Got DnD for Christmas? This is what you need next

[AngelOfThyNight]

Got DnD for Christmas? This is what you need next

[html]What should you roll next?
                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                               
                           
                           

                               

So, you've just got a DnD campaign for Christmas. What now? Should you start looking at miniatures? Is it worth getting extra dice? And which books should you buy next? There are plenty of questions, and it can all be a bit overwhelming.

That's where we come in. Our experts have rolled a nat 20 on Investigation, and that means we have some recommendations of what to do next – more specifically, which tools and Dungeons and Dragons books should join your collection. It's our job to review DnD and the best tabletop RPGs all year round, so we have a pretty good idea of how they all stack up against one another.

Wondering how we settled on these DnD goodies in particular? Our writers have been hands-on with everything listed here so can recommend them from a personal standpoint. As for the books, we've actually used, read, or run all of these suggestions ourselves.

DnD essentials

       

           

https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/c6cusPrXhrtixxvLzSxFkJ.jpg' >Best accessory

           

               

                   

1. Dice tray

                   
               

               

                   
                   

We've all been there; you roll to hit in a live-or-die combat, and your dice trundles off to goodness knows where. This handy little accessory keeps everything nicely squared away, both in transit and play. Crucially, it also avoids heavy dice denting those nice wooden tables you might use them on.

               

               

           

       

       

           

https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/SoxTwtEo7VuHL3WBs2QNRg.jpg' >New races

           

               

                   

2. Monsters of the Multiverse

                   
               

               

                   
                   

Making a character is arguably one of the best parts of DnD, but if you're anything like us, you'll be disappointed by the number of playable species in its core rules. That's why this book is such an essential purchase; it offers a metric crap-ton of new races to use, ranging from rabbit people to the humble goblin.

               

               

           

       

       

           

https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/8DqbDDGdWSdR4y9s6KKnaS.jpg' >New subclasses

           

               

                   

3. Tasha's Cauldron of Everything

                   
               

               

                   
                   

It's no secret that every class can be specialized with its own subclass. And while ones from the basic rules are all good and well, it's always nice to have options. This sourcebook gives you those options… and then some. It reinvigorates the classics, but also provides a way to bypass the restrictive racial traits feature.

               

               

           

       

       

           

https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/z3iW9jkpWURM3uniRXeqDh.jpg' >For beginners

           

               

                   

4. Phandelver and Below

                   
               

               

                   
                   

Eager to run your first campaign of DnD? This is the perfect choice. The opening adapts a story seen in 2014's starter set before expanding it with all new questlines, and because it was already a slice of quintessential fantasy adventuring, we can't recommend this update enough.

               

               

           

       

       

           

https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/JFM8peNLKHTQDVtFeSij5Z.jpg' >Best adventure overall

           

               

                   

5. Curse of Strahd

                   
               

               

                   
                   

While Phandelver and Below is the perfect starter adventure, it still isn't as good as this horror epic. Curse of Strahd remakes of what is arguably one of the most iconic DnD adventures ever created, and if your party is willing to try something different, it'll sweep them off their feet.

               

               

           

       

       

           

https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/mfkLDyXgUBihdUaF3aSnBd.jpg' >Best for DMs

           

               

                   

6. Campaign journal

                   
               

               

                   
                   

DnD can be a tricky thing to run, so notes are definitely your friend. Having the adventure to hand isn't always helpful because information can be hidden beneath reams of text, and flipping between character stats is annoying, so notebooks are set up to help you keep track of it all. We have a similar one and find it pretty useful.

               

               

           

       

FAQ

(Image credit: Future)

Should you buy the DnD core rulebooks?

Honestly, we'd argue against getting the core rulebooks (Player's Handbook, Dungeon Master's Guide, and the Monster Manual) at this point. A new edition of DnD is on the horizon, and that means new rulebooks at some point in 2024. Rather than wasting money on these, we'd recommend holding fire and making do with the free basic rules until those updates arrive.