We’re down to the wire here folks; two weeks until Christmas and Hanukkah begins right after. Maybe less than two weeks for that work Secret Santa or friend gathering. The window for online store shipping is closing fast so you have to decide quickly! What do you get for someone who is into Dungeons & Dragons, runs all the tabletop RPGs, or is trying to start their own TTRPG show?
Look no further than this, our guide to affordable TTRPG gifts that can ship quickly or offer an instant digital version. Be they an online DnD player, RPG beginner, forever DM, or up-and-coming actual play star, we’ve got ideas.
Gifts For Players
Character Journal
Sure you can take notes in Google Docs, but many TTRPG players want that tactile feel. A dedicated journal for their new campaign is a lovely gift that’s sure to get a lot of use. Notable notebook maker Field Notes has a DnD 5E journal with space for game stats, inventory, theorizing, character backstory, and session-by-session notes. There’s also an Etsy version if you’d rather support a small business. If you’re looking for something to use in not-DnD games, the Ultimate RPG Quest Keeper serves your needs.
Spell Templates And Flight Stands
No arguments over whether your fireball actually hits all the monsters with these handy templates! This collection includes circles, cubes, cones, and rulers to help players measure the exact distance and impact of most commonly-used DnD spells. A similar fun stocking stuffer is flight stands. These simply elevate your figure to show that your character is flying. There’s also space for anyone who might be standing under you. Little touches like these, and glowing portals, can add a lot of fun to your table for a low cost.
DnD 2024 Player Mat
The 2024 Dungeons & Dragons rulebook is a BEAST. While it’s nice to have everything explained in detail, it can be a hassle to flip through those 300+ pages to find one particular sentence. Enter Total Party Chill’s new Player Mat. This quality polyester-and-rubber mat lists everything you can do on your turn, all the conditions, specifics of spellcasting, and more. It’s a first-of-its-kind product for the new rules, and also just a great mousepad. There’s also a 5E version for 2014 players.
StartPlaying Gift Card
We have given over 50,000 players a quality experience with professional Game Masters. And for $15, you or a loved one can hop into a Learn to Play session with no hassle! If your giftee already has experience with TTRPGs, they can use our search to find a new group to play with under the care of an expert GM. Whatever their experience level, a StartPlaying gift card could treat them to the first session of their new favorite game!
Gifts For Your Dungeon Master/Game Master
WizKids Bundles
As someone who runs a lot of in-person games and has a collecting problem, I loooove miniatures. WizKids is hitting me right in the weak spot with their bundles. With prices from $40-$200, there’s something for collectors of every level. Some contain a full set of themed terrain, some give you all the creatures needed for a specific campaign, while the bulk of them offer big monsters accompanied by an army of small monsters. A WizKids bundle is a great group gift from a table to their GM.
Free League RPG Bundle
GMs love exploring new game systems, but don’t often have the shelf space for so many new books. Humble Bundle comes to the rescue with a collection of stellar game in digital form. The Free League Humble Bundle is running almost until Christmas Eve and offers several highly-rated TTRPG systems. There’s the fun fantasy Dragonbane, 80s-style Tales from the Loop, spacefaring Coriolis, the alternate history military action of Twilight 2000, and more. Plus, there are several expansions, monster manuals, and campaign books included. Humble provides a code, and your GM can download a new collection of awesome.
Deck Of Player Safety
There’s plenty of talk out there about how Session 0 and player safety in general are important. The question for many GMs, however, is how to go about broaching the serious topics that can come up when discussing triggers. The Deck of Player Safety removes any potential awkwardness by making the process anonymous. The deck was made for conventions, so the designers prioritized quick and easy use. It’s great for any game, but especially great for GMs who run a lot of public events and one-shots.
DnD DM Mat
Here’s a quality gift for Dungeon Masters who don’t believe in DM screens and those who mostly run digital games. It’s a huge mousepad with a lovely soft surface that contains commonly-used DnD rules. Like the player mat above, the basic combat actions are listed alongside useful mechanics like conditions and resting. Where the DM Mat differs from the player Mat is that it also has tables for things like improvising damage dice and the costs of services in town. Look here to see a preview and purchase one for your favorite DM.
Gifts For Streamers/Podcasters
Monument Studios Music
One common hassle for GMs is the quest for new music. Most of us start by taking our favorite game and movie soundtracks, but that can get old fast as players get distracted by naming that tune. YouTube’s got some good stuff, but you’ll get tired of “EPIC MOST POWERFUL BATTLE MUSIC OF ALL TIME.” Enter Monument Studios. They offer Hollywood quality tracks for big battles, peaceful ambiances and everything in between. They’re also royalty free so you can use them in livestreams or podcasts. You could get your GM a subscription to Fantasy+, Monument’s new music streaming soundboard.
Moonbeam Membership
The new streaming platform Moonbeam ran a successful BackerKit campaign thanks to a simple promise: safe, creator-oriented management. Moonbeam is supposed to have cutting-edge safety technology for its creators and social media style hubs aimed at fostering more cooperation between livestreamers than the purple site. Since Moonbeam is currently in Alpha, it’s a great time to get in on the ground floor and get more eyes on your content. You can order Alpha access or eventual Beta access for a reasonable price and see if Moonbeam is a good fit for your show.
Starter Set For New Game
Let’s face it: a lot of people get into streaming TTRPG shows because they want to be the next Critical Role or Dimension 20. But you also have to face the reality that the space is full of Dungeons & Dragons shows. Perhaps your troupe could carve a niche in another TTRPG system. Or maybe your podcaster friend would be a great fit for another game. Fortunately, there’s a lot of starter sets that provide everything you need to play for $30-$50. Call of Cthulhu, Fallout, RuneQuest, Walking Dead, and Cypher System come to mind. It’s a small investment that easily provides enough material for some good content.
Affordable Studio Upgrades
A beginner livestreamer or podcaster is likely in need of tech upgrades. While a new microphone or webcam might be out of your price range, there are some small tools that can make a big difference. For sound quality, a pop filter, mic arm, and shock mount can help even a cheap mic perform decently. If your loved one is trying to record in an apartment with roommates, consider soundproofing panels. When it comes to the visual side of things, good lighting is arguably more important than a new camera. I personally get a lot out of my Razer ring light.
Hopefully this smattering of swag showed you something that suits your loved ones. Happy Holidays from the StartPlaying team, and may your gift be a nat 20!
