Contents
Introduction
Dungeons & Dragons is a cooperative game in which players create exciting fantasy stories guided by a Dungeon Master, or DM. Imagination and chance determine the fate of the players' characters.
An Ongoing Game
Each time you gather to play D&D, you're playing a single game session. These sessions connect to form adventures like the ones in this product. The next time you play, the story picks up where you left off.
Choose Your Role
To play D&D with Stranger Things: Welcome to the Hellfire Club, you need two to five people to play as characters and one person to be the Dungeon Master.
Playing a Character
If you want to be one of the protagonists in your group's adventures, consider playing a character. Your character is your alter ego in the fantasy world of the game. Here's what these players do.
Choose a Character
Select from the following five characters from the world of Stranger Things:
- Lady Applejack. Played by Erica Sinclair, Lady Applejack is a Chaotic Good, Elf Rogue who will sneak behind any monster, stab them in the back with her kukri, and smile as she watches them die a slow, agonizing death.
- Nog the Dwarf. Dustin Henderson's sturdy Cleric, Nog, has gotten his companions out of a bind more times than he can count. Nog is a devotee of Heironeous, a god of chivalry, justice, and war.
- Sundar the Bold. A gallant and unyielding warrior, Sundar the Bold bravely defends his companions—just like this Fighter's player, Lucas Sinclair.
- Tayr the Paladin. When Mike Wheeler isn't behind the DM screen in his parents' basement, he dusts off his trusty Paladin, Tayr. The heart of the party, Tayr unites his companions and leads the charge in their fight against evil.
- Will the Wise. Will Byer's Wizard is a mainstay of the party and is always up for another adventure. When Will the Wise casts a spell, his magic sometimes manifests in unexpected colors.
Team Up
Your character joins the other players' characters to form an adventuring party, often referred to as "the party." These adventurers are allies who face challenges and fantastical situations together. Each character has distinctive capabilities that complement those of the other characters.
Venture Forth
Your character's group explores locations and events presented by the DM. You can respond to them however you can imagine, guided by the rules in the D&D Beyond Basic Rules. Although the DM controls all the monsters you encounter, the DM isn't your adversary. The DM guides your party's journey as your characters become more powerful.
Being the Dungeon Master
If you want to be the mastermind of the game, consider being the DM. Here's what DMs do:
- Run the Adventure. You run one or more of the adventures.
- Guide the Story. You narrate much of the action during play, describing locations and creatures that the adventurers face. The players decide what their characters do as they navigate hazards and choose what to explore. Then you use a combination of imagination and the game's rules to determine the results of the adventurers' decisions.
- Adjudicate the Rules. You oversee how the group uses the game's rules, making sure the rules serve the group's fun. You'll want to read the D&D Beyond Basic Rules, and you'll find the rules glossary essential.
Swapping Roles
Playing a character and being the Dungeon Master aren't permanent roles. Each adventure is a self-contained story. Whenever you begin an adventure, determine who will be the DM for that story.
If your group consists of five or fewer players, the previous DM can either choose from the remaining characters or play as the new DM's old character. For groups of six, the previous DM always inherits the available character. Either way, ensure that the character's level is appropriate for the upcoming adventure. The adventures span levels 1–3.
Getting Started
Once you've chosen the DM, follow the instructions below to begin play.
If You're Playing a Character
Follow these steps to prepare your character:
- Choose a Character. Pick one of the five level 1 Characters from appendix D.
- Review Your Character. Take a moment to look over your Character Sheet. When you're ready, introduce your character to the other players.
If You're the Dungeon Master
Follow these steps if you're the DM:
- Review the D&D Beyond Basic Rules. Familiarize yourself with the D&D Beyond Basic Rules. You don't need to memorize every rule before you play, but you should understand the rhythm of play and where to find relevant information when needed.
- Prepare the First Adventure. "The Vanishing Gnome" is designed for level 1 characters. Read the x and x sections. These sections present important context for the adventure, though the story that ultimately emerges is the one your group experiences.
Now you're ready to play D&D. Hell yeah!
Running the Adventures
[image: Greyhawkins]
The following information is key to running the adventures.
When a monster's name appears in Bold type, that's a visual cue to say, "Hey, DM, you should get this stat block ready. You're going to need it."
Magic items are described in Appendix A, while NPCs and Monsters are described in Appendix B.