Dungeons & Dragons is experiencing a remarkable resurgence in popularity, fueled by factors such as the success of Stranger Things, the Honor Among Thieves movie, and the widespread appeal of Baldur's Gate 3. This makes it an ideal time to delve into the world of tabletop roleplaying. However, navigating the extensive content available, particularly from third-party creators, can be challenging for newcomers. This guide focuses primarily on first-party 5th Edition (5e) D&D books, excluding the core rulebooks (Player's Handbook, Dungeon Master's Guide, and Monster Manual) which are assumed prerequisites.
AnswerSee ResultsFirst-Party Content Recommendations:
-
Player’s Handbook Core Rulebook: 12$49.99 at Amazon
-
Dungeon Master’s Guide Core Rulebook: 7$49.99 at Amazon
-
Monster Manual Core Rulebook: 5$49.99 at Amazon
-
Xanathar’s Guide to Everything (Sourcebook): 10See it at Amazon
A crucial sourcebook offering numerous player options, including subclasses, feats, and spells, plus helpful tools for Dungeon Masters. -
Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything (Sourcebook): 5See it at Amazon
Expands player options and core rulebook concepts, adding class features, spells, and rules for sidekicks and environments. -
Waterdeep: Dragon Heist (Adventure): 3See it at Amazon
A roleplaying-focused adventure emphasizing intrigue and social encounters, offering multiple antagonists for replayability. A sequel, Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage, provides an extended campaign option. -
Planescape: Adventures in the Multiverse (Sourcebook/Adventure Bundle): 4See it at Amazon
Explores the Planescape setting, including a setting book, monster manual, and adventure. -
Phandelver and Below: The Shattered Obelisk (Adventure): 3See it at Amazon
A significant expansion to The Lost Mine of Phandelver, featuring a cosmic horror storyline and Mind Flayers. -
Eberron: Rising from the Last War (Sourcebook/Adventure): 9See it at Amazon
A unique setting with airships and floating castles, offering new species options and a campaign set in the Mournland. -
Dragonlance: Shadow of the Dragon Queen (Adventure): 1See it at Amazon
Introduces the Dragonlance setting, focusing on large-scale combat encounters and dragons. -
Curse of Strahd (Adventure): 5See it at Amazon
A gothic horror adventure with vampires and creepy elements. Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft provides supplemental material. -
The Wild Beyond the Witchlight (Adventure): 0See it at Amazon
A Feywild adventure with a carnival setting and multiple problem-solving options. Includes new playable species and backgrounds.
Notable Third-Party Content (brief mentions):
- Strongholds and Followers (MCDM Productions): Adds rules for player bases and NPCs.
- Flee, Mortals!/Where Evil Lives (MCDM Productions): Redesigns and adds monsters, including a dungeon.
- Tome of Beasts/Creature Codex (Kobold Press): Monster manuals, particularly useful for high-level play.
- Grim Hollow (Ghostfire Gaming): A dark fantasy setting.
This selection provides a strong foundation for new D&D players. Remember to check out reviews and compare options before purchasing.
