Getting Started with Dungeons & Dragons: A Guide to Supplies, Source Books, and Adventure Settings. Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) is more than just a tabletop role-playing game (TTRPG); it’s a gateway to countless worlds where you and your friends become heroes, villains, and everything in between. As you roll dice, create characters, and tell epic stories, you enter a realm where imagination reigns supreme. Whether you’re a new player curious about the hype or a Dungeon Master (DM) preparing your next grand campaign, this guide will walk you through everything you need—from essential supplies to the best settings and source books—to make your D&D experience both fun and practical.
Essential Supplies for Playing Dungeons & Dragons
Before embarking on your first adventure, you’ll need some basic supplies. Here’s a checklist to get you ready for game night:
1. Core Rulebooks
You can’t play D&D without some rulebooks to guide your adventure. The three primary books you’ll need are:
- Player’s Handbook (PHB): This book contains the essential rules for character creation, combat, spells, and more. It’s a must-have for every player.
- Dungeon Master’s Guide (DMG): This is your toolkit if you’re the DM. It helps you create worlds, manage encounters, and craft the overall experience for your players.
- Monster Manual (MM): Full of terrifying (and not-so-terrifying) creatures, this book is the go-to guide for filling your world with enemies, allies, and monsters.
2. Dice
The iconic polyhedral dice set, including a d20 (twenty-sided die), d12, d10, d8, d6, and d4, is essential for D&D. Most actions in the game are resolved by rolling these dice and adding or subtracting modifiers based on your character’s abilities.
- Tip: It’s always good to have multiple dice sets on hand for those intense moments when everyone rolls at once. Plus, dice come in all sorts of fun designs!
3. Character Sheets
Character sheets help track everything about your player’s character—from stats like strength and intelligence to spells and abilities. You can download and print these sheets or use digital tools to manage them.
- Tip: Laminated character sheets and dry-erase markers can be useful for keeping things tidy.
4. Battle Grid or Maps
Having a visual aid helps players see where they are in the world. You can use a battle grid with erasable markers to map out dungeons or wilderness areas, or you can buy detailed map sets.
- Miniatures or tokens can also enhance the experience by representing characters and monsters on the grid.
5. Dungeon Master Screen
If you’re the DM, a screen is a great way to keep your notes, rolls, and behind-the-scenes happenings hidden from your players. It also typically includes useful quick-reference information like conditions, skill checks, and combat rules.
6. Notebooks and Pens
Whether you’re scribbling down plot ideas or jotting reminders about NPCs (non-player characters), a good notebook is crucial. It’s also handy for tracking treasure, hit points, and status effects during battles.
7. Snacks!
No D&D game is complete without snacks. A long campaign can be draining, so make sure you’ve got a good mix of treats, from chips and dips to more substantial options like pizza.
Best Source Books and Supplemental Rule Books for D&D
Once you’ve got the core rulebooks, it’s time to dive into supplemental materials that expand your world, introduce new rules, or provide premade adventures.
1. Xanathar’s Guide to Everything
This is a fantastic supplement that adds depth to the game with new subclasses, spells, and feats. It also provides a treasure trove of Dungeon Master tools, including random encounter tables, traps, and more detailed rules for downtime activities.
2. Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything
Released more recently, Tasha’s Cauldron introduces flexible character-building options, including the ability to tweak racial abilities, more subclasses, and expanded rules for magic items. It’s one of the most customizable books for both players and DMs.
3. Volo’s Guide to Monsters
This book gives you detailed insights into classic D&D monsters, providing more lore and variant options. It’s great for DMs looking to spice up their monster encounters or give more personality to creatures.
4. Mordenkainen’s Tome of Foes
If you’re interested in expanding your game’s cosmology and learning more about the planes of existence, ancient wars, and more detailed monster lore, Mordenkainen’s Tome is a fascinating read and a great resource.
5. Fizban’s Treasury of Dragons
For the dragon-lovers out there, this book dives deep into all things draconic—lore, new dragon species, and guidance on how to run dragon-heavy campaigns.
6. The Adventure Modules
If creating your own campaign from scratch seems daunting, there are plenty of published adventures to choose from. These modules provide premade settings, plots, and encounters:
- Curse of Strahd: A gothic horror adventure set in the land of Barovia, where your party must face off against the vampire lord Strahd.
- Waterdeep: Dragon Heist: A city-based campaign full of intrigue, espionage, and high-stakes treasure hunting.
- Tomb of Annihilation: A deadly jungle adventure full of dinosaurs and curses, offering a unique survival experience.
Choosing a Setting for Your D&D Game
One of the best parts of D&D is the infinite variety of settings you can choose or create for your campaign. Here are some of the most popular and classic settings to consider:
1. The Forgotten Realms
Arguably the most iconic and widely used D&D setting, the Forgotten Realms is a high-fantasy world full of magic, monsters, and sprawling cities. It’s the default setting for many published adventures and provides a wealth of lore for DMs and players alike. Notable cities include Waterdeep and Baldur’s Gate.
2. Eberron
This steampunk-inspired world blends magic and technology. Airships, mechanical creatures known as Warforged, and noir elements make Eberron a distinct setting for campaigns that want a mix of high adventure and intrigue.
3. Dragonlance
For a more narrative-driven, epic fantasy experience, Dragonlance is a perfect fit. It’s set in the world of Krynn, where the balance between good, evil, and neutrality is constantly shifting. Dragons, heroes of prophecy, and deep moral questions fill this setting.
4. Ravenloft
If gothic horror is more your style, Ravenloft offers a creepy, haunted realm full of dark magic and undead creatures. The most famous campaign in this setting is “Curse of Strahd,” which pits players against the vampire lord ruling Barovia.
5. Planescape
Planescape takes the adventuring party beyond the material plane and into the multiverse. It’s a setting filled with bizarre, surreal locales and strange creatures, from demons to celestials. It’s perfect for groups that want to explore the more metaphysical side of D&D.
6. Dark Sun
For something completely different, Dark Sun offers a post-apocalyptic desert world where magic has drained the life from the planet. In this brutal and survival-focused setting, characters must deal with scarcity, tyranny, and deadly environmental challenges.
Best Fantasy Books for Dungeons & Dragons Settings
Each setting in D&D has inspired its own array of novels and stories, perfect for immersing yourself deeper into the world or gaining inspiration for your own game. Here are some of the best:
Forgotten Realms
- “The Legend of Drizzt” series by R.A. Salvatore: These novels follow Drizzt Do’Urden, a drow elf who defies his evil upbringing to become a hero. The series is action-packed and offers a lot of insight into the various regions and factions of the Forgotten Realms.
- “Elminster: The Making of a Mage” by Ed Greenwood: This book explores the life of one of the most famous wizards in D&D lore and is a great deep dive into the magical history of the Forgotten Realms.
Dragonlance
- “Dragons of Autumn Twilight” by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman: This novel kicks off the Dragonlance Chronicles, one of the best-loved fantasy series in D&D. It tells the story of a group of adventurers battling the forces of darkness in the world of Krynn.
Ravenloft
- “I, Strahd: The Memoirs of a Vampire” by P.N. Elrod: This novel delves into the backstory of Strahd, the vampiric ruler of Barovia, offering a fantastic perspective on one of D&D’s most iconic villains.
Eberron
- “The Dreaming Dark Trilogy” by Keith Baker: Set in the magical world of Eberron, this series is a blend of espionage, war, and high fantasy. It’s a great introduction to Eberron’s unique atmosphere.
What a Dungeon Master Needs to Prepare for the Game
As a Dungeon Master, you’re not just playing the game—you’re crafting worlds, controlling NPCs, and guiding the players through the narrative. Here’s what you’ll need to prepare for a successful session:
1. Adventure Outline or Campaign Notes
Whether you’re running a prewritten adventure or a homebrew campaign, having an outline of the main plot points and possible encounters is essential. Be ready for your players to deviate from the plan, though—flexibility is key!
2. NPCs and Villains
Have a list of NPCs ready, along with their personalities, voices, and motivations. Make sure you’ve fleshed out key villains with backstory and motives to make them memorable.
3. Encounter Tables and Maps
Prepare combat and role-playing encounters ahead of time. Whether it’s a dungeon map or a wilderness setting, pre-drawing your maps and placing markers for enemy positions will keep the game flowing smoothly.
4. Monster Stats
Have the Monster Manual or stat blocks for creatures you plan to use on hand, so you can reference them during encounters. It’s good to have a mix of weak, medium, and tough enemies for variety.
5. Loot and Rewards
Players love treasure! Whether it’s magical items, gold, or a powerful artifact, be ready to reward your adventurers for their bravery.
6. A Sense of Humor
Things rarely go as planned in D&D. Embrace the chaos, laugh when things get silly, and remember that everyone is there to have fun.
Conclusion: Embark on Your Epic D&D Adventure!
Dungeons & Dragons is a game of limitless possibilities, where every roll of the dice can change the course of the story. With the right supplies, source books, and preparation, you’ll be well on your way to crafting epic adventures that you and your friends will talk about for years. Whether you’re casting spells in the Forgotten Realms or battling undead in Barovia, the thrill of storytelling and shared imagination makes every D&D game unforgettable.
