Getting Started
First games, core tools, and getting set up behind the screen.
Daggerheart Core Set vs printing the cards yourself
The official Core Set is $59.99 for 279 cards and the rulebook. A printable SRD set covers 797 cards. Here's which you need, and why the answer isn't obvious.
ReadDaggerheart is a card game: how to get the whole deck on your table
Daggerheart runs on cards, not page lookups. What each pile does, why printing the full SRD deck changes play, and how to print cards that sort correctly.
ReadD&D Beyond alternatives: running 5e without a subscription
D&D Beyond costs $25.99 to $54.99 a year and your content lives on their servers. Here's how to run 5e with free tools and one-time purchases instead.
ReadA D&D character creation checklist that avoids backtracking
Make a D&D 5e character in the right order: the decisions that constrain everything else first, the numbers last, and the two questions that make the character playable.
ReadD&D gift guide for Dungeon Masters (2026)
What to actually buy the DM in your life — the things that get used every session, the things that gather dust, and good options at every price.
ReadPrintable D&D character sheets that actually fit your class
Why the standard D&D 5e character sheet fails half the table, what a class-specific sheet tracks instead, and how to pick printable sheets for 2024 play.
ReadPathfinder 2e for D&D players: making the switch
Curious about Pathfinder 2e after D&D 5e? What's different, what to expect, how hard the switch really is, and the character sheet that smooths the transition.
ReadHow to Use a Battlemap as a New DM
A new DM's guide to using battlemaps: when to put one down, grid scale, placing minis and tokens, fog of war, and how to run combat on a map smoothly.
ReadThe complete D&D session 0 guide
A complete D&D session 0 guide: what to cover, a ready checklist of questions, safety tools, and how to set expectations before your first session.
ReadThe best free D&D DM tools (2026)
The best free D&D DM tools for 2026: browser-based generators, trackers, and map utilities that speed up prep and run sessions, with no signup or cost.
ReadHow to Run Your First D&D Game: A New DM's Checklist
How to run your first D&D game: a new DM's checklist for prep, your first combat and roleplay, beginner mistakes to skip, and the 2024 DMG tools.
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