D&D 5E DMG or MM?

[HawaiiSteveO]

Ran new group through first session of Lost Mines yesterday, had a great time.Have the PHB, sadly can't buy books all at once. What should I get next & why? I've read DMG has lots of alternate rules etc. Pretty happy with what I have now and don't want to overwhelm really new players with too many choices / stuff. Like to get the basics down for a few sessions.MM is full of critters, although LMoP has all the stats included.

 

[CanadienneBacon]

I bought them in this order: PHB >> MM >> DMG. I got adventure hook ideas from the MM, which was neat. The DMG has been more relevant to my party of 4th level characters, however, and mainly for the reason you state--the module came stocked with critters and stats. Still, it has been nice being able to use the MM to swap out plain-Jane monsters in favor of more flavorful species.

Potay-to, potah-to.

 

[delericho]

Either/or, really - Basic has enough material in it to fill the gaps for whichever you delay buying.

I would be inclined to go for the MM. You already know how to run a game, so more monsters are probably the more useful investment at this point.

 

[the Jester]

I would probably get the MM next, but I'm a whore for monsters.

 

[jaelis]

You'll have more fun with the MM. But keep the DMG on your list, it's good too.

 

[Ovinomancer]

Ran new group through first session of Lost Mines yesterday, had a great time.Have the PHB, sadly can't buy books all at once. What should I get next & why? I've read DMG has lots of alternate rules etc. Pretty happy with what I have now and don't want to overwhelm really new players with too many choices / stuff. Like to get the basics down for a few sessions.MM is full of critters, although LMoP has all the stats included.

If you're new to DMing, I'd recommend the DMG first. The MM has lots of toys, yes, but the module you're running has plenty of toys already. The DMG has a wealth of good advice on running the game, and getting the most out of it, even with a stock adventure like Mines. If you're new, or relatively new, to the DM seat, the DMG is a great resource.

 

[Pjack]

DMG. Not only is it full of stellar advice, but it lays out how a D&D world is put together & has all the magic items. There's plenty of monsters you can grab for free online: In the DM's Basic Rules, in the Supplements that WotC has put out for the hardcover adventures, and fan-crafted conversions. And if you want to make your own monsters, the DMG has guidelines for doing just that. [EDIT: Oh, but then totally buy the MM when you can. It's also really good.]

 

[Rabbitbait]

...but I'm a whore for monsters.

Ew. That's wrong. Just wrong. Far too much information there.

 

[The Grassy Gnoll]

MM

You need stuff to fight more than you need tables of magic items.

DMG comes later.

 

[Li Shenron]

Ran new group through first session of Lost Mines yesterday, had a great time.Have the PHB, sadly can't buy books all at once. What should I get next & why? I've read DMG has lots of alternate rules etc. Pretty happy with what I have now and don't want to overwhelm really new players with too many choices / stuff. Like to get the basics down for a few sessions.MM is full of critters, although LMoP has all the stats included.

Definitely get the MM! The monsters are great to read and (with few exceptions) to watch, and of course you need monsters in your game...

Sure the DMG is full of crunch, but IMO you can live without rules additions for quite some time. You can still get enough magic items from supplements for the time being.