Whether you're exploring the Caves of Chaos in Heroes of the Borderlands or setting off on your own story, every adventurer knows you can't embark on a quest unprepared. Just as you'd stock your pack with rations, sharpen your blades, and chart your route, so too must you ready your table for a night of Dungeons & Dragons.

This article has some ideas to help you plan your provisions, maps, and music for your upcoming adventure. So, gather your party, brave traveler—it's time to prepare for the ultimate game night!

• Rations for the Road
• Songs for the Journey
• Maps to Guide You

Rations for the Road

RALUCA MARINESCU

No hero sets off without rations—fuel for your battles, treats to celebrate victories, and distractions when you suffer defeat.

If you're hosting your first D&D night, setting out a Heroes' Feast worth of snacks can help your players settle into the game and lighten the mood. If you want to add a touch of fate to your feast, you can roll on the tables below to see what your party discovers in the larder.

For long-term games, if your group agrees on it, I like having a rotating snack schedule. That way, no one feels like they are providing more than their fair share.

Rolling for Snacks

• Roll one d10 per column (or more); if rolling more than once, re-roll duplicates.
• Label allergens (nuts, dairy, gluten) on index cards.

Songs for the Journey

Luca Bancone

Every Bard can tell you that an epic adventure deserves an equally epic score. You can find ambience playlists wherever you listen to music, from YouTube to Spotify. If you're looking for our official take on the sounds for Forgotten Realms' favorite locations, check out the official D&D Spotify playlists and cue up whatever you feel will match your session.

Suggested Music for Your Scene

Trying to determine where your session starts? looking for some ambience? Here are some suggestions to help you set the scene.

Setting the Scene with Music

When playing musical ambience in your session:

• Find a song that reflects the scene and put the song on loop, so you don't have to manage it while playing.
• Keep the volume low, especially during social encounters with a lot of talking (feel free to crank the music during an encounter!)
• When the scene changes, it's an excellent time to choose a new song to reflect the change.
• To help with this, figure out which songs match up with which scene ahead of time, similar to the table below.

Maps to Guide You

IGOR GRECHANYI

Wandering the wilderness without a map is a surefire way to get lost (and eaten by an Owlbear). The same goes for adventuring at the table—a well-prepared map not only clarifies the scene, it keeps the game flowing.

If you're playing with physical maps and tokens, having pre-set encounter environments stocked with maps and monster tokens is a great way to keep the session on track.  While managing multiple hand-drawn or poster maps, as well as monster tokens, can be a logistical challenge, this is where virtual tabletops, like D&D Beyond's Maps VTT, shine! 

Second Screen Magic

If you're using D&D Beyond's Maps VTT, consider setting up a second screen or TV in Spectator Mode. Your laptop can stay in DM mode with fog-of-war and hidden tokens, while the shared screen shows only what the party can see.

Poster Maps and Tokens

If you want to play without screens, you can lay out a poster map on the table and place tokens in advance. Then, use sticky notes or index cards as “fog-of-war” covers you peel away to reveal new rooms. If you know a dungeon crawl is coming, prepping tokens in small baggies labeled for each encounter means you can drop them on the board and get quickly into the action.

Adventure Awaits

A quest is sometimes only as good as its preparation! With rations, music, and maps prepared, you have everything you need to make players comfortable, set the scene, and engage with your world.

So, with these tidbits of advice in hand, go forth to ready your table, rally your companions, and step boldly into the story waiting to unfold!

Mike Bernier is the founder of Arcane Eye, a site focused on providing useful tips and tricks to all those involved in the world of D&D. Outside of writing for Arcane Eye, Mike spends most of his time playing games, hiking with his partner, and tending the veritable jungle of houseplants that have invaded his house.