How to play an RPG

In a role-playing game, one player acts as the Dungeon Manager (DM) and guides the other players who act as Player Characters (PCs). Mostly, play works like this: 

• The DM describes the scene, controls the monsters, and acts for the non-player characters (NPCs). 
• The DM also asks the PCs what they would like to do. 
• When PCs want to do something that is difficult, the DM sets a Difficulty Check (DC) number and tells PCs which Ability to check. 
• The PCs roll the d20 and add the Ability that the DM named. If the result of their die roll + Ability meets or beats the DC, the PC succeeds!
• The DM and PCs tell what happens afterwards. 

FOR EXAMPLE: the DM says there is one old gnarled tree that offers a great view of the valley around and one PC says, “I want to climb it.” The DM says, “It’s not so bad but it’ll be a DC of 12. Make a strength check.” The PC rolls the d20 and adds their STR which gets them a 15. They succeed! The PC describes how they climb the tree and the DM tells them what they see at the top.

To simplify our game, we suggest using one DC for an entire scene. 

FOR EXAMPLE: the PCs are exploring a cave of kobolds and hear the kobolds in the room ahead. The DM says, the scene will be DC 12. One PC wants to sneak in to spy on the kobolds, so the DM says, roll a DEX check. One PC wants to set a snare trap outside the room to catch any kobold who runs out. The DM says, roll an INT check. One PC says, I want to aim my bow at the kobold who looks in charge. The DM says, roll a DEX check. All of these checks have a DC of 12 because this scene is generally a Daring difficulty. Setting one DC for a scene helps the PCs know when they succeed and helps the DM keep track.