How to Play Dungeons and Dragons on a Budget

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So you want to play Dungeons and Dragons? That’s great! Of all the games I play, it’s easily one of my favorites. There are endless possibilities in the world of D&D. And the best part? You can play Dungeons and Dragons on a budget!

There are a few things that would be good to have on hand within your first few games that are low cost or even free. If you’re wondering what you need to start playing Dungeons and Dragons on a budget, we’ll tell you now. And I have good news for you: it’s not much!

What I Brought to My First Game of Dungeons and Dragons

You might be surprised to hear what I brought to my first game of D&D. When I went to play my very first game of Dungeons and Dragons, I came with absolutely nothing at all. And when I say nothing, I mean nothing: no dice, no books, no character. I was totally new and totally empty handed. I did have a pencil, I suppose, and that might have helped.

This worked primarily because I played for the first time at a convention. The beginner levels (or the Tier 1 section) of gameplay was organized by D&D Beyond themselves, and it couldn’t have made my first time playing any easier. They helped me build a character, got me into a game, and I ended up with a dungeon master who really knew his stuff (and had lots of extra dice).

This admittedly means it was not a $0 game. Still, you can find plenty of game groups that will offer similar support on how to play Dungeons and Dragons on a budget.

I could have also bought all the materials I needed at the convention. In fact, I ended up buying my first dice set there the next day. And plenty of spaces that cater to new players are well equipped with needed materials. Board game stores and cafés often have materials for sale. Online spaces have free tools players can use.

In short, what I’m saying is this: you don’t need anything to start playing Dungeons and Dragons on a budget. However, there’s a couple of things you’ll want to have to make gameplay much easier.

What You Need to Play Dungeons and Dragons on a Budget

While you may not need anything to start playing Dungeons and Dragons, there are a few things I bought pretty quickly after I decided I would play more than once. Fortunately, all of these materials are quite affordable, or in some cases free.

Dice

This is the one and only thing I recommend you buy right off the bat. D&D dice are essential to gameplay, and the only reason I got away with not having any was that the Dungeon Master provided them. And while most long-time players of D&D have multiple dice sets they’re often willing to share, you won’t want to rely on others for this vital component for long.

Fortunately, D&D dice do not cost much. Not for a beginner’s set, anyway. You can buy bags of them for around $10, or single sets for around $5. And if you’re playing online, you can even use an online dice roller. There’s no need to spend the big bucks on dice at first, but you may find you get sucked into the world of beautiful dice quickly!

If you’re traveling or really just don’t want to invest in dice just yet, you probably already have technology that will roll dice for you on and off your computer. Plenty of applications exist on smartphones to roll dice in your phone’s app store. Voice-activated technology like Alexa or Siri can roll dice for you on speech commands. Even Google can roll any dice for you with modifiers.

A Character Sheet

In Dungeons and Dragons, you play as a character of your own design (or a pre-made character). They will have a race and class specified by the rules of D&D, along with a backstory that you create for them. You can create a character with the help of the Player’s Handbook (more below), or you can create one using D&D Beyond’s character creation tool. This does require a Twitch account, but it’s free and so much simpler for new players.

If you don’t want to create a character for your first game, you can also choose one at random from a list of pre-made characters. As a new player, you will most likely need a Level 1 character.

You can print out your character sheet, or you can use it online through your laptop or tablet as you play. I’ve worked both ways. My tablet makes it easier to change things on the fly, but sometimes it’s easier to find what I’m looking for on a piece of paper. Just remember that if you print your character out, you’ll need a pencil, too, to mark your changes in stats and items. Alternatively, you can put your character sheet in a plastic sleeve and write over it with a dry erase marker.

The Player’s Handbook

Finally, you’ll need a set of rules to understand how to play Dungeons and Dragons. To truly start playing Dungeons and Dragoons on a budget, then the Basic Rules are for you. After all, there’s nothing more affordable than free.

If you are starting a game from scratch with your friends at home, then I recommend starting with the D&D Starter Set. It’s generally less than $15 and includes the following items:

• A beginner adventure that takes players from Level 1-5
• Five pre-made characters
• A set of dice
• A printed copy of the Basic Rules.

It’s everything you could need if you and a group of friends are playing for the first time. For around $3 a player, that’s a bargain!

However, if you plan on going out into the world to play more than one game, then I’d recommend the Player’s Handbook instead. Why? It has a lot more information. And as a player, you will use it a lot more. Plus, the Dungeon Master for whatever game you’re playing will already have an adventure and the other materials ready for you.

Of course, you could always get both if you can’t decide, too. I did!

Is that all I need?

Yes, that’s it! These are really the only three things you need to play Dungeons and Dragons on a budget. There are other things you might want along the way, of course, like miniature figurines to represent your character, dice trays for easier rolling, and other accessories. The only thing left to find is a willing group and a Dungeon Master! Or, if you’d like to take on the role of Dungeon Master for your new group, then this guide will help you take that next step.

Now set off, young adventurer! You’re ready to begin.

If you’re brand new to D&D, come back after your first game and tell us how it went (and maybe how much you spent to play)! What did you buy for your first game of Dungeons and Dragons? What do you have now?