Menu
News
All News
Dungeons & Dragons
Level Up: Advanced 5th Edition
Pathfinder
Starfinder
Warhammer
2d20 System
Year Zero Engine
Industry News
Reviews
Dragon Reflections
Columns
Weekly Digests
Weekly News Digest
Freebies, Sales & Bundles
RPG Print News
RPG Crowdfunding News
Game Content
ENterplanetary DimENsions
Mythological Figures
Opinion
Worlds of Design
Peregrine's Next
RPG Evolution
Other Columns
From the Freelancing Frontline
Monster ENcyclopedia
WotC/TSR Alumni Look Back
4 Hours w/RSD (Ryan Dancey)
The Road to 3E (Jonathan Tweet)
Greenwood's Realms (Ed Greenwood)
Drawmij's TSR (Jim Ward)
Community
Forums & Topics
Forum List
Latest Posts
Forum list
*Dungeons & Dragons
Level Up: Advanced 5th Edition
D&D Older Editions
*TTRPGs General
*Pathfinder & Starfinder
EN Publishing
*Geek Talk & Media
Search forums
Chat/Discord
Resources
Wiki
Pages
Latest activity
Media
New media
New comments
Search media
Downloads
Latest reviews
Search resources
EN Publishing
Store
EN5ider
Adventures in ZEITGEIST
Awfully Cheerful Engine
What's OLD is NEW
Judge Dredd & The Worlds Of 2000AD
War of the Burning Sky
Level Up: Advanced 5E
Events & Releases
Upcoming Events
Private Events
Featured Events
Socials!
Twitch
YouTube
Facebook (EN Publishing)
Facebook (EN World)
Twitter
Instagram
TikTok
Podcast
Features
Top 5 RPGs Compiled Charts 2004-Present
Adventure Game Industry Market Research Summary (RPGs) V1.0
Ryan Dancey: Acquiring TSR
Q&A With Gary Gygax
D&D Rules FAQs
TSR, WotC, & Paizo: A Comparative History
D&D Pronunciation Guide
Million Dollar TTRPG Kickstarters
Tabletop RPG Podcast Hall of Fame
Eric Noah's Unofficial D&D 3rd Edition News
D&D in the Mainstream
D&D & RPG History
About Morrus
Log in
Register
What's new
Search
Search
Search titles only
By:
Forums & Topics
Forum List
Latest Posts
Forum list
*Dungeons & Dragons
Level Up: Advanced 5th Edition
D&D Older Editions
*TTRPGs General
*Pathfinder & Starfinder
EN Publishing
*Geek Talk & Media
Search forums
Chat/Discord
Menu
Log in
Register
Install the app
Install
The
VOIDRUNNER'S CODEX
is coming! Explore new worlds, fight oppressive empires, fend off fearsome aliens, and wield deadly psionics with this comprehensive boxed set expansion for 5E and A5E!
Community
General Tabletop Discussion
*TTRPGs General
Poll of the Week: What's the best gift for your GM?
JavaScript is disabled. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding.
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an
alternative browser
.
Reply to thread
Message
<blockquote data-quote="MNblockhead" data-source="post: 7765293" data-attributes="member: 6796661"><p>Well, you have to know your DM. The age of the DM, how invested they already are in the hobby, how much of a collector the DM is, and other factors can make many of these suggestions be less than ideal. Obviously, any DM is going to graciously accept any of these suggestions with thanks, but if you don't know your DM that well, but you want to do something nice for her this Christmas, her is my annotated buying guide from the poll:</p><p></p><p><strong>Dice</strong></p><p></p><p>This is a good, safe option, especially if you are on a budget. While most DM's will have lots of dice, having a few more never hurts. But my recommendation is to find less common options. There are always kickstarters for dice, so you could back some and hold on to them for gifts as many of the kickstarted dice go out of production quickly. If your budget is not so tight and you are felling generous, get some nice precision metal dice. The good ones can cost $20 per die, so even just a d20 or a pair of d10s will be appreciated. Even if your DM has invested in high quality dice, he likely doesn't have a lot of them and will appreciate a few more. </p><p></p><p></p><p><strong>Game Master's Screen</strong></p><p></p><p>Unless the GM is absolutely new I would say no, this is not a good idea. First, even a new DM is likely to have bought one of the "official ones" and experienced DM have probably put a lot of thought into which screen they use--perhaps even creating their own custom screens. Also, if your DM does NOT use a screen, that is likely due to preference, and your DM may feel pressured to use a screen when she prefers not to if you give one to her as a gift. </p><p></p><p></p><p>Rulebooks</p><p></p><p>Again, probably not, unless your DM is just starting out. Generally the DM is going to have the books he needs to run the game he wants to run. I would only give a rule book as a DM if I really knew him well and knew he needed or wanted it and was unlikely to get it before the time I'm giving the gift. Some exceptions would be a student or someone with financial trouble that wants to DM but can afford the buy in--maybe a group of players can go in together and buy a core set for him. Another exception is a DM who likes to collect RPGs. If you know a system that he doesn't have, you can get that for him. Again, Kickstarter can be good for this, so long as you know he isn't backing it. </p><p></p><p><strong>RPG-themed Clothing</strong></p><p></p><p>Good, if you know the DMs tastes and size. Many of my players and I wear "gaming" shirts on game day. Just t-shirts with usually humorous art and text on them. I would love receiving these, but I am hesitant to gift them, mostly because I am awful with sizing. One thing I do though, is that some kickstarters include t-shirts as extra stretch goals. I'll often buy a couple extra at different sizes to give to one of my sons or a friend. </p><p></p><p></p><p><strong>RPG-themed apps for phone/tablet/computer</strong></p><p></p><p>You really need to know your DM's preferences well. A D&D Beyond subscription could be nice, if the DM doesn't already have one. But if he already has everything in Roll20, would he use it? If the DM likes pen and paper, and doesn't like electronics at the table, an app if probably not a great idea. DMs that use a lot of electronic aids at the table likely already spent a lot of time trying different options and may not need or want to use another app.</p><p></p><p><strong>Theme Music</strong></p><p></p><p>Depends on the DM. For myself, I would rather a player take the role of game DJ. I've tried Syrinscape and just using playlists from Youtube Music or Apple Music. It just became another thing I had to deal with. Of course, know your DM. But I would be hesitant to give music or game-sound subscriptions to DMs you don't know well. </p><p></p><p><strong>Miniatures</strong></p><p></p><p>I think this is one of the safest option. Even DMs that only do VTTs, they can still enjoy miniatures for the occasional game where digital options are not available. It is easy to know if a DM can use miniatures. If they play with miniatures at least some of the time, it is obvious they can use them. If you get them one they aready have, they can still use them. </p><p></p><p><strong>Terrain & RPG Decor (lamps, tables, wall-hangings, etc.)</strong></p><p></p><p>Again, unless you know that the DM only uses digital battlemaps, I think terrain is a good option. If you don't know the DM get setting agnostic terrain in easy-to-store formats. Battlemap spiral binders, felt 2D terrain and maps, tile sets, and arc knight style 2D stand up terrain are all pretty safe options. </p><p></p><p>I would not buy digital terrain and decor unless I am sure what system the DM uses.</p><p></p><p></p><p><strong>Other (explain in the comments)</strong></p><p></p><p>Some other items that most DMs can appreciate:</p><p></p><ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">measuring sticks for physical terrain & minis</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">laser pointers</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">game-themed swag like d20-shaped mugs</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">gift cards to a FLGS</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Amazon gift cards</li> </ul></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="MNblockhead, post: 7765293, member: 6796661"] Well, you have to know your DM. The age of the DM, how invested they already are in the hobby, how much of a collector the DM is, and other factors can make many of these suggestions be less than ideal. Obviously, any DM is going to graciously accept any of these suggestions with thanks, but if you don't know your DM that well, but you want to do something nice for her this Christmas, her is my annotated buying guide from the poll: [B]Dice[/B] This is a good, safe option, especially if you are on a budget. While most DM's will have lots of dice, having a few more never hurts. But my recommendation is to find less common options. There are always kickstarters for dice, so you could back some and hold on to them for gifts as many of the kickstarted dice go out of production quickly. If your budget is not so tight and you are felling generous, get some nice precision metal dice. The good ones can cost $20 per die, so even just a d20 or a pair of d10s will be appreciated. Even if your DM has invested in high quality dice, he likely doesn't have a lot of them and will appreciate a few more. [B]Game Master's Screen[/B] Unless the GM is absolutely new I would say no, this is not a good idea. First, even a new DM is likely to have bought one of the "official ones" and experienced DM have probably put a lot of thought into which screen they use--perhaps even creating their own custom screens. Also, if your DM does NOT use a screen, that is likely due to preference, and your DM may feel pressured to use a screen when she prefers not to if you give one to her as a gift. Rulebooks Again, probably not, unless your DM is just starting out. Generally the DM is going to have the books he needs to run the game he wants to run. I would only give a rule book as a DM if I really knew him well and knew he needed or wanted it and was unlikely to get it before the time I'm giving the gift. Some exceptions would be a student or someone with financial trouble that wants to DM but can afford the buy in--maybe a group of players can go in together and buy a core set for him. Another exception is a DM who likes to collect RPGs. If you know a system that he doesn't have, you can get that for him. Again, Kickstarter can be good for this, so long as you know he isn't backing it. [B]RPG-themed Clothing[/B] Good, if you know the DMs tastes and size. Many of my players and I wear "gaming" shirts on game day. Just t-shirts with usually humorous art and text on them. I would love receiving these, but I am hesitant to gift them, mostly because I am awful with sizing. One thing I do though, is that some kickstarters include t-shirts as extra stretch goals. I'll often buy a couple extra at different sizes to give to one of my sons or a friend. [B]RPG-themed apps for phone/tablet/computer[/B] You really need to know your DM's preferences well. A D&D Beyond subscription could be nice, if the DM doesn't already have one. But if he already has everything in Roll20, would he use it? If the DM likes pen and paper, and doesn't like electronics at the table, an app if probably not a great idea. DMs that use a lot of electronic aids at the table likely already spent a lot of time trying different options and may not need or want to use another app. [B]Theme Music[/B] Depends on the DM. For myself, I would rather a player take the role of game DJ. I've tried Syrinscape and just using playlists from Youtube Music or Apple Music. It just became another thing I had to deal with. Of course, know your DM. But I would be hesitant to give music or game-sound subscriptions to DMs you don't know well. [B]Miniatures[/B] I think this is one of the safest option. Even DMs that only do VTTs, they can still enjoy miniatures for the occasional game where digital options are not available. It is easy to know if a DM can use miniatures. If they play with miniatures at least some of the time, it is obvious they can use them. If you get them one they aready have, they can still use them. [B]Terrain & RPG Decor (lamps, tables, wall-hangings, etc.)[/B] Again, unless you know that the DM only uses digital battlemaps, I think terrain is a good option. If you don't know the DM get setting agnostic terrain in easy-to-store formats. Battlemap spiral binders, felt 2D terrain and maps, tile sets, and arc knight style 2D stand up terrain are all pretty safe options. I would not buy digital terrain and decor unless I am sure what system the DM uses. [B]Other (explain in the comments)[/B] Some other items that most DMs can appreciate: [LIST] [*]measuring sticks for physical terrain & minis [*]laser pointers [*]game-themed swag like d20-shaped mugs [*]gift cards to a FLGS [*]Amazon gift cards [/LIST] [/QUOTE]
Insert quotes…
Verification
Post reply
Community
General Tabletop Discussion
*TTRPGs General
Poll of the Week: What's the best gift for your GM?
Top