TTRPGs are quite diverse, but generally speaking they follow a similar formula. Traditionally, play takes place around a table, but even that’s negotiable. Many people play exclusively online these days.

Depending on the system you choose to play, accessories such as minis and battlemats could be optional. However, if you favour a tactical game and want to engage with all the combat rules, they do become more important.

There’s always alternatives though. I don’t keep minis for all my creatures - as a DM, who could afford to? Personally I use paper tokens because they’re easy to whip up and doodle on. Many people use coins, legos, or colored blocks. Anything can stand as a proxy of it’s the right size. There are tales of people who use candy so players can eat what they kill.

Another option, particularly if you go for the online option, is to use a Virtual Tabeletop (VTT). This is software that simulates your table, battlemat, minis, and generally facilitates play. I find them complicated and kind of fiddly, but a lot of people like them.

At the end of the day, you don’t need all that. There’s a concept of play called the Theater of the Mind where players use their shared imagination instead of any accessories. It’s easier when there aren’t a lot of moving parts to keep track of, but if you prefer a narratively focused game then it’s a good way to play.

As far as how to play the game, that’s up to the individual system. However generally speaking you play by having a conversation. The DM describes a situation and then asks “What do you do?” Players then describe their actions. Turn-taking can be more or less rigid depending on the situation. In D&D in particular, turns become much more formal during combat where players take turns in Initiative Order.

Generally speaking, near the start of the rule book (if you have one) there will be an Example of Play. This is usually styled as a transcript of a conversation between players. I always thought those were neat, and they dona pretty good job of showing how a game might play

Getting into the hobby can be intimidating because there are a lot of rules in certain systems, and it can be hard to keep track of them all.

Almost all systems include (or should include) Rule Zero, or Have Fun - the most important rule of all.

If you’re running the game then all rules are optional. As long as everyone is having fun then you can play however you want.

Anyway, I ramble a lot, but I’ve been playing these games for a long time. You’re in for a fun new hobby, good luck getting your group together!

The first thing I’d recommend is try to figure out which genre to play first. I think cyberpunk is way different from DND which is also has different rules than pathfinder. Warhammer 40k is also a. Tabletop game that is more combat oriented and no role playing.

Starting a new group could be hard. Some games shops have play areas for people and I guess they sort of rent space to regular and adhoc groups. I know of three shops which not only sell games, but are setup for people to play there on a Thurs night etc. repeat sales of drinks and may a small charge for the table and game sets could be used from a communal library.

Some games are role playing heavy and others are combat focused. In some groups the DM is always the DM but in others they take turns. There might be a long campaign where the players control the same character from novice to expert/demigod or one shots could be used to fill in some nights, eg dm might be a teacher and one shots are run on school holiday weeks if the group meets.

I would say the trick is to find a group that’s in the same page as you. This can be assisted by having a :Session zero where players meet and discuss what they want from the game so that someone who wants to play a more role playing game and want to actually try and talk their way out of being robbed by bandits instead of ‘rolk a d20. 3, everyone draws weapons and combat begins’.

The aim would be that everyone at the table looks forward to sessions and has fun, and as for rules there’s always ‘the rule of cool’. Where the DM can ignore what’s in the book if it fits with what the players expect. Players jumping off a cliff to escape a fight might not necessarily die from fall damage if it fits the story line, however if a player is about to do something overly careless, the DM might ask the question ’ are you sure you want to do that?’ and the correct thing to do is stop and reconsider as that phrase is usually a warning of the character will probably die if you do.

I would recommend watching some videos of actual play for the system to get an idea about what happens during the game. Just note that watching “professional” DND is just watching any professional. You wouldn’t expect your pickup home game of basket to be identical to the NBA so the same with your TTRPG.

Like all things it helps to watch others. If you find a group they will likely help you out. Just note your experience level and they will be supportive.

There are lots of decent actual plays on YouTube that can give you a very solid idea of how it actually works in practice. My personal favourite style is the glass cannon network as they tend to lean towards how your home game might be (ie it’s not all serious and there’s goofing off during the game) but I’m sure people have specific recommendations for cyberpunk and dungeons and dragons

This article may help:

https://slyflourish.com/getting_started_with_dnd.html

Look into your local game cafe(s). That’s the type of place that sells board games, dice, minis, but also has gaming tables and often a small food and drink counter. There are likely nights for newbies you might be able to join, to experience it live.

Watch some youtube videos of people live-playing the game you are interested in. You’ll see the character players interacting with the DM, propped up mostly by their shared understanding of the game mechanics, and the individual mechanics of their characters. Keep an eye out for how things are different in combat vs out of combat.

You don’t need minis or dice if you play online. E.g. there is a Discord bot called Avrae, and many small communities come together around use of that bot to play, where it handles most of the crunchy mechanics like dice rolls and modifiers and even maps. Some communities play live sessions over video chat, others play without video chat but with 5 minute turn timers, and others play asynchronously with 24 hour timers in a format called play-by-post (or pbp) where they roll the crunchy math in one channel, and then roleplay their characters’ actions in another. Disboard will let you search communities who are looking for members–filter by whatever tags interest you most.

Finding a live play group to play a campaign with can be… Hard. I recommend you start by educating yourself about a system via free resources, maybe finding a game cafe to experience it in a one-shot, and try some online play, before investing too much. As you learn more, you’re also more likely to encounter people looking to start or grow a group.