Reddit reviews Polyhedral 7-Die Speckled Dice Set - Blue Stars

Best advice I can give is what I did for my first game. I had NEVER played any sort of pen and paper RPG, but I saw the books at the local bookstore in college, and I had a 50% off coupon. I flipped through the Player's Guide and Dungeon Master's Guide, then picked up a copy of Keep on the Shadowfell as a premade adventure. None of the players had played before either.

What did I learn running the first game?

1) Everyone is creative. Everything about DnD revolves around making decisions of actions. You can do literally anything you can think of within the mythos of the game world. Want to climb a tower and throw rocks at passing priests? Do it. Just be prepared for the consequences of your actions. Think about your actions (had a player scream "eject my astromech!" while flying an X-Wing in the Star Wars RPG. He now is careful about what he shouts in character after watching his R2 unit scream across the void and plummet into the nearby planet's atmosphere.)Even my first-timers who thought they had no creativity got into their characters, which leads me to...

2) Players don't necessarily play themselves. Some players like to create a version of themselves in the game world. Others like to create someone totally new, nothing like them. As a player, know your character. Know what kind of things they would like, dislike, what kind of actions they would take, foods they eat, etc. It is a role-playing game, not Munchkin.

3) The d20 is your friend. Everything revolves around these dice. Find one you like. It can be your favorite color (or your character's favorite color!), or it could just roll well. Every action you take in-game will require a "check" of some sort, all revolving around the d20. In addition, it is nice to grab a set of polyhedral dice like these.. If you feel like you want ALL THE DICE, grab this, though that many dice will easily satisfy an entire gaming group.

4) Most importantly, have fun. DnD, along with all games, are meant for having fun with friends. Enjoy yourself, and get into the game.

Things not to do:

1. Cell phones, iPods, electronics - no one wants to listen to your music while someone else is talking or rolling their dice. Don't do it.
   
   
2. Ignore the other players - PAY ATTENTION. One thing that bugs me most as a DM is explaining what has just happened multiple times to players who refuse to pay attention. My rule now is if you weren't paying attention, obviously your character was not either.
   
   
3. Throw dice/bounce dice off the table - I get it. Accidents happen. But there is no real reason to hurl the dice across a 6 foot table onto the floor. If you can't hit the table with a plastic dice, your character can't hit the kobold with a throwing spear from 20 feet. Dice on the floor is an auto-miss. I apply this to my own rolling as well as DM.
   
   
4. Rage quit - Don't quit because you are not doing well.
   
   
5. Hoard - This applies both in game and IRL. Don't hoard the loot, especially items that you cannot use that others may be able to, even if this means trade. Your Elven wizard really doesn't need the Dwarf Battleaxe of Smashing Pumpkins. Give it to the guy who can go to town with it, and maybe he'll give you something in return later. Also, don't hoard the dice, snacks, or other communal items at the game table.
   
   I know this was long, but I hope it is useful. Have fun at your first game!

If you are going to DM buy the 5e Starter Set. It's like $12 + shipping on Amazon and comes with EVERYTHING (including a set of dice).

If you are ONLY going to be a player, I would hold off until you know you like it. BUT if you have some cash I would get:

2 or 3 sets of dice. Example:
https://www.amazon.com/Polyhedral-7-Die-Speckled-Dice-Set/dp/B000VB4TX2/ref=sr_1_12?s=toys-and-games&ie=UTF8&qid=1505780608&sr=1-12&keywords=chessex+dice+set

Do NOT buy dice that "look cool" but are hard to read. You'll kick yourself later. Look for ones that are VERY easy to read. You can get by with one set, but if you get 2 or 3 you'll have multiples you need.

I would buy the Player's Handbook but until you find a group don't buy one yet since you don't know what edition they'll be playing. They are NOT interchangeable.

You can get the top right one on Amazon except the numbers are blue instead of gold. I have this set myself and it's one of my favorites.

Sparkly dice for Dungeons and Dragons! Or shiny ones!

please

RAoA makes me happy because I learned about it (and about a lot of stuff on the internetz) from my IRL friend Szor. She's always such a positive person, and such a classy "go with the flow" lady. Whenever I'm on here I think about what a great friend she is. I'm linking a cool D&D dice set so we can play D&D without sharing dice!

Because I'm happy!