10 Best Dungeons & Dragons One-Shots for Beginners

by

Currently, an abundance of tabletop games are available for selection. Yet, despite this variety, Dungeons & Dragons remains one of the most renowned tabletop role-playing games (TTRPG). This game, simply known as D&D, is a timeless fantasy adventure that allows you and your friends to create an engaging narrative together. However, organizing a multi-month or even years-long campaign can be challenging when trying to coordinate everyone’s schedules.

One-shot adventures offer a perfect entry point for new Dungeons & Dragons players or those who want to dip their toes into a shorter role-playing experience. These condensed stories can be finished in just a few hours, providing a great opportunity for beginners to grasp the game’s mechanics and decide if they’d like to venture into longer campaigns. For aspiring Dungeon Masters, one-shots serve as an excellent testing ground to determine their interest in guiding a more extensive adventure as the chief storyteller. If you’re interested in experimenting with shorter D&D sessions, one-shot adventures make for an ideal starting point.

1) The Witch is Dead

This game isn’t exactly based on the Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) system, but it serves as an accessible and concise introduction to the typical format of tabletop role-playing games (TTRPGs). The game “The Witch is Dead” is ideal for newcomers to the concept of tabletop gaming, providing a suitable starting point. As they become more familiar with the mechanics, they can gradually transition to playing D&D.

In this brief, woodland-themed game, participants transform into various woodland creatures, on a quest to unravel the mystery behind the death of their revered witch mentor. Each player will use dice rolls to decide their woodland creature identity and the spell they mastered from the deceased witch. The focus shifts towards investigating the murder, with a playtime of approximately 2 hours. Although it doesn’t teach D&D rules in-depth, it offers a practical introduction to reading character sheets and rolling dice. Moreover, it presents an engaging opportunity for solving a mystery. You can obtain “The Witch is Dead” on itch.io at a suggested “pay what you want” price.

2) We Be Goblins

Indeed, this game isn’t exactly Dungeons & Dragons, but rather Pathfinder. However, if you’re like me, who started with Pathfinder, rest assured that these tabletop role-playing games share many similarities. You’ll find it easy to adapt. Notably, this adventure is also suitable for D&D 5th edition players. The game, We Be Goblins, offers a fresh twist: instead of playing as the usual heroes, you’ll be goblins causing chaos. This intriguing concept makes it an enjoyable and engaging introduction to tabletop role-playing games for newcomers, while experienced players will also find it a delightful experience.

This adventure offers enjoyable, chaotic entertainment as you assume the roles of goblins on a mission to recover fireworks from a deserted ship. Typically lasting between 3 to 4 hours, it’s perfectly suited for a single weekend gaming session. The game titled We Be Goblins can be downloaded free of charge from Paizo’s website, making it an attractive and budget-friendly choice for new players of D&D/Pathfinder.

3) Death House (From Curse of Strahd)

This choice is a little more complex, yet it offers newcomers to the world of Dungeons & Dragons an abridged taste of a legendary adventure. Known as the Death House, it first appeared as an additional section in the Curse of Strahd campaign guidebook, serving as an introductory mini-adventure for the longer storyline. It’s particularly effective at gauging the readiness of novice D&D players since it features 1st-level characters.

This introductory journey immerses players in a spooky townhouse, offering a chilling twist on the traditional dungeon expedition. Typically, it lasts roughly 4 hours to complete, though this can vary based on the extent of the exploration undertaken by the players. Despite being beginner-accessible, it’s recommended for a group that is fully committed, as it can be difficult and punishing. This adventure swiftly advances players from first level to third level. For guidance on running Death House as a standalone game, along with additional resources, check out D&D Beyond. Please note that you will need to purchase the source book, costing around $60, making it one of our more expensive choices.

4) The Lich-Queen’s Begotten

If you’re interested in experiencing advanced Dungeons & Dragons play right off the bat, “The Lich-Queen’s Begotten” is an ideal choice for you. This one-shot adventure caters to players already at 11th level and takes them up to 16th level, making the learning curve slightly steeper. However, it provides beginning players with a chance to explore some of the most exciting character classes in the game instead of being limited by low-level abilities.

In simpler terms, “The Lich-Queen’s Begotten” is a single-session D&D adventure that takes players on a journey to the Astral Plane to battle against the powerful Githyanki Lich-Queen. This intriguing setting and hint of Baldur’s Gate 3 may attract video game enthusiasts new to tabletop role-playing games (TTRPG). Spanning five chapters, this adventure is estimated to last approximately 4-6 hours, making it a more immersive experience for groups with a keen interest in D&D. You can purchase “The Lich-Queen’s Begotten” through DM’s Guild at an affordable price of just $6.

5) Baker’s Doesn’t (From Dragon Delves Anthology)

From the moment I caught wind of this epic adventure from James Wyatt, I was hooked! When I finally laid my hands on it through the latest Dragon Delves compilation, I knew it would become my top pick for introducing newcomers to the 2024 rules of D&D 5e. As a Level 3 starting adventure, it’s easy to grasp yet provides a more diverse demonstration of each class’s capabilities.

In the adventure titled “Baker’s Dilemma,” participants are tasked with aiding a half-elf baker whose shop has been torched by a golden dragon. This tale carries a whimsical feel and introduces the Dragon aspect of Dungeons & Dragons, providing a delightful yet comprehensive introduction to the game’s lore. It is also suitable for one player and one Dungeon Master, making it an ideal choice for beginners who are still gathering a larger group. “Baker’s Dilemma” can be completed within one or two gaming sessions, lasting approximately 3-5 hours. This adventure is included in the “Dragon Delves” anthology, so players must obtain a copy of the book from their local game store or D&D Beyond to access the content.

6) Claus for Concern

For novice Dungeons & Dragons players looking for a fun, cost-free experience, “Claus for Concern” is an excellent pick. As the name implies, this is a Christmas-themed one-shot adventure suitable for players between levels 1 and 5. In simpler terms, it offers a more gentle approach to fantasy lore compared to complex adventures like “The Lich Queen’s Begotten,” making character building less intimidating.

In this festive quest, players strive to save Santa’s workshop from an attacking horde of adversaries. It boasts Christmas-inspired opponents, loot, and terrains, and typically lasts around 3-4 hours. This makes it ideal for a single sitting D&D outing, particularly during the holiday season. Claus for Concern can be purchased at the suggested price of $2.99 through DM’s Guild as a pay-what-you-want item.

7) A Most Potent Brew

A free adventure using only the D&D Beyond rule set called “A Most Potent Brew” is available for players to try out. This adventure is tailored for first-level characters, providing an easy start ideal for newcomers. Whether you’re leading novice players through their initial dungeon or embarking on your first Dungeons & Dragons adventure as a new DM, “A Most Potent Brew” fits the bill perfectly.

This journey picks up right where Baldur’s Gate: Dark Alliance left off years ago, dealing with some large rats in a cellar. However, as you progress, you’ll be drawn further into the mysteries hidden beneath an old wizard’s tower. The duration of this adventure typically ranges from 3 to 6 hours, varying based on your puzzle-solving skills and the speed of your combat encounters. You can access it for free through DM’s Guild, with a recommended donation of $1.

8) The Wolves of Welton

Hailing from the same publisher responsible for “A Most Potent Brew,” another cherished one-shot is available, ideal for beginners. This standalone adventure is structured for characters at 2nd to 3rd levels and follows the rules of Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) 5e. It presents an engaging narrative that helps players acclimate to lower level gameplay, making it an excellent choice for a starting adventure.

In “The Wolves of Welton,” players assume roles assisting a town in managing its wolf predicament. However, these wolves might not be your typical canines. This game is structured for a one-time playthrough, making it approximately 4 hours long. You can download “The Wolves of Welton” for free from the Winghorn Press website.

In the game called “The Wolves of Welton,” players take on roles helping a town tackle its wolf issue. These wolves, however, might not be your average ones. Designed for a single session, this game should last around 4 hours. The game is free to download from Winghorn Press’s website.)

9) Rise of the Redscales

A thrilling one-time escapade that allows players to assume unconventional roles is “Rise of the Redscales”. In this one-shot, players team up as a band of kobolds at level 4. This unique setting grants players an opportunity to interact with dragons closely, without necessarily engaging in combat. At the same time, they will get acquainted with the essentials of Dungeons & Dragons. The characters are already created, which means this game might not teach newcomers how to construct their own character. However, it offers a less challenging starting point, making it an excellent introduction to role-playing games.

In this thrilling tale, characters belong to the Redscale kobold clan, residing in their Dragon Queen’s lair since birth. However, they find themselves needing to protect their home as the hostile Bluescale tribe launches an attack. This standalone game session could last anywhere from 5 to 6 hours, depending on how immersed players become in roleplay and discoveries. The adventure titled “Rise of the Redscales” can be downloaded for free, with a recommended donation of $2, from the DM’s Guild.

10) A Wild Sheep Chase

When you inquire about a D&D player’s preferred one-shot, there’s a strong likelihood that they’ll bring up “A Wild Sheep Chase.” This adventure is so captivating that it consistently grabs attention. It is particularly suited for characters who have reached levels 4 to 5 within the D&D universe, offering a taste of what mid-level adventurers can accomplish. Additionally, this adventure has been updated based on player feedback, making it more welcoming and accessible for those new to D&D.

As a fellow gamer, I’d like to share my take on the game description:

In the whimsical world of “A Wild Sheep Chase,” you find yourself roped into an enchanting battle of wits by a woolly wonder who carries a mysterious scroll that grants the power of Speak with Animals. Little did we know, this charming sheep is none other than a powerful wizard in disguise! He’s in need of our assistance to reclaim his true form. This hilariously endearing adventure will have you grinning from ear to ear and it usually lasts between 3-6 hours, making it perfect for a single, exciting gaming session. You can download this fantastic game for free from the Winghorn Press website!

Read More

2025-08-23 01:12