D&D First Session Essentials Part 2

D&D First Session Essentials – Part 2

After covering character creation and preparation in Part 1, the RPG Blokes return with Part 2, focusing on the physical and digital tools that enhance your first session. Knowing what to bring and what to leave behind ensures a smoother, more immersive experience.

The Essentials – What You Really Need

Every new player wonders what items are necessary for their first D&D session. However, the essentials are surprisingly simple.

• Dice: Having your own set is helpful, but many groups provide extras.
• Character sheets: Digital vs. paper? Both have pros and cons, but which one helps you learn faster?
• Pencils and notes: Keeping track of spells, items, and key events improves gameplay.

Extras – Do You Need Fancy Accessories?

Many players fall into the RPG rabbit hole of purchasing extra materials. However, not all accessories are essential. The Blokes discuss:

• Miniatures and battle maps – Immersive but not always necessary.
• Reference cards and cheat sheets – Useful, but how much do you really need?
• Dice trays, towers, and custom gear – Fun additions but purely optional.

The Most Important Question – Should You Bring Snacks?

Snacks are a hot topic at the table. While optional, they help maintain energy and keep morale high. The Blokes offer tips on snack etiquette to avoid disrupting the game.

Final Thoughts – What Matters Most

Ultimately, D&D isn’t about the gear; it’s about the stories you create. Whether you bring a custom dice box or just a pencil and paper, the experience comes from the adventure and the people around the table.

This episode helps new and returning players decide what’s truly necessary and what can be skipped or added later. By focusing on essentials over extras, you’ll start your D&D journey without unnecessary stress or expenses.

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Episode Transcript

Mark:
[0:00] Welcome to the second part of our First Session Essentials podcast. In this episode, if you’re gearing up for your very first in-person RPG session And wondering what you should bring or feeling a bit nervous about showing up Without something important, Don’t worry, we’re going to talk about what really matters and what will help You walk into your first game room ready to jump right in. So this is about First Session Essentials, everything you need to bring or not Need to bring and not worry about. We’ll be right back. All right so today uh we’ve got an angle on how we’re going to approach this Podcast i’ve researched and put together the most common items people do bring To the rpg table a lot of them you’d probably be aware of or be thinking about already. And I’m just going to go through these items and we’re going to discuss the merits of them. I think we should start by saying that you can just turn up by yourself and Come into the room and play and get on with it. But if you want to do a little bit of research, a little bit of prep and come In a little bit better prepared, let’s go through the other common items people bring. Okay, so obviously you plan a role-playing game. You know there were dice involved.

Jon:
[1:23] Almost all the time.

Mark:
[1:24] Almost but generally speaking especially if it’s dungeons and drags we don’t Dice are one of the joys of role playing aren’t they i think they were for me When i started playing they still are for me as an adult is that sort of fascination With dice and there’s an industry now would you deny, Somebody sort of saying before their first session you know i want to come along With my own dice set it makes sense they do doesn’t it’s better but just make.

Jon:
[1:49] Sure that especially if it’s a new group starting up if they all turn up and Say i thought you bought the dice i thought you bought even if you’ve got one Set of dice between you all that That that’ll work fine but just make sure someone’s got some fucking dice.

Mark:
[2:03] It’s not going to be long until you get some is it right.

Barry:
[2:06] No so i mean this was one of the things that surprised Me about myself oh i like dice Dice gobbling the first session I came I didn’t Bring dice and you put a Full set of seven polyhedral dice In my hand and immediately I thought oh I like these like straight Away next week I have my own set you know and I’m not a dice goblin it’s not Like I buy tons and tons of dice and I don’t look after them I’ve probably got Four five sets of dice three of them are incomplete because I’ve lost one but As objects I think they’re really good fun I like the sound they make when you Rattle them in And I like the sound they make when they hit the table.

Mark:
[2:44] Yeah.

Barry:
[2:44] You know, it’s, yeah.

Mark:
[2:45] I agree.

Barry:
[2:46] I mean, I have a, I should probably pitch this to you, but I’ve got a business Idea. Online gambling is huge.

Mark:
[2:53] Yeah.

Barry:
[2:53] There isn’t as far as I can make out a single casino game. Game based on polyhedral dice there isn’t no so i think we could be rich but.

Mark:
[3:01] You need to get precision dice when you’re dc.

Barry:
[3:03] If you get those precision online yeah you don’t you don’t actually need the physical dice you’re.

Jon:
[3:07] Here at the birth of the evil empire.

Barry:
[3:09] The day i mean obviously gambling websites has come out of the earth but if It meant i could retire fuck them are we sponsored by one we could be now we’re Not we have to edit that out this is steam dice.

Mark:
[3:21] Uh what do you feel as you’re you’re coming along to your first session it’s Easy in it where’d you get your dice from yes.

Stephen:
[3:28] Well in models.

Jon:
[3:28] Yeah 40 years ago we could be sponsored by him he’s not in business but.

Stephen:
[3:34] Um yes definitely dice if you don’t bring it for the first session you definitely Will be bringing it to the second yeah it’s going to happen eventually yeah do.

Mark:
[3:40] You come along with dice and people know that’s that’s.

Jon:
[3:42] And there are some very very very pretty shiny clacky math rocks out there that’s Some really expensive math rocks it’s not the old solid one so you had to color In with the crayon like we started with pesky and whippersnappers.

Barry:
[3:54] Do you know what i think that’s worth pointing out as well steven’s just said There there are some very expensive ones i mean they’re Expensive because they’re beautiful and crafted Expensive dice are no more effective Than inexpensive dice i think the most expensive set Of dice i bought was my metal ones and i think They were about 20 quid generally speaking i’ll be looking At spending five to ten pounds on a set of dice that’s it when you look at them It seems like a lot of money five to ten pounds but you know like you say some Of them are gorgeous um i know people who buy a dice set for each character They’re they’re playing which i think is quite i think that’s quite good fun so you know like um Um i played with someone who’s playing a wood elf and they bought this really Nice kind of foresty green set of dice specifically for that character you know it’s.

Mark:
[4:40] My dice in ice wing dale.

Barry:
[4:41] I have noticed your dice and ice ring down.

Stephen:
[4:43] And this is why the dice industry are doing so well.

Jon:
[4:46] I’ve coveted other man’s dice.

Mark:
[4:48] My dice are like icicles, and they’ve got this icy feel about them. They roll shit.

Barry:
[4:52] I’m going to come out and say it. I actually don’t like them. They’re too pointy.

Jon:
[4:57] Yeah.

Mark:
[4:57] Some of these modern dice are very sharp.

Stephen:
[4:59] Sharp dice, yeah.

Mark:
[5:00] Like cow chops.

Barry:
[5:02] So the problem I have with pointy dice is that if you’re not rolling them in A dice, if you’re on a table, they will chip.

Mark:
[5:09] Chip the table?

Barry:
[5:10] No, they will chip.

Stephen:
[5:11] You need a dice tray. Dare I go on to the next subject?

Barry:
[5:15] Oh, we segway into dice trays.

Stephen:
[5:17] Can I segway that?

Barry:
[5:19] Now, I like a dice tray, but the problem with a dice tray is that they deaden The sound of the dice rolling, and I also really like the sound of the dice rolling.

Mark:
[5:27] Yeah, what’s your feeling on dice trays then, Stephen? You feel the same? I don’t like them.

Stephen:
[5:30] I used them briefly, but mine broke, and I didn’t replace it, to be fair. I think as a DM, I like to roll in the open, and I think dice trays kind of Sometimes hide them a little bit.

Jon:
[5:39] Maybe that’s what they’re for I don’t know I’ve got like yeah.

Stephen:
[5:42] It depends how big it is but some people have little ones and think.

Jon:
[5:44] The other thing is if you’re playing online dice can be problematic if you’re Expecting anyone else to listen, Because having stuff clacking off in your ears like that, especially if you’ve Got a handful of dice and you’re shaking it in front of the mic.

Mark:
[5:56] It pisses me out. Yeah, it’s always virtual dice. But no, we’re sticking to An in-person session. That’s where we’re focusing.

Jon:
[6:02] I think the main difference between the expensive, really, really flash nice Dice is you’re going to pause the session for another 15 minutes when the sofa Eats them rather than the buckets of dice under your mum’s sofa that we just, Yeah, no, we’re not going there. We might not get out ourselves.

Mark:
[6:20] So yeah other paraphernalia involving dice dice Bags are my favorite so we’re going to detail it But we’re going to name our favorite a piece of role-playing paraphernalia At the end of the podcast but yeah i love a dice bag so moving on to tablets Laptops do people i mean i’m seeing around the table more and more people sit In there with a tablet or even a Laptop screen open and That’s how they’re handling their character sheet. Even in an in-person session, they’re using digital toolkits to run their character’s Sheets rather than pen and paper.

Jon:
[6:54] So D&D Beyond is the main reason for that. Of course, I mean, we’re not sponsored, but, you know, we might be up for that. But, yeah, it makes it so easy. You just touch, point, click. I don’t like it on the mobile, to be honest. So the laptop is needful.

Mark:
[7:12] In fact, if you’ve forgotten your character sheet or you don’t have your laptop, You can still use your mobile to look at your character. I love it. We as a society, we invest collectively into a D&D Beyond Account, Which means we buy all of the add-ons, all of the scenarios and rules. So everybody can use that. It’s expensive, right? We’ve spent five or six hundred pounds.

Barry:
[7:35] Is that an ongoing cost?

Mark:
[7:36] Well, yeah. But it’s ongoing as in they release new things and you continue to add to it.

Barry:
[7:40] Okay, so I think if you’re a community, That makes sense. I think for an individual, that’s a bit of an ask.

Mark:
[7:44] Yeah.

Barry:
[7:45] Do you know what I mean?

Mark:
[7:45] But you use a different type of that, don’t you? You don’t use that.

Barry:
[7:48] So I use my… Right, so I’m dyslexic and I have dysgraphia and there’s a lot Of stuff going on up there that holds me back or doesn’t hold me back, That makes life a bit more challenging sometimes. Times i hate picking up pen and paper pen and paper and pencil and paper is Is just like death to me you know the the advent of the online Form was one of the most liberating experiences of my Entire life so i have a third party um not licensed if we are going to get sponsored By dnd beyond maybe i should shut the fuck up um it’s literally called fifth Edition character sheet um it’s an app on um the iStore and i think it cost me £3.99.

Stephen:
[8:29] I was gonna say um i’m gonna predict in a few years Time that yeah nobody will be bringing a pencil and paper to a dnd game Which is a bit of a shame because i do like the paper and pencils but i Find with people who use dnd beyond they’re the people that really don’t have A clue about the rules it’s i think in the end players just become people just Push buttons on a screen things happen for them yeah and yeah if that’s fine If that’s way you want to play the game but i i think you know owning the physical Copies and and looking into yourself gives you a more broad depth of it but Dnd beyond is superb don’t get me wrong, I find players are just sort of like go off level, just pushing the button again.

Mark:
[9:02] It’s helped me.

Stephen:
[9:02] Okay, great.

Mark:
[9:03] That’s what I was doing. And eventually I thought, you know, I don’t even know. I don’t know what my character can do. I’m asking people and put it on paper And I’ve then kind of separated everything that you can do.

Stephen:
[9:13] It doesn’t necessarily have to be paper and pencil. You can do something like Barry’s got maybe a PDF or form fillable. But something you have actually made the effort to go from one stage to another, You understood the process. It’s not essential. It isn’t because you could just press the buttons and just be happy. But if everyone’s doing that, the DM’s just pushing his buttons on his screen, Players just pushing their buttons it becomes automated but i think that’s what They’re after if i’m honest yeah.

Mark:
[9:33] But for advanced players people that know the system well that works better I think but for new players perhaps not.

Stephen:
[9:39] Yeah yeah it’s true yeah because it does stop it is a barrier for you to learn The rules again that we’ve.

Jon:
[9:44] But it is a good quick start thing if you’ve got.

Stephen:
[9:47] A new and then of course.

Barry:
[9:49] I suppose you have to point out that that something like dnd beyond presumably Isn’t available for every system. So, you know, this choice might literally not be in your hands if the first Game you play is going to be, you know, an indie. Absolutely.

Mark:
[10:03] You do get, like Stephen said, you do get other means to like a Google Sheet or something.

Stephen:
[10:08] Google Docs, yeah, there’s lots of people doing Google Docs.

Barry:
[10:10] I think that was what you did when we played Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay online. And that worked, I think that was when it started. That worked really well for me.

Mark:
[10:17] I think people prefer that. Even though it’s a bespoke, handmade Google Doc, People nowadays prefer to have that and use that than have it on paper in front of them and.

Jon:
[10:26] I play online I’ve got the one on screen but also copy or print one out that’s.

Mark:
[10:33] Got that yeah.

Jon:
[10:35] The internet can go down.

Barry:
[10:37] Financial point of view, a pencil and a piece of paper is pretty cheap.

Mark:
[10:41] Yeah. You’ve got to rely upon somebody else printing that out for you. I suppose nowadays, you could come along and play your first session and who’s Got a character sheet? I found that. Somebody comes up to me, he’s, you’ve got a D&D character sheet. Yeah, I think I’ve got some left.

Barry:
[10:53] You’re the only person I know in the world who has always got a D&D character sheet on them.

Stephen:
[10:57] I’ve got loads of them as well.

Barry:
[10:58] I reckon I can ask you in a Friday night in a pub and you go, Yeah, hold on a second, back pocket. There you go.

Stephen:
[11:03] What colours do you want?

Barry:
[11:03] Our advice might be if you’re not.

Mark:
[11:05] Going to come along with a laptop and and you want to do it on paper you could Always print out your own character sheet before you arrive at least you’re guaranteed to have.

Barry:
[11:12] Yeah no and again again talk to whoever’s organizing your table if because you You know people not everyone has a print mark you know those that like they’re Becoming more and more redundant as time goes on just say to your dm can you Have some character sheets please you know a good a good dm should have a couple Of character sheets tucked away somewhere right.

Jon:
[11:31] When I thought I was doing Shadow on the other night, I went down the library To use their photocopier. That’s even a lot of photocopiers.

Stephen:
[11:39] Photocopiers, wow.

Mark:
[11:40] I still love photocopiers.

Jon:
[11:41] Loved it.

Stephen:
[11:42] Yeah.

Mark:
[11:42] How many times do we…

Stephen:
[11:44] A lot.

Mark:
[11:45] Very fun.

Stephen:
[11:46] Like whole rule books, photocopies.

Jon:
[11:48] Well, yeah, that’s why they put all that really dark artwork in. That’s the only reason they put…

Mark:
[11:55] And chargers, of course, most places. if you go to community centers Uh if you need if you’ve got your laptop won’t be a bad idea to bring a charger Along so other things that people might bring along this one will be fairly Quick it’s stationary and pencils if you’re going to use you know you can’t Rely upon other people having those things so bring along you know a rubber And or an eraser whatever i just i.

Barry:
[12:16] Know i say this a lot but i’ve just been so lucky with the people that i’ve Played with because i’ve i like i can turn up with fuck all and i know that I can turn to have you got a pencil yes right have You’ve got some dice, yes. And I’m set up to go. And don’t bank on that. But it is quite likely that you’ll be… We’ve got a player at our table who I think she brings 10 pencils every week. She’s just a player. But she’s just part of her contribution to the community is if someone doesn’t Have one of these, I’ll make sure they’ve got it. And I love that about it. I love that about it. It’s like we’ve got another Player who is a… Most people are dice goblins. He’s a dice tray goblin. And if you haven’t got a dice tray, he’ll just go, do you want one? And he’ll open a little box. He’ll have like nine dice trays.

Stephen:
[13:00] I might have to have a word with him.

Barry:
[13:02] It’s one of the things I find interesting about the types of characters that You get playing this game because people have different hyper focuses. And if you’ve got a well-balanced table, and I’m not talking about well-balanced Characters, I’m talking about well-balanced players, you will have every resource At that table between you. Because everyone has taken it upon themselves to say, well, I will be in charge Of books. I will be in charge of dice. I will be in charge of pencils. and like we should be running the world damn it that’s on there.

Mark:
[13:28] Snacks is on the list don’t worry we get there probably the Most important to our last actually with the snacks uh so the next Uh we’re going to move on to our miniatures you know it’s unlikely you’re going To know enough about what you’re doing and what character you’re going to have To come into the session with a miniature but hey most people have one eventually Don’t they but you um we wouldn’t worry about it too much in your first session, Slim?

Stephen:
[13:51] Well, unless you’ve redone your character and you know exactly who he is. No, not first session. Again, you probably have one. Maybe not in the second Session, but maybe the third or fourth, you’ll probably have one. Even though I know some players that just use the sort of standard ones we have on hand. Yeah, I mean, there’s many places you can get them from these days.

Mark:
[14:11] Yeah, you can print them, of course. That’s now the main industry these days.

Stephen:
[14:15] Isn’t it? Yeah, if you’ve got a 3D printer, well, go for it. If you can use it and get the patterns. So I think we were talking about Hero Forge. Was that on there?

Jon:
[14:23] And that does coloured ones as well, doesn’t it?

Stephen:
[14:25] I think that you can get a basic paint range on it.

Jon:
[14:27] Not sponsored, but up for it.

Mark:
[14:29] I think we need to focus on what this podcast is about, is what you might feel Obliged to turn up with on your first session.

Barry:
[14:36] I think, again, considering who this is aimed at, and I always struggle to remember What we’ve spoke about in the past, but I think we should, you know, A miniature is a physical representation of your character. There are some amazingly talented and skilled people out there who paint them. There are some other people who play with them blank. But when you’re in combat Situations, that’s like your chess piece. That’s you’re moving that around the board. It is a physical representation of where you are.

Jon:
[15:09] The main use for them in game is if there’s any questions about range, So if your ref’s done a square or hexagonal layout and drawn a map over it.

Stephen:
[15:22] A battle map.

Jon:
[15:23] Yeah. Then you can tell how far, providing you’ve got it to scale, Of course, not an aerial view of the continent, But you can tell how far they are for things like missile ranges, melee, spells. That’s the main reason for them.

Barry:
[15:42] I have a really weird relationship with miniatures. I absolutely love them. Again, really lucky. We’ve got a guy at our club who his painting is absolutely phenomenal. And as soon as I get a new character, I buy a miniature. He does a fucking amazing job. But then when I’m finished playing that character, it goes into the club’s community Pile of… Do you know what I mean? I love it for that period. But I don’t keep them and display them and have them at home. And once that character’s either dead or the campaign has come to an end, I’ll just put it into our collective pool of miniatures so that other people Can use it if they happen to be playing it and they don’t want to get their own and get it painted.

Mark:
[16:19] And we’ve got that resource, haven’t we, in our community. Well, We must have 300 or 400 figures across maybe a five boxes.

Stephen:
[16:25] I assume it’s all about D&D then with these figures. There’s many games that Are not so vital to have a miniature.

Mark:
[16:29] Yeah, check what game you’re playing. I suppose that’s over to John. So miniatures, figures within your independent games.

Jon:
[16:35] The ones that you’re talking about.

Mark:
[16:36] Usually.

Jon:
[16:36] Bother that partly because i’ve got no artistic capabilities whatsoever So can’t paint my paint but even maps personally i struggle with i like playing Uh well enough if ref does one it doesn’t matter how rough it is but yeah you Can use you know a token a coin a dice but figures are nice.

Mark:
[16:58] Yeah if you bring one you’ll be the exception to the rule on your first session To enter the room with a with a miniature representing the character that you want to play i.

Jon:
[17:07] Mean i like.

Mark:
[17:08] Them well.

Jon:
[17:08] Enough they’re very pretty and it can maybe help you visualize on your character it’s a nice focus.

Mark:
[17:14] Okay so again something non-essential something you may want to integrate or Pick up later as you as you play more sessions you.

Barry:
[17:23] Will minis aren’t expensive.

Mark:
[17:25] So there’s two more things left to discuss this one Is now reference cards for feats abilities and spells i’m Seeing these more often on the table these are physical things that people quite Enjoy turning up with and if you Knew what character you were going to play it might give you a bit of confidence Perhaps to either purchase these or create your own on card i don’t know how Useful it’s a good idea i think really for a new player potentially it’s if You want to do a bit of homework and come along and have a better idea especially If you’re playing a more complex character yeah.

Stephen:
[17:55] I think a game you’re saying about the cost of the hobby depends how much you Want to spend on it but it certainly isn’t requirement to get these cards. They’re pretty much quick reference rules. Rule cards aren’t they so it’s um so you’d have to fiddle through the book or Look on your tablet you’ve got them right in front of you so they are useful Uh certainly not essential um i think yeah a lot of people have used them in Dungeon dragons when i’ve played it.

Mark:
[18:15] Do you see the appeal with them Over so barry said it just reaches for google which most of us do i do.

Stephen:
[18:21] As well i don’t i guess this is more of a luxury purchase it’s just if you’ve Got money to spend and you want to spend it on something dungeon dragons related Or whatever game and then these are these are an option they are certainly not The only way you can access your spells in fact if you have a player’s handbook That is equally as valid yeah.

Mark:
[18:37] Search through the player’s handbook.

Stephen:
[18:38] Is the old-fashioned way exactly um so but.

Barry:
[18:41] Not everything’s in the player’s handbook though is it because you know wizard Of coast expansions and stuff like that i like the prompt cards i quite i don’t Use them but um i’ve seen some other people some of them are beautiful man do You know i mean it’s like if you like the if you like the genre you like the Artwork they’re a perfectly reasonable treat for yourself. Go ahead and do it.

Stephen:
[19:00] It’s a luxury, I mean.

Barry:
[19:00] Yeah, you can’t take it with you. Spend the money, if that’s what you want, you know?

Mark:
[19:04] Yeah.

Jon:
[19:04] Although they had a third edition Warhammer. It was a bit of a… But they did have cards for everything.

Stephen:
[19:10] Yeah, all of that was physical cards. Everything was placed on a physical card.

Jon:
[19:13] It was nice. It was nice, yeah. Once you get used to it…

Stephen:
[19:16] Logistically, getting it around, it was tough.

Mark:
[19:18] Well, yeah, that was up to the GM to buy all of that, wasn’t it? Individual players really had no route in as a new player. You were dependent upon the DM having those reference cards.

Stephen:
[19:27] There might have been character packs somewhere you could get for your character, But it was very few and far between. A lot of it was just basically don’t print The rulebook, just put everything on small cards, which is awesome. But until you had to find it, and then it’s more tricky.

Jon:
[19:41] Whereas I found index cards, people just keep them with their character sheet And flick through. Yeah. Fill it out like it is in the book it doesn’t have to be the ones you can buy Are really pretty and everything else that’s great but if you want cheap and cheerful great.

Mark:
[19:58] Idea so just come along with some blank ones of those and then during the session you can.

Jon:
[20:01] Make those people fill out what they want because you buy the pre-made ones And a lot of time it’s a pack it might have everything but you might also never Need more than half a dozen and it tends to work it saves wear and tear on the books as well yes.

Mark:
[20:17] Which are growing in value all of the time yeah.

Jon:
[20:20] Yeah because the stuff i’m looking at because i tend to play older editions They’ve gone from startup cost of 10 20 quid some were in the 50s and that’s A bit for me but i’ll probably end up doing it but i don’t know it uh.

Mark:
[20:35] One of my copies of warhammer fantasy roleplay second edition to your gaming table.

Jon:
[20:39] Yeah and.

Mark:
[20:40] That that’s worth over hundred pound in the condition it used.

Jon:
[20:43] To be before you could it was a bit fox when we first but i.

Mark:
[20:49] I don’t mind right because we bought them to play the game listen yeah i’d like that.

Barry:
[20:54] That’s where his real value is let’s be honest.

Mark:
[20:56] Absolutely yeah yeah no regrets not well as long as you can cover it i’m good stick it on ebay.

Stephen:
[21:04] You’ll be fine.

Mark:
[21:04] Okay so we get to the uh to the last point the the the most common item you Might want to bring to the table food and drink uh john do you want to start us off on food and drink.

Jon:
[21:14] The fattest shall lead um yeah i always try to bring along a couple of savouries A couple of sweets a bottle or two of different types of fizz uh, You’ve got dietary considerations. Some people are on diets all the time, So you’ve got to have the sugar-free instead of the full fat. You’ve got allergies. Be aware. And some people just don’t like the smell of certain things. So if you know your group, don’t piss anyone off.

Mark:
[21:43] You’re at a very considerate table if everybody’s considering those things, eh?

Stephen:
[21:47] Absolutely, yeah. What’s going on?

Jon:
[21:48] I mean, you’ve got to remember my missus had severe allergies, So you tend to factor that in. Most of the time you won’t have any problems and you and you’ll find out if Someone says they really don’t like the smell of I don’t know some particular Type of snack don’t bring the fucking snacks in.

Mark:
[22:07] General munchies are a big part.

Jon:
[22:08] In a.

Mark:
[22:09] Game you’re going to want something at the table too.

Jon:
[22:11] Your basic food groups are your chocolate your savoury crunchies none of it’s Healthy your five a day oh fuck no are.

Mark:
[22:19] You meant to feed your GM is that a thing.

Jon:
[22:21] By being the GM is definitely something i absolutely encourage and endorse and barry your experience.

Mark:
[22:29] With food and drink you’re right you bring bring along a bit don’t you.

Barry:
[22:32] So so i’m that guy as well quite often quite often because I work shifts this has come up before quite often i’m coming straight from work So i’m like actually i need dinner i don’t need snacks this like a packet of Crisps and a can of coke i’m still going to hurt someone um so you know i’ll Grab a meal deal on the way there some tables have superheroes at them who will Cater for the whole table. Every now and then someone will bring a treat along for everyone. I get what John’s saying about be considerate to others. I wouldn’t rock up with a lamb madras. Do you know what I mean?

Mark:
[23:02] Some people do, don’t they? Order at the table.

Barry:
[23:04] Yeah, I’ve seen people ordering from Uber Eats.

Mark:
[23:06] That’s a little bit anti-social as far as the smell and the feel about it.

Barry:
[23:10] Hot food stinks, man.

Mark:
[23:12] It does, yeah.

Barry:
[23:13] I get that.

Jon:
[23:14] But if we’re playing over at someone’s house…

Mark:
[23:17] It’s off the scale.

Jon:
[23:18] The aspects are a different thing.

Barry:
[23:20] Aren’t they? Yeah, yeah, definitely. If you’re a guest in someone’s home, You shouldn’t become an empty-handed.

Jon:
[23:23] Exactly.

Mark:
[23:24] No, that’s true. So do you integrate food into your enjoyment of the hobby, Or is that something that’s important to you?

Stephen:
[23:29] It’s been traditionally so. Buying a cup of Cherryade, back in the day, I remember.

Jon:
[23:34] Oh, yeah.

Stephen:
[23:34] And then spilling it all over your paper carrot sheets. Never gets old.

Barry:
[23:38] I mean, it’s still better than spilling it all over your laptop.

Stephen:
[23:41] Well, it really is. At the time, it was pretty grim.

Jon:
[23:43] It’s a tradition, damn it.

Stephen:
[23:45] Luckily enough, nobody had them at the time.

Barry:
[23:47] But yeah i’ve been lucky we’ve had people at our.

Stephen:
[23:49] Table that bake before they come along and uh okay bring cakes and stuff which Is awesome but i think you know the other sort of antisocial thing you could Bring in drinks wise is being the only one drinking alcohol potentially and Getting it absolutely wasted i can imagine that being quite a yeah a tricky one but.

Barry:
[24:04] No no no i’m playing a drunken monk there’s nothing you can do about it yeah Yeah i guess there is that but i’m thinking if you’re the only one.

Stephen:
[24:11] If you bring it for everyone it would be interesting yeah that’s.

Mark:
[24:13] That’s more of the etiquette of food.

Stephen:
[24:15] Really i guess alcohol is that sort of like Sabu kind of subject when it comes To role playing is it should you or shouldn’t you but very.

Mark:
[24:21] In our experience over all of the years very little alcohol.

Stephen:
[24:24] Probably shouldn’t I think we’ve kind of have agreed it kind of it changes the games.

Barry:
[24:27] An old acquaintance of mine he did a podcast that Was called Drunkards and Taverns and the idea was Their unique their USP was that one player Was shitfaced and the player that was shitfaced got An extra D4 on every D20 so the Story was more likely to go in the direction so he Was permanently blessed isn’t it just so just so one and it was a different And it was a different character each week it was different player stroke character Each week so the rest of them had to remain sober and that player had to get Drunk before they started playing now I’m not suggesting we should be encouraging Stuff like that but it was really good fun it could be fun if somebody was up for it would you be up.

Mark:
[25:04] For it at our table.

Barry:
[25:06] I mean I’ve said in the past and I mean this as well it’s like I need more wholesome Things in my life and one of the things one of the things that this hobby does Do for me is give me wholesome times times where at my socialising isn’t, You know, revolving around pubs.

Stephen:
[25:20] I was just thinking, one of those players wasn’t the DM one week getting drunk, Because that might be interesting.

Barry:
[25:25] Do you know what I can’t remember? I don’t think so.

Stephen:
[25:27] Because that would just be a different dynamic in terms of all.

Barry:
[25:28] I can’t remember. So I know that there are some games that are held in pubs, And in those games, if I’m in a pub, then I’m having a fucking pint, And there’s nothing anyone can do to stop me.

Mark:
[25:37] So soft drinks and crisps and Junk food really is what you should be bringing along to a gaming table.

Barry:
[25:42] Or healthy snacks are available.

Mark:
[25:45] But bring food and drink, good idea. Agree?

Jon:
[25:47] Well players would appreciate it yeah.

Stephen:
[25:49] Definitely as a player I would I eat a lot more as a player than I do as a DM I just want to put that out there as a DM I generally don’t eat anything at all because.

Jon:
[25:57] You’re talking more I guess but.

Stephen:
[25:58] As a player you’re sort of watching them a bit more so you end up just tucking Into whatever’s there so it’s a big difference DMs are slimmer.

Jon:
[26:10] As it’s worked my calorie intake.

Mark:
[26:13] When I’m DMing a game is far far less.

Barry:
[26:16] Another good reason for me not to dm it’s a diet apparently apparently i’m not Slim enough it’s fine it’s fine it’s fine.

Jon:
[26:23] So uh so back in the late 80s I was reffing and i was with a coven and we had a game night and it was kind Of codified that one person bought wine one person bought chocolate one person Bought a virgin there were no virgins so hard to find these days um and one person bought the weed, Different sort of game, Often we didn’t necessarily remember the last sort of hour of it we weren’t Smashed it was sociable passing round that was about the only time that I’ve Mixed and matched all of those things in a game session it was a brilliant game It was a long running campaign we did that for some years, Really good but again not at a social venue this was at someone’s home and it Was very different set up so yeah.

Mark:
[27:21] Find one of those games if you can i suppose would be absolutely where was our Invite put some links at the end of the podcast if you we’re going to get more Questions about that shit than anything else we’ve spoken about very.

Stephen:
[27:32] In the 80s we was told we was demon worshipers you’re doing nothing.

Mark:
[27:34] To all the while he was actually he was actually a demon.

Jon:
[27:37] Father my fucking hell no no if i don’t know okay so we thanks guys we’re at The end now we’ve gone through the most.

Mark:
[27:44] Common items that people might feel they’re obliged to bring to an RPG table. I want to finish off today by just giving each of us the opportunity to tell Us about their favourite item in all of their role-playing years, Which item that they treasure the most, the one that they… Maybe want at the table right now or they in the past that they’ve they’ve treasured And maybe lost i start by myself because i already said it really it’s dice Bags for me i love it john here, Knitted a chainmail dice bag for my 30th birthday and it’s great i love it and I’ve got a few other dice bags since that i treasure just as much i even very Recently a friend of ours playing at the table had this wonderful dice bag i Asked him about it and his partner made it for him, And he passed on my compliments of the dice bag to his partner and next week She turned up and gave me a version of the same thing it’s just such a wonderful dice bag so yeah i.

Barry:
[28:39] I spoke to her this week she’s making me one as well.

Mark:
[28:42] That that i’m.

Barry:
[28:47] Afraid is privileged.

Mark:
[28:48] Information i got to follow you jump out there’s some good.

Jon:
[28:53] Ones out there there’s like beholder dice bag mimic is quite popular.

Mark:
[28:57] Oh, don’t tell me. I’m going to end up having to buy them.

Jon:
[28:59] With the teeth, you zip it open, that’s the mouth. Yeah, there’s some…

Mark:
[29:03] They’re my favourites anyway. And one of my favourite things of all time is That chainmail dice bag. Barry, what would be your favourite item?

Barry:
[29:11] This is an absolute doddle for me. My favourite item is my custom-made-by-the-club wooden dice box.

Mark:
[29:19] Fantastic.

Barry:
[29:20] So our club, it’s one of the things that reinforces how much of a community it is for me. At 50 sessions you get a t-shirt and when You’ve done 100 sessions you get a a wooden dice box and that was when i went Out and bought my metal dice because i was like this box needs special dice And it is by far and away my favorite item at the table i had it engraved with Dirty 20 written on the bottom because that’s my favorite saying at the table yeah.

Mark:
[29:45] That’s a new saying for me as well do you want to.

Barry:
[29:47] Okay so um when you’re making ability Checks and attack rolls etc etc in dnd you’re you know Virtually always using a 20 sided dice but You have your um character’s attributes lets You add or minus numbers to that depending on whether You’re skilled or unskilled obviously the highest you Can roll on the dice is 20 but with Your modifiers let’s say you had a plus two you could roll an 18 that Would then be what’s known as a dirty 20 as opposed to a natural 20 and you Know far better dirty is better than natural that’s just i like filthy 20 i Might start adopting that.

Mark:
[30:31] I see dirtier yeah sorry yeah won’t go down those routes we’ll end up we’ll end up in covens.

Barry:
[30:37] Different podcasts different podcasts steven.

Mark:
[30:40] What’s your most treasured item.

Stephen:
[30:42] Yes well i used to own this d20 i think I still do somewhere um and it Wasn’t quite rolled it doesn’t roll it didn’t roll naturally but it Didn’t roll high it rolled really low some of the Games i was playing at the time it was incredibly useful some games you needed To roll ones and anything under 10 is great and this thing was pretty consistent In rolling under 10 even though it did occasionally roll above just to keep Its kind of um cover but it’s it wasn’t loaded it was just an awesome dice that Just wasn’t quite rolling as it should i have questions But I have questions.

Barry:
[31:12] Right? Because this may be touching onto a seriously pet peeve of mine. So are you saying that this dice was, quote, unlucky?

Stephen:
[31:19] No.

Barry:
[31:20] Or are you saying that it was manufactured poorly?

Stephen:
[31:23] I think it was manufactured poorly.

Barry:
[31:24] Right, okay.

Stephen:
[31:25] I didn’t do a scientific thing.

Barry:
[31:25] Okay, so we can still be friends. That’s fine.

Stephen:
[31:28] I appreciate it. It wasn’t anything to do with luck. I’m pretty sure it was Manufactured badly. But it was running low. Normally in D&D, that would be a bad thing. But some systems, It’s a great thing. And I remember I abused it in that one. It was brilliant.

Mark:
[31:39] Is that legal? You know that it’s rolling without a true random result.

Stephen:
[31:45] More for them for using the virtual dice. That’s what I’m saying. Go out there. Get yourself some dice. Find out which ones are great.

Mark:
[31:50] But it’s your most treasured.

Stephen:
[31:51] Well, it used to be absolutely brilliant. I couldn’t do anything without a dice. It was awesome. But yeah, absolutely.

Jon:
[31:56] For what it’s worth, a test for those things is hot, salty water in a cup. And you roll the dice in that. And it should just keep. It should afloat. It’s plastic. Not metal, obviously. And it should. sounds like witchcraft, Call it what you will I call it science and you would be right to the primitive And uninitiated do I have to put it at the stake if it doesn’t well you can get dice jails, Oh paypal for dice please we’ll.

Mark:
[32:27] Come back to dice paraphernalia we’ll leave that one unexplained John what’s Your most treasured item.

Jon:
[32:33] Books.

Barry:
[32:34] Yeah, that’s a good shout.

Jon:
[32:35] Actual physical. I mean, I’ve got my dice pouch, which is plain black leather. I’ve always wanted just that. Certain dice. Yeah, sure. But being surrounded by a mountain of books. Not just game books, just a mountain of books. That’s my happy place. That’s the way to be.

Mark:
[32:55] And they’re well-used books as well, aren’t they?

Jon:
[32:56] Oh, fuck yes. They’re no good for resale. Not that you’d have to pry them from me. Yeah. Yeah, well, once you get a system you really are invested in, Or if it’s fiction, just, you know, the series that you absolutely love, Yeah, a Kindle or whatever, it just doesn’t cut the mustard. Holding the books, smelling the books, being surrounded by books, And in case I haven’t said it, books.

Stephen:
[33:24] Do you have to explain what books are for the listeners? I think we’re okay now.

Jon:
[33:27] Let them find out.

Mark:
[33:29] No, not quite there yet, but that’s how we began with books. And so we end with books and, you know, buying your first rule book, Your first player’s handbook is a fantastic experience. Hopefully you get to that point. Excellent. Right. So that is the end of our podcast. And hopefully you will Be able to turn up to your first session knowing that you don’t need really Any of these things, but lovely to bring one or two along with you as you come.

Jon:
[33:50] I’m sure everyone brings something off that list.

Mark:
[33:52] So we’re at the end. Stephen, you know your job.

Stephen:
[33:57] So let’s slice and dice.