D&D&DOT Jr.
February 6, 2020 9:05 PM Subscribe
DOT Jr. has a birthday coming up and is very interested in Dungeons and Dragons. I grew up during a climate when the game was considered to be the express lane to Satan so I missed out on that. It seems cool, but I know nothing about it. What will he need to get started?
There is SO MUCH.
What does he need to get started? What might be cool things to add around the edges to set him up right?
I see there's a Stranger Things edition. He's bananas about that show. Is that an add-on?
There is SO MUCH.
What does he need to get started? What might be cool things to add around the edges to set him up right?
I see there's a Stranger Things edition. He's bananas about that show. Is that an add-on?
Response by poster: DOT Jr. is eleven and both a completist and an individualist. He will definitely want to start at the beginning, but he will also want some space to do things in a non-standard, less predictable way. He and his friends play unassisted already.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 9:21 PM on February 6, 2020
posted by DirtyOldTown at 9:21 PM on February 6, 2020
Buy him a starter set. To be clear, you don't actually need to buy anything other than a set of dice to play a game. You can print off free character sheets, and there are plenty of websites that cover the rules. But the starter set has everything you need to know in one easy manageable place.
If he's the kind of kid who will want to be in charge, let him read through the starter set and he can maybe start DMing a game for his friends. But you might have more fun finding an adult with a bit of experience to run the first game for them, so they can get the hang of it without having to constantly look up rules and try to explain them to each other.
He and his friends play unassisted already.
Wait, does this mean they are already playing D&D? Then you don't need anything to "get him started" but you might want to buy him some more stuff, like some pre-generated campaigns, nicer dice, some miniatures for their characters and monsters if they like that kind of thing. (None of that is necessary, but if they are already playing, they might know what they want to upgrade on, or they might not).
posted by lollusc at 9:38 PM on February 6, 2020 [6 favorites]
If he's the kind of kid who will want to be in charge, let him read through the starter set and he can maybe start DMing a game for his friends. But you might have more fun finding an adult with a bit of experience to run the first game for them, so they can get the hang of it without having to constantly look up rules and try to explain them to each other.
He and his friends play unassisted already.
Wait, does this mean they are already playing D&D? Then you don't need anything to "get him started" but you might want to buy him some more stuff, like some pre-generated campaigns, nicer dice, some miniatures for their characters and monsters if they like that kind of thing. (None of that is necessary, but if they are already playing, they might know what they want to upgrade on, or they might not).
posted by lollusc at 9:38 PM on February 6, 2020 [6 favorites]
In order of usefulness to a new player/DM:
- The Starter Set or Essentials Kit (they are similar in that they both have introductory adventures for newer players/DMs, but the Essentials Kit has a bit more in the way of useful accessories whereas the Starter Set concentrates more on just the adventure)
- Player's Handbook (lets him have the full range of options for creating a character)
- Cool-looking dice are always welcome (this is a nice gift set with a map and dice tray) as well as nice notebooks with grid or dot-grid paper.
- As a DM I love these battlemat books - instant scenery.
- Monster Manual (only relevant if he's the DM)
I don't know much about The Stranger Things set but my impression is that it's more of a Stranger Things cash-in/collectable than a good D&D product (consensus seems to be the Starter Set and Essentials Kit adventures are much better than the one in the Stranger Things set). That said if he's a big fan he'll probably get a kick out of it.
posted by EndsOfInvention at 1:21 AM on February 7, 2020 [2 favorites]
- The Starter Set or Essentials Kit (they are similar in that they both have introductory adventures for newer players/DMs, but the Essentials Kit has a bit more in the way of useful accessories whereas the Starter Set concentrates more on just the adventure)
- Player's Handbook (lets him have the full range of options for creating a character)
- Cool-looking dice are always welcome (this is a nice gift set with a map and dice tray) as well as nice notebooks with grid or dot-grid paper.
- As a DM I love these battlemat books - instant scenery.
- Monster Manual (only relevant if he's the DM)
I don't know much about The Stranger Things set but my impression is that it's more of a Stranger Things cash-in/collectable than a good D&D product (consensus seems to be the Starter Set and Essentials Kit adventures are much better than the one in the Stranger Things set). That said if he's a big fan he'll probably get a kick out of it.
posted by EndsOfInvention at 1:21 AM on February 7, 2020 [2 favorites]
Response by poster: He has a friend who has a set, but would like his own as the few hours a month he gets to spend on the game at that kid's house are not enough.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 4:49 AM on February 7, 2020
posted by DirtyOldTown at 4:49 AM on February 7, 2020
If he's interested in DMing (i.e. being the Dungeon Master and running the game for other people), get the Starter Set or Essentials Kit (I would have a slight bias towards the Essentials Kit if he's new to DMing). If he's just playing and someone else is the DM, get the Player's Handbook which will let him create characters (a big part of the fun) and get a handle on a lot of the basic rules (combat, spellcasting, etc).
posted by EndsOfInvention at 4:56 AM on February 7, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by EndsOfInvention at 4:56 AM on February 7, 2020 [1 favorite]
My 12yo has been playing D&D weekly at various local gaming stores for the last year. This is a great option if it's available in your area and he wants to log some serious playing time with a variety of people. He'll probably be playing with folks that are older then he but my kid enjoyed this aspect because everyone is taking it seriously and he enjoyed being treated as a full member of the party, not just some kid.
The supplies he's really enjoyed are the Players Handbook, a neat drawstring bag for his dice, a cool folding mat with sides for rolling his dice and a cool bag to carry all of his supplies. He was also very impressed by one of the guys at the store that had a hand carved wooden box for his dice. It had a custom cushion in it so all the dice slotted in a specific space and didn't rattle around.
posted by victoriab at 5:37 AM on February 7, 2020 [3 favorites]
The supplies he's really enjoyed are the Players Handbook, a neat drawstring bag for his dice, a cool folding mat with sides for rolling his dice and a cool bag to carry all of his supplies. He was also very impressed by one of the guys at the store that had a hand carved wooden box for his dice. It had a custom cushion in it so all the dice slotted in a specific space and didn't rattle around.
posted by victoriab at 5:37 AM on February 7, 2020 [3 favorites]
One thing that I know is super obvious but I feel that I have to say - it's REALLY tempting to buy all the supplies on Amazon, but try and buy at local gaming stores if possible. I think those guys are hanging on by a shoestring and it's such a great resource to have a place to gather and share a hobby.
At one store where he plays, you pay $5 to play in the weekly D&D league and you get a cool metal die worth $5 in store credit. It's a clever system.
posted by victoriab at 5:47 AM on February 7, 2020 [14 favorites]
At one store where he plays, you pay $5 to play in the weekly D&D league and you get a cool metal die worth $5 in store credit. It's a clever system.
posted by victoriab at 5:47 AM on February 7, 2020 [14 favorites]
If he plays a game that uses miniatures, you could get Jr. a gift card to some place like Hero Forge to make a customized mini of his character. It really isn't necessary, but my cousin really enjoyed getting one from his wife for his gaming sessions.
Also, you can get Spell Cards , which are basically another organizational tool when playing spell caster. Once again, not a 'need to have' item, but an accessory that makes things easier overall. (I've also seen at least one person flipping through a set of spell cards on the bus, so I guess they could also be more portable than a bunch of game books.)
posted by TofuGolem at 6:38 AM on February 7, 2020 [2 favorites]
Also, you can get Spell Cards , which are basically another organizational tool when playing spell caster. Once again, not a 'need to have' item, but an accessory that makes things easier overall. (I've also seen at least one person flipping through a set of spell cards on the bus, so I guess they could also be more portable than a bunch of game books.)
posted by TofuGolem at 6:38 AM on February 7, 2020 [2 favorites]
Definitely the starter kit - the new fifth edition is pretty beginner friendly. I'd go ahead and get him the Monster's Manual whether or not he wants to DM - it's just a super fun book to flip through, and I remember really loving mine when I was his age despite very rarely being the DM.
posted by Ragged Richard at 7:20 AM on February 7, 2020 [3 favorites]
posted by Ragged Richard at 7:20 AM on February 7, 2020 [3 favorites]
If he likes going off-book and has already started playing some D&D, the 5e starter sets might be bordering on too bare-bones for his skill set? They are fantastic sets for literally opening the box and playing D&D, but if he wants to start moving in a direction where he's better able to customize characters and do a deeper dive into the rules, I'd probably go with either the Essentials Kit or the Player's Handbook as others have suggested.
And yes, seconding the suggestion to try to pick up supplies at your local gaming store or from independent retailers online rather than Amazon. Not only is it a great way to support smaller businesses, but you can often find WAY cooler gaming stuff than you can on Amazon.
A nice set of dice in his favorite color(s), a cool drawstring dice bag or wooden dice vault, and a good notebook (bonus points if it looks like a cool fantasy notebook or has grid paper) are all great places to start with accessories. If he's looking to DM (or even if he's not), a wet-erase grid mat like this one (or one of the vinyl ones that rolls up) is a great tool if he wants to get into designing dungeon maps for use with miniatures while playing.
Etsy is actually a great resource for handmade-with-love gaming accessories like dice, dice bags, cool notebooks, etc. For wooden dice vaults, Wyrmwood has a lot of variety. They also sell some cool dice sets, although the gemstone ones can get a little expensive.
Chessex and Q Workshop are the big names in dice, but there are a lot of fantastic indie companies out there making incredible dice in wider ranges of colors and styles. A lot of them will launch initially on Kickstarter and then move into direct online sales. Dark Moon Dice, Dragonheart Designs, and Lindorm Dice are just a few awesome indie dice companies worth checking out.
Taking the long view: if he ever gets to a point where he has a character that he's really attached to and has been playing for a long time, Hero Forge allows you to design and fully customize a miniature, which they'll 3D print and send to you. That could be a really special gift for a future birthday if that seems like something he'd enjoy.
posted by helloimjennsco at 7:45 AM on February 7, 2020 [1 favorite]
And yes, seconding the suggestion to try to pick up supplies at your local gaming store or from independent retailers online rather than Amazon. Not only is it a great way to support smaller businesses, but you can often find WAY cooler gaming stuff than you can on Amazon.
A nice set of dice in his favorite color(s), a cool drawstring dice bag or wooden dice vault, and a good notebook (bonus points if it looks like a cool fantasy notebook or has grid paper) are all great places to start with accessories. If he's looking to DM (or even if he's not), a wet-erase grid mat like this one (or one of the vinyl ones that rolls up) is a great tool if he wants to get into designing dungeon maps for use with miniatures while playing.
Etsy is actually a great resource for handmade-with-love gaming accessories like dice, dice bags, cool notebooks, etc. For wooden dice vaults, Wyrmwood has a lot of variety. They also sell some cool dice sets, although the gemstone ones can get a little expensive.
Chessex and Q Workshop are the big names in dice, but there are a lot of fantastic indie companies out there making incredible dice in wider ranges of colors and styles. A lot of them will launch initially on Kickstarter and then move into direct online sales. Dark Moon Dice, Dragonheart Designs, and Lindorm Dice are just a few awesome indie dice companies worth checking out.
Taking the long view: if he ever gets to a point where he has a character that he's really attached to and has been playing for a long time, Hero Forge allows you to design and fully customize a miniature, which they'll 3D print and send to you. That could be a really special gift for a future birthday if that seems like something he'd enjoy.
posted by helloimjennsco at 7:45 AM on February 7, 2020 [1 favorite]
Yeah, I want to also echo pretty much everything helloimjennsco said above. Skip the starter kit since he's already playing and go for the Player's Handbook (and if he's a completist as you say, he'll enjoy looking through the other main source books (DM's Guide and Monster Manual) even if he doesn't have interest in DMing now). The advice for all the different accessories (dice, bags, mats, miniatures) are also great suggestions. Have fun!
posted by BlueDuke at 7:51 AM on February 7, 2020 [2 favorites]
posted by BlueDuke at 7:51 AM on February 7, 2020 [2 favorites]
There is a ton of information and advice regarding D&D out there as well that doesn't require any money to access. Gonna drop some raw links because I can't type very much right now. I'd normally give you a rundown of what they are, but not this time. Sorry. The first link in particular I cannot recommend enough. Whoever is running the games would be very well served to spend time there.
These are edition neutral or 5e based resources and blogs:
https://thealexandrian.net/gamemastery-101
http://themonstersknow.com/
http://blogofholding.com/
http://talesofthegrotesqueanddungeonesque.blogspot.com/
http://www.brandesstoddard.com/
https://dmdavid.com/
Here is some blogs that spend a little time on 5e and more on more general DIY/indie D&D.
https://diyanddragons.blogspot.com/search/label/5e
http://knighterrantjr.blogspot.com/
http://methodsetmadness.blogspot.com/
http://www.necropraxis.com/
http://dreamsinthelichhouse.blogspot.com/
http://mythlands-erce.blogspot.com/
One paid product, by the blogger from the last link, which I also cannot recommend enough: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/browse/pub/13311/O5R-Games
Don't let Into the Unknown's billing as "simple" or "basic" fool you. It's fully compatible with 5e, you don't need to use the stripped-down character classes, and it adds a lot of excellent advice and more thorough, better thought out systems for encumbrance and exploration, among other things, than normal 5e has.
posted by Caduceus at 10:49 AM on February 7, 2020 [1 favorite]
These are edition neutral or 5e based resources and blogs:
https://thealexandrian.net/gamemastery-101
http://themonstersknow.com/
http://blogofholding.com/
http://talesofthegrotesqueanddungeonesque.blogspot.com/
http://www.brandesstoddard.com/
https://dmdavid.com/
Here is some blogs that spend a little time on 5e and more on more general DIY/indie D&D.
https://diyanddragons.blogspot.com/search/label/5e
http://knighterrantjr.blogspot.com/
http://methodsetmadness.blogspot.com/
http://www.necropraxis.com/
http://dreamsinthelichhouse.blogspot.com/
http://mythlands-erce.blogspot.com/
One paid product, by the blogger from the last link, which I also cannot recommend enough: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/browse/pub/13311/O5R-Games
Don't let Into the Unknown's billing as "simple" or "basic" fool you. It's fully compatible with 5e, you don't need to use the stripped-down character classes, and it adds a lot of excellent advice and more thorough, better thought out systems for encumbrance and exploration, among other things, than normal 5e has.
posted by Caduceus at 10:49 AM on February 7, 2020 [1 favorite]
If you're in a large enough place, there are people that you can hire to DM/train your kids. For sure check your local game shops.
posted by k8t at 12:15 PM on February 7, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by k8t at 12:15 PM on February 7, 2020 [1 favorite]
My son sounds a bit similar and he really enjoyed Planet Mercenary, which is much cheaper and simpler. The book is basically all three D&D books in one, with simplified game mechanics for beginners.
posted by wnissen at 12:25 PM on February 7, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by wnissen at 12:25 PM on February 7, 2020 [1 favorite]
Dice are very personal. Take him to a local gaming store to pick out a nice set (or a couple of sets) he really likes and a bag for them.
posted by waffleriot at 12:47 PM on February 7, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by waffleriot at 12:47 PM on February 7, 2020 [1 favorite]
Everyone above is right: cool dice, handbooks of rules and lore, miniature character figurines, and art/craft supplies for making maps or even a cosplay cape or helmet to get into the roleplay. note: there is a compulsion to always buy MOAR DICE; these are transparent blue, these are pewter, these are just 'lucky', etc. Makes kid gifts and bribes easy.
But I want to put in some things for YOU, since you missed out yourself, and he's already playing.
To get up to speed with where Junior is at in this role-playing game that you've only got cultural-osmosis knowledge of, here's some fun video guides:
Handbooker Helper - 5 min videos, what's an Ability Score?
DavvyChappy : explain Clerics to me in 12 funny minutes
posted by bartleby at 4:04 PM on February 7, 2020 [1 favorite]
But I want to put in some things for YOU, since you missed out yourself, and he's already playing.
To get up to speed with where Junior is at in this role-playing game that you've only got cultural-osmosis knowledge of, here's some fun video guides:
Handbooker Helper - 5 min videos, what's an Ability Score?
DavvyChappy : explain Clerics to me in 12 funny minutes
posted by bartleby at 4:04 PM on February 7, 2020 [1 favorite]
Ok this is a bit of out of left field as it isn't d&d, but Quest (video review) may be worth a look as it's kind of pitched towards easing in neophytes to tabletop rp.
posted by juv3nal at 2:02 AM on February 8, 2020
posted by juv3nal at 2:02 AM on February 8, 2020
Check your MeMail
posted by cr_joe at 5:38 AM on February 8, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by cr_joe at 5:38 AM on February 8, 2020 [1 favorite]
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I found DMing a session for the kids, I basically through nearly all the rules out the window as they couldn't remember like literally anything - what spells they had, hit points, attack rolls, like literally not a thing. Hero kids was much easier. They had a lot of fun when I did the DnD Lost Mines of Phandalin intro campaign, which is very well resourced, but the system is still just too damned cumbersome.
If DOT Jr is older, Lost Mines of Phandalin is a great place to start. The pack is cheap and includes everything you need. :)
posted by smoke at 9:12 PM on February 6, 2020 [1 favorite]