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Let’s Talk about Buying Dungeons & Dragons

Reading Time: 6 minutes
“Wait, is that a secret door? I canโ€™t tell for sure…” Art: Dungeon Map, illustrated by Aaron Miller.

How do we start playing
Dungeons & Dragons (D&D), and what do we need to buy?

Everybody

The first thing you could do is try to attend a Learn-to-Play (L2P) session with a Dungeon Master (DM) (the exclusive term used for Game Master (GM) in D&D.) There, you’ll probably be given a character sheet, and experience a short, one-shot adventure.

Free Mode

๐Ÿ“š Before investing in D&D, you may want to try running the Role-Playing Game (RPG) your group. Yes, you can play D&D for free! Download the official, free Basic Rules for D&D.

  1. Part 1 is about creating a character, providing the rules and guidance you need to make the character youโ€™ll play in the game. It includes information on the various races, classes, backgrounds, equipment, and other customization options that you can choose from. Many of the rules in part 1 rely on material in parts 2 and 3. (If you want to really want to skip this step, you get download some Pre-Generated Character Sheets.)
  2. Part 2 details the rules of how to play the game, beyond the basics described in this introduction. That part covers the kinds of die rolls you make to determine success or failure at the tasks your character attempts, and describes the three broad categories of activity in the game: exploration, interaction, and combat.
  3. Part 3 is all about magic. It covers the nature of magic in the worlds of D&D, the rules for spellcasting, and a selection of typical spells available to magic-using characters (and monsters) in the game.
  4. Part 4 is about tools for Dungeon Masters. It includes information and stat blocks for monsters, advice for building combat encounters, and magic items. (Someone from your group will have to become the DM. Only they will really need to read this part of the guide.)

What to Buy for a Group of Newbies

Dale ReckoningHardcopy (ISBN13)Softcopy
1491 DRD&D: Starter Set 978-0-7869-6559-5Lost Mine of Phandelver on D&D Beyond
1491 DRD&D: Essentials Kit 978-0-7869-6683-7Dragon of Icespire Peak on D&D Beyond
1481 DRD&D Starter Set: Dragons of Stormwreck Isle 978-0-7869-6793-5Dragons of Stormwreck Isle on D&D Beyond
These boxes contain the essential rules of the game plus everything you need to create characters and play the new adventures in this introduction to the worldโ€™s greatest roleplaying gameAn adventurous DMDungeon Master might want to try combining the Starter Set‘s Lost Mine of Phandelver, with Essentials Kit‘s Dragon of Icespire Peak into one big adventure: The Lost Dragon of Phandelver.

What to Buy for Players

Please ensure you’re buying the latest, Fifth Edition (5e) version of the PHB.

๐Ÿ“š We recommend doing this with friends who have patience, and are just as excited to try it as you are. Once you’ve played a few games with your family and friends using these basic rules, and once you’re ready, consider purchasing a Player’s Handbook (PHB).

Hardcopy (ISBN13)Softcopy
PHB: 978-0-7869-6560-1PHB on D&D Beyond
Everyone playing D&D should have a copy of the PHB: It has everything a player needs to create heroic characters for D&D the worldโ€™s greatest roleplaying game.

We also recommend downloading the D&D Beyond app, the official digital toolset and game companion for Dungeons & Dragons with online versions of the official books, including rulebooks, etc.

Digital Tabletop Gaming at Home, 2020.

There are also a lot of digital apps for dice-rolling (convenient for gaming emergencies, like if you forgot to bring your equipment on game night, or if you lost them.) We recommend the d20 Calculator.

… and some pencils, erasers, etc. D&D is known as a pen-and-paper RPG.

You should probably have at least one set of RPG Dice to play the game…

What to Buy for Dungeon Masters

As the DM, you should equip yourself with the fundamentals, and dive into the nitty-gritty of D&D with the Core Rulebooks: Player’s Handbook (PHB), Monster Manual (MM), and Dungeon Master’s Guide (DMG).
Hardcopy (ISBN13)Softcopy
PHBPlayer’s HandBook: 978-0-7869-6560-1PHB on D&D Beyond
MMMonster Manual: 978-0-7869-6561-8MM on D&D Beyond
DMGDungeon Master’s Guide: 978-0-7869-6562-5DMG on D&D Beyond
Also available as the D&D Core Rules Gift Set.

The Monster Manual (MM) contains all the books you’ll need to run a game of D&D, from dragons, giants, mind flayers, and beholdersโ€”a monstrous feast for Dungeon Masters ready to challenge their players and populate their adventures.

While the Dungeon Masterโ€™s Guide (DMG) provides the inspiration and the guidance you need to spark your imagination and create worlds of adventure for your players to explore and enjoy. It’s really useful for new DMs, who want inspiration on how to take their games to the next level.

Going Beyond the Core Rulebooks

๐Ÿ“š Experienced DMs might want to start collecting additional/optional D&D Sourcebooks to further augment their games and players with advanced rules and customized experiences.

Hardcopy (ISBN13)Softcopy
Sword Coast Adventurer’s Guide: 978-0-7869-6580-9Sword Coast Adventurer’s Guide on D&D Beyond
Volo’s Guide to Monsters: 978-0-7869-6601-1Volo’s Guide to Monsters on D&D Beyond
Xanathar’s Guide to Everything: 978-0-7869-6611-0Xanathar’s Guide to Everything on D&D Beyond
Mordenkainen’s Tome of Foes: 978-0-7869-6624-0Mordenkainen’s Tome of Foes on D&D Beyond
Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything: 978-0-7869-6702-5Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything on D&D Beyond
Fizban’s Treasury of Dragons: 978-0-7869-6729-2Fizban’s Treasury of Dragons on D&D Beyond
Mordenkainen: Monsters of the Multiverse: 978-0-7869-6787-2Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse on D&D Beyond
Bigby Presents: Glory of the Giants: 978-0-7869-6898-5Bigby Presents: Glory of the Giants on D&D Beyond
The Book of Many ThingsThe Book of Many Things on D&D Beyond
Official D&D Sourcebooks.

Choose an Adventure

๐Ÿ“š Having completed the Lost Mine of Phandelver and/or Dragon of Icespire Peak, your group might want to continue to play more campaigns… but it’s a lot of effort for the DM to create a new campaign from scratch. Thankfully, there are official adventures available!

Dale ReckoningCampaignHardcopy (ISBN13)Softcopy
1486/1489 DRTyranny of DragonsHoard of the Dragon Queen: 978-0-7869-6564-9Hoard of the Dragon Queen on D&D Beyond
1486/1489 DRTyranny of DragonsRise of Tiamat: 978-0-7869-6565-6Rise of Tiamat on D&D Beyond
1491 DRElemental EvilPrinces of the Apocalypse: 978-0-7869-6578-6Princes of the Apocalypse on D&D Beyond
1485/1486 DR… Rage of DemonsOut of the Abyss: 978-0-7869-6581-6Out of the Abyss on D&D Beyond
1491 DRCurse of Strahd: 978-0-7869-6715-5 (Revamped)Curse of Strahd on D&D Beyond
1485 DRStorm King’s Thunder: 978-0-7869-6600-4Storm King’s Thunder on D&D Beyond
Tales from the Yawning Portal: 978-0-7869-6609-7Tales from the Yawning Portal on D&D Beyond
1492 DR*Tomb of Annihilation: 978-0-7869-6610-3Tomb of Annihilation on D&D Beyond
1492 DRWaterdeepDragon Heist: 978-0-7869-6625-7Dragon Heist on D&D Beyond
1492 DRWaterdeepDungeon of the Mad Mage: 978-0-7869-6626-4Dungeon of the Mad Mage on D&D Beyond
Ghosts of Saltmarsh: 978-0-7869-6675-2Ghosts of Saltmarsh on D&D Beyond
1496 DRAcquisitions Incorporated: 978-0-7869-6690-5Acquisitions Incorporated on D&D Beyond
1492/1494 DRBaldur’s GateDescent into Avernus: 978-0-7869-6676-9Descent into Avernus on D&D Beyond
1489 DRIcewind DaleRime of the Frostmaiden: 978-0-7869-6698-1Rime of the Frostmaiden on D&D Beyond
1492 DRCandlekeep Mysteries: 978-0-7869-6722-3Candlekeep Mysteries on D&D Beyond
Keys from the Golden Vault: 978-0786968961Keys from the Golden Vault on D&D Beyond
Phandelver & BelowPhandelver and Below: The Shattered ObeliskThe Shattered Obelisk on D&D Beyond
Official D&D Adventures, in the Forgotten Realms.
If you're feeling really adventurous, there are many more unofficial resources available on the DM's Guild! (Talk to your Group before doing this in the game.) 

Going to Other Worlds

๐Ÿ“š While most of the Adventures above take place in the Forgotten Realms (along the Sword Coast, on the continent of Faerรปn, on the plane of Abeir-Toril,) experienced DMs may take their group on an adventure to another plane altogether!

PlaneHardcopy (ISBN13)Softcopy
EberronRising from the Last War: 978-0-7869-6689-9Rising from the Last War on D&D Beyond
RavenloftVan Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft: 978-0-7869-6725-4Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft on D&D Beyond
FeywildWild Beyond the Witchlight: 978-0-7869-6727-8Wild Beyond the Witchlight on D&D Beyond
Ethereal PlaneJourneys through the Radiant Citadel: 978-0-7869-6799-5Journeys through the Radiant Citadel on D&D Beyond
SPELLJAMMERSpelljammer: Adventures in Space: 978-0-7869-6816-9Spelljammer: Adventures in Space on D&D Beyond
DRAGONLANCEShadow of the Dragon Queen: 9780786968282Dragonlance: Shadow of the Dragon Queen on D&D Beyond
SIGILPlanescape: Adventures in the MultiversePlanescape: Adventures in the Multiverse on D&D Beyond
Beyond the Forgotten Realms.
RegionHardcopy (ISBN13)Softcopy
WildemountExplorer’s Guide to Wildemount: 978-0-7869-6691-2Explorer’s Guide to Wildemount on D&D Beyond
NetherdeepCritical Role: Call of the Netherdeep: 978-0-7869-6786-5Critical Role: Call of the Netherdeep on D&D Beyond
Adventures in Exandria, as featured on Critical Role.
PlaneHardcopy (ISBN13)Softcopy
AmonkhetPlane Shift: Amonkhet
DominariaPlane Shift: Dominaria
InnistradPlane Shift: Innistrad
IxalanPlane Shift: Ixalan
KaladeshPlane Shift: Kaladesh
RavnicaGuildmasters’ Guide to Ravnica: 978-0-7869-6659-2Guildmasters’ Guide to Ravnica on D&D Beyond
Arcavios*A Curriculum of Chaos: 978-0-7869-6744-5A Curriculum of Chaos on D&D Beyond
TherosMythic Odysseys of Theros: 978-0-7869-6701-8Mythic Odysseys of Theros on D&D Beyond
ZendikarPlane Shift: Zendikar
Hello Planeswalkers.
TitleIPReleased
Stranger Things Dungeons & Dragons Starter Set: 0630509716296Stranger ThingsMay 2019
Dungeons & Dragons vs. Rick & Morty: 978-0-7869-6688-2Rick & MortyNov 2019
Universes Beyond: Dungeons & Dragons titles, with worlds, characters, and stories of other IPs

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