Role-playing games: products to play "like a Master"

Role-playing games

Only the most angry grognards could deny it, the true golden age of role-playing is here and now: the quantity of products and, above all, the accessibility to them is something that once would have been simply science fiction (Milan readers and surroundings will remember with a bitter smile those who were real pilgrimages to the two specialized shops of the time).

And what was once a simple dream is now within everyone's reach: the ideal RPG table . Or at least something that comes close enough; as in everything, perfection does not exist: I will limit myself to indicating some objects that many would love to have available for their gaming group and give that extra bit to our sessions.

And since even the perfect RPG does not exists (ask 20 players ... you will get 20 different answers) here is a series of articles generic enough to be usable in the vast majority of gaming matches.

Small note: we have avoided including the beautiful tables in our list games made to measure or touch screen televisions to be used as a play area trying to include only the most easily available objects or those of lesser economic impact.

Card holder

Although the RPG is immediately associated with dice, there is a niche of games that makes cards a necessary accessory if not even the basic mechanics: here is a practical and stylish way to always have them available on the table without "going into tour "

the UGEARS card holder is available for purchase at this link Amazon Funko of the Jelly Cube

Another great classic of the bestiary of fantasy role-playing games revisited in a Funko Pop key. As a reminder of what it can do is presented with a lot of unfortunate incorporated. A must have for all fans of this creature ... or for anyone who has been a victim of it.

The Funko of the Jelly Cube is available at this link Amazon

Elven Dice

We have already presented the Dwarf themed dice. In order not to do wrong to another of the iconic races in the world of role-playing games, here are the ones with the elven glyphs, produced by Q-Workshop: a guarantee in the sector.



The dice a elven theme are available at this Amazon link

Rewritable maps: pack of four

In a practical 4 in 1 pack, here are four thematic maps to give color and tone to your games. All you need to do is lay out what is necessary on the table to immediately define the environment that surrounds your characters.

The Flip-Mat: Basic Terrain Multi-Pack is available for purchase at this link Amazon

The notebook of the evil master

Perfect to extract when players do something they should have avoided, write it down and set aside for future "bad" uses. Alternatively, as a player, you can always give it as a gift to try to "soften" who is behind the screen.

The notebook "DM When I smile it’s too late!" is available for purchase at this link amazon

The official metal dice of D&D

Two d20s that will immediately tell you which role-playing game you love most in the world: here, instead of 20, we will have the iconic "&" dragon-shaped magazine

Click here to take home the official D&D metal dice

The Dragon's Eye Dice Box

Perfect for both your beloved polyhedra as a prop to simulate a dangerous treasure chest

Click here to take home the

Funko Themed Dragon Dice Box

True, they are not useful to speed up the game, but they will certainly add a little touch of sympathy to the table. And they can be a good way to "corrupt" the master ... or to remind overly turbulent players that there is always someone watching them! At the time of writing there are three funkos inspired by the most famous RPG in the world:

Mind Flayer The demon lord Asmodeus The eternal couple Misc & Boo!

The dice

An object that "is never enough" and which, by itself, can immediately define whether or not you belong to the community of role players: if you know what a d20 is, it's too late , you are one of us.

And this is a community driven by a two-faced desire: to amass tons of them and select a perfect set of dice to use for life.

If you want to fulfill your first wish you will want lots of dice cheaply

If you want something special to move often the decision falls on some metal set.

Both options are available on Amazon:

6 sets of dice with bag included at a negligible price set of metal dice with box For the most demanding, there are also sets "dedicated" to different races or game classes such as metal dice dedicated to the Dwarves

The dice holders

Its container goes hand in hand with the previous object: whether you prefer bags, boxes or precious cups or you are already spoiled for choice. Shapes, sizes, materials and decorations: anything can be calibrated to our personal tastes. If you want to go beyond the “simple” bag, here are some options.

For a minimal expense, you can take home a top case with a secret opening: ideal to be the only ones to touch your lucky nut! And if you really want to amaze your mates, there is the Mimic dice holder

The dice-throwing tower

One of the reasons why the dice never seem to be enough is their natural tendency to fall off the game table ( no matter how big) to fit exactly into that slot (no matter how small) under the heaviest piece of furniture in the room.

This can be remedied with a gadget as simple as it is impressive: the dice tower .

Also in this case there is only the embarrassment of choice: what we are looking for is the material or the shape.

A good starting point is a real medieval tower For the more demanding, you can think instead of erecting a black castle

The screen of the Master

Cross and delight of many players, often the last foothold in preventing death of the characters. Each game that uses it has its own ad hoc screen (sometimes also linked to a specific adventure).

If you want something that you can freely adapt to your needs or the game of the moment, and then change everything, here are three different options for you.

The first, by Hexer, is clearly oriented towards fantasy RPGs and d20 systems. The second by Stratagem has a more neutral aspect. For the more demanding there is instead the Ugears wooden Master screen

The bag "carries everything"

Manuals, dice, miniatures, maps, screens etc etc: as beautiful as it is having everything you need to organize a game session (or several games) under mao, there is the negative side of the thing: it's all stuff that weighs and must be organized properly. And being able to take everything with you is often a feat.

Here, too, the question can be approached from two directions: a purposely created bag or a satisfactory adaptation of a product designed for something else.

In first case I would like to recommend ENHANCE, a real gem where you can safely store your precious manuals. In the second, you may find the Amazon Basic line camera bag perfect for you

The battlefield

Although the theater of the mind is making a comeback, it is undeniable that having a an adequate surface to move the miniatures or even just to sketch the environment is sometimes of great help.

If you don't have a battlefield yet, here are some two valid double-sided products: depending on your needs you can choose between the evergreen flip-mat of Paizo or the worthy opponent of Chessex with decidedly more generous dimensions and a different graphic pattern (squares or hexagons) on both sides.

The projector

The forbidden dream of many players: to be able to easily show an image to the whole table. Perhaps, as in the case of maps, for an extended time. Sure a tablet or laptop can help, but if you have a white wall (or a sheet) you won't have to fill the table with an extra item. And if a picture is worth a thousand words, showing the face of an NPC or the creature attacking the group from time to time will be priceless.

And speaking of price, here are three possible choices in crescendo:

If you want something practical and portable, here is the Elepha mini projector. If, on the other hand, you do not want to compromise, while maintaining portability and manageability, here is the Ben-Q mini projector

The miniatures

Even playing in the theater of the mind you can show the features of your character has its own charm. And if there are thirty miniatures on the table, you want to be sure that the magician doesn't hit you for confusing you with an opponent (true story).

And if once the role playing miniatures they cost the proverbial eye of Vecna, today you can have your own plastic alter ego for a few euros. In particular, the Nolzur line allows you to take home two miniatures for each blister

Here is a small selection of miniatures for you depending on the class (I apologize, I will base myself on the 12 basic classes used in D&D):

Bard Barbarian Cleric Druid Warrior Thief Magician Monk Paladin Ranger Sorcerer Warlock Obviously the DM also wants his part, given the enormous availability of creatures we will limit ourselves to 4 classic monsters that should never be missing:

Beholder Drago Mimic Rustybog

The Music

Often the music at the table is an element that makes the difference between a successful session and a half failure. But for the music to work it must be able to be heard by everyone present.

Here are 3 possible bluetooth speakers to connect to your mobile phone or tablet:

Sony SRS-XB12: perfect if the space available on the table is reduced to a minimum JBL GO 2: small, handy and with an autonomy of 5 hours Zamkol IPX6: small but powerful, able to spread sound all around it. Perfect to place in the center of the table.

Cups and mugs.

Role play means company, collaboration and union. And nothing unites a gaming group like being able to toast to the defeat of the BBEG ... or to the memory of the characters who have tried.

If you like a pinch of superstition at the table here is the cup for when everything goes wrong and the dice betrays you. If you love to point out the victories obtained here is the mug that will allow you (almost) to drink from the skull of your enemies And to celebrate in a worthy way the conclusion of an epic campaign (or bribe the master) here is the mug in engraved horn If instead you want simply point out your passion for nuts here is the cup in the shape of d12