It’s that time of year again. As the time ticks down, you may be left scrambling for some last-minute gift ideas. Not to worry, as TechRaptor has you covered with a 2021 Tabletop RPG Gift Guide. Check out our range of recommendations for great gifts this holiday season, from game systems to accessories and beyond.
Tabletop RPG Gift - Dice
Dice sets are a fantastic, easy, safe gift for just about any tabletop RPG player. Whether it’s a soft pastel that matches their aesthetic or a weighty set of metal polyhedrons, dice can fit a variety of budgets and tastes. Dice bags and rolling trays also fit in here and make great gifts for newbies.
Etsy is a fantastic resource for finding unique, artisan goods you can’t get from a large storefront. DnDDice offers a variety of special dice containing everything from frogs (currently sold out) to gears. Many full sets will clock in at or under $15 before shipping.
Chessex is one of the largest dice and accessory sellers on the market, and you can find just about any kind of dice from them via their online store. The store has dice sorted by opacity and type as well as a variety of other accessories.
Tabletop RPG Gift - Accessories
There are many things that can enhance the ambience of a tabletop RPG. If you’ve heard your GM grumble over tracking initiative, consider some organizational tools. Never overlook the elegant simplicity of a dry-erase board you can wheel around a room.
A Bluetooth speaker can help a GM play audio without needing to leave the table, making it very convenient in tighter spaces. A subscription to an audio streaming service or supporting one of their favorite creators is a great gift if they struggle to find the right sound for their games.
Commissioning a miniature of a character is another fantastic personalized gift. Hero Forge is one of the largest sites for custom miniatures and gives you pretty much complete control over its design. Check out our review for Hero Forge, where Giaco took a more in-depth look at their work.
Tabletop RPG Gift - 3D Printers
If you know somebody who runs games that make frequent use of miniatures or terrain, a 3D printer can make for a perfect gift. With the use of .stl files, one can print their own custom designs and really personalize their games. That’s hard to beat! Brushes, paints, and other tools are also good choices if you know they like to paint their minis.
Most 3D printers will cost several hundred dollars. You’ll want something with a narrow nozzle and the option for a very small layer height (around 0.1mm) for best results. While costly, they can be a great group gift. PCGuide has compiled a list of several different 3D printers under $300 to get you started. Some suggestions, such as the Crealty Ender 3 V2, aren’t in stock, but the ANYCUBIC Mega S is a viable alternative.
Tabletop RPG Gift - Dungeons & Dragons Core Rules Gift Set
Books are a little bit tougher to buy. With so many systems out, the number of options can be overwhelming. The Fifth Edition of Dungeons & Dragons is ubiquitous, and just about everyone in the hobby has at least heard of the game. A great buy for someone new to the hobby is the Dungeons & Dragons Core Rules Gift Set. It’s likely for sale at your local Target as well as smaller hobby shops. It contains the three core rulebooks (the Player’s Handbook, Monster Manual, and Dungeon Master’s Guide) for the game as well as a DM Screen full of handy references. All you’ll need afterward are a set of dice and something to record character sheets.
Fifth Edition has tremendous amounts of official and third-party support. There are a variety of products that can help you set it in all sorts of locales and times, from established classics like Eberron to entirely new settings. Myriad accessories, from spell reference cards to custom character art, make useful and personal gifts.
Tabletop RPG Gift - Dune: Adventures in the Imperium
Dune’s recent success at the box office means that the hype is real. The Dune: Adventures in the Imperium roleplaying game brings people to Arrakis. You’ll be able to build a House, find your niche in the universe, or even rebuild a long, storied bloodline and lay claim to the Imperial throne. Just don’t forget: those who control spice, control the universe.
The Player’s Bundle available from Modiphius includes not only a printed and PDF copy of the 336-page Core Rulebook, but also has a journal for character and House sheets. The journal also comes with lined, graph, and blank paper to record your deeds. Lastly, there’s a set of custom Arrakis dice the color of marbled sand to round it all out. Something, something, the dice must flow and all that.
Tabletop RPG Gift - Twilight: 2000
Free League recently released a new edition of apocalyptic RPG Twilight: 2000. This marks the fourth edition in the series since its inception back in 1984. Set in an alternate timeline, it takes place in the year 2000. The world has been devastated and torn apart by war. The Moscow Coup in 1991 succeeded, preventing the collapse of the Soviet Union. Twilight: 2000 is a great pick for alternate-history buffs.
The default setting takes place in Poland, but there’s a setting for Sweden, too, if you prefer a Nordic slant to the setting rather than a Slavic one. There are also tools in the book which will help you to set a game anywhere on Earth. As survivors of World War III, you’ll build a new home, make the world a little better, or get up to your own devices. Twilight: 2000 makes use of the hexcrawling system from Mutant: Year Zero and Forbidden Lands. Snag it from the online store.
Tabletop RPG Gift - The Witcher Tabletop Roleplaying Game
Last on the list is an RPG based on the bestselling The Witcher series. Made in collaboration with CD Projekt Red, players can finally tell their own custom stories set in The Witcher’s rich world. The Witcher Pen & Paper RPG will include nine different classes, a massive bestiary, and spells to turn the tide on all of the dangers lurking just off the trail.
You can grab a PDF-only version off of DriveThruRPG or acquire a hardcover from various online retailers.
That’s only scratching the surface of gift ideas for tabletop gamers, of course. Some of the resources, like DriveThruRPG, are great for discovering new, unexpected systems and content. Hero Forge provides affordable custom minis that you can get pre-painted or paint yourself. If you have any ideas for your stumped friends, sound off in the comments below or via our social media! Our 2021 Tabletop RPG Gift Guide can't possibly cover everything, so the best advice is to know the player's interests and capitalize on them.
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