with Fifth Edition! In this video, we’re diving into two key components of your character: Ability Scores and Proficiencies.

Every D&D character has six Ability Scores: Strength, Dexterity, Constitution, Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma. These scores shape how well your character performs in all kinds of situations—whether it’s fighting a monster, talking your way out of trouble, or sneaking past a guard. Higher Ability Scores mean better bonuses on your rolls, while lower ones can be a challenge (but that’s part of the fun, too).

Proficiencies are the special areas where your character really shines—things like particular weapons, tools, or skills they’ve trained in. At level one, every character has a +2 Proficiency Bonus, which you add to any roll you’re proficient in. So if your character has a +3 Charisma modifier and is Proficient in Persuasion, that’s a +5 bonus whenever you try to talk someone into a deal!

Even if you’re not proficient in something, you can always give it a try. This is part of what makes roleplaying so fun—you get to take risks and see what happens! Sometimes you’ll be rolling with a bonus, sometimes you’ll be going in with nothing but luck (and a prayer to the dice gods).

We also took a closer look at the dice you’ll be using—like the classic d20, d6, d4, d8, d10, and d12—and how the rolling process works in game. Your Dungeon Master will let you know which Ability Score and Proficiency apply to any roll, and together you’ll narrate the outcomes.

One more tip we covered: Advantage and Disadvantage, a 5E mechanic that can really change the outcome of your rolls. When you have Advantage, you get to roll twice and keep the higher result—great for those clutch moments! Disadvantage is the opposite—you roll twice and take the lower result, which can really raise the stakes when your character’s in trouble.

Overall, this is the first step in understanding what your character can do and how to bring them to life at the table. In our next video, we’ll talk about the 5E Character Sheet—where all these numbers and bonuses get written down so you can keep track of them and focus on the story.

If you’re just getting into D&D, don’t worry—nobody expects you to know it all right away. Just have fun, and know that every roll, every Ability Score, and every attempt you make is part of the adventure.

If you’ve got your own insights or tips for new players, I’d love to hear them—leave a comment below!

Cheers,
Brian