7 Common Mistakes New D&D Players Make (And How to Fix Them)

26 March 2026

Starting D&D is exciting and overwhelming in equal measure. The rules are dense, the social dynamics are new, and nobody wants to be that player. The good news: most mistakes new players make are simple to fix once you know what to look for.

1. Waiting for your turn instead of paying attention

Combat in D&D can take a while. It’s tempting to scroll your phone while other players take their turns. Don’t. When your moment arrives and you have no idea what’s happening, the table grinds to a halt.

Fix: Watch what others do. Track the enemy’s HP roughly. Plan your action on the previous player’s turn, not when the DM looks at you.

2. Not knowing your own character sheet

You don’t need to memorise every rule. But you should know your own abilities. Spending two minutes reading your spell list mid-combat is a common time sink that frustrates everyone.

Fix: Before each session, spend five minutes reviewing your character sheet. Know your three most-used actions by heart.

3. Talking over other players

New players are often enthusiastic—which is great. But enthusiasm can accidentally crowd out quieter players who are still finding their feet.

Fix: After you speak, pause. Look around the table. Is someone else about to say something? Give them the space.

4. Trying to “win” D&D

D&D isn’t a competition. It’s collaborative storytelling. Optimising your character to outshine everyone else, or hoarding loot, or solving every problem solo—these habits make sessions less fun for the whole table.

Fix: Ask yourself: “Does this action make the session more fun for everyone, or just for me?” That question alone is a great compass.

5. Ignoring roleplay because it feels awkward

Many new players stick to mechanical choices (“I attack”) and skip the roleplay because it feels embarrassing. The result is a table where nobody’s characters have any personality.

Fix: Start small. Give your character one opinion or one quirk—hates being underground, always speaks formally, collects unusual rocks. You don’t need to perform. One line of in-character dialogue per session is enough to start.

6. Not asking questions

D&D has a learning curve. New players often pretend to understand rules or lore they don’t, and then get confused or make decisions based on wrong assumptions.

Fix: Ask. The DM would rather answer a quick question than unravel a decision that was based on a misunderstanding. “What do I know about this creature?” is a perfectly valid thing to say.

7. Playing a character completely disconnected from the party

You’ve created a lone wolf assassin who trusts nobody and works alone. That’s a compelling character concept—but it makes every group decision, every scene, and every social encounter more difficult for everyone.

Fix: Build at least one reason why your character works with this specific group. They don’t have to like everyone, but they need a reason to stay at the table.

The short version

Be present, know your character, share the spotlight, and lean into the story—even when it’s imperfect. The best D&D sessions aren’t made by one brilliant player. They’re made by a table full of people who are genuinely paying attention to each other.