DnD Gift set for a Beginner - advise me!

[Pokutsa]

Hi, guys! Please help me to choose a perfect DnD 5e Gift set for my nephew's birthday. DnD Starter set...
What else should I include as a must have and most essential?
Links are really appreciated!
Thank you so much for your help!

[Ryunosuke]

The starter set if I recall only has the basic info to play a few games on its own so realistically the core rukebooks are going to be needed eventually and would make better long term gifts assuming he doesn’t have them already.

Any hard cover adventure to get tatted for a long term campaign would also be a good idea as well. On mobile so grabbing links would prolly take me longer than it would for the next likely reply sorry xp

[Pokutsa]

The starter set if I recall only has the basic info to play a few games on its own so realistically the core rulebooks are going to be needed eventually and would make better long term gifts assuming he doesn’t have them already.

Any hard cover adventure to get tatted for a long term campaign would also be a good idea as well. On mobile so grabbing links would prolly take me longer than it would for the next likely reply sorry xp

Thanks ! Will it be a usefull set: starter set, Player's Handbook, 3 DnD pencils, 1 DnD mug and some dice set? What dice set would be a good addition to a general one? Maybe something from the list is useless?
Thank you once again!

[Ryunosuke]

Thanks ! Will it be a usefull set: starter set, Player's Handbook, 3 DnD pencils, 1 DnD mug and some dice set? What dice set would be a good addition to a general one? Maybe something from the list is useless?
Thank you once again!
A full set of polyhedral dice (d4, d6, d8, 2d10, d12, and d20) is what every game of D&D needs.

He will need all three core books (player’s handbook, monster manual, and the Dungeon Masters Guide) at some point but that’s a small investment so I’d say coordinate with other people buying gifts for his birthday and make it a big combination gift instead if you want him to have the entire set of basic books for the game.

[Armored Walrus]

Does your nephew already play the game? Or are you looking to DM a game with/for him and friends?

[2D8HP]

In this order:


The Hobbit (https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/054792822X/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1524590395&sr=8-3&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=the+hobbit)



The Player's Handbook (https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0786965606/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1524589489&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=5e+players+handbook&dpPl=1&dpID=510Cy8v8H3L&ref=plSrch#nav-search-keywordsPlayer's Handbook)



The Dungeon Masters Guide (https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0786965622/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1524590141&sr=8-3&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=dungeons+and+dragons+5th+edition&dpPl=1&dpID=51p%2B4ynZZiL&ref=plSrch)



A Wizard of Earthsea (https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0547773749/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1524589884&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=Wizard+of+Earthsea)



Swords Against Death (https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B003WMF0YY/ref=mp_s_a_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1524589937&sr=8-5&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65)



Conan the Barbarian (https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/034553123X/ref=mp_s_a_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1524589998&sr=8-7&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=conan+the+barbarian+howard&dpPl=1&dpID=513Usd7JZnL&ref=plSrch)



Xanathar's Guide to Everything (https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0786966114/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1524590047&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=xanthars+guide+to+everything&dpPl=1&dpID=61%2BQF%2BzcsRL&ref=plSrch)



Volo's Guide to Monsters (https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0786966017/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1524590047&sr=8-3&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=xanthars+guide+to+everything&dpPl=1&dpID=51HEKg8LWtL&ref=plSrch)



Tales From the Yawning Portal (https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0786966092/ref=mp_s_a_1_10?ie=UTF8&qid=1524590047&sr=8-10&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=xanthars+guide+to+everything&dpPl=1&dpID=516pCiqOQWL&ref=plSrch)



D&D Character Sheets (https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0786966181/ref=mp_s_a_1_17?ie=UTF8&qid=1524590102&sr=8-17&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=xanthars+guide+to+everything&dpPl=1&dpID=61hRFkr6M8L&ref=plSrch)


and


The Monster Manual (https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0786965614/ref=mp_s_a_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1524590141&sr=8-7&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=dungeons+and+dragons+5th+edition&dpPl=1&dpID=51SqPlj7h4L&ref=plSrch)

[Sigreid]

How interested is he? If you know he's interested the core books are gold. If you're not sure, just do the starter set. If he has a good time, Christmas is coming.

[Pokutsa]

Does your nephew already play the game? Or are you looking to DM a game with/for him and friends?

No, he hasn't started yet :-) I really want to make a perfect DnD 5e gift set so he fell in love with it. My budget is $50-60. What's the most essential in addition to the Starter set?

[Sigreid]

No, he hasn't started yet :-) I really want to make a perfect DnD 5e gift set so he fell in love with it. My budget is $50-60. What's the most essential in addition to the Starter set?

Players handbook. Hands down.

[Pokutsa]

A full set of polyhedral dice (d4, d6, d8, 2d10, d12, and d20) is what every game of D&D needs.

He will need all three core books (player’s handbook, monster manual, and the Dungeon Masters Guide) at some point but that’s a small investment so I’d say coordinate with other people buying gifts for his birthday and make it a big combination gift instead if you want him to have the entire set of basic books for the game.

Got it! Thank you!

[2D8HP]

No, he hasn't started yet :-) I really want to make a perfect DnD 5e gift set so he fell in love with it. My budget is $50-60. What's the most essential in addition to the Starter set?


Related comic books and fiction.

Without the inspiration, you're planting on salted earth.

[Armored Walrus]

Players handbook. Hands down.

Yep. The only really essential book if he's just going to play. The reason I asked if he already plays, though, or if you do, is that I had a similar situation. My nephew received the Starter Set as a gift a few years ago, and it ended up being the thing that got me back into D&D, but as far as I know, it just sits on his bookshelf outside of the three or four times I've run a session for him at family get-togethers. He read through it and decided that learning the rules, reading the adventure, being the DM and convincing his friends to try playing it, were too much work.

If you have a DM in mind that he can play with, then the Player's Handbook is a better gift. But if not, maybe the gift is to pay for a handful of AL sessions at your local game shop, or buy a ticket to an RPG convention you can attend together, and pay to be involved in some D&D one-shots there, or something along those lines. Barring those options, the Starter Set is a solid intro to the game, but it puts all the onus on him to find friends to play with, and generally the person doing that is also the one that gets saddled with being the DM.

A set of polyhedral dice are definitely a must to add to whatever you end up giving him. They're just too cool.

[LordEntrails]

I would suggest some mini's, it will help him visualize what's going on. You can find people selling in bulk on eBay for pretty cheap. Often poor paint jobs but that doesn't matter, a few heroes and a few evil creatures is all you need.

I also like the idea of a classic fantasy book. Wizard of Earthsea is pretty good for his age. You could also do one of the Drizzt books or any of the official D&D paperbacks from any year.

Though the PHB is pretty key, imo, it's not required if you get the basic set. I think a story book and some other things (mini's, character sheets, etc) are more important. Variety you know :)

[Pokutsa]

Thank you all, guys!
So the core of the set is settled: starter set + Player's handbook + dice set
Anything else? Pencils? Magnet? Carrying Bag? Shirt? Something not expensive but still interesting and useful...

[Armored Walrus]

Wizard of Earthsea is pretty good for his age.

I didn't see where OP mentioned nephew's age.

[Armored Walrus]

Thank you all, guys!
So the core of the set is settled: starter set + Player's handbook + dice set
Anything else? Pencils? Magnet? Carrying Bag? Shirt? Something not expensive but still interesting and useful...

Pencils are a good idea if you want to be able to break out the kit and start playing the day you give it to him. If he's inspired by any existing fantasy, I'd go with pencils in that theme, rather than D&D logo pencils. Magnet, carrying bag, tshirt? Nah. Some kind of cool pouch to put those dice in would be good, though.

... Do you play D&D? Will you be able to run a quick session when you give him the kit? (not the starter adventure. You're not going to open that as a gift and then run it that day unless you buy a second copy for yourself and read it before his bday. :P )

[Pokutsa]

I didn't see where OP mentioned nephew's age.

He's 13 years old

[HolyAvenger7]

Starter set - definitely. LMoP is a great way to begin. ~$15 from Wizards.

PHB - next best book, followed by DMG then MM. At ~ $20 each that fulls your budget quickly. Much of this is available online, but the books are nice.

Other ideas:

Amazon has a set of 5 or 6 dice sets for under $10. The starter kit has one set, but it's always fun for each player to have their own dice. Here's one of them.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01ABST9S4/ref=sxbs_sxwds-stvpv2_2?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_p=3534659722&pd_rd_wg=p8W6t&pf_rd_r=5X8YT6N9ECH94DV7W2AD&pf_rd_s=desktop-sx-bottom-slot&pf_rd_t=301&pd_rd_i=B01ABST9S4&pd_rd_w=vqL8G&pf_rd_i=dungeons+and+dragons+5th+edition&pd_rd_r=c34dbf48-0ced-44f6-a080-15ac867b2b19&ie=UTF8&qid=1524593002&sr=2

A grid map might be nice as well to get the idea of movement before going to the theater of the mind.

When my son got started we all chipped in to get different parts. You might want to share the giving.

[Pokutsa]

Pencils are a good idea if you want to be able to break out the kit and start playing the day you give it to him. If he's inspired by any existing fantasy, I'd go with pencils in that theme, rather than D&D logo pencils. Magnet, carrying bag, tshirt? Nah. Some kind of cool pouch to put those dice in would be good, though.

... Do you play D&D? Will you be able to run a quick session when you give him the kit? (not the starter adventure. You're not going to open that as a gift and then run it that day unless you buy a second copy for yourself and read it before his bday. :P )

Haha! :P
Some kind of cool pouch to put those dice in - great idea!

[GlenSmash!]

The starter set comes with a dice set, so that has you covered unless you want more. I ended up with a big bag of dice from Amazon because I'd rather roll 4d6 than 1d6 four times.

Starter Set and Players Handbook would be enough I think.

[Armored Walrus]

Haha! :P
Some kind of cool pouch to put those dice in - great idea!

Probably not the Crown Royal bag that I use, considering he's 13 ;)

[Pokutsa]

Starter set - definitely. LMoP is a great way to begin. ~$15 from Wizards.

PHB - next best book, followed by DMG then MM. At ~ $20 each that fulls your budget quickly. Much of this is available online, but the books are nice.

Other ideas:

Amazon has a set of 5 or 6 dice sets for under $10. The starter kit has one set, but it's always fun for each player to have their own dice. Here's one of them.


A grid map might be nice as well to get the idea of movement before going to the theater of the mind.

When my son got started we all chipped in to get different parts. You might want to share the giving.

I thought PHB is the best one for the beginner, isn't it?
Dice set - definitely must have!

[Pokutsa]

Probably not the Crown Royal bag that I use, considering he's 13 ;)

I saw some cute beasts on Amazon

[HolyAvenger7]

If you have a DM in mind that he can play with, then the Player's Handbook is a better gift. But if not, maybe the gift is to pay for a handful of AL sessions at your local game shop, or buy a ticket to an RPG convention you can attend together, and pay to be involved in some D&D one-shots there, or something along those lines. Barring those options, the Starter Set is a solid intro to the game, but it puts all the onus on him to find friends to play with, and generally the person doing that is also the one that gets saddled with being the DM.


This is key advice. When my son got started the family committed to playing with him because it was what he really wanted to do. If he has a DM he doesn't need the starter set and shouldn't be reading ahead anyways. If he wants to BE the DM (Like my son did) he will need a group to play with. If he's flying solo, perhaps just the core books to read through to get excited about the lore so he can have cool talks with his uncle (aunt?) and ease into it. Being the DM and having the player sheets and dice can make for fun and draw friends in - if he has friends he can convince to play.

[Pokutsa]

So what we've got in total: Starter set + PHB + 5 dice sets + cute bag to store dice sets.
Maybe some small trifle?

[Armored Walrus]

So what we've got in total: Starter set + PHB + 5 dice sets + cute bag to store dice sets.
Maybe some small trifle?

I think you've got it sewn up with the list as is. Although, let me emphasize, I said a *cool* bag, not a cute one. :P

[Pokutsa]

I think you've got it sewn up with the list as is. Although, let me emphasize, I said a *cool* bag, not a cute one. :P

You're right, VERY COOL ;-)