Essentially, it's like Monopoly: If you know someone who has the game, you can play for free - provided they invite you. Unlike Monopoly, odds are you'll be wanting to buy something along the way somewhere, like the Players Handbook for a start. Personally, I have the ground rules (PHB, DMG, Monster Manual) and the goblin race.
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Blanket disclaimer: I only ever state opinion. But I can sound terribly dogmatic - so if you feel I'm trying to tell you what to think, I'm really not, I swear. I'm telling you what I think, that's all.
Click ✨ HERE ✨ For My Youtube Videos featuring Guides, Tips & Tricks for using D&D Beyond. Need help with Homebrew? Check out ✨ thisFAQ/Guide thread ✨ by IamSposta.
You don't have to pay (except for table hire if you're playing at a game store, for a DM if you go down that route, and other optional extras). If you look at my signature, you'll see a series of links to free materials. This includes:
The free basic rules. A limited version of the rules, but enough to get you to play, and enough material to play as any of the classes (but not much more) and enough to start the game.
Some free adventures. They aren't full adventures that can take a year or more to complete, but there's enough to get a taster session for different styles of games. There are way more than enough to know if you enjoy D&D or not. Usually you can tell after a session, but there's enough to keep you going for months.
The contents of the Basic Rules is enough for those who are quite laid back and happy to do anything. I doubt there many like it, but if you're happy playing any class, there's enough to play a unique class/character for well over a decade (assuming you get adventures of decent length), so it's really not insubstantial. However, you'll probably want to upgrade after a while. For a player, I'd recommend, in order:
The Player's Handbook. This has the full set of "normal" rules, which you'll probably want to read and understand after a couple of sessions so you know how things are done. It also has several additional subclasses for each class as well as additional playable races, allowing for greater variety and choice. You also get extra spells, equipment and so forth. For most players, I'd recommend this and then to stop. You don't need anything else really. Please note that a new edition is being reeased.in September 2024, so you will probably want to hold until then rather than having to buy twice.
If you have the itch for more, Tasha's Cauldron of Everything is a good book. More subclasses, more spells, more ways to customise your player. It also has an additional class, the Artificer, and four subclasses for it. It's more focused on the player in my opinion, so I'd put it ahead of its sister book, Xanathar's Guide to Everything, but if there's something specific to XGtE that you want, you could easily get that instead.
Xanathar's Guide to Everything again has more subclasses etc, but is more focused on the DM, but again, it has enough player stuff (and the DM stuff is largely optional rules that won't harm for you to learn anyway) that it's a valid purchase instead of Tasha's Cauldron of Everything if you see something you like (like a specific subclass you want to play).
Honestly, I'd really stop there. The only other book that has a real draw would Monsters of the Multiverse, with 33 playable races. However, it's mostly a collection of monster statblocks (other than the playable races) which are virtually useless for players, so I'd speak to your DM, and maybe see if they want it or to go splits or something.
There is a smattering of player options elsewhere, but it's all mostly DM stuff with a couple of player options sprinkled in, so not worth buying entire books for them.
If you're looking to DM, the priorities are different:
Get the Player's Handbook, you'll need the rules. Bear in mind that it will be replaced in September 2024, so you may want to hold off until then rather than buying twice.
You'll need monster statblocks. If you're looking to run official adventures, then you'll need the Monster Manual (this will be replaced in February 2025, so be aware). If you're looking to homebrew your adventures instead, then you can pick between the Monster Manual and Monsters of the Multiverse (the second book is not being replaced, so you can comfortably buy that now if you wished), or both. I don't think you'd need both straightaway, there are plenty of statblocks to work with. Personally, I'd go with the Monster Manual since it has a lot more of the "standard" creatures that you'd probably want, then get MotM later if you feel the need.
Onto the optional purchases. The Dungeon Master's Guide has a lot of good advice and guidance on things. I wouldn't call it necessary, but there's good stuff in there.
If you're home-brewing your adventures, Monsters of the Multiverse has a lot of new monsters you can add as well as 33 playable races for your players. It's good.
If you're wanting to run an official adventure, you'll need to buy one. Which one depends on your taste. Each one is dependent on taste - each one has people who love it fanatically and other who despise it. It's all about taste and what the strengths and weaknesses of the DM are. Research each one, find one that suits the genre you think you'd like, then ask around. Bear in mind that that people will state their opinion as fact though, so don't be too swayed by their opinions of it, but it might help you understand the style and layout of the adventure.
There are setting and deep dive books books, which can be really good. See which ones are applicable to the game you want to run. They're not necessary in any shape or form, they just might help develop things out a bit. For example, I personally found Fizban's Treasury of Dragons a brilliant book for expanding on dragons and dragon related stuff. I wouldn't (personally) buy Van Richten's Guide to Ravenloft, not because it's bad (to the contrary, I've heard it's really good), but because my players would never want to play a horror game.
If you're not willing or able to to discuss in good faith, then don't be surprised if I don't respond, there are better things in life for me to do than humour you. This signature is that response.
Do you have to pay to watch a movie? No, but you don't get to choose when and where you watch it, and you get to see chosen advertising by the person providing the experience. If you want the best movie watching experience, you choose the theatre you like and how early you want to get there to get the seats you prefer and any supplemental snacks. Or maybe you wait a few months and have a subscription service you can view it in your own home on the best equipment you can afford (price varies considerably)So, you can pay a lot or a little or none to watch a movie, the same goes for D&D.
You don't need to pay to play D&D, especially if you have a friend who can guide you. Many resources are available for free online, including rules and character sheets. However, buying official books and materials can enhance the experience, but they're optional for beginners. Also if you're looking for some other free games I can recommend PlayHop.
I never charge to play at my table, nor i ever pay to play at others, because it's just against my principles.
Also, it just isn't one of those hobbies, right? You go to the gym, you pay for membership because you cannot realistically fit 100 machines in your home, nor can you really afford them. But DND really is a service you can get for free - so many places (circumstances may vary) - and so it just becomes a hard sell for me.
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Blanket disclaimer: I only ever state opinion. But I can sound terribly dogmatic - so if you feel I'm trying to tell you what to think, I'm really not, I swear. I'm telling you what I think, that's all.
You don't need to pay to play D&D, especially if you have a friend who can guide you. Many resources are available for free online, including rules and character sheets. However, buying official books and materials can enhance the experience, but they're optional for beginners.
Paying is optional for veterans too. The library is free, and should contain some D&D books. People can also tap their local D&D community, or join various online D&D communities, and as long as they are not obnoxious, they can get access to D&D books too. Google Sheets is free and infinitely more customizable than Beyond's character sheets, although to be fair, it does take far more work to set it up in the first place. UA is free too and it contains most of the player side mechanics in the published books; it is not as balanced nor polished compared to the published versions, but it is way more interesting.
But for stuff like minis and maps though, you do have to pay for those, and there is no way satisfying way around it. You can use coins, knick-knacks, and trinkets on graph paper to play D&D, but it is not really satisfying. The good news is that there are cheap minis and maps, so it is not unaffordable either if you can spare a few bucks here and there.
I never charge to play at my table, nor i ever pay to play at others, because it's just against my principles.
Also, it just isn't one of those hobbies, right? You go to the gym, you pay for membership because you cannot realistically fit 100 machines in your home, nor can you really afford them. But DND really is a service you can get for free - so many places (circumstances may vary) - and so it just becomes a hard sell for me.
Paying is one additional way to weed out others who are incompatible to play with. Since money is on the line, hopefully everyone will be more upfront with what they want out of the game during session zero, so there is less drama down the line. I never tried it before, so I am not sure how effective it really is in avoiding awful people.
It is like why people pay for more exclusive gyms, private coaches, and those all-in-one home workout equipment, so they do not have to deal with others. It is more expensive, but for those who can afford it, it is a piece of mind thing. I went to the cheapest gym when I was really depressed to get my mind off of things, but that does not work. Seeing people who do not clean after themselves, hog gym equipment at the express stations, and the occasional young adults who horseplay made my mood worse. I leave the gym more irritated and snappy, but it is the cheapest gym, so I get what I paid for.
I never charge to play at my table, nor i ever pay to play at others, because it's just against my principles.
Also, it just isn't one of those hobbies, right? You go to the gym, you pay for membership because you cannot realistically fit 100 machines in your home, nor can you really afford them. But DND really is a service you can get for free - so many places (circumstances may vary) - and so it just becomes a hard sell for me.
I don't consider D&D a service but a game played for fun. When money is required it changes expectations adding financial reasons why the game is played.
But i understand it's also convenient when there's too many players for the number of DMs available making it harder to find online games to play where you can find paid games much more easily. Many such DMs wouldn't run as many D&D games without $
You don't need to pay anything. Even the character sheets and tools on this site are free. What you should do, in my opinion, is try what is available for free first to see if D&D is for you. For that, you can see my signature at the bottom of this post (use landscape mode to see if on mobile). My signature is a directory to all the free materials on this site, plus some very informative forum threads on how to go about purchasing if and when you choose to.
But for stuff like minis and maps though, you do have to pay for those, and there is no way satisfying way around it. You can use coins, knick-knacks, and trinkets on graph paper to play D&D, but it is not really satisfying. The good news is that there are cheap minis and maps, so it is not unaffordable either if you can spare a few bucks here and there.
In terms of minis, something I'm doing with another game (since STLs are harder to find) is grabbing digital artwork, tokenising it, printing them off then putting them in coin collector capsules. It's pretty effective and looks good too. Not free, but very cheap compared to minis. Maps are more of an issue though.
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If you're not willing or able to to discuss in good faith, then don't be surprised if I don't respond, there are better things in life for me to do than humour you. This signature is that response.
But for stuff like minis and maps though, you do have to pay for those, and there is no way satisfying way around it. You can use coins, knick-knacks, and trinkets on graph paper to play D&D, but it is not really satisfying. The good news is that there are cheap minis and maps, so it is not unaffordable either if you can spare a few bucks here and there.
In terms of minis, something I'm doing with another game (since STLs are harder to find) is grabbing digital artwork, tokenising it, printing them off then putting them in coin collector capsules. It's pretty effective and looks good too. Not free, but very cheap compared to minis. Maps are more of an issue though.
I do something similar, printing off 1 inch tokens and sticking them to self adhesive magnets with an epoxy dome on top. As you say not free but a lot cheaper than minis and once I'm done with the campaign I get to use them as fridge magnets
Just want to echo that my library has a large collection of DnD books. There's a binder on display listing them all and you have to request them, but they're excited to help you.
The core rules can be googled easily and found a bit at a time, as you want to know things, plus there are all kinds of free sites and videos that will teach you whatever you want to know.
You can use any tokens you want as a mini, if you even need a physical representation.
I played for free for a while before I decided I wanted my own copies of the core books and started up the path.
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I would like to know if a person needs to pay to play d&d.
Essentially, it's like Monopoly: If you know someone who has the game, you can play for free - provided they invite you. Unlike Monopoly, odds are you'll be wanting to buy something along the way somewhere, like the Players Handbook for a start. Personally, I have the ground rules (PHB, DMG, Monster Manual) and the goblin race.
Blanket disclaimer: I only ever state opinion. But I can sound terribly dogmatic - so if you feel I'm trying to tell you what to think, I'm really not, I swear. I'm telling you what I think, that's all.
Click ✨ HERE ✨ For My Youtube Videos featuring Guides, Tips & Tricks for using D&D Beyond.
Need help with Homebrew? Check out ✨ this FAQ/Guide thread ✨ by IamSposta.
You don't have to pay (except for table hire if you're playing at a game store, for a DM if you go down that route, and other optional extras). If you look at my signature, you'll see a series of links to free materials. This includes:
The contents of the Basic Rules is enough for those who are quite laid back and happy to do anything. I doubt there many like it, but if you're happy playing any class, there's enough to play a unique class/character for well over a decade (assuming you get adventures of decent length), so it's really not insubstantial. However, you'll probably want to upgrade after a while. For a player, I'd recommend, in order:
If you're looking to DM, the priorities are different:
So that's my guide to what to buy.
If you're not willing or able to to discuss in good faith, then don't be surprised if I don't respond, there are better things in life for me to do than humour you. This signature is that response.
No, you don't need to pay. At worst, you have to buy any book you want to use, though the Basic Rules are still free.
Do you have to pay to watch a movie? No, but you don't get to choose when and where you watch it, and you get to see chosen advertising by the person providing the experience. If you want the best movie watching experience, you choose the theatre you like and how early you want to get there to get the seats you prefer and any supplemental snacks. Or maybe you wait a few months and have a subscription service you can view it in your own home on the best equipment you can afford (price varies considerably)So, you can pay a lot or a little or none to watch a movie, the same goes for D&D.
The lowest cost other than free would be the basic starter set from your local store.
Find a few gaming stores around you and look on their bulletin boards. They often have DM's looking for players.
If you wait a while to buy books you might find a set of what you need after the new editions come out. Some people can not wait to upgrade.
I never charge to play at my table, nor i ever pay to play at others, because it's just against my principles.
Also, it just isn't one of those hobbies, right? You go to the gym, you pay for membership because you cannot realistically fit 100 machines in your home, nor can you really afford them. But DND really is a service you can get for free - so many places (circumstances may vary) - and so it just becomes a hard sell for me.
Blanket disclaimer: I only ever state opinion. But I can sound terribly dogmatic - so if you feel I'm trying to tell you what to think, I'm really not, I swear. I'm telling you what I think, that's all.
Paying is optional for veterans too. The library is free, and should contain some D&D books. People can also tap their local D&D community, or join various online D&D communities, and as long as they are not obnoxious, they can get access to D&D books too. Google Sheets is free and infinitely more customizable than Beyond's character sheets, although to be fair, it does take far more work to set it up in the first place. UA is free too and it contains most of the player side mechanics in the published books; it is not as balanced nor polished compared to the published versions, but it is way more interesting.
But for stuff like minis and maps though, you do have to pay for those, and there is no way satisfying way around it. You can use coins, knick-knacks, and trinkets on graph paper to play D&D, but it is not really satisfying. The good news is that there are cheap minis and maps, so it is not unaffordable either if you can spare a few bucks here and there.
Paying is one additional way to weed out others who are incompatible to play with. Since money is on the line, hopefully everyone will be more upfront with what they want out of the game during session zero, so there is less drama down the line. I never tried it before, so I am not sure how effective it really is in avoiding awful people.
It is like why people pay for more exclusive gyms, private coaches, and those all-in-one home workout equipment, so they do not have to deal with others. It is more expensive, but for those who can afford it, it is a piece of mind thing. I went to the cheapest gym when I was really depressed to get my mind off of things, but that does not work. Seeing people who do not clean after themselves, hog gym equipment at the express stations, and the occasional young adults who horseplay made my mood worse. I leave the gym more irritated and snappy, but it is the cheapest gym, so I get what I paid for.
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I don't consider D&D a service but a game played for fun. When money is required it changes expectations adding financial reasons why the game is played.
But i understand it's also convenient when there's too many players for the number of DMs available making it harder to find online games to play where you can find paid games much more easily. Many such DMs wouldn't run as many D&D games without $
You don't need to pay anything. Even the character sheets and tools on this site are free. What you should do, in my opinion, is try what is available for free first to see if D&D is for you. For that, you can see my signature at the bottom of this post (use landscape mode to see if on mobile). My signature is a directory to all the free materials on this site, plus some very informative forum threads on how to go about purchasing if and when you choose to.
DM mostly, Player occasionally | Session 0 form | He/Him/They/Them
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We pay with snacks and food. Play once or twice a week.
Rotate DM;s and even games.
Since we are all older players with jobs we tend to throw in cash for any new books we need and our main D&D dm;s membership.
No you do not have to pay for anything to play but as with any good hobby you will want more. Find a good group and stick together.
In terms of minis, something I'm doing with another game (since STLs are harder to find) is grabbing digital artwork, tokenising it, printing them off then putting them in coin collector capsules. It's pretty effective and looks good too. Not free, but very cheap compared to minis. Maps are more of an issue though.
If you're not willing or able to to discuss in good faith, then don't be surprised if I don't respond, there are better things in life for me to do than humour you. This signature is that response.
I live in the same universe as you all 😅
I do something similar, printing off 1 inch tokens and sticking them to self adhesive magnets with an epoxy dome on top. As you say not free but a lot cheaper than minis and once I'm done with the campaign I get to use them as fridge magnets
Just want to echo that my library has a large collection of DnD books. There's a binder on display listing them all and you have to request them, but they're excited to help you.
The core rules can be googled easily and found a bit at a time, as you want to know things, plus there are all kinds of free sites and videos that will teach you whatever you want to know.
You can use any tokens you want as a mini, if you even need a physical representation.
I played for free for a while before I decided I wanted my own copies of the core books and started up the path.