Between the Digital & Physical versions of the books, I own most of the official books.
Keep an eye out for Sales, either here on D&D Beyond for digital versions that give you more character options, etc., or sites like Amazon when they do their Prime Day or Black Friday sales. You can pick up books that you have had your eye on pretty cheap to build your library.
Over time you will get more and more and get deeper into different lore, areas, worlds, etc.
Cheers!
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Breathe, dragons; sing of the First World, forged out of chaos and painted with beauty. Sing of Bahamut, the Platinum, molding the shape of the mountains and rivers; Sing too of Chromatic Tiamat, painting all over the infinite canvas. Partnered, they woke in the darkness; partnered, they labored in acts of creation.
Expanded Set (Monsters of the Multiverse, Tasha's, Xanathar's)
2014 Starter Set (Lost Mine of Phandelver)
Essentials Kit (Dragon of Icespire Peak)
Phandelver and Below
Vecna Eve of Ruin
2024 Core Set (MM, PHB, DMG)
2024 Starter Set
Honestly, you only really need a PHB, MM, and DMG to run good games. Personally, I prefer making my own adventures but do enjoy both Dragon of Icespire Peak and Lost Mine of Phandelver if I've ever got to introduce new players to the game. I simply do not run 5.5e (2024), those books are my most regretted purchase. Vecna Eve of Ruin was purchased because there are so few high level adventures...it was also a massive waste of money. Most bang for my buck was the Essentials Kit. Three adventures, the basic rules, premade characters and the thing I've run the most.
Expanded Set (Monsters of the Multiverse, Tasha's, Xanathar's)
2014 Starter Set (Lost Mine of Phandelver)
Essentials Kit (Dragon of Icespire Peak)
Phandelver and Below
Vecna Eve of Ruin
2024 Core Set (MM, PHB, DMG)
2024 Starter Set
Honestly, you only really need a PHB, MM, and DMG to run good games. Personally, I prefer making my own adventures but do enjoy both Dragon of Icespire Peak and Lost Mine of Phandelver if I've ever got to introduce new players to the game. I simply do not run 5.5e (2024), those books are my most regretted purchase. Vecna Eve of Ruin was purchased because there are so few high level adventures...it was also a massive waste of money. Most bang for my buck was the Essentials Kit. Three adventures, the basic rules, premade characters and the thing I've run the most.
“And the Lord spake, saying, 'First shalt thou take out the Holy Pin. Then, shalt thou count to three, no more, no less. Three shall be the number thou shalt count, and the number of the counting shall be three. Four shalt thou not count, nor either count thou two, excepting that thou then proceed to three. Five is right out! Once the number three, being the third number, be reached, then lobbest thou thy Holy Hand Grenade of Antioch towards thou foe, who being naughty in my sight, shall snuff it.'"
Expanded Set (Monsters of the Multiverse, Tasha's, Xanathar's)
2014 Starter Set (Lost Mine of Phandelver)
Essentials Kit (Dragon of Icespire Peak)
Phandelver and Below
Vecna Eve of Ruin
2024 Core Set (MM, PHB, DMG)
2024 Starter Set
Honestly, you only really need a PHB, MM, and DMG to run good games. Personally, I prefer making my own adventures but do enjoy both Dragon of Icespire Peak and Lost Mine of Phandelver if I've ever got to introduce new players to the game. I simply do not run 5.5e (2024), those books are my most regretted purchase. Vecna Eve of Ruin was purchased because there are so few high level adventures...it was also a massive waste of money. Most bang for my buck was the Essentials Kit. Three adventures, the basic rules, premade characters and the thing I've run the most.
what would you recommend tashas or Xanathars?
Tasha's, largely because it has more helpful stuff for a DM. But both will be of use to players depending on the subclasses they want to play.
I have most of the books, primarily because that's all I put on Christmas lists beyond some Magic decks...
If you want to run games, the core rulebooks are all you really need, they hold the core rules and the stuff you need to homebrew things if they can't cover what you need in a game. I bought a lot of the books I have just to read them, because that's the person that I am. If you want to delve beyond the core, I recommend Tasha's, Mordenkainen Presents, and Xanathars, in that order (best to not as necessary). My favorite WotC book is Glory of the Giants, just because I love the giant/ elemental thing that they have going on in the book and because of how fun and flavorful the magic items and monsters are. Fizbans Treasury of Dragons is also really cool, especially the dragon-themed subclasses, but lower on my list of favorites.
However, I have begun buying 3rd party content, and I personally think that it is amazing. Flee, Mortals! by MCDM is my go-to monster book, and the Game Master's Guide to (insert here) series is also really good. These books can tend to be a little more costly than core content but usually are quite good and helpful, so if you feel like expanding your horizons, I would 100% recommend.
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He doesn't have much besides the skin on his bones. Me: I'll take the skin on his bones, then.
"You see a gigantic, monstrous praying mantis burst from out of the ground. It sprays a stream of acid from it's mouth at one soldier, dissolving him instantly, then it turns and chomps another soldier in half with it's- "
"When are we gonna take a snack break?"
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Medium experienced Dm here. Just wondering what books you all own. I have DMs guide and monster manual
I only have the Monsters Manual, but im sparing some money for the other two!
A new DM durrently doing Lost Mine of Phandelver with a new party!
Figuring out the rules and way of playing trough my mistakes :)
She/her preferred.
Greetings Naylortristan79,
Between the Digital & Physical versions of the books, I own most of the official books.
Keep an eye out for Sales, either here on D&D Beyond for digital versions that give you more character options, etc., or sites like Amazon when they do their Prime Day or Black Friday sales. You can pick up books that you have had your eye on pretty cheap to build your library.
Over time you will get more and more and get deeper into different lore, areas, worlds, etc.
Cheers!
Breathe, dragons; sing of the First World, forged out of chaos and painted with beauty.
Sing of Bahamut, the Platinum, molding the shape of the mountains and rivers;
Sing too of Chromatic Tiamat, painting all over the infinite canvas.
Partnered, they woke in the darkness; partnered, they labored in acts of creation.
I have some of these digitally, others not.
Honestly, you only really need a PHB, MM, and DMG to run good games. Personally, I prefer making my own adventures but do enjoy both Dragon of Icespire Peak and Lost Mine of Phandelver if I've ever got to introduce new players to the game. I simply do not run 5.5e (2024), those books are my most regretted purchase. Vecna Eve of Ruin was purchased because there are so few high level adventures...it was also a massive waste of money. Most bang for my buck was the Essentials Kit. Three adventures, the basic rules, premade characters and the thing I've run the most.
DM session planning template - My version of maps for 'Lost Mine of Phandelver' - Send your party to The Circus - Other DM Resources - Maps, Tokens, Quests - 'Better' Player Character Injury Tables?
Actor, Writer, Director & Teacher by day - GM/DM in my off hours.
what would you recommend tashas or Xanathars?
All 2024 rule books and the new monster manual,
mordekainens monsters
tashas cauldron of everything
forgotten realms heroes of faerun
saving for adventures in faerun.
“And the Lord spake, saying, 'First shalt thou take out the Holy Pin. Then, shalt thou count to three, no more, no less. Three shall be the number thou shalt count, and the number of the counting shall be three. Four shalt thou not count, nor either count thou two, excepting that thou then proceed to three. Five is right out! Once the number three, being the third number, be reached, then lobbest thou thy Holy Hand Grenade of Antioch towards thou foe, who being naughty in my sight, shall snuff it.'"
Tasha's, largely because it has more helpful stuff for a DM. But both will be of use to players depending on the subclasses they want to play.
DM session planning template - My version of maps for 'Lost Mine of Phandelver' - Send your party to The Circus - Other DM Resources - Maps, Tokens, Quests - 'Better' Player Character Injury Tables?
Actor, Writer, Director & Teacher by day - GM/DM in my off hours.
I have most of the books, primarily because that's all I put on Christmas lists beyond some Magic decks...
If you want to run games, the core rulebooks are all you really need, they hold the core rules and the stuff you need to homebrew things if they can't cover what you need in a game. I bought a lot of the books I have just to read them, because that's the person that I am. If you want to delve beyond the core, I recommend Tasha's, Mordenkainen Presents, and Xanathars, in that order (best to not as necessary). My favorite WotC book is Glory of the Giants, just because I love the giant/ elemental thing that they have going on in the book and because of how fun and flavorful the magic items and monsters are. Fizbans Treasury of Dragons is also really cool, especially the dragon-themed subclasses, but lower on my list of favorites.
However, I have begun buying 3rd party content, and I personally think that it is amazing. Flee, Mortals! by MCDM is my go-to monster book, and the Game Master's Guide to (insert here) series is also really good. These books can tend to be a little more costly than core content but usually are quite good and helpful, so if you feel like expanding your horizons, I would 100% recommend.
He doesn't have much besides the skin on his bones. Me: I'll take the skin on his bones, then.
"You see a gigantic, monstrous praying mantis burst from out of the ground. It sprays a stream of acid from it's mouth at one soldier, dissolving him instantly, then it turns and chomps another soldier in half with it's- "
"When are we gonna take a snack break?"