So I started playing Dungeons & Dragons a little bit ago and I now want to start up a D&D campaign with my friends. I have rounded up a few people that would like to try it out and have helped them build their first characters. I have bought the first things to start, e.g the Starter Set, DM Screen, Battle Mat. I would like to know what other people have done to spruce up their D&D tables!
Snacks and beverages and a very relaxed attitude. Some skulls and l.e.d. candles. A youtube playlist of village, cavern, market, sailing vessel, meadow, bustling city sounds.
But I'm an over the top kind of person. It sounds like you're already on the right track. Focus on the game and making it fun with the tools you have and fit all the other stuff in later.
Paper and pencils, though they may go without saying. Otherwise it sounds like you've got everything you need.
It's really nice for everyone to have their own set of dice, if your players are willing to make the investment. Markers for the battle mat, minis to populate it with can be helpful for laying out a scene. Don't be afraid to forgo the map, though. Sometimes a good visual description will suffice, and marking down the layout of every area can really ruin the pace of the game.
Other nice to haves would be condition markers, either for the minis, or just to put on the character sheets. The plastic rings on the top of plastic soda bottles or milk jugs work great.
Print out parts of the Starter Set booklets you'll be referring to a lot, like monster stat blocks, maps, and spells.
When I started with my current group, all new to D&D, all I had were the rules character sheets, pencils and die.I think you have more than enough to start.
My real contribution to this thread has more to do with avoiding an annoyance.
As a DM and general supplier of D&D gaming materials for everyone, I started bringing a "dice tray". Some people can get very enthusiastic with their die rolls, sometimes sending die skittering off the table and onto the floor. Seemingly minor occurance that's easily fixed by picking up the die. However, sometimes, having to get up and search for die can kill the momentum/flow of the game temporarily.
The overturned top of a game box worked fine for me. Different vendors also sell proper dice trays.
Snacks and beverages and a very relaxed attitude. Some skulls and l.e.d. candles. A youtube playlist of village, cavern, market, sailing vessel, meadow, bustling city sounds.
But I'm an over the top kind of person. It sounds like you're already on the right track. Focus on the game and making it fun with the tools you have and fit all the other stuff in later. ~BallZak1313
Thanks for the advice!
I'm trying to make the D&D session as amazing as possible for my players because it will be their first ever time playing, so I'm adding lots of cool stuff to the table.
The idea about the skulls sounds awesome, I should be able to find some down at my local Cheap As Chips ( #Australians ) and I had an idea about putting some fake cobweb in front of the DM screen. I found a playlist of battle music as well as just ambience in general on Youtube and Spotify which I think my players will really like.
When I started with my current group, all new to D&D, all I had were the rules character sheets, pencils and die.I think you have more than enough to start.
My real contribution to this thread has more to do with avoiding an annoyance.
As a DM and general supplier of D&D gaming materials for everyone, I started bringing a "dice tray". Some people can get very enthusiastic with their die rolls, sometimes sending die skittering off the table and onto the floor. Seemingly minor occurance that's easily fixed by picking up the die. However, sometimes, having to get up and search for die can kill the momentum/flow of the game temporarily.
The overturned top of a game box worked fine for me. Different vendors also sell proper dice trays.
Good luck and I hope you have lots of fun! ~VoodooHack
Thanks for the help!
I was looking into getting a proper dice box but I'm currently using a little container with a latch (Perfect because it has a padded bottom which means no noise!).
I do agree with how rolling dice to hard and sending them flying disrupts the sessions swing. I play in a campaign at a club and it has happened multiple times.
Print off some images that you find that help show a general vibe of the location (not just a map), my players like this. I attach them to front of my DM screen with magnets, putting one on either side (works better than blue tac and tape).
Sticky tabs that mark pages are good for making in your books spells, monsters and other features you need for your game. I also would recommend a small collapsable side table set up next to you to keep your books on (so they don't take up all the room behind the DM screen.
A small white board for tracking initiative and any conditions placed on characterters. A set of dry wipe or white board pens, 10 or so in coulours you can use on your battleground as well.
Dungeon tiles and minis are also great. I've recently purchased all the dungeon tiles reincarnated by WotC, but I've also found decent lots on eBay (having doubles isn't a bad thing). A cheap way of getting minis is using printable ones. Printable Heroes, Trash Mob Minis and what you find on the DM's guild are good places to look.
Can't think of anything else at the moment, but follow people on twitter for extra tips. There's also a books like the lazy dungeon master which can help.
I highly recommend some atmospheric music to really set the mood, making some playlists in advance of the campaign, at the very least a playlist for music for when they enter combat to really push how epic the encounters are if your friends are new to D&D. If someone is playing a bard encourage them to maybe even bring their own playlist of music. As for long term maybe a few props like a deck of Tarot cards for the Deck of many Things though I don't recommend it in your first campaign haha, things the players can physically interact with helps enhance the experience.
Print off some images that you find that help show a general vibe of the location (not just a map), my players like this. I attach them to front of my DM screen with magnets, putting one on either side (works better than blue tac and tape).
Sticky tabs that mark pages are good for making in your books spells, monsters and other features you need for your game. I also would recommend a small collapsable side table set up next to you to keep your books on (so they don't take up all the room behind the DM screen.
A small white board for tracking initiative and any conditions placed on characterters. A set of dry wipe or white board pens, 10 or so in coulours you can use on your battleground as well.
Dungeon tiles and minis are also great. I've recently purchased all the dungeon tiles reincarnated by WotC, but I've also found decent lots on eBay (having doubles isn't a bad thing). A cheap way of getting minis is using printable ones. Printable Heroes, Trash Mob Minis and what you find on the DM's guild are good places to look.
Can't think of anything else at the moment, but follow people on twitter for extra tips. There's also a books like the lazy dungeon master which can help.
The idea of putting things up on your DM screen is great! I think I have some little magnetic clips lying about somewhere.
I do have a side table that is sitting outside collecting dust. I think it will be perfect.
I don't yet have a mini but I will check out the Printable Heroes site and see if it works.
So I started playing Dungeons & Dragons a little bit ago and I now want to start up a D&D campaign with my friends. I have rounded up a few people that would like to try it out and have helped them build their first characters. I have bought the first things to start, e.g the Starter Set, DM Screen, Battle Mat. I would like to know what other people have done to spruce up their D&D tables!
Thanks!
Snacks and beverages and a very relaxed attitude. Some skulls and l.e.d. candles. A youtube playlist of village, cavern, market, sailing vessel, meadow, bustling city sounds.
But I'm an over the top kind of person. It sounds like you're already on the right track. Focus on the game and making it fun with the tools you have and fit all the other stuff in later.
Paper and pencils, though they may go without saying. Otherwise it sounds like you've got everything you need.
It's really nice for everyone to have their own set of dice, if your players are willing to make the investment. Markers for the battle mat, minis to populate it with can be helpful for laying out a scene. Don't be afraid to forgo the map, though. Sometimes a good visual description will suffice, and marking down the layout of every area can really ruin the pace of the game.
Other nice to haves would be condition markers, either for the minis, or just to put on the character sheets. The plastic rings on the top of plastic soda bottles or milk jugs work great.
Print out parts of the Starter Set booklets you'll be referring to a lot, like monster stat blocks, maps, and spells.
Good luck, and have fun!
When I started with my current group, all new to D&D, all I had were the rules character sheets, pencils and die.I think you have more than enough to start.
My real contribution to this thread has more to do with avoiding an annoyance.
As a DM and general supplier of D&D gaming materials for everyone, I started bringing a "dice tray". Some people can get very enthusiastic with their die rolls, sometimes sending die skittering off the table and onto the floor. Seemingly minor occurance that's easily fixed by picking up the die. However, sometimes, having to get up and search for die can kill the momentum/flow of the game temporarily.
The overturned top of a game box worked fine for me. Different vendors also sell proper dice trays.
Good luck and I hope you have lots of fun!
Thanks for the advice!
I'm trying to make the D&D session as amazing as possible for my players because it will be their first ever time playing, so I'm adding lots of cool stuff to the table.
The idea about the skulls sounds awesome, I should be able to find some down at my local Cheap As Chips ( #Australians ) and I had an idea about putting some fake cobweb in front of the DM screen. I found a playlist of battle music as well as just ambience in general on Youtube and Spotify which I think my players will really like.
Anyway, thanks for the help! =)
Thanks for the help!
I was looking into getting a proper dice box but I'm currently using a little container with a latch (Perfect because it has a padded bottom which means no noise!).
I do agree with how rolling dice to hard and sending them flying disrupts the sessions swing. I play in a campaign at a club and it has happened multiple times.
Thanks for posting!
Print off some images that you find that help show a general vibe of the location (not just a map), my players like this. I attach them to front of my DM screen with magnets, putting one on either side (works better than blue tac and tape).
Sticky tabs that mark pages are good for making in your books spells, monsters and other features you need for your game. I also would recommend a small collapsable side table set up next to you to keep your books on (so they don't take up all the room behind the DM screen.
A small white board for tracking initiative and any conditions placed on characterters. A set of dry wipe or white board pens, 10 or so in coulours you can use on your battleground as well.
Dungeon tiles and minis are also great. I've recently purchased all the dungeon tiles reincarnated by WotC, but I've also found decent lots on eBay (having doubles isn't a bad thing). A cheap way of getting minis is using printable ones. Printable Heroes, Trash Mob Minis and what you find on the DM's guild are good places to look.
Can't think of anything else at the moment, but follow people on twitter for extra tips. There's also a books like the lazy dungeon master which can help.
I highly recommend some atmospheric music to really set the mood, making some playlists in advance of the campaign, at the very least a playlist for music for when they enter combat to really push how epic the encounters are if your friends are new to D&D. If someone is playing a bard encourage them to maybe even bring their own playlist of music. As for long term maybe a few props like a deck of Tarot cards for the Deck of many Things though I don't recommend it in your first campaign haha, things the players can physically interact with helps enhance the experience.