Everything A Beginner DM Needs To Start A Dungeons & Dragons Campaign

1. Stranger Things D&D Starter Set

Although D&D has been a big deal for decades, Stranger Things really threw it back into the spotlight recently as the favorite pastime of its young protagonists – and the inspiration for its terrifying monsters. Based on the campaign that Will Byers (or should we say Will the Wise?) ran in the show, this starter set is a great introduction to the game that features some familiar faces. After all, there’s nothing like a successful skirmish with the Demogorgon to boost your confidence. 

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• Brand: Stranger Things, Dungeons & Dragons

2. Tales From the Yawning Portal Adventure Anthology

One of the big hurdles for newbies is how much of a commitment D&D campaigns can be, as it’s not uncommon for them to stretch out over months! But the building blocks of campaigns are simpler adventures that are quicker to complete, and this handy little anthology packs in seven of them. Don’t underestimate the challenge, however, as these adventures come from some of the darker corners of the Dungeons & Dragons universe and will pit you against all manner of fearsome foes!

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• Pages: 248
• Publisher: Wizards of the Coast

3. Dungeon Master’s Screen Reincarnated

Every campaign needs a Dungeon Master, and although it’s a daunting role for new players to take on, everyone has to start somewhere! This durable four-panel screen gives both new and seasoned DM’s a little room to breathe, providing them a space to keep dice rolls contained and campaign notes confidential. Adding a little air of concealment and mystery doesn’t hurt either. But best of all, it features tables of some of the most commonly used rules and stats, putting them right in front of your nose for easy reference.  

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• Type: DM Screen
• Brand: Dungeons and Dragons

4. Spellbook Cards: Volo’s Guide to Monsters

Sure, D&D isn’t a trading card game, but that doesn’t mean character cards won’t still come in super handy – especially when it comes to staying on top of stats for the game’s bevy of beasties. Although there are a bunch of supplementary decks out there, this one distills the classic reference Volo’s Guide to Monsters with 81 beautifully illustrated cards. With this deck on hand, you’ll have the essentials for some of the game’s most iconic monsters – beholders, mind flayers, neogi and many more.

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• Manufacturer: Wizards of the Coast
• Card Style: Laminate
• Brand: Dungeons and Dragons

5. D&D Character Sheets (Unbound)

The essential first step in any RPG is developing your character, and D&D is no exception. In fact, it basically pioneered the whole idea! Creating your character is a lot of fun, but it can also be a lot of work – thankfully, these handy sheets will save you a ton of writing and help you organize your personal stats and info. This unbound volume includes basic character sheets ideal for new players, as well as more detailed ones that veterans will love filling up. 

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• Type: D&D Character Sheets
• Brand: Dungeons and Dragons

6. Polyhedral Dice – 5 Set Bundle

While, at its core, D&D really doesn’t require much in the way of supplies, those polyhedral dice are pretty much essential. And regular six-sided dice won’t do it, as different situations in the game call for different degrees of chance. Fortunately, D&D’s popularity has ensured that these dice aren’t hard to come by, and like everything else with the game, they can be either as fancy or as simple as you want. This pack of 5 dice sets is a great place to start – functional, covers the bases, and just a bit flashy.

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• Type: Dice Set

7. Dungeons and Dragons vs Rick and Morty Tabletop Roleplaying Game Adventure

“Check it out, Morty! I turned myself into a (*burp*) mage, Morty!” Honestly, are any of us even surprised that this happened? When you think about it, the D&D universe’s open-ended rules and limitless potential for creative mayhem make it almost seem like it was made expressly for (or by) everyone’s favorite misanthropic genius. If the thought of Rick Sanchez having a field day in a high-fantasy multiverse sounds fun to you (it sure does to us), then you won’t want to miss out on this unique adventure – or its multiple spinoffs!

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• Brand: Rick and Morty, Dungeons & Dragons

8. Dungeons & Dragons Marled Stripe Beanie

We know, we know, a piece of random apparel isn’t exactly important (or useful at all, really) for a role-playing game. But if you enjoy spending time in the OG RPG and want to represent in the real world a bit, then this knit beanie is the perfect example of Dungeons & Dragons swag that is both fly and functional. Plus, that 20-sided die patch just looks so dope. And if nothing else, you can just make your DM wear this so that they’re easy to pick out in a crowd. 

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• Size: One Size Fits Most
• Brand: BioWorld
• Material: Acrylic Yarn

9. Dungeons and Dragons Player’s Handbook

You can find the basic rules for D&D just about anywhere; the creators have even put out a free PDF of the basics (in case you haven’t found them on Reddit already). That being said, this volume is the official manual for the fifth and latest edition of the game and covers pretty much everything from rules for exploration and combat to specs for equipment and spells. So for anyone looking to get serious about questing, the Player’s Handbook is an indispensable guide to all the ins and outs. 

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• Pages: 320
• Publisher: Wizards of the Coast

10. Dungeons and Dragons Starter Set

We already have a couple of good introductory tabletop sets on this list that serve as a kind of bridge between other fandoms and the D&D universe. But if you’d rather dive right into that world in its full glory, rather than mess around with a Rick and Morty or Stranger Things spinoff, then this official starter campaign is a no-brainer. It features the classic introductory adventure Lost Mine of Phandelver, ideal for 4-6 newbies, and comes complete with dice, character sheets and all the other essential ingredients for tabletop questing.  

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