Top 5 Tabletop RPG Accessories to Enhance Your Experience

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Tabletop role-playing games (TTRPGs) are a fun and immersive way to spend time with friends, create stories, and explore new worlds. Whether you’re a seasoned veteran or a new player, certain accessories can help enhance your gaming experience. Here are the top 5 tabletop RPG accessories to consider.

Dice

Dice are the most essential accessory for any RPG. From rolling for attacks and damage to determining the outcome of a character’s actions, dice are used in almost every aspect of the game.

The most common types of dice used in RPGs are polyhedral dice, which come in a variety of shapes and sizes. These include the four-sided die (d4), the six-sided die (d6), the eight-sided die (d8), the ten-sided die (d10), the twelve-sided die (d12), and the twenty-sided die (d20), percentile dies (00), skull smashing one hundred-sided dice (d100).

GMs might employ dice to subtly enhance the experience in different ways. For instance, different sets can be used for different encounter difficulty levels. A clear set could be used for an easy band of goblin raiders. The black and red dice get pulled out when PCs face the fury of a red dragon.

If you hide all your rolls behind a screen, pick up a set of metal dice. I make a show of dropping the metal dice on the table. To double down on the effect, a snide comment goes a long way. “Ok, it’s time for the ‘player killing dice’.” When I do this, I see excitement, fear, and eagerness in my player’s eyes. They know they need to bring their A-game.

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Miniatures

Miniatures are small, detailed figurines that represent your character or the enemies you encounter in the game. They provide a GM with a visual aid for combat, and they make the game more immersive. You can use miniatures from official game sets or purchase them from third-party manufacturers.

As a person with ADHD, and having DM’d for others in the same boat, I find miniatures help attract and retain focus. It gives a detailed point of reference that allows us to strategize. We can be a very visually focused bunch, so a 3d representation of the enemy helps.

The other place I go for minis is Hero Forge. They allow you to create custom characters for your PCs or NPCs. They have a wide range of races, clothing, armor, weapon, and faces you can choose from. Recently, twenty-six animal familiars and mounts have been added, so you can even make a pet for your character.

Game Notebook and Pen

Keeping a notebook and pen handy during your RPG sessions is a great way to take notes, jot down ideas, and keep track of important information. You can use it to record NPCs (non-player characters) dialogue, locations, and other things that may come in handy later on in your adventure. It can also be a tool for players to record their character’s thoughts, feelings, and backstories.

Picking up a decorative notebook can be fun and sometimes helps with immersion. Etsy has no shortage of really interesting custom notebooks. One great way to find a notebook that fits your style is to search for keywords related to your favorite RPG game, fantasy genre, or pop culture reference. For example, you can search for “Dungeons and Dragons notebook,” “fantasy notebook,” or “Superhero notebook.”

Try filling different needs with different types of journals. These inspired covers hold lined, blank, and grid paper. You can pick up a different journal for taking notes, sketching character designs, or doodling maps. I even use a different notebook to separate narrative elements such as villains and monsters, NPCs, treasure, etc. This helps me keep things organized and adds a little flair to the game. I’ll pull out a gnarled evil-looking notebook when looking for a monster to throw up my players. It supplies an added spark of inspiration to game day.

Music for Game Day

Music can set the tone for your game and make it more immersive. Genre-appropriate tunes can direct the mood of a scene, such as suspenseful percussions for a tense encounter or serene melodies for traveling through the countryside. You can find royalty-free game-music and sound effects online or use pre-made playlists.

Even better, the explosive popularity of D&D and the tabletop role-playing game hobby had the unexpected effect of creating supplementary industries. Tabletop-themed music ranks among these new and popular businesses. Modules, adventures, and games now sometimes come with their own soundtrack. You can also commission a musician to compose a piece for your game.

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-Ash Alder