Best D&D Accessories Every Player Needs
You can run a Dungeons & Dragons session with nothing but a character sheet, a pencil, and a single d20. But anyone who has played more than a few sessions knows that the right accessories turn a good game into a great one. Here is a practical breakdown of the gear categories that actually matter, what to look for, and what to skip.
Stop chasing dice off the table.
A dice tray is the single most useful D&D accessory you can own. It keeps rolls contained, protects the table surface, and gives every player a defined rolling zone. The felt lining dampens the noise, which matters more than you think when four people are rolling simultaneously during combat.
For materials, wood with felt lining is the standard. Walnut and cherry are popular because they look good and age well. Avoid trays with varnished interiors: the dice slide around instead of stopping. The felt should be thick enough to cushion a metal die without bottoming out.
Size matters. A tray smaller than 8 inches across will not contain a handful of dice from a rogue's sneak attack roll. Something in the 10-12 inch range works for most players. DMs who roll behind a screen may want something narrower that fits in the limited space.
The Dungeon Master's command centre.
The standard Wizards of the Coast DM screen does its job, but a custom or aftermarket screen can be a significant upgrade. The best third-party screens use a landscape orientation instead of portrait, which gives you a wider view of the table and does not block eye contact with players as badly.
Look for screens with pockets or inserts on the DM side. Being able to slide in your own reference sheets is far more useful than pre-printed tables you never look at. Magnetic panels are another good option: clip initiative order cards, condition reminders, or encounter notes right to the screen surface.
Material options include hardwood (heavy, beautiful, stays put), acrylic (lighter, modern look, easy to clean), and the classic cardboard (cheap, replaceable, fine for casual play). A wooden screen is a piece of furniture for your table. It sets a tone for the session before anyone rolls a die.
Keep the battlefield organized.
Miniatures are not required for D&D, but once you start using them, going back to theatre of the mind feels like a downgrade. The question is not whether to use minis but how to store and transport them without losing pieces or breaking paint jobs.
A compartmentalized carrying case with foam inserts is the basic solution. For players who paint their own minis, magnetic-bottom bases paired with a metal sheet inside the case keeps everything locked in place during transport. For DMs who run with dozens of monster minis, a fishing tackle box with adjustable dividers works surprisingly well.
Initiative trackers deserve a mention here too. Hanging initiative cards on the DM screen, visible to the whole table, changes the flow of combat. Players start planning their turns in advance instead of spacing out until their name is called. It speeds up rounds noticeably.
Track conditions without arguments.
Condition rings (small coloured rings that slide over the base of a miniature) are one of those accessories that seem unnecessary until you use them once. A blue ring for concentration, red for poisoned, green for frightened. After one session with them, you will never go back to trying to remember which goblin is grappled.
The alternative is dry-erase condition cards placed next to the mini, which work on a flat table but get messy when the battle map is crowded. Rings are the more elegant solution for in-person play.
Accessories that look cool but don't help.
Dice towers. Controversial opinion, but most dice towers are solutions looking for a problem. A dice tray does the same job with less table space. Dice towers are fun as objects but rarely improve the game.
Electronic dice rollers. They remove the physical satisfaction of rolling, which is half the point of tabletop play. If you wanted digital dice, you would play online.
Themed ambient sound machines. Most groups already have a phone and a Bluetooth speaker. A dedicated "tavern sounds" device is a novelty that wears off fast.
The best accessories are the ones that solve a real friction point at your table. Start with a dice tray and condition markers. Add a better DM screen when the original falls apart. Build from there based on what your specific group needs, not what looks good in a product photo.
We make dice trays, DM screens, and condition ring sets in our Louisville workshop. Browse the armoury or request a custom piece.
Need something specific?
Custom commissions, group orders for a campaign, or something we have not listed yet. Email the workshop.
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