My Budget Kit for TTRPGs [like D&D / ShadowDark]

[@seanfsmith]

the cutest thing i ever saw with scrabble tile miniatures is to spell out the creature type across each individual - four ORCS say or eight BANDITS

[@ElderGoblinGames]

That's awesome! I love it.

[@jasonconnerley]

Budget kit for just about any game. 3x5 cards, pencils / pens, dice. You can fit it into a ziplock bag if really pinched for space / money. Use dice or cut up 3x5 cards for tokens and markers if needed. Most of us we have PDFs of rules and supplements on our phones. Plenty of free rules PDFs out there for just about any genre you can think of.

[@ElderGoblinGames]

Yes! That's great for a road trip too. Very compact!

[@jamessral-subclassact]

I've heard about a Novas & Nebulae and Eye of Erendor that are free and can be printed into a little booklet and only need 3 six-siders. I've also heard that the designer is a cool guy, who knows...

[@jasonconnerley]

@@jamessral-subclassact they are actually, I have played Novas & Nebulae with the designer and it was a blast.

[@jamessral-subclassact]

@@jasonconnerley I’ve also heard he’s super smart and handsome 🙃

[@timelessproductions2773]

For me, theater of the mind rules! So, a set of dice is enough :)

[@ElderGoblinGames]

That works too!

[@TalesFromElsewhereGames]

If you can afford it, a cheap dry/wet erase generic battlemat is worth the investment, as you can keep using it over and over again. It can be anything you need, just draw on some blue lines for a river, some green blobs for trees, some boxes for buildings! But it's also worth noting that if you can do it, going Theater of the Mind is obviously the least expensive way to run a fight 🤠

[@ElderGoblinGames]

True. I prefer theatre of the mind for less complex settings / maps / encounters. But when there are lots of moving pieces I find even a basic map goes a long way.

[@TalesFromElsewhereGames]

@@ElderGoblinGames Agreed!

[@Gnomesrule]

Im glad to know you are safe and well! Ttrpgs are a great bonding experience with family, and in times when things were tough growing up, i always hold to memories of me and my family playing board games together, we even use to have this tiny version of clue that was in our backpacks whenever we didnt have a home.

[@ElderGoblinGames]

TTRPGs are definitely a comfort, especially in difficult times.

[@cammychoate]

I used to swear by the Pathfinder basic terrain flip mats and used them for years before buying the Loke map books (WELL worth the investment). The basic flip map is durable, takes and removes marker really well, is good size for a medium sized dungeon or a handful of encounters, and unfolds to 24x30 and folds up to 8x10 so they are super easy to carry I hope you and yours are making it through this disaster well and safe, it's scary as hell down there right now

[@ElderGoblinGames]

Not familiar with that brand. I'll have to look it up! And thanks 💚

[@charlesarney]

Thank you for helping in western NC.

[@ElderGoblinGames]

Anything I can do. ❤️‍🩹

[@erictiso9315]

Lego minifigs fit on a 1" grid fairly well, and usually look different. I also use glass beads from the craft store (intended for vases) in three colors for enemies. You can also number the glass beads with dry erase markers to track individuals for damage.

[@b.lloydreese2030]

Legofigs are hardly budget

[@erictiso9315]

@b.lloydreese2030 My son had some laying around already, so we used them. It might just be you have something laying around that can be used. Take loose pocket change... I'll be penny, you can be nickel, etc.

[@TwinSteel]

I love Cairn - such a great system

[@ElderGoblinGames]

Same! One of my favorite rules lite!

[@TwinSteel]

@@ElderGoblinGames yeah, it’s hard to get much lighter unless you play something like Lasers & Feelings, which is too light for me to use in routine play

[@dadapotok]

@@TwinSteel You may want to check out The Space Hack ) It's 16 pages written in a way that making it yours happens as you go, redoing it for Knave or Cairn is instant, compatibility with Lasers & Feelings or Chris Mcdowall's Ask the Stars is ensured. This is why I love rules-light and this scene, lol

[@Heritage367]

The generic Scrabble pieces are genius! Might look into that.

[@ElderGoblinGames]

Great for a variety of things!

[@CameronBoyes]

I printed off a bunch of sheets of 1" dot paper and used my wife's laminator to laminate them. Now I have a bunch of dry-erase map tiles I can use for my dungeons.

[@ElderGoblinGames]

That's awesome! That reminds me of a video by questing beast where he uses 1 inch punch and magic cards to make minis.

[@Ironcaster]

Good luck out there, both with the current situation, and getting the family to play for the first time!

[@ElderGoblinGames]

Fingers crossed! 🤞

[@jaykaye594]

Glad your and yours are safe. A free rpg that I recommend for newbies is Quest. Totally free and a lot of fun. As for tools, a set of domino can add some 0-6 randomness to the fray. Also three coins, I Ching style, 8 possible outcomes, possible prognostication too.

[@ElderGoblinGames]

Thanks! That's a good option too.

[@RadosavHarkonnen]

If you have extra time and resources, you could have all the minis you want. You order a bunch of plastic stands for flat minis and print/laminate your own. I drew some, stole some off the internet, printed them normal and mirrored and had a friend laminate them. I have like 100 different flat minis in the tiniest box. You could skip lamination and print them maybe one sided, but it's really not that hard to have an army of flat minis that look however you want

[@TwinSteel]

🥳🫂👍🏿 Do you have a discord or similar for questions about your games and general TTRPG philosophy?

[@ElderGoblinGames]

Yeah, it's actually in the description of this video.

[@TwinSteel]

@@ElderGoblinGames awesome 😎

[@MemphiStig]

My first DM was an electrician, and he used wire connectors of various sizes, shapes, and colors, for all the monsters, and he had little numbered stickers on them to differentiate them in groups. My first pc's (we played two each bitd) were from some board game, and many of my earliest dice (d6's, of course) were looted from all the games I had in my closest. Be safe, and best wishes to all.

[@ElderGoblinGames]

That's awesome. There are so many things to use on a budget and they all work!

[@eyehatescott]

Don't know if it's still the case but you used to be able to score pathfinder 1e starter sets for 20 bucks online. Reversible map, set of dice and a stash of standees covering most pcs and low level monsters. Pretty solid value kit if you can get it cheap

[@ElderGoblinGames]

@@eyehatescott that's a really great value!

[@dirkvoltaar]

Good to see you safe and well!

[@ElderGoblinGames]

Thank you! 💚

[@jeroenimus7528]

Tokens to use for enemies/monsters: blueberries, skirtles, or nuts etc. Every time one gets killed the players get to eat it. Not necessarily a long-term solution, but great dual use. Plus quite satisfying as well.

[@ElderGoblinGames]

My first GM did this with Hershey kisses 😆

[@jeroenimus7528]

@@ElderGoblinGames when GMing for kids it works even better. You can even "trick" them into eating veggies if they normally wouldn't. "Garden peas, bleh" "A hundred kobold minions? I'm going to kill and eat them all, muahahaha!"

[@BanditsKeep]

I find the dollar store can be a treasure trove for things like minis and craft supplies. I tend to agree with your list, though I rarely use battle maps I definitely think they are good to have in a kit. A deck of cards is super useful. My short list would be: notebook of graph paper, dice, some form of tokens or minis to represent characters, and a deck of cards.

[@ElderGoblinGames]

A well rounded kit indeed!

[@RPG_Bliss]

I think you pretty much covered it! Good job 👍🏽

[@ElderGoblinGames]

I appreciate that!

[@gesochisku118]

The scrabble pieces is a great idea if your players also play classic roguelike games with ASCII graphics. Rogue, Nethack, Moria, Angband, Brogue...

[@LibrariesandLattes]

Good stuff!! Always love getting budget friendly ideas 😊👏

[@ElderGoblinGames]

💸🧌

[@agilemonk6305]

Well done, Brother. ❤️🙏🤣

[@ElderGoblinGames]

Thank you 🙇‍♂️

[@garrickstangle5996]

If you switch to BasicFantasy all the books are free as PDF and dirt cheap in physical copy. That leaves you all the money you would have spent on WotC books to spend on dice and whatever else.

[@ElderGoblinGames]

💯 I know the title says "D&D", but I mean that in the hobby sense. I definitely recommend games like Basic Fantasy, Cairn, or whatever other free RPG you and your table enjoy. Thanks!

[@gingerwhiskered]

I’m a new DM, so my kit is built with metaphorical duct tape and a dream! Lol the players seem to have fun though

[@ElderGoblinGames]

Duct tape and a dream is all you need 🎲

[@suzandouglass5241]

I use a travel chess set that works as a dice tray and monsters.

[@ElderGoblinGames]

Oh, that's a cool idea! Could be the 'board' too with the right chess set.

[@n8flix]

I'm glad you and your kin are safe and in good company. What is the name of the song at the close of this video? I have a couple of tables with outcomes that call for NPCs to be engaged in song, and I think this song will do the trick.

[@ElderGoblinGames]

Thank you ❤️‍🩹 The song is just a fun little jingle I wrote for when ShadowDark swept the ennies. I write lots of little jingles for my videos just for kicks.

[@n8flix]

@@ElderGoblinGames Then I shall give you credit when it is sung at my table!

[@ElderGoblinGames]

@@n8flix 😅 thanks! I'm just glad people enjoy the songs.

[@TakaD20]

Well, it's not exactly rocket science, also not pretty, but I have some cut out cardboard pieces in carious forms and sizes in my bag for makeshift obstacles and objects on the map. Also: new song. Woohoo!

[@ElderGoblinGames]

That's a good idea! Cheap too!

[@jeffjones4654]

Just take care of yourself and your family, that's more important.

[@ElderGoblinGames]

For me, it's both now.

[@StellarSteven]

Can you explain the initiative mechanic of using the deck of cards? Like is it the higher or lower number that goes first?

[@StellarSteven]

Also I think you can use poker chips for minis or style points I’ve heard but I like the scrabble piece idea too.

[@ElderGoblinGames]

Yeah it's basically the dragonbane initiative. Everyone draws a card, lowest goes first. People with advantages to speed / initiative can draw two and choose. If you want, shuffle cards in-between rounds and get new initiatives. Everyone flips their card as a visual cue after they've gone!

[@SuperUltrachan]

The Intro!!!!!! (heart)

[@ElderGoblinGames]

🎶💚

[@josephpurdy8390]

Do yourself a favor and buy a 300 dollar laptop. If you're doing it on a budget, then buy a cheaper laptop.

[@DMTalesTTRPG]

I sent you a DM on BlueSky if you get a moment.