Buying gifts for D&D players can be weirdly complicated. This guide focuses on gifts that players and DMs actually use at the table: practical tools that make sessions smoother, faster, and more fun.
No gimmicks. No novelty junk. Just real value.
1. Condition Rings (For DMs Who Want Cleaner Combat)
Forgotten conditions are one of the biggest sources of confusion in D&D:
- Who’s frightened?
- Who’s concentrating?
- Who’s stunned?
- Who’s hexed?
- Who still has Bless?
Condition rings eliminate that problem instantly by making every effect visible on the minis.
The result: fewer interruptions, fewer rewinds, and faster combat.
Why it's a great gift: Every DM eventually realizes they need a real tracking system, and condition rings are the most efficient one.
Recommended:
Futhark Condition Rings (112 markers in a gift box)
2. Acrylic AoE Spell Templates (For Spellcasters & Tactical Players)
Nothing slows down combat like arguments over spell placement:
- “Does the ogre get clipped?”
- “Is the rogue in the cone?”
- “Where exactly is the center?”
Acrylic area-of-effect templates let you drop the shape on the map and get an instant answer.
Why it’s a great gift:
Spellcasters love them. DMs love them. Everyone at the table benefits.
Recommended:
Futhark AoE Template Set (16 shapes covering circles, cubes, cones & lines)
3. A Dice Tray (For Anyone Who Rolls Dice)
This is the universal gift.
Even players who already have one appreciate a second tray for:
- travel
- storing dice separately
- rolling quietly
- keeping the table clean
A good dice tray protects the table, contains rolls, and reduces “cocked dice” arguments.
Why it’s a great gift:
Simple, practical, and always needed.
Recommended:
Futhark Collapsible Hex Dice Trays (set of two)
4. An Initiative Tracker (For DMs Who Want Less Chaos)
Combat order is one of the most common friction points in D&D.
People forget whose turn it is.
Someone zones out.
Someone repeats a turn.
Someone gets skipped.
A physical initiative tracker fixes this cleanly and visually.
Why it’s a great gift:
It speeds up every combat and reduces the DM’s mental load.
Recommended:
Futhark Initiative Tracker (acrylic, magnetic, clear visibility)
5. Player-Friendly Table Tools (Low-Risk Gifts for Any Group)
These are category-safe gifts, meaning they work for brand-new players and veterans:
- notebooks for campaign notes
- condition reference cards
- simple miniatures
- wet-erase or dry-erase tokens
- high-quality dice
Lightweight, zero-commitment, universally useful.
Why it’s a great gift:
Players can never have too many “table supplies,” and these improve any game without forcing a specific playstyle.
6. The “Perfect Gift” Rule (If You’re Not Sure What They Need)
If you’re unsure what to pick, choose something that makes the DM’s job easier.
Final Thoughts
Good D&D gifts don’t need to be flashy. The best gifts are the ones that remove friction at the table and help the group stay immersed in the adventure.
If you pick something from this list, you’re giving a gift that will see real, weekly, at-the-table use, not something that collects dust.