Getting into the game of D&D requires little to no actual stuff, you just need the rules, a sheet of paper, and a willingness to roleplay. However, there are a ton of fun items that go along with the game that can heighten play itself or simply entertain D&D players. From books to collectibles, items of clothing to live events, roleplaying is a massive hobby with tons of lanes for expression. Not everything on this list will be applicable to the D&D player in your life, but hopefully something along the line sparks inspiration for the person you’re thinking of. Here’s the list of items and categories of items that you can get for the D&D player in your life.
Before the List
It’s vital to know what kind of D&D player you’re giving this gift to before purchasing. D&D is a massive hobby, it stretches from Live Action Roleplayers (LARPers) all the way to casual text-based players. If your player only plays D&D online they might not be as interested in something like physical minis, and if they like getting immersed with in-person cosplay they might not be as excited for an online subscription. As with any gift it’s also important to keep in mind your personal budget. Nearly every item below comes in a wide variety of price points, so just because the item listed is above or below what you’re looking to spend doesn’t mean you need to write off the idea as a whole. This list is designed to be informative and inspirational, not exhaustive. The better you understand what kind of D&D your gift receiver likes best, the more focused you can make your gift.
1. Dice
Who’s this for? All TTRPG players.
Perhaps most beloved and useful of any D&D accessory, dice are always exciting to receive as a D&D player. They help show your personality, or that of your character. They come in such a wide variety that it’s impossible to have too many, and each set of dice has its own unique personality. Check out Only Crits for some options and to see what different materials and styles look like.
2. A Set of Sessions
Who’s this for? Online TTRPG players.
D&D players like playing D&D, simple as that. StartPlaying has a massive range of games, both in D&D systems as well as other rulesets, with a ton of different GMs all around the world to act as guides and storytellers. You can easily find your player a game or games to take part in directly on their site. This gift works even better if your D&D player is between groups, in a bit of a slump, or just looking to fill out their roleplaying schedule more fully.
3. Custom Minis
Who’s this for? In-person TTRPG players.
Hero Forge is a service that allows you to create customized minis, then prints and colors them to send to you directly. This gift requires knowing a little bit about your D&D player’s character, but if you can accurately describe them you can get a custom D&D mini of the character you want your player to have. It’s personal, unique, and exciting to receive.
4. Cloak
Who’s this for? Cosplayers and LARPers.
The venn diagram of D&D players and people who like that scene with Aragorn smoking a pipe with his hood up in the Prancing Pony is a circle. Any D&D players that like taking part in cosplay or LARPing, even if it’s as simple as dressing up for sessions, will love the versatility (and warmth) of a good cloak. The added bonus is that if you get the right cloak it can be genuinely warm and weather-proof, as well as looking great with any costumes they come up with.
5. Cantrip Candles
Who’s this for? Anyone, especially in-person TTRPG players.
Who doesn’t love a good scent? Cantrip candles are beautiful scented candles which burn nicely and have the added bonus of being perfect mood-setters for D&D sessions. With scents like Stonemoss Chapel and Library Scriptorium, these fun additions to a gaming room help immerse any player into the story itself. Even if your gift-receiver is just a casual D&D player, these are simply lovely candles.
6. A Sourcebook
Who’s this for? D&D players.
There’s a near limitless number of super cool and useful D&D sourcebooks on the market now. Even if your player has all the official Wizards of the Coast D&D sourcebooks, there are some amazing third party creations that can elevate their games either thematically or on a very specific level. Once again you need to know which books they already have, but expanding their options, whether it’s as a GM or with character creation, is always an incredible thing.
7. A Gaming Table
Who’s this for? In-person TTRPG players.
Gaming tables can be a massive investment, so don’t approach purchasing one for someone without doing adequate research. As the centerpiece of a room, a table can change the whole feel of a gathering place, so if someone in your life spends lots of time around their table playing TTRPGs it could be very thoughtful to get them such a centerpiece, so long as you know they want it. There is a massive range of tables, from poker-style tables with cup holders, to intricately designed masterpieces with built in lighting and effects.
8. Tickets to a Live Show
Who’s this for? D&D content consumers.
Critical Role, NADDPOD, Dimension 20, Dungeons and Daddies, and on and on; events are now a common part of most popular D&D liveplay shows. If the D&D player in your life is a fan of the liveplay format, or perhaps even a fan of a specific touring show, then it would be perfect timing to get them a ticket or two (why not tag along and see why they love it so much!) to their show. It makes for an unforgettable evening of entertainment, perfectly suited to their D&D passions, often for a similar or lower price than the cost of an average concert.
9. D&D Player and Dungeon Master Mats
Who’s this for? In-person D&D players and remote gamers.
The most tedious part of D&D is checking rules, these solve that in one easy step. Mats that lay on the table in front of the player or Dungeon Master, with quick guides to all the most common rules and easily forgotten details of the game. They’re made of mousepad material, so they’re also great if you’re playing remotely and you have it on your desk. Total Party Chill has several sizes and colors, and offers it in the 2014 rules and 2024 rules for Dungeon and Dragons 5e. A perfect place to roll dice, put your notebook for a flat surface to write on, or just as an easy reference. Check out the D&D Dungeon Master Play Mat and Player Mats for 5e on Total Party Chill.
10. A Battlemap
Who’s this for? TTRPG Game Masters.
One of the most versatile and useful items in a D&D player’s toolkit is an erasable battlemap. It saves needing to constantly print out maps, and provides a grid that means it far surpasses the usefulness of a simple whiteboard. Vinyl battlemaps or easily available, generally come with a grid on one side and a hex grid on the other, can be rolled up for easy travel, and work with erasable pens. They are fantastic for any D&D game master looking to run their own games, especially if they travel.
11. A Year’s Subscription
Who’s this for? All TTRPG players and content consumers.
So much of the modern world runs on the subscription model, and D&D as a hobby is no different. There are subscriptions that cover a massive variety of parts of D&D, from D&D Beyond giving access to robust character creation and sourcebooks, to Roll20 providing a digital tabletop (which is also very useful for StartPlaying players), or even giving them access to their favorite D&D show’s Patreon or streaming platform. You can find a carefully tailored subscription that will perfectly match their favorite part of D&D. There are even subscriptions for dice!
12. A Travel Case
Who’s this for? In-person TTRPG players.
If a D&D player is in a group of 4-6 people, only one of those people can host a session at a time. That means there’s a very good chance the player you’re giving this gift to spends a decent amount of time lugging their D&D equipment from one session to the next, whether it’s dice, books, minis, battlemap, character sheets, spell cards, or all of the above. Having an organized and well constructed case or bag to bring your stuff in can make travelling for sessions painless, and also keeps all the D&D paraphernalia in a single, compact place.
13. Spell or Monster Cards
Who’s this for? D&D Game Masters.
There’s a lot to keep track of during a D&D session, and having little bits and bobs to keep your mind organized can go a long way to staying in character and enjoying the game. One of the items that helps in this way is the decks of spell or monster cards that WotC makes. These allow players to sort what they’re going to use in a session, whether it’s a pack of goblins or an over-long spell list, far easier than by flipping wildly through a book or typing spell names into Google. It’s just a little thing that goes a long way.
As mentioned this list is not exhaustive, but hopefully you can find something on it that sparks an idea for that special D&D player in your life. The hobby comes in many shapes and sizes, which means there are lots of fun gifts you can give and receive. Wherever your gift search takes you, thanks for reading and enjoy the hunt!
Rory Hoffman is the Creative Director at Only Crits and author of Guillman’s Guide to Speed.
