Shopping List
This page contains Amazon affiliate links. If you click a link and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. This helps support the site — thank you!
What You Actually Need for Roleplaying Games
Starting your tabletop RPG journey doesn’t require breaking the bank or owning every supplement ever published. Whether you’re diving into Dungeons & Dragons, Pathfinder, Warhammer, or any other system, the essentials come down to a few core items: dice for determining outcomes, a character sheet to track your progress, a rulebook to understand the mechanics, a playing surface for tactical combat, and miniatures or tokens to represent characters and enemies. With these fundamentals in place, you can begin your first adventure and gradually expand your collection based on your group’s preferences and playstyle.
1. Polyhedral Dice Set
A standard polyhedral dice set includes seven dice: a d4, d6, d8, d10, d12, d20, and percentile die. These dice determine attack rolls, damage, skill checks, and countless other outcomes throughout your game. Quality resin or metal dice add durability and aesthetic appeal to your gaming sessions while maintaining fair randomization.
Why beginners need it: You absolutely cannot play any tabletop RPG without dice. They’re the fundamental tool that drives every dramatic moment and unexpected turn in your adventure.
What to look for: Choose sets made from durable materials like resin or metal that won’t wear down after repeated rolls. Look for clear numbering that’s easy to read at a glance during gameplay.
2. Character Sheet Pad
Character sheets are the written record of your character’s statistics, abilities, equipment, and story. A pad of pre-printed character sheets specific to your game system eliminates the need to recreate the format each time you build a new character. These sheets keep all your important information organized in one place during gameplay.
Why beginners need it: You need somewhere to track your character’s hit points, skills, equipment, and other vital information. A proper character sheet prevents confusion and keeps the game moving smoothly.
What to look for: Ensure the sheets are designed for your specific game system (D&D 5e, Pathfinder, etc.) and feature clear sections for abilities, skills, and inventory. Quality paper that can handle pencil markings and erasing is essential.
3. Core Rulebook
The core rulebook is the bible of your chosen RPG system, containing all the mechanics, rules, and guidelines needed to play. Whether it’s the Player’s Handbook for D&D 5e or the Core Rulebook for Pathfinder, this book explains how to create characters, resolve conflicts, and run the game properly. Having an official rulebook ensures everyone follows the same rules.
Why beginners need it: You need to understand the fundamental rules of your chosen system to play correctly. The rulebook answers questions about how actions resolve and what’s possible within the game world.
What to look for: Buy the official core rulebook for your specific game system and edition. Look for hardcover versions that will withstand repeated use and frequent page-flipping during sessions.
4. Dice Tray or Rolling Mat
A dice tray catches rolling dice and prevents them from flying across the table, keeping the game organized and your dice safe from damage. Rolling mats provide a designated space for dice rolls and often feature printed information about common rules or quick-reference guides. These accessories protect your table surface while adding a professional feel to your gaming setup.
Why beginners need it: Dice trays prevent chaotic rolling and keep the game area tidy and organized. They’re especially useful when playing at tables without much space or when playing with energetic rollers.
What to look for: Choose a tray with soft interior padding and raised edges to contain dice rolls effectively. Folding trays save space, while larger mats with printed rules provide additional gaming utility.
5. Miniature Figures
Miniatures represent characters and monsters on the tactical battle grid, helping everyone visualize combat encounters. Pre-painted plastic or metal figures save time compared to unpainted models, though some players enjoy painting their own custom pieces. Miniatures range from fantasy heroes and common monsters to special creature sets specific to your campaign.
Why beginners need it: Miniatures eliminate confusion during combat by clearly showing where everyone stands and who can reach whom. They make tactical encounters more engaging and help visual learners understand spatial positioning.
What to look for: Start with pre-painted plastic sets that are affordable and require no assembly. Look for sets that match your game’s setting and include common enemies like goblins, skeletons, and orcs.
6. Battle Grid or Battlemat
A reusable grid mat with one-inch squares provides the tactical battlefield where miniatures move and fight. Vinyl or cloth battlemats work with both dry-erase and wet-erase markers, allowing you to draw terrain and erase between encounters. Standard sizes range from 24×24 inches up to massive gaming surfaces for elaborate combat scenarios.
Why beginners need it: The grid gives combat structure and prevents arguments about distances and movement ranges. A visual battlefield helps players understand tactical positioning better than just verbal descriptions.
What to look for: Choose a mat that’s durable enough for repeated marker use and erasing. Look for gridded surfaces with clearly marked squares, and ensure it’s large enough for your typical encounter sizes.
7. Dry-Erase Markers and Erasers
Quality dry-erase markers in multiple colors allow you to mark positions, draw terrain, and notate temporary effects on your battlemat without leaving permanent marks. A good eraser ensures the mat stays clean and readable for future sessions. Keep several markers and erasers on hand so gameplay never stops due to marker issues.
Why beginners need it: You need a way to mark positions, draw walls, and annotate conditions on your battle grid. Without proper markers, your battlemat becomes unusable and messy.
What to look for: Buy markers specifically designed for whiteboards and battlemats, as regular dry-erase markers may leave stains. Include a few different colors for clarity and get erasers that completely remove ink without ghosting.
8. Dungeon Master’s Screen
A DM screen is a folded cardboard barrier that hides the game master’s notes, dice rolls, and surprise encounters from the players while providing quick-reference rules and tables. These screens protect the mystique of the game by preventing players from seeing your preparations and dice rolls. Many official screens include printed tables specific to popular RPG systems.
Why beginners need it: A DM screen organizes your notes and keeps encounters secret until the right moment. It also adds an air of mystery and drama to your storytelling.
What to look for: Choose a screen with artwork that matches your game’s aesthetic and printed references for your specific system. Look for durable construction that will fold and unfold repeatedly without wearing out.
9. Monster Manual or Bestiary
A monster manual contains statistics and descriptions for hundreds of creatures your players might encounter, from common goblins to legendary dragons. These books save the DM from creating every enemy from scratch and provide balanced encounters of varying difficulty. Most systems have official monster manuals with beautiful artwork and detailed creature abilities.
Why beginners need it: Creating balanced monsters from scratch is difficult and time-consuming. A monster manual gives you instant access to ready-to-use enemies with proper statistics and abilities.
What to look for: Get the official monster manual for your game system that includes creatures of varying challenge levels. High-quality printing with clear layouts makes finding creatures during gameplay much faster.
10. Campaign Notebook or Adventure Module
A campaign notebook helps you organize your story, NPCs, locations, and plot hooks in one place, while pre-written adventure modules provide complete stories with encounters, maps, and challenges ready to run. Whether you create your own world or use published modules, having organized notes keeps your game on track and makes improvisation easier.
Why beginners need it: New DMs benefit hugely from either structured adventure modules or a good organizational system for tracking their homebrew campaign. This prevents plot holes, forgotten NPCs, and confused descriptions.
What to look for: For beginners, consider published adventure modules designed for your system as they handle the heavy lifting of world-building. If going custom, choose a notebook with sections for locations, characters, and encounters.
Budget-Friendly Tips
- Start minimal and expand gradually: You don’t need every accessory immediately. Begin with the absolute essentials—rulebook, dice, character sheets, and a simple battlemat—then add miniatures and other items as your group grows and your interests develop.
- Embrace digital alternatives: Use free online character sheet generators and virtual tabletops instead of buying everything physical. Many resources like D&D Beyond and Roll20 offer free tiers that work perfectly for beginners learning the game.
- Hunt for sales and bundles: Watch for starter sets and bundle deals that combine rulebooks, dice, and accessories at discounted prices. Many publishers release special edition starter boxes during major sales events at significant savings.
Beginner vs Advanced Gear
Beginners should focus on the core essentials: one dice set, character sheets, the rulebook, and a basic battlemat with miniatures. As you progress and your group becomes more invested, you’ll naturally expand into painted miniature collections, multiple dice sets, terrain pieces, 3D-printed accessories, and extensive sourcebooks. Advanced players often customize everything from hand-painted figures to terrain tiles and specialty dice collections worth hundreds of dollars. The beauty of tabletop RPGs is that you can start with minimal investment and scale up your equipment based on your group’s preferences and budget without missing out on the core gaming experience.
Ready to Sell Your Work?
Selling Platforms
Partner recommendations coming soon.