Dungeons & Dragons is the world's best fantasy role-playing tabletop game, and the game's fifth edition is doing better than ever. This game is highly accessible for anyone who wishes to join a D&D group and unleash their imagination, and game shops around the world sell the right items and goodies to get the game started.
Like most hobbies, Dungeons & Dragons will cost some money and requires basic items to play, but fortunately, none of them will break the bank unless the player opts for the fanciest gear. For average D&D newcomers, finding the essential items for gameplay is affordable and convenient, and this is true whether the player is a party member or the dungeon master or whether they're playing in-person or online.
10 A Set Of Dice
Like many board games, Dungeons & Dragons calls for dice so players can generate randomized numbers to determine what happens in the game. Unlike Monopoly or Risk, however, D&D calls for several dice types, not just two or three six-sided dice.
A player will use dice ranging from four-sided models to the iconic 20-sided die, and best of all, players can find complete sets of dice at game stores or online. Such sets have one die of each type, including a d10 percent die, or players can collect individual dice with colors and patterns they like.
9 An Electronic Device With Internet Access
A popular way for D&D players to keep track of their characters is D&D Beyond, which in turn calls for a mobile electronic device with internet access. A smartphone or a tablet computer is ideal for this, where the player can access either the D&D Beyond website on a web browser or use the app.
This is a convenient way for players to manage all their character information since the website will automatically calculate numbers and statistics, which is helpful for novices. The site also allows the player to roll digital dice if they don't yet have a physical set to use.
8 A Dice Tray
It's easy to roll dice directly on the board for board games such as Monopoly, but rolling dice for D&D is different since there isn't a board. Even if the players have a map set up, dice are often thrown too hard and might roll off the table, which is a hassle, or dice might strike a figurine.
To prevent all that, D&D players are encouraged to use a dice tray when making physical rolls. These dice trays are lightweight, cheap, and come in a variety of colors and patterns. They are typically buttoned together to form low walls, and they can be flattened again for easy storage.
7 A Battlefield Map
For smaller battles and most typical role-playing sequences, D&D players will not need a map, figurines, or terrain pieces. For serious combat, meanwhile, it's a good idea to set up a map so everyone, the DM included, can figure out where everything should go.
Such a map can be a basic one with a grid pattern, allowing players to draw features on it with dry-erase markers and the like. Other maps might have fully detailed terrain images on them, and players with a large electronic screen can use digital maps to set up their battles.
6 Player Character Figurines
Figurines in D&D can be split into two groups: player character miniatures and those for the monsters. Player character models are the most important since each player character will be unique, and everyone must be able to tell them apart during gameplay.
Players can get these figurines at game stores, which are labeled as certain character races and classes to make sure everything's accurate, such as an elf ranger or Goliath barbarian. Or, the players can make custom figurines from sites like Hero Forge if they're willing to pay a higher price.
5 Monster Figurines Of Many Types
A D&D group on a budget might opt out of using monster figurines and simply use whatever they can find for monsters, such as small action figures or game pieces from other board games. Having player character figurines is a must, but getting monster figures is slightly more optional.
Still, any D&D group who can afford it is encouraged to get some monster figurines for creatures of all shapes and sizes. This adds immersion and boosts the coolness factor, and the DM can look ahead in the campaign to determine which figures they'll need to buy.
4 A Sound System
Any D&D group that wishes to increase the immersion and add flair to their game must get some great gaming music to match. This means setting up a sound system, which can take different forms based on what the players can afford or what they already have.
Players might connect a phone to a Bluetooth speaker, for example, and play music that way. Or, a player with the right gear can use a dedicated sound system for a home theater and add some serious ambient music or sounds to create a true auditory adventure.
3 A DM Screen
The dungeon master, or the DM, will hide much more information than the players will. The DM will need a screen so they can keep their campaign notes or monster figurines private until they're ready for the big reveal, and DMs also tend to roll their dice behind the screen.
A good DM screen will be properly tall and wide and will be sturdy enough to stay upright during the game. That screen may also have fancy decorations on the outside for visual flair and may have reminder notes or space for custom notes on the inside since DMs need to track a lot of information.
2 Terrain Pieces
Players can draw terrain onto a map on a budget, but D&D groups with spare cash are encouraged to get 3D terrain pieces, which can hugely boost immersion. The most serious groups can make entire towns out of high-quality terrain pieces and models, though intermediate groups don't need that much.
Interested D&D groups are best off with basic terrain pieces that they can arrange however they like on a map, such as trees, rocks, buildings, and odds and ends, such as wells or a horse-drawn cart. This can add visual flair to role-play sessions, and such terrain is vital for players and monsters to take cover, such as a rogue diving for cover behind a boulder.
1 Storage Units For Everything
When a D&D group has collected enough monster figurines, terrain pieces, and dice sets, they will need storage items and storage space to keep everything organized and secure between sessions. Players can use Tupperware containers and other items that they already have or buy new items for storage's sake.
This can take many forms, from a plastic tub for cheap figurines to drawer units where fancy figurines are stored standing up. Whoever is storing all that will also need to set aside some space in their residence, such as getting a shelf unit, making room in their closet, or perhaps a corner of their basement for all those plastic tubs and drawer units.