Post/Author/DateTime	Post
JofuLikesTofu 01-17-07, 05:57 PM	I was just wondering what the dice, game, and the rulebooks cost, and I'm too lazy to spend the time necessary to dig it up on the product pages :P so I was wondering if someone here could help me!:D
rudie 01-17-07, 06:01 PM	dice can go anywhere from 3 dollars to 8 dollars a set. About a quarter for a single die. Books, you really only need the PHB (players handbook) for a player, of course, having a DMG (dungeon masters guide) and a monster manual doesnt hurt. Total cost for the books? around 60-90 bucks if you buy them all seperate (there are gift sets). However, online, you can find them for MUCH cheaper. I got my DMG for 10 bucks (..of course it was slightly water damaged, but still usable) and my PHB for about 18. Also, there is a plethora of other books out there, the most popular (IMO) being the 'complete' series, there not necessary but they do add a lot of flavor to the game. Its all where you look...
kadeity 01-17-07, 06:09 PM	Dice can be alot of different prices, and usually you can use someone elses until you can make it to a hobby-store or comic-book shop to buy some of your own. As for the Players Handbook, its $40 new, and if you buy it online, used, its about 15-20$ theres a place that gives a good walkthrough for potential players, and its here. http://www.amazon.com/gp/richpub/syltguides/fullview/9105LTVIBF19/ref=cm_sylt_srch_fvsy_col_1/002-8335266-6038450 it suggests buying the DND basic game, and i would suggest the same.
BlackZed 01-17-07, 06:21 PM	I went about 3 months before having to buy anything. I just mooched off of my husband (at that time, though, we had just begun dating). :D But then he asked me to marry him and gave me a set of my very own dice. It all went from there, and now I have about.. um.. 30 or so books and a big bag o' dice. I love my Big Bag O' Dice. Though it has been somewhat decimated as of late, myself fobbing off evil dice that hate me to newbies so they feel special having their own set. :devil: However, it seems I was just a means to the ends, as they all roll well now. Curses. But as for pricing, I really have nothing to add. Personally, I'd say get the Players Handbook and a set of dice of your own, and then slowly add to your collection so you don't have to fork over a huge wad of cash in one go.
Stardrake 01-17-07, 09:27 PM	You might also look at the new D&D PLAYER'S KIT. It lists for $29.95 US, and gives you a paperback PHB and a set of dice--along with a few possibly useful ancillary booklets. (And it almost certainly costs less on Amazon.)
JofuLikesTofu 01-17-07, 10:12 PM	[QUOTE=BlackZed;11212945]But then he asked me to marry him and gave me a set of my very own dice. QUOTE] how romanticly-nerd tastic in a good way but the GAME? how much does the GAME itself cost?
Krusk 01-17-07, 11:31 PM	Ive got guys in my group who over about 3 or 4 years, have spent maybe 12$ total. They bought 2 or 3 sets of dice. Thats all you really need. A players handbook is nice, but if its their first time playing i wouldnt recomend buying their own, as its expensive and they may god forbid not enjoy the game, and be out 40$. I usually tell people to buy a players handbook after session 4 or so. But im also pretty open to sharing books, as long as you dont ruin them.
Elemental_Elf 01-17-07, 11:49 PM	The typical Dice set costs any where from $4 for a bland set to $12 for a nicely painted set with a pleasant tactile texture. The only book you need, as a player, is the Player's Guide, which costs $30. Of course most players are not satisfied with merely the Player's Guide and buy other official books which support their preferred style of play, ex. if you like thieves you would buy the Complete Adventurer, if you like Tanks then the Complete Warrior would be a great buy. Each of the Books in the Complete Series costs $30. You'll also need a Mini to represent your character. You really only need to buy 1 pack of minis which contains 8 minis for roughly $14. As with books many people like to buy a few packs so they have a greater variety to choose from. So the bare bones amount you will have to purchase: $8 for Dice + $30 for the Player's Guide + $14 for a Pack of Minis _______________________ $52 in total The typical starting package: $8 For Dice + $30 for the Player's Guide + $30 for a Complete Book that fits your play style + $28 for 2 packs of minis ________________________________________ ___ $96 in total Now Wizards of the Coast has produced a Starter Set Bundle which includes a soft cover Player's Guide, a pack of nice Dice, a Pack of Minis AND a short guide on how to build your character for a mere $30, a GREAT buy. Of course with all the money you save by buying the bundle you could splurge and buy a Complete book and another pack of Minis, thus brining the total from $30 to $74. In any case, don't buy a complete book until you really find what type of character you enjoy playing. D&D can be different than Video Games, so your taste of archetypes may differ between the two. In any case, have fun and keep with it! :D
Sakaki22 01-18-07, 04:12 AM	Your first time playing, I'd say borrow everything you need from someone else. By your second time, maybe a set of dice. Here's a simple set for not even $4: http://www.rpgshop.com/product_info.php?cPath=_30_192&products_id=32919& Also by your second time, I'd recommend a printout of at least some part of the System Resource Document. The SRD contains almost all of the information in the Player's Handbook, the Dungeon Master's Guide, and the Monster Manual, as well as other books. I would say, at the very least, print out the page of your class for reference. Like many others, I perfer to use www.d20srd.org If you're enjoying the game enough to stay on for a third game, maybe it's time to invest in an actual Player's Handbook. You can grab it used for $18 on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Players-Handbook-Rulebook-Dungeons-Dragons/dp/0786928867/sr=8-1/qid=1169111360/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/102-0414637-3596916?ie=UTF8&s=books If you find yourself really enjoying your character, perhaps you would look into a miniature representation for battlemats. I know most forumers here seem to recommend the Dungeons & Dragons Miniatures line, but since I like the sure thing (and am a painter myself), I recommend pewter individual miniatures. Reaper Miniatures has pieces also going as low as $4, and their website has a "Fantasy Figure Finder" where you choose what you want your mini to have, and they compare it to what they produce. Very nifty: http://reapermini.com/FantasyFigFinder In closing, you only need to put into the game as much as you're willing to, the important part is always having fun. Welcome to the game, and I wish you luck on your travels!
Robert Craven 01-18-07, 04:36 AM	A cheap set of dice costs around 2-4 Euros. The rules are free (SRD). If he wants the Player's Handbook, he might get it at Ebay for 15. That's about it for a starting player.
Rogue Elendae 01-22-07, 03:11 AM	I'm going to second a few of the posters who have suggested that you borrow everything if you're new and just trying it out; you might decide it's too much to learn, or not like it as much as you'd thought, etc. And most gamers keep extra dice, so your first session or two you could probably ask (politely) to borrow a d20 and the rest. In my gaming group, we're almost always breaking in someone who doesn't have dice, or borrowing one another's dice if we don't have enough for a particular roll, so most people aren't too stingy about it. The rules are on the d20 SRD, and I'd bet that the DM or another player would be willing to let you look through their PHB for (or even help walk you through) character creation, etc. Only once you're sure you're into gaming for sure should you really invest in the rulebooks and other paraphernalia. That said, new PHB usually runs around $30, but I've heard good things about low prices on E-Bay and Amazon. At that, this is where a Barnes & Noble membership discount is a godsend. Unless you think you want to DM (which I'd suggest you hold off on until you've played a bit), don't bother investing in the DMG or MM, as they're unnecessary at this point for you. However, if you're really interested (and the DM doesn't mind you having books that're essential DM-only material), they're sold at a slightly lower price as a set of 3 than singularly. Dice can vary in prices; single fancy ones with multicolors, marble patterns, etc. can run from $.75 to over $2, if they're really high-quality material, while sets range. There's some that're actually made from metal, semiprecious stones, etc. that're really pricey, but most sets are $8 at most. Miniatures aren't necessary unless the DM calls for them; my group seldom bothers, but rather uses dice or coins if we need markers to lay the scene of a large melee. They can often get expensive, and I personally find it hard to find something that exactly fits what I envision my character to look like, so I never bother. Outside of this, there's various supplemental books (the Complete series, the Races series, various campaign setting sourcebooks, etc.) that aren't necessary, but can be interesting. However, those can wait until you've got a good handle on the game, and are also something that your DM or other players in the group might have, or might be something your DM doesn't allow. Therefore, waiting is the best solution here. As to your questions regarding the price of "the game" itself, the books and dice (and a character sheet, though character creation can be done on notebook paper just as easily) are all that you need. The game of D&D (as I'm supposing that you're assuming?) is not a board game or something that has any specific fixtures other than these items; it is entirely in the imagination of the players and DM. There are such things as "The Basic Game," etc., but these are largely simplified starter sets for people who have no experience with the game, and contain prefab adventures and characters that give you little experience actually playing beyond their scope. D&D consists of the DM giving the players the setting their characters are in, and creating a "hook" to get them started on the adventure. From there it's the DM telling the story with the players directing their characters' actions in situations ranging from combat to social interactions, such as dealing with their fellow party members, or outside characters (NPCs) created by the DM. Does that help clear things up?
Seeker95 01-22-07, 09:02 AM	New players needs a Player's Handbook. Rarely more than $25 if ordered online. Dice are optional. Add $5 Total cost: $30.
Ace_of_Diamonds 01-22-07, 09:07 AM	I can honestly say, don't go out there expecting to spend less than 50 dollars. You might get away with spending less, but don't expect it.
Edymnion 01-22-07, 10:07 AM	but the GAME? how much does the GAME itself cost?Dude, they told you REPEATEDLY how much the dice cost, which books you need, and how much those books cost. Expect to spend about $50 to get the basics you need just as a player. Double that for being a DM. You can get it cheaper from used book stores though.
Escef 01-22-07, 11:41 AM	I would like to disagree with those saying a set of dice can cost "up to" $12. I've paid $100 for a set of dice. Granted, they're sterling silver, but that's not the point. (For a little more you can get them with gold electroplate.)
Dragon Snack 01-22-07, 12:25 PM	Much like Magic (which your profile says you play), you can get into the game on the cheap or you can go big and spend lots of money on it. It all depends on what you are willing to spend. If you like it, you can spend a little on it and have fun. If you love it, you can invest thousands on it and have fun. So there really isn't a hard and fast rule on what the game costs, just like playing Magic. Note I don't play Magic, so I'm basing this on some friends that play... You can borrow dice and use the free System Reference Document, much like borrowing someones deck in Magic. -FREE (well, time invested, but $0) You can buy some dice and a used Players Handbook, much like buying some packs and then grabbing some commons out of the bargain bin. -CHEAP ($15-$20) You can buy the Basic Game (mentioned above), which is like buying a starter deck. -A GOOD ANOUNT OF MONEY ($30-$50) The middle ground of buying the books that interest you and keep your characters up to date, much like buying into multiple sets of Magic to keep your deck up to date. -A BIT OF AN INVESTMENT ($100-$500, depending) Or you can go big, buying all the books and investing in a ton of minis, much like buying cases of cards and buying all the rares that you need to round out your deck (or multiple decks). -WHOOOO!!! ($1,000+, the sky's the limit) It's up to you how much it costs. ;)
CCS 01-22-07, 09:21 PM	QUOTE] but the GAME? how much does the GAME itself cost?[/QUOTE] Not much at all. The "game itself" only consists of 3 basic books (Players Handbook, Dungeon Masters Guide, and Monster Manual v.1)and a set of dice. Each book costs about $40. A set of dice? It can vary wildly depending upon exact product, but if you just figure $10/set you'll be fine. You CAN play with only one set of dice, but typically each person has a set. At the very least you should have 2 sets - one for the DM & one for the players. So altogether, assuming you only start with 2 sets of dice, you're looking at spending about $140. There's numerous ways you can save $ though.....
Malraux 01-22-07, 09:35 PM	The bookstore price for the player's handbook is not 40, it's 29.95. Of course, amazon has it for 19.77. I haven't priced the dice, but 5 bucks is about right. So a reasonable starting price is 25-35 bucks. edit: And just to be explicit, "the game" does not have a required separate box or board or anything. As a player, you just need the information contained in the PH and your own set of dice. Beyond that, play the game for a while with others, and you'll quickly figure out if you need anything else.
Ace_of_Diamonds 01-22-07, 11:13 PM	The bookstore price for the player's handbook is not 40, it's 29.95. True. The price on the bar code says $29.95. Though it can vary from location to location, the book store I go to here in Hawaii has the PHB priced at $44.99.
Malraux 01-22-07, 11:39 PM	True. The price on the bar code says $29.95. Though it can vary from location to location, the book store I go to here in Hawaii has the PHB priced at $44.99. Ouch....
Ace_of_Diamonds 01-23-07, 01:15 AM	Ouch.... It's okay, I bought all my books in Arizona for $30 each.
Gamecubicle 01-23-07, 09:18 AM	Payers handbook is $30 Dice are about $0.80-$1 at my local fantasy shop. So i guess what you need would be 3-4 d20's 2 d4's (if your a sorcerer/mage probly more) 4 d6's 3 d8 2 d10 1 d100 So that's bout $45 to start with. Not so bad for months/years of fun :)
Edymnion 01-23-07, 03:25 PM	Dude, don't go posting that in a thread. If you want to send him a PM about it, fine. But openly expressing such sentiments gets people in trouble.Actually, the WizOs will bust you for it if they catch wind of you doing it over PMs. Downloading the books is illegal, no matter how you slice it.
Nom 01-23-07, 05:02 PM	Let's rephrase the advice. Assuming you can't borrow anything, your group will need the following to get started: The core rulebooks: * Player's Handbook * Dungeon Master's Guide * Monster Manual (available as a package for less than US $60) Polyhedral dice: * At a minimum, one of each: d4, d6, d8, d10, d%, d12, d100 Paper, pencils, etc. Access to a printer or photocopier is highly beneficial. Things will flow a lot smoother if most players have their own set of dice, and a few extra d4 and d6 won't go astray. It can also be useful to have a couple of extra Player's Handbooks, but 90% of the rules material (the parts you'll need while actually playing, vs creating characters) is available online without cost. If you're joining an existing group, you probably don't need anything to get started. Other players will loan you dice and pencils and let you see their Player's Handbooks. Eventually, you'll want your own dice, though.