Starter Sets

A starter set is the cheapest, lowest-risk way to find out if this hobby is for you. Instead of buying a full rulebook you might never open again, you get one box (or PDF, for a few dollars less) with everything a group needs for a first handful of sessions: simplified rules, some dice, pre-made characters so nobody has to build one from scratch, and a short adventure designed specifically to teach the game as you play it.

Think of it as the difference between buying a video game and downloading a free demo — except the “demo” here is a complete adventure that stands on its own. If your group finishes it and wants more, the next step is either the full core rulebook or a stand-alone published adventure. If you finish it and decide tabletop gaming isn't for you, you're out $15–25, not $150.

None of these require you to already own dice, minis, or a rulebook — that's the entire point of a starter set.

Below are the three starter sets we recommend for absolute beginners, one for each of the three most commonly recommended entry-point systems. Each page below breaks down exactly what's in the box, how long it takes to learn, and what to buy next once you're hooked.