1. Player’s Handbook

The player's handbook is the crucial piece for any adventurer. This book contains the basic rules for Dungeons and Dragons and includes playable races, classes, backgrounds, items and spells.

You can find this book:

• Amazon

• Barnes and Noble

• Local Game Store

2. Monster Manual

This book is the most captivating for new players. It contains statistics and lore for the monsters commonly associated with D&D.

You can find this book:

• Amazon

• Barnes and Noble

• Local Game Store

3. Dungeon Master’s Guide

The Dungeon Master's Guide is a manual that contains some general advice for fledgling DMs, but is not necessary for running the game of D&D. I most often reference this book to find magic item rewards.

You can find this book:

• Amazon

• Barnes and Noble

• Local Game Store

4. Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything

One of the most popular supplemental manuals for D&D, Tasha's contains updated rules for character creation, new monsters, extra spells, and a new class: Artificer. This is my most recommended manual after the basic Player's Handbook and Monster Manual set.

You can find this book:

• Amazon

• Barnes and Noble

• Local Game Store

5. Supplemental Manuals

These manuals add various material to D&D, including monsters, spells, magic items, new races, and settings to play in.

• Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes

• Xanathar's Guide to Everything

• Fizban's Treasury of Dragons

• Spelljammer

• Eberron Guide

• Mystic Odyssey of Theros

You can find these books:

• Amazon

• Barnes and Noble

• Local Game Store

6. Modules

Modules are adventures, often self-contained, meant to be run for a group of players. The module describes plot hooks, characters you might meet, monsters to fight and the situation you fight them in, as well as the rewards for accomplishing your goals.

• The Lost Mines of Phandelver

• Curse of Strahd

• Journeys to the Radiant Citadel

• Descent to Avernus

• Adventures on the Sword Coast

• Ghosts of Saltmarsh

• Curse of Strahd

• Rime of the Frostmaiden

You can find these books:

• Amazon

• Barnes and Noble

• Local Game Store

7. Dice

Dice are critical for playing D&D. Nearly every rule uses dice in some way, but none more than the noble d20. Dice sets commonly come in a set of 7, including a d4, a d6, a d8, a d10, a d100 (percentile), a d12 and a d20. The dice represent the fluctuation of chance in any situation and rolling represents the possibility of failure or success. The quality of the dice varies with the price, starting with Chessex's accessible plastic lines up to dice made from metal or precious gems.

• Chessex Dice

• Resin cast dice

• Precious material dice

You can find these items:

• Local Game Store

• Barnes and Noble - B&N sometimes has Chessex pound o dice, 7 sets of dice, and dice sets of fancier qualities at reasonable prices

• Etsy - There is a huge market for custom and specialty resin cast dice makers on Etsy

• Amazon

8. Minis

I have a fondness for miniatures when it comes to D&D. I am visually oriented person and seeing my warrior standing against a dragon six times his size brings me a lot of joy. These days not as many people can play in person but I still find value in having minis as a hobby. Some minis come pre-painted while others you have to paint, or even assemble yourself. With the proliferation of 3D printers people are starting to make their own minis at home. Hero Forge even allows you to design your mini on their website and get it printed and shipped to you, including color!

• Hero Forge

• Reaper Minis

• Print your own/STLs

You can find these items:

• Local Game Store

• Etsy

9. Maps

Much like with the minis, maps are part of the visual element of D&D. You can play on a battle map using tokens or even going so far as to bring your character or dragon minis. The battle map represents the terrain you might fight on. Maps can vary in price or quality. Some maps are simple colored tiles, to the most popular drawable vinyl maps, or even 3D tiles.

• Dry Erase Dungeon Tiles

• Pre-Designed Dungeon Tiles

• Chessex vinyl Battlemap (Wet erase only)

You can find these items:

• Local Game Store

• Amazon

10. Other Accessories

There is a wide array of other items you can get for D&D on top of the many we've already mentioned. These items can range in quality and usefulness based on how you use them or how much stuff you have to carry around.

• Dice Trays

• Journals

You can find these items:

• Local Game Store

• Etsy

• Amazon

11. Other Table Top Role Playing Games (TTRPGs)

If you like D&D you might also enjoy these other RPGs. While D&D is the most popular at the moment there are others that have different themes than classic fantasy. You can play in the Star Wars universe, or in the unique worlds these designers have created. Most books can be found or ordered from your Local Game Store.

• Monster of the Week

• Blades in the Dark

• Star Wars: Edge of the Empire

• FATE

You can find these books:

• Local Game Store

• Amazon

12. Board Games like D&D

There are games that simulate the D&D experience. Try them out when you just want to have fun and not weave a story!

• Talisman

• Munchkin

You can find these items:

• Local Game Store

• Amazon

13. Online services

You can play Dungeons and Dragons online, and there are services that are fun and helpful for creating maps or managing your campaign. Many of these are subscription based and regularly update with new content.

• Roll20

• Inkarnate