The Ultimate DnD Gifts Guide

Welcome to the ultimate guide for DnD gifts! I’ve done all the heavy lifting for you, searching across the web for the best gifts ideas. This guide is the most comprehensive DnD gift guide on the web. I hope you’ll find what you’re looking for, or perhaps pick up a new idea or two for a great DnD Gift!


This guide has over 50 DnD Gifts. To make the process of going through them all easier, look through the categories immediately below.


Additionally, each category is ordered according to the most popular gifts in that category, first, for your convenience. So, even if you’re not extremely familiar with DnD or tabletop games, no worries! This guide will help you choose a gift that’s likely to be loved. Time to find the best DnD gifts!

DnD Gifts

Click on any of the following links to go directly to that section in this DnD Gifts Guide:

Gifts for D&D Players

DnD Dice & Accessories

DnD Minis

DnD Gaming Maps

DnD Gifts for Him

DnD Gifts for Her

Dungeons and Dragons Gifts for Kids

DnD-Themed Boardgames

DnD Gifts for Online Play

Gift Cards

D&D Gift Ideas that Cost Nothing


Bonus DnD Gifts Guides

The following guides are DnD gifts specifically-picked for dungeon masters, players, and more.

Take a look at these articles for even more (and even more specific) DnD Gift options!

Dungeon Master Gifts

Lit candle in a carved, amber-colored skull. D&D game setting: map, book, and figurines on table.

Eternity TTRPG Top Sellers

DnD Gifts: Gifts for D&D Players

These DnD gift picks are for all D&D players. Basically, everyone who plays DnD needs the following items in order to even be able to play the game and make the most out of their gaming experiences!

Core Rule Books for D&D

This gift is an obvious gift pick since D&D is the largest tabletop roleplay game in the world. This is a great gift for someone wanting to start playing tabletop games. However, note that this is not a great gift for many people who have already been playing tabletop games for some time, as they probably already have these core rule books.


Note that there are three core rulebooks for DnD 5e (5th edition – the most recent version of the game). Each book costs about $50, and can be purchased separately. The link below actually comes with all three rulebooks in a special gift set, which are:

  • Dungeons and Dragons 5th Edition Player's Handbook
  • Dungeons and Dragons 5th Edition Dungeon Master's Guide
  • Dungeons and Dragons 5th Edition Monster Manual
A figure facing a towering structure with a beam of light. Purple and pink mountains and sky, water in the foreground.

Dungeon A Day

A terrific DnD Gift for any hardcore fan is a monthly subscription to Eternity TTRPG's: Dungeon A Day.


Dungeon A Day provides fresh ideas for your ongoing tabletop campaign, and works with any tabletop RPG system.


Check back each day for a brand new dungeon room. Over time, individual rooms add up, creating a massive, mega-dungeon.

Dungeon A Day Subscription
Set of clear, iridescent dice in a purple hue resting on a wooden surface.

DnD Gifts: DnD Dice and Dice Accessories

No list of DnD gifts would be complete without mentioning dice. It’s important to note that there are many types of dice available. To keep it simple, I’ve included some of my top picks for dice, below. However, if you know your loved one is really into all the different types of dice available, check out my article on the Best D&D Dice to really get into the details of what to purchase. 

Text on a dark green background reads
Stacks of multicolored dice in front of three

Mystery Dice Goblin

Unleash your inner hero with Dice Goblin! I particularly enjoy opening mystery boxes or sets of all kinds, and mystery dice is a perfect choice for your next DnD gift. The great thing about mystery dice is that even if the person you're buying for already has a number of dice sets, they're very likely to get something new. It's easy to "get the gift right" when you're choosing a mystery set.


In particular, you may take a look at Dice Goblin's "Dice of Disappointment," or their "Mystery Halloween Dice" sets, which I think are both quite unique.

Mystery Dice Goblin

Dice Envy Metal Dice

These metal dice by Dice Envy are high quality, look spectacular, and are sure to add flavor to any tabletop game. Dice Envy also offers recurring monthly or tri-monthly subscription box options. Subscription gift boxes have become more popular across many industries, as people love gifts that continue to show up throughout the year.


I like Dice Envy Metal Dice because of the weight. Yes, metal dice can dent your table (you may also need a dice tray), but the feeling of rolling a metal dice is far superior to that of any plastic dice.

See Metal Dice Pricing

Dragon Dice Bag

DnD players love collecting dice. I'm not 100% sure why that is, but I personally have a tiger's eye gemstone dice I primarily use for games, then like another 100 other dice. If people need dice, I've always got them covered! Also, it's just kind of fun to have a variety of colors at the table.


In any case, I really like to have a big dice bag that holds all of my dice. Big dice bags also aren't that easy to find. That's where this dragon dice bag comes in. It's gigantic, the material is soft, it has compartments for each type or material of dice that I want separated, and it's got a cool dragon logo on it. Win, win, win.

Genuine Leather DnD Dice Bag

Having a special bag to hold dice can be a nice extra, for any DnD player. The great thing about dice bags is that they’re also inexpensive, and make as great extras for any gift set. If you're not into the gigantic bag of dice, this one is also a much more travel-friendly option for when you're headed out to  game.


What I also love about this dice bag is that it's very versatile. The bag can open up (shown in the picture, above), and essentially become a small dice tray.

Dice Holder Shaped Like A Sword

Very similar in concept to a dice bag, dice holders keep dice both between and during play. The difference with a dice holder is that it is often shaped to look like some kind of special fantasy element, like this small, fantasy sword.


For DnD players, this dice holder is especially perfect since it carries every dice type needed for the game. Basically, get someone a new dice set from Dice Envy (above), then get them this holder, and they're all set to go for gaming.

Dragon-Etched DnD Dice Tower

Dice towers are meant to roll dice for you. Place your dice at the top of the tower, and it rolls out onto a tray. Perfect for players concerned about scratching up tables as dice fall on them. They’re also just another good element to add to any tabletop setting.


Some players I game with really like dice trays and towers. It's almost like they have their own little fortress on their side of the table, complete with their gaming crest. And of course, dragons are always welcome and respected at every DnD gaming table.

Miniatures and dice on green mesh fabric: skull, wizard, dragon, warrior, crystal, and a d20.

DnD Gifts: DnD Miniatures

Miniatures are great for any tabletop game, as they help take the “theater of the mind” and put some reference to what’s really happening, in-game. Some miniatures come pre-painted, which is ideal for players new to tabletop gaming. If purchasing for someone who already loves tabletop games, they may enjoy painting their own miniatures, for the extra customization.

Miniature figure of a creature wielding a sword and a club. It has a crown and is standing on a circular base.

HeroForge Miniatures

HeroForge is my top pick for tabletop minis because their site allows visitors to custom-create their own miniatures. The image immediately above is "Lestat," my latest custom-built mini from HeroForge.


With HeroForge, I recommend picking up a gift card, as opposed to actually buying a miniature (unless you want to custom-create a mini as your gift).


Gift cards can be found if you click the green “Buy” button on the bottom left of the screen, then the “Gift Card” option that pulls down. Most minis from HeroForge run between $20-50, for your reference, when deciding a gift card amount.

See HeroForge Pricing

Pathfinder Pre-Painted Minis

These pre-painted minis by Pathfinder make great gifts. Each set comes with 4 or so miniatures that are all high-quality. If the set has large minis in it, there will be less minis, overall. If the minis are medium-sized or smaller, there will be more. Basically, it's like a mystery box of minis that are all highly-detailed, and come pre-painted.


Over the years, my gaming group has collected hundreds of minis. They don't make or break a game of DnD, for sure, but they do add to the game's immersion. In my opinion, they're well-worth the small investment to purchase them.

Demon figure on clear stand, red and black coloring, horns, claws, glowing eyes.

Skinny Minis

Skinny Minis is a newer company that originally launched via Kickstarter. I love these minis. They offer high-quality art on a 2D surface, and are extremely affordable. This option allows you to purchase a lot more minis for your money than you get with 3D.


Of course, some people (a couple members in my gaming group) vastly prefer 3D models. For me, I like the artwork. Take a look at the image immediately above for an idea of the quality you're getting, here. Then, just realize that you can get about 5 of these minis (or more) for any single 3D one.


Finally, Skinny Minis are very durable. Not a single one of my Skinny Minis - even the small ones - have sustained any damage through use or time.

Skinny Minis Pricing

Miniatures Paint Set

If you do decide to get someone unpainted miniatures, having a basic paint set can get them started towards creating their own, unique characters. This is a great gift option for someone who really enjoys arts and crafts.


Some DnD players love painting their own minis, as part of the gaming experience. If you paint your own, you get much more customization that you could ever find with pre-painted sets.

Battle map with lava, stone structure, and miniature figures.

DnD Gifts: DnD Gaming Maps

Gaming maps go hand-in-hand with miniatures, since it gives the miniatures a world in which to live. Oftentimes, battles take place on gaming maps, since most maps have gridlines, which allow players to track movement and in-game effects.

Top-down view of a river and bridge on a digital table, set into a wooden frame.

Complete DnD Table

Enhance your tabletop gaming experience like never before. With this innovative DnD Table, you can take your gaming table with you on your quests and play wherever the adventure takes you.


With just a wave of your wand, you can transform your humble dinner table into a fully-fledged Gaming Table in less than a minute by utilizing this HDTV, protected by a high-quality plexiglass shield

No longer will you be limited to using sub-par maps for your campaigns. The Dungeon Game Table allows you to utilize the highest quality maps, including animated maps, to bring your game to life. You can even use fog of war to conceal unexplored areas of the map, adding an extra level of suspense and excitement to your game.

And don't worry, fellow adventurers, as the Dungeon Game table still allows you to use miniatures and roll dice on the screen, thanks to the plexiglass protection provided. You can continue to play your favorite TTRPGs like Dungeons & Dragons, Pathfinder, and The Call of Cthulhu with ease.

And for those long gaming sessions, the Dungeon Display comes equipped with a charging station that can power up to four tablets or phones, keeping your character sheets alive and well.

The Dungeon Display itself houses an LG 43" Class - UQ8000 Series - 4K UHD LED LCD TV that weighs 19.4 lbs and measures 40x25x3 inches. The TV is sealed off and protected during transportation to ensure its safety and longevity.

So, what are you waiting for, brave adventurers? Embark on your next quest with the Dungeon Display and take your tabletop gaming to the next level.

Complete DnD Table
Text on a dark green background reads
Book cover for

Entire Book of Immersive Battlemaps

Yarro Studios is another company that launched via Kickstarter with tremendous success. They offer an entire book of battle maps, with each page a unique environment. Want to be on a pirate ship? Covered. Need a map for a forest, or castle? Just about every fantasy setting a player could dream can be found within this book.


My gaming group uses this battlemap book for virtually every combat encounter in our entire RPG campaign.

See Battlemap Pricing

Customizable Basic Battlemat Grid

This basic grid can be very good for players who want a wet-erase surface. This allows players to place their miniatures, draw on the map, then reset when finished.


I personally like customizable, basic maps like this when I don't have a specific scene planned out. These maps allow for a great deal of versatility when it comes to gaming nights. Not sure what your adventuring group might do with your neatly laid out plans? Grab one of these grids to have something quick, easy, and versatile prepared.

Brown leather-bound journal with strap, resting atop a blue notebook on a table.

DnD Gifts: Leatherbound Journals

Players of long DnD adventures need a place to keep notes for their characters and to keep descriptions of their ongoing stories. Really, any notebook will often do when it comes to DnD. However, leatherbound journals certainly add to the fantasy setting.

Leatherbound Dragon Journal

This handcrafted journal made of genuine leather has a pair of dragons on its front. The artisan workmanship adds a degree of fantasy to note keeping.


DnD-themed journals are really a win for any D&D player, whether they DM or game as a character. If you want to buy a great DnD gift for a dungeon master, these journals are especially a good choice for them. In my DnD Campaign Planner article, I list about 100 reasons why every dungeon master needs a nice, leatherbound gaming journal.

D&D Worldbuilder Journal

This journal is really nice in that each page comes with specific questions to help players think of new ideas for building out their imagined game world. Think of this journal like pages of writing prompts, geared toward D&D.


I like this worldbuilder journal because it not only helps me categorize my dungeon master notes, but helps me expand my ideas. Since the journal comes with a list of helpful questions, I'm able to look through prompts if I ever get stuck in my game preparation or storytelling.

A map of an island and a document with handwritten notes.

DnD Gifts: Games Like DnD

There are many unique TTRPGs (tabletop roleplaying games) available on the market, in the way that there are many different video games. If the person you’re purchasing for definitely already has the D&D core rulebooks, you might consider getting them a PDF download of Eternity TTRPG:

Logo for the Eternity TTRPG Core Rulebook. A white phoenix design over a gold sun on a dark blue background. Text below.

Eternity TTRPG Core Rulebook

Eternity TTRPG is a good buy for people who love storytelling, or who love playing RPG video games. The game currently only comes in a PDF download, however, so it’s probably best purchased as a side gift, but not perhaps, the main gift.


The Eternity TTRPG site promotes a host of tabletop RPGs (such as D&D). However, I firmly believe that the game I self-published right here on the Eternity TTRPG site is just as good a game as any others out there. If you love D&D, you're very likely to enjoy the Eternity TTRPG Core Rulebook.

Shop Eternity TTRPG
Ornate silver sword with skull-like guard and runic inscription on the blade, resting on a gray surface.

Dudes love giant swords. I don't know what else to say about it. Having Frostmourne by my side during gaming sessions makes me feel immersed in the experience.

DnD Gifts: DnD Gifts for Him

This category contains DnD gifts specifically for him! As such, these aren’t so much tabletop gifts, specifically. Rather, these are gifts that a DnD enthusiast is likely to enjoy, that add to the gaming environment.


Swords to Accent Your DnD Game

Basically, every guy in the world likes weapons. Swords are the most iconic fantasy, D&D-themed weapon there is. For a guy, this is simple math. A huge sword at the gaming table adds to the fantasy mythos of the game. Plus, it makes for great wall art for any dude who loves anything medieval-themed.

Frostmourne, from World of Warcraft

This sword is made in fashion of a famous in-game sword from the extremely popular video game, World of Warcraft. 46.46” inches long, 30.71” blade, 10.03 lbs. Blade is non-sharpened steel. Comes with a hanging board.


I personally own this sword (check the picture at the header for this section on DnD Gifts for Him). It's a big sword. I got it for Christmas one year, and have literally kept it as a centerpiece in my home ever since. Whether you use Frostmourne to bring more flavor to your DnD games, or simply use it as a form of artwork, it'll draw lots of attention.

Legend of Zelda Master Sword

This sword is made in fashion of a famous in-game sword from the extremely popular video game, Legend of Zelda. Full tang, 6.3 lbs. Blade is non-sharpened carbon steel. Comes with a scabbard. Multiple color options.


Sometimes, having swords from other games can be a bit distracting for players. It's similar to having music from a well-known movie or video game playing in the background during your DnD gaming session. However, familiar material can also sometimes make your game of DnD take on the flavors of other great stories, so I think it all works out.

Medieval Crusader Sword

42” inches long, 28” blade, 3.95 lbs. Blade is non-sharpened steel. Wood scabbard.


Basically, every game of DnD can benefit from a sweet medieval sword. I've even had players wear their swords at the DnD table, and use it as part of a costume. Very rarely do people dressed up in any kind of full outfit for regular gaming groups, in my experience, but I always enjoy when people get into character.

People at candlelit medieval feast. Pig roast on the table.

DnD Gifts: DnD-Themed Tankards and Mugs

Lots of guys like to drink while playing Dungeons and Dragons. It’s an evening or weekend hobby, after all! Why not add some fantasy theme to your guy’s fun? Or, simply find him a mug that reflects his general D&D attitude.

Oak D&D Tankard

This wooden beer stein is oak on the outside and stainless steel on the inside. The outside dragon label is copper, and the entire tankard holds 17 oz.


If you're looking for ways to make a DnD gaming table "come to life," this tankard is a solid choice. Everyone needs some drinks and snacks during a multi-hour gaming session. So, why not bring some flavor to the table by drinking from a tankard instead of some random glass or plastic bottle? Fill it with your drink of choice, and immerse yourself in the game.

D&D-Themed Mug

A very simple, yet effective, Dungeons and Dragons d20 mug.


This mug probably isn't going to add a lot of flair to your DnD game, but it is a fun gift for any D&D enthusiast. Especially if your person loves coffee in the morning, they'll probably enjoyed a themed mug. The detail with this mug that I do really like is that the "20" on the dice is replaced with a Dungeons and Dragons symbol.

Sarcasm +5 Mug

For that very sarcastic, special person in your life.


If you've played DnD before, you're familiar with Skill Checks, where players gain a bonus to any dice they roll for specific actions. Well, in this case, they gain a bonus to being sarcastic. This is another great gift for coffee-lovers who want a casual DnD-themed gift. This is probably not another great item for a DnD gaming table, but I think many people would still enjoy this simple gift a lot.

Open cookbook with rosemary, fork, knife, tomatoes, garlic, and spices on a dark surface.

DnD Gifts: D&D Cookbook

We know, cookbooks are typically not every guy’s dream. However, one thing that a lot of guys can get behind is D&D-inspired cookbooks. Imagine making a meal specific to the fantasy setting in which he loves playing. That’s something he might get behind. What may even be better is buying him a cookbook like this, then using it to make his favorite dish, as part of the gift…


The Official D&D Cookbook

This official D&D cookbook has everything from wood elf forest salad, to fire-spiced abyssal chicken-kabobs, to dwarven mulled wine. Perfect for any D&D enthusiast.


What I love most about this book is that dishes are sorted into places in the game you're likely to find them. For example, there are "elvish dishes," and "drow dishes." So, if you're hosting a D&D event at your home, and want to add more flair to the game, you could cook up something from this D&D cookbook book to serve, and it can match the gaming scenarios you're describing.

Game of Thrones Cookbook

Who hasn’t heard of The Game of Thrones (GoT) TV series? Go back to the days of Westeros with these 32 GoT-inspired dishes. Or, better yet, serve up a small dish for your next game of D&D, to all your players.


This is another great cookbook for any gaming enthusiast. Game of Thrones and DnD can have a good deal of crossover, after all. Some of the dishes in this cookbook are very new-cook friendly, while others are quite involved.

The Elder Scrolls official cookbook with various cooked foods.

The Elder Scrolls Cookbook

For any fan of the wildly popular Elder Scrolls video game series, this cookbook is the go-to. Find dishes from all of the fantasy lands of Skyrim, Morrowind, and Tamriel.


With the Elder Scrolls cookbook, you could easily host an Elder Scrolls, or DnD-themed Thanksgiving. Or Friendsgiving. Whatever your style. Personally, I love to immerse myself into my DnD gaming experiences as much as possible. It's just part of the fun. So, of course, great food makes a terrific accent.

Couple smiling, posing together outdoors. Man wears a spiky mask and black top, woman in a pink lace top.

DnD Gifts: DnD Clothing

Specifically-themed Dungeons and Dragons clothing, both for fun and comfort.

D&D Sweat Pants

This is how I roll. Comes in Small – 3XL.


I'm always a fan of comfy pants. Sweat pants in basically any variety are always a win in my book. There's nothing particularly amazing about these pants, to be honest. But they do have a sweet 20-sided dice on them, they're comfy, and they fit for anyone who loves DnD.

D&D Chef’s Apron

What doesn’t kill me gives me XP. One size.


It's funny seeing this phrase on a chef's apron. After all, you are cooking something that's dead. I like to think of it like you've defeated the monster, and now you're going to eat it and consume its powers. Whoa, kinda heavy there. But it's true though, right??

Dice of various colors scattered on a white cloth, a purple crystal ball, and a black bag with a red eye.

DnD Gifts: DnD Gifts for Her

This category contains DnD gifts specifically for her! As such, these aren’t so much tabletop gifts, specifically. Rather, these are gifts that a DnD enthusiast is likely to enjoy, that add to the gaming environment.


D&D-Inspired Art, Decor, & Accessories

Having D&D-inspired environments definitely makes it easier to wait until the next gaming session. Plus, these items are simply fun, and can be used for a variety of purposes besides just gaming.

Wall Mounted Half Moon Shelf

This half-moon shelf is reminiscent of fantasy gaming, while providing room for all manner of dungeons and dragons accessories or other home items. 16” tall, 12” wide, 3” deep.


Wall mounted shelfs like this also work great for keeping your game's minis nearby, dice, or other small gaming-related items.

DnD Flameless Candles

These make great mood lighting for your evening DnD games, or really any occasion. 12 candles.


I personally love the soft glow of candles, when the sun goes down, and we're gaming. Especially if we're in some kind of dungeon or darker space in the game, I think candlelight adds a lot of positive ambience. If you live in an apartment, however, or other space where you're concerned about fire hazard, these flameless candles can be a great alternative.

D20 Pillow Cover

D20 symbol with a space background. Plush fabric, soft and comfortable texture. Fits an 18” x 18” pillow.


Whenever you're gaming for hours on end, a comfy pillow makes a difference. Even if you're just sitting on the pillow and don't to see it at all times, it's still a plus. This pillow cover is simply a nice way to accentuate any pillow, turning it from something average into something gaming-related.

Dragon Coasters

Four coasters with dragon imprints, with a dragon coaster holder. Charcoal color, polyresin.


Going back to the tankards and mug ideas from earlier, if you're going to have drinks at your gaming table (which you almost certainly will), you can protect the table with these fantasy-themed coasters. This is another small-difference item at your table that can help bring more immersion to the game. And who knows, maybe you could even use the dragon coaster holder as a villain in your campaign!

D20 Wall Art

20-sided dice wooden wall art. 12” by 12”.


I personally enjoy some DnD-related items around my gaming table when we play. It just helps to set the mood. I like there to be a feel at the table like: when everyone comes here to game, life problems go away for a while. To reach that desired effect, I have fantasy art around the gaming table, along with wooden wall art like this D20.

Woman with red hair, wearing a leaf crown and elf ears, smiles in a field.

Who doesn't love dressing up in character? Or at least, showing off your latest DnD-themed fashion at your weekly game.

DnD Gifts: DnD Clothing and Blankets

Fun clothing items, and blankets to keep her warm are always a good idea. As part of an ongoing gift, you can always warm up her favorite blanket for a couple minutes in your dryer before throwing it around her during or in-between gaming sessions. 

Green and black graphic with the text,

Natural 20’s Shirt

Yes, they’re natural. Comes in Small – 3XL. Variety of colors.


This is another pick that some women would love, and others not so much. Select this DnD Gift at your own risk! Maybe she'll find it funny and love it. You decide for yourself.

Dragon Heart Plush Throw Blanket

Queen size. Purple and white dragons. Black background.


I often find that throw blankets are just as good during the day as they are for bedtime, especially in the Wintertime. Make yourself as cozy as you'd like by wrapping this soft blanket around your shoulders while you game. I doubt anyone would ever have problems with someone making a gaming session more comfy.

D&D Gifts Socks

Keep those feet warm during Fall and Winter D&D games.


Some people just really love socks. They love the variety of images, words, colors, and want a lot of them. I don't really know why. But I do know that this set of 5 DnD socks is a big winner when it comes to a lot of people. I do especially like the classic-looking dragon art on the one pair.

Assortment of tabletop roleplaying game items on a patterned fabric: dice, boxes, notebooks, quill pen, and trinkets.

DnD Gifts: Jewelry and Unique Gaming Items

These aren’t the high-end jewelry you should buy her for a special occasion, but they are fun gifts for someone who really loves tabletop games. Jewelry box, items to wear, and special dice just for her.


Bronze Dragon Jewelry Box

Also good for holding gemstones, or even dice.


My girlfriend and I keep a small section near our gaming table for our gaming minis and dice. I'm honestly considering buying her this jewelry box to house her gaming items. She loves dragons, and the size of this is perfect. It can also work as a carrying case for your gaming stuff when headed someplace for a DnD session. Alternatively, it's just an affordable and good-looking jewelry box for other non-gaming items.

Customizable D20 Dragon Pendant

Customize your dragon and D20 colors.


What I like best about these pendants is that they're customizable. You don't often find vendors who are willing/ able to give you something set to colors and designs of your choosing. The design style here is unique, as well, and cute. A good choice for really any age of audience.

Sword and Dragon Necklace

Comes in white or white gold.


Ok, this art and design is beautiful. It's a small sword and dragon, but the colors are great, and the details are phenomenal. Whoever originally created the model for this necklace put in a lot of loving and attentive detail. This necklace can also honestly be a good pick for a woman or man. It's simply a great piece for any fantasy enthusiast, and at a great price.

The One Ring

Made to look like elvish script inscribed upon the One Ring from Lord of the Rings. Comes in black or blue.


Many players at my gaming table sport some kind of fantasy-themed or anime-based ring, necklace, armband, or clothing when we game. I've seen drills from Guren Lagann, medieval swords (above), wizard hats, and yes, even magic rings. This gift is a great choice for anyone who not only loves DnD, but who loves Lord of the Rings.

Unicorn Dice Tray

Uunicorn-themed DnD dice tray.


Dice trays are great because they protect tables from rolling dice - especially if those dice are metal, and heavy. I also like this dice tray because it doubles as a dice carrier, and keeps your dice in easy access for rolling. The quality of this tray is very good, the colors work well together, and the unicorn design on the front is done quite well. 

Three children dressed as knights in a forest, holding swords and a shield. One wears a crown.

DnD Gifts: Dungeons and Dragons Gifts for Kids

These are dungeons and dragons-themed gifts for kids! Sometimes, the best DnD gifts for kids are ones that bring small parts of a fantasy world to them. Plush toys, stuffed animals, and simpler versions of tabletop games, more accessible to their age, make for great gifts.


D&D Starter Set

The D&D Starters Kit is a rules-light version of D&D. It’s a perfect option for kids who want to play the game as it makes DnD more accessible at a younger age. This set also comes with pre-made character sheets, and a set of dice.


There have been many attempts over the years by many people at making D&D accessible for a younger audience. I think this set does a good job of that. D&D is simply not ever going to be as easy of a game to play as - say Monopoly. But, for a kid who loves fantasy and Dungeons and Dragons type stuff, this starter set  is something they will be able to quickly figure out.

D&D Essentials Kit

This is a great expansion kit to go along with the D&D Starter Set (immediately above). This kit adds in more of the core game’s rules, along with the entire Dungeon Master (DM) experience.


I would recommend this D&D essentials kit either as a gift to go along with the D&D starter set (above), or as a gift like a year later. All just depending on the age of the child.

D&D Young Adventurer’s Collection

I've been impressed with D&D’s attempts in recent years to make the admittedly complex rules of Dungeons and Dragons more accessible to younger audiences. This gift set introduces younger players to monsters and creatures, warriors and weapons, dungeons and tombs, and wizards and spells.


Basically, each of these sets I've been showing you are stages in a player's, let's say, D&D development. Each of these sets adds a new aspect of gameplay, which is great, as they keep the game simple for the child until each new stage of gaming gets mastered.

Circular game board with orange lightning graphic, surrounded by toy dragons.

If you're not sure what DnD gifts to get someone, why not take a look at other board games that are DnD-inspired?

DnD Gifts: DnD Boardgames

There are lots of boardgames like DnD on the market, today. These make very good gifts for people who love the tabletop gaming experience, but may not have as much time to play as they once did. Alternatively, these are also very good gifts for people who want to explore playing tabletop games, as these boardgames are a little less complex in terms of rules, and can be played in less time.

Tomb of Annihilation Board Game

The Tomb of Annihilation is based on one of D&D’s classic, most-beloved adventures. This board game version makes the original adventure (known as the “Tomb of Horrors”) accessible to a wider audience. The Tomb of Annihilation, likes its predecessor, is the ultimate in classic dungeon-crawling storytelling. This game is an official Dungeons and Dragons boardgame, and uses a simplified version of the D&D core game for its rules.


I remember the first time I played the "Tomb of Horrors." It honestly was one of the best gaming experiences of my life. This Tomb of Annihilation board game captures the feeling from the original adventure quite well, and provides memorable and satisfying gameplay.

Dungeon Mayhem

This neat card game is played with 2-4 players. Players each choose of one four classic D&D character class: barbarian, paladin, rogue, or wizard. The game is a free-for-all, with very rules-light gaming that can be picked up pretty quickly. Last adventurer standing, wins!


If you want someone to have the "basic D&D" experience, but in a fast-paced, fun, and even silly way, Dungeon Mayhem is a great pick.

Catan Treasures, Dragons, and Adventures Expansion

This dungeons and dragons-like game is an expansion to the classic game of Catan. You’ll also need the Catan: Seafarers, and the Catan: Cities and Knights expansions in order to play this game. The rules added to this version of Catan are pretty basic, but add tons of new options to the game, and extend unique play hours by a lot. Add a D&D-themed expansion to your regular game of Catan!

Dragon Chess Set

This beautiful chess set is made entirely of pewter dragons. If your gift recipient likes both DnD and chess, this extremely high-quality chess set could make for a great gift they’ll keep around for probably the rest of their life.


Honestly, these chess pieces could also (sort of) be used as minis for your game in certain circumstances. I think of an ancient dungeon where golems attack, or statues come to life. I'm always thinking of ways to make multiple uses of my gaming-related stuff.

D&D Monopoly

What board game list is complete without adding Monopoly? In this game, instead of collecting property, players collect monsters. Players use one of six sculpted minis, while circling the board: dwarven cleric, elven ranger, halfling rogue, human fighter, human wizard, or tiefling bard. Be the last adventurer standing!

Man with headset smiles, points at glowing gaming computer with colorful internal lights.

DnD Gifts: Online Play

These DnD gifts are great for online play. In recent years, people have started playing tabletop games online, more and more. If you know the person you’re buying a gift for already loves to play DnD online, with friends, these can make for great gifts that improve their experience.


Digital Adventures and Downloads on Roll20

If you are buying for someone who’s gaming habits you know really well, or for someone you game with, purchasing from Roll20 can be a good option. Roll20 is the largest online tabletop RPG platform, and all manner of adventures or graphic tokens can be purchased to improve gaming options and experience. To purchase, you need to create an account, then have your gift recipient’s email on hand, to send them their new digital assets. The bright news is that Roll20 does make the process very simple to purchase.

Digital Adventures

Webcam: NexiGo Autofocus 1080p

Anyone gaming online certainly benefits from a webcam. We recommend this particular webcam because it’s reasonably-priced, and is already widely-used by online streamers (on Twitch, and other streaming platforms). This webcam also has a privacy cover, and built-in mic with noise cancellation. The autofocus feature is also very nice, with great resolution.

Microphone: Blue Snowball

If your particular giftee happens to record their online games of D&D, create YouTube videos, or podcasts, having a high-end mic can be a major plus. This reasonably-priced mic offers professional-level recording, which is why I like it.


The experience of online gaming literally comes down to the gear you're using. Have a high-quality camera and mic? Ok, your game probably rocks. Have stuff that's always having issues? That's a big problem. The good news is that this mic makes it so you never have to worry about audio quality while gaming.

Sword, antlers, dice, candle, and embroidered fabric arranged on a surface.

DnD Gifts: Gift Cards

If you’re looking for a DnD-themed gift, gift cards probably aren’t the best overall choice, since they’re generic, by design. Of course, they can be a good option if you really don’t know what else to get someone. We mention gift cards because there are many companies in the tabletop gaming space that offer them, and we feel our DnD gifts guide wouldn’t be complete for you, without.

Here’s a list of onlines companies that both offer many DnD Gifts, and have gift cards (or similar) available:


  • Amazon
  • Etsy
  • D&D Beyond
  • DMs Guild
  • DriveThruRPG
  • Fantasy Grounds
  • HeroForge
  • Roll20


D&D Gift Ideas that Cost Nothing

We feel that no D&D gift idea list would be complete without including all the great gifts you can give someone that cost nothing but your time. After all, tabletop gaming is all about connection and community. What better then, to show someone you love and care about them, than to get into their tabletop world with your giftee?


Arts & Crafts

This may not be an entirely free option, as you may need to purchase some supplies. But, the idea is that you can create something D&D-inspired using really any sort of craft skill you possess. Oftentimes, hand-made items carry something very special to them that commercial items do not. Maybe it’s the love in every color selected, every stich made, or every dab of glue that really touches people’s hearts.


Make a D&D-Themed Meal

Similarly, a D&D-themed meal can be a great idea as a standalone gift, or as one part of a series of gifts. We even made some recommendations above in the Gifts for Him and Gifts for Her sections on cookbooks you might try, to find recipes that match a fantasy setting. One things for sure: it’ll be a meal someone will remember, forever.


Play A Tabletop RPG Together

When it really comes down to it, someone who loves DnD just wants to play DnD with you. Maybe DnD just isn’t of any interest to you. However, if you can find a way to play for even half an hour with someone you love – just let them run you through some of their recent gaming ideas – it’ll create an impression that will last forever. At the end of the day, nothing’s really more valuable than time with people we love. It’s the core of what tabletop RPGs are all about – time together.

Man in blue shirt and khaki pants smiles, sitting on a green railing. Dark background.

Jacob Tegtman

Dear reader, I hope you enjoyed my article. Tabletop gaming has been a passion of mine since I was 6 years old. I've played just about every game from Dungeons and Dragons to video games like Final Fantasy. These games have inspired me, made me laugh, made me cry, and brought me endless hours of enjoyment.


I started Eternity TTRPG - and the indie tabletop game that goes along with it (Eternity Shop) - to share my love of gaming with others. I believe that in our technology-driven age, tabletop games help bring a sense of magic and community back into our world.


If you love the site, please share it with others! I have lots of gaming-related material for you to peruse and use in your own gaming sessions. If you have any questions about the site or want to contribute, just send me a message using the "Contact" page, which you can find in the site's footer.

Man in blue shirt and khaki pants smiles, sitting on a green railing. Dark background.

Jacob Tegtman

Dear reader, I hope you enjoyed my article. Tabletop gaming has been a passion of mine since I was 6 years old. I've played just about every game from Dungeons and Dragons to video games like Final Fantasy. These games have inspired me, made me laugh, made me cry, and brought me endless hours of enjoyment.


I started Eternity TTRPG - and the indie tabletop game that goes along with it (Eternity Shop) - to share my love of gaming with others. I believe that in our technology-driven age, tabletop games help bring a sense of magic and community back into our world.


If you love the site, please share it with others! I have lots of gaming-related material for you to peruse and use in your own gaming sessions. If you have any questions about the site or want to contribute, just send me a message using the "Contact" page, which you can find in the site's footer.

Josiah Mork: Creator of Starset RPG and Pen RPG

Interview with Game Designer Josiah Mork: Creator of Starset & PEN

By Jacob Tegtman • March 27, 2026
Transcribed content from our recent YouTube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9In5gaz65s8 Transcription Jacob Tegtman (00:01.848) Hey everyone, welcome back to Eternity TTRPG, where we cover really everything tabletop gaming related, Dungeons and Dragons. Now we're finally jumping into some of my favorite topics, which is game design and getting to spend some time with great game designers up and coming, people who are established. And today we're interviewing Josiah Mork, who is the owner and lead designer for Hoodwink Gaming. So welcome to the show. Thanks for being part of the channel. Josiah (00:33.142) Thanks, it's my pleasure. Yeah, it's been great working with you on eternity and getting to swap ideas. So I'm really looking forward to being able to talk through some of that process with you. Jacob Tegtman (00:44.478) Awesome, Ben. Yeah, I've been looking forward to talking with you. We always have a lot of fun when we catch up. I think this will be a really good conversation. There's so many parts of your mini games that I've wanted to ask you about for really such a long time. And it always felt like we were working on some project or discussing something. But now I have a really good excuse to just nail you down for maybe about an hour-ish and hopefully die. Josiah (00:50.028) for sure. Josiah (01:04.972) There's always something. Jacob Tegtman (01:14.352) dive into what you've been doing and why you've made some of the decisions you've made, which I think are really interesting. I'm sure, yeah. So do you just want to maybe start by introducing yourself more, know, who you are, what you've done, and yeah, where you're going? Josiah (01:20.968) Yeah, well, hopefully I've got good answers for you. We'll see. Josiah (01:32.756) Yeah, absolutely. yeah, like you said, I'm Josiah. I'm from Michigan, living just out of DC now. I've been designing and playing board games since my early teen years, I guess I would say. I love creative writing and storytelling. That's just been an amazing way that I've found to connect with people. My actually my undergrad and my grad degrees were in communication and looking at how communication connects us and strategies and stuff behind it. And so I find a storytelling a really compelling way to do that. But before I had gotten into school and whatnot, you know, I was homeschooled. I was in late middle school and I was reading this cartoon. Maybe you are some of your viewers have seen it. Foxtrot comics. And there are some. Have you seen it? Highly recommend, highly recommend. It's really funny. But there are these two characters, they're really nerdy middle schoolers and they were playing Dungeons and Dragons in the comic. And I just thought that was the coolest thing. But my parents, know, I'm a Christian, my family's Christian, fairly conservative. And so my parents were more familiar with like the 80s, like D &D scare, very like Stranger Things season four. And so they were not really like, yeah, not really D &D fans. And so I was like, well, okay, I'll create my own. And that's how it all got started, you know? And then it was a great way to make friends in my Boy Scout troop. You know, we would play, would swap ideas, we would... Jacob Tegtman (02:51.202) Yeah. Jacob Tegtman (02:55.042) Not too far ahead. Sure. Yeah, that's awesome. Jacob Tegtman (03:08.12) time. Josiah (03:09.972) you know, go on crazy adventures with rules that didn't quite work. And then over time, you know, I just realized that there were all of these cool avenues to explore and storytelling that D &D didn't necessarily do. And so I just felt really passionate that this is my way to connect with people and connect people with each other is through writing games. Jacob Tegtman (03:30.508) That's amazing, man. Yeah, it's funny, like the ways that we get into gaming too. Like you mentioned those comics. you ever see Dexter's Lab? Okay. Okay. Yeah, was probably a little bit before. Yeah. There was like an episode that was kind of based on Dungeons and Dragons and I saw it when I was like six and that's what got me into it as well. yeah. Josiah (03:39.616) Yeah, well, I've heard of it. Yeah, I've seen clips from it, yeah. Josiah (03:52.972) It's so funny how it seems like every show, know, Community, Gravity Falls, like, there are all these shows of every different genre, and they all have like a D &D episode for some reason. And I love it, you know, but it's so random. Jacob Tegtman (03:58.679) Yeah. Jacob Tegtman (04:05.302) Yeah, like all of them. Me too. Yeah, it is. Yeah. I also like the takes that different shows have on like nerdy board games. I think was like Parks and Rec had, I forget what the game was called. Yeah, you remember it. Yeah. Yeah. That's so cool, man. Josiah (04:20.81) The Cones of Dunshire, yeah. Love that, love those episodes. Jacob Tegtman (04:29.646) So I want to dive into really all of those things more, but what games do you currently have available then? And your website will post it in the show notes as well, but it is hoodwinkgaming.com for anybody who's interested. But yeah, tell us about some of your games. And again, I feel like I want to go into all of these in more detail, but yeah, give us the summary version at least for now. Josiah (04:55.05) Yeah, so it's a little deceptive at the moment. My original titles and kind of most of the games that I do are under the pen brand. So play easily now is the acronym. We have war game and role playing game. But actually neither of those are on the market at the moment. If you go to my website. Yeah, we've got a landing page for the war game and we've got a preview for the RPG. And I've actually I've got. Jacob Tegtman (05:12.95) really? I was actually, yeah, I was checking it out like yesterday, so. Josiah (05:24.422) know, prototypes of both of those here. But they are still in development because of various different reasons of wanting to refine some ideas or just kind of ended up having to move to other projects. So they're almost launch ready. But those are the ones that they're working on for the longest, just the newest editions aren't quite together yet. Jacob Tegtman (05:29.506) Yeah. Jacob Tegtman (05:39.96) Yeah, nice. Jacob Tegtman (05:46.04) Very cool. Josiah (05:46.164) And then the one that I've been working on most recently, and that we actually have a new project launching next month for, is Star Set. So that's a grimdark survival-oriented tabletop role-playing game that we launched initially a couple years ago, and then just did a relaunch for the second edition for, which is much more crunchy, much more mechanical, and much more narrative-based. So really looking forward to building that out. Jacob Tegtman (06:14.542) That's exciting. Yeah, I can attest that game is great. I really enjoyed reading through it. Everything from the design of the book to the art to the way that you have, especially character building in that, I find super fascinating. You can just tell, yeah, the amount of attention to detail in there is like out of this world. It really feels like you guys... Josiah (06:27.148) Well, thank you. Josiah (06:34.966) haha Jacob Tegtman (06:38.478) You took the lore of the game and you baked it into every part of the game. Whereas I think a lot of games like, you know, we'll talk about D &D later. D &D is like the game that's everything. So it's like if it's in a fantasy book or movie or anything, like we'll just jam it into D &D somehow. And, you know, that kind of has its place, but for building characters and stuff, you know, like you don't, I don't know. It's supposed to be able to fit many different genres and you're Josiah (06:42.72) Mm-hmm. Jacob Tegtman (07:08.612) I think what's so cool about is that when you're playing Star set you're playing Star set Because from the very first thing you do with your character and their background and their skills even it's all based on the lore of this whole universe so Josiah (07:19.902) Mm-hmm. Well, I really appreciate that. mean, that's really the heart behind it when we were working on it is, we had a story that we wanted to tell and really created the universe to tell that story. And one of the things, you know, that I picked up studying communication is that, you know, we are attracted to details. And even if it's details that, we haven't necessarily experienced in our own lives. Jacob Tegtman (07:24.963) Yeah. Jacob Tegtman (07:33.324) Yeah. Josiah (07:45.324) hearing vivid details or strong emotions in other people's stories lead us to be more connected with them. And so that was something that we really trying to flesh out in Star Set. hopefully, from the sound of it, it hopefully worked pretty well. Jacob Tegtman (08:00.352) I think so, yeah, absolutely. So, what do we talk about first, man? Like, what do you want to talk about first? Josiah (08:01.452) Thank you. Josiah (08:11.672) man, I could talk about games for hours and hours, so I better let you guide that conversation. Jacob Tegtman (08:14.944) You Okay, I just want to make sure we cover like the big things before we dive into the nitty gritty here. Yeah. Yeah. Josiah (08:24.332) Oh yeah, I mean, I kind of touched on, I guess I'll throw it out there. I'll throw it out there because it's really important to me and kind of the company into my story. you know, I really do, we're about to, you know, dig into the nitty gritty, like you said, and Dungeons and Dragons and all the different games that are out there. And I just think, you know, before whether you're a designer or a player, whenever you kind of step into a game, I think the most important thing and what's in the mission kind of a hoodwink that we try and do differently is that Jacob Tegtman (08:33.379) Yeah. Josiah (08:53.446) The games are just kind of an excuse. Really, the games are just an excuse to get together with people and to have FaceTime with people. And if working in social media has taught me anything, it's that people need that more than anything. And that's why we call it Hoodwink Games, because we kind of have all these substitutions. get hoodwinked into thinking that socializing is something that it's not. And really, it's just fellowshipping with people and joining community and FaceTime with people. and talking about the things that matter with people. And the way to do that from going from stranger to best friend is in my experience games. And so that's kind of the heart behind it. Jacob Tegtman (09:30.658) That's been a cool one. Yeah. You know, it's interesting you bring that up too, because this is something I've been thinking a lot about recently, especially as everybody's been seeing more AI come into their work, into their lives. And I feel that more than ever, people are wanting that human, real human interaction. And so as good as video games are looking nowadays and as fun as MMOs are and stuff like that, and I like all of those, I don't think I've Josiah (09:43.628) Mm-hmm. Josiah (09:53.004) Mm-hmm. Jacob Tegtman (10:03.53) found anything that's as fun is sitting around playing a tabletop role-playing game, especially in person. mean, even, you over FaceTime like this is fun, but something in person about it just makes it one of the best experiences. Josiah (10:09.729) video. Josiah (10:13.142) Mm-hmm. Josiah (10:18.686) It really does. It's those shared memories and those shared jokes. And, you know, I work in politics, doing social media for politics. And the thing that just aggravates me the most about politics, but also religion, people say don't talk about politics or religion because people care about it so much. And it's like those are things that we care about the most. So we should be able to share those with people. But you can't because as soon as you bring them up, you know, there are all these walls. Jacob Tegtman (10:39.48) Sure. Josiah (10:48.062) and games when you've played for a couple hours with somebody and slayed the dragon and made a couple jokes, then it's like, well, okay, now your opinion isn't the thing that I'm defining you on. The thing I'm defining you on is that, you know, you're a half drunk elf paladin or something like, and it just makes it easier. Jacob Tegtman (10:48.416) I guess. Jacob Tegtman (11:04.014) Yeah, that's so true. That's so true. Yeah, it definitely does break down those walls and give you that sense of shared history, even if it's like a shared mental history, theater of the mind. So, yeah. Josiah (11:17.27) Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. It's great. Jacob Tegtman (11:21.428) I agree, man. Especially when you're doing... So I haven't read through all of the lore of Starseq. There's just so much in there. I've read through a good deal of it. But I think one of the things that also stands out about at least that game, because I know Penn's still in the work in progress... Josiah (11:38.599) the Jacob Tegtman (11:39.446) that, you know, it does cover a lot of political things and it covers a lot of religious things and you aren't like pushing a view on anybody, but just inherent to human life is politics and religion. so games let you approach these topics like in ways that allow you to explore what could be, but in a safe way and have conversations about what could be without feeling like you're being attacked or told. Josiah (11:53.856) Mm-hmm. Josiah (12:01.6) Thank you. Josiah (12:05.836) Mm-hmm. Yeah, that's really the, again, I'm really glad that you feel that way about the game, because that was one of the number one priorities of it, is there are just really hard conversations that should be had. And that game kind of came out of COVID, where there were a ton of hard conversations people were having. And I think you could spend every day, every minute of every day with people. Jacob Tegtman (12:14.306) Yeah, for sure. Jacob Tegtman (12:23.394) That's right. That's right. Yeah. Josiah (12:33.664) but if they're not people that you feel like you can have hard conversations with, then you haven't really been in community at all. And so having a medium like that, where, like you said, I don't wanna tell anybody what they should believe. There are things that I believe are true about God and about the world and about politics and stuff, but those things have to exist relationally for them to mean anything to you. so... Jacob Tegtman (12:39.788) Yeah. Jacob Tegtman (12:50.542) Sure. Josiah (12:58.954) to have that space to kind of explore and talk and then role play through just makes it fun for one thing, but also makes it so much more personal and so much more impactful, I think. Jacob Tegtman (12:59.374) Yeah. Jacob Tegtman (13:10.772) I agree. So what is the next thing that you said you're working on with StarCert? I think I missed that when you mentioned earlier. Yeah. Josiah (13:16.436) Yeah, so my co-writer, Emily, and her husband Ryan, who did some of the art for Star Set, they have actually written and illustrated the first campaign for it. It's called Echoes on Mars, and that's going to be launching on Kickstarter next month. Jacob Tegtman (13:31.822) Okay. Okay, cool. That's exciting, man. So what number of Kickstarter will this be for you? Josiah (13:38.092) Thank Josiah (13:42.294) That's Josiah (13:46.806) seven maybe six or seven. I'm doing this one well I should say the plan is to do it on Kickstarter but changing a lot of things. I'm still talking to them. My wife is behind me. I still want to talk through some of them with her because it had a lot of very negative Kickstarter experiences and learned a lot. So we're to do this one if we end up doing it on Kickstarter very slim down and very different than some of the other ones. So it's a constant learning experience. Jacob Tegtman (13:48.43) Sort of. Yeah. Jacob Tegtman (13:54.094) Sure. Jacob Tegtman (14:16.43) Yeah, I just remember I feel like every year or so I feel like you're launching something on Kickstarter successfully. So at least from the outsider's view looking in, it's like man Josiah just knows what he's doing with selling games. Josiah (14:30.208) You Well, I know a little bit more than I did last time and that's the goal. Yeah.
An anime-style character with long white hair

Interview with TTRPG Renaissance Man: Mildra the Monk

By Jacob Tegtman • March 25, 2026
Transcribed content from our recent YouTube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=si26EW5kj4Q Transcription Summary Final Fantasy Legend Edition TTRPG discussion covered the game's high customization and free distribution via mythos inspiration and iterative research. Final Fantasy Legend Edition Origin Legend Edition is a medium-complexity TTRPG developed over 4 years to emulate the entire Final Fantasy mythos, avoiding a focus only on the SNES era. The core goal was to create a neutral sandbox emphasizing high customization that supports high fantasy, steampunk, and futuristic settings. Design Philosophy and Research The game is distributed for free to continue the tradition of high-quality, free fan-created content within the TTRPG community. Extensive research was conducted on the IP, including cut content and Ultimania books, which led to the design pillars of iteration and experimentation. Customization and Unique Features Character creation allows hybrid archetypes via the selection of 3 classes from over 50 available options with variable progression speeds. Unique Legend Edition features include row-based combat and active defenses, creating a tactical risk-reward system. Details Introduction to Final Fantasy Legend Edition Project : Jacob Tegtman welcomed Mildra The Monk, the lead designer and spearhead of the Final Fantasy Legend Edition project, to the Eternity TTRPG channel for their first interview of this kind. Mildra The Monk expressed appreciation for being hosted and agreed to begin by discussing their background and the nature of the project (00:00:00). Mildra The Monk's Background and TTRPG Contributions : Mildra The Monk introduced themself as a content creator who has reviewed games, run playtests, and conducted over a thousand interviews in the last five years. They cover third-party D\&D material, indie games, and fan games such as Naruto 5e and Dungeons of the Dragoning, the latter of which started as an April Fool's joke that combined five different RPGs (00:01:03). Most recently, they served as the lead designer and project lead for the Final Fantasy Legend Edition TTRPG (00:02:26). Running a Final Fantasy Legend Edition One-Shot : Mildra The Monk mentioned they had been running a one-shot using the Legend Edition for the past few weeks with rotating party members and ran one for Jacob Tegtman as they were planning content on the game (00:02:26). They noted that a community member has been developing a work-in-progress Roll20 sheet for the game, which had recently received a significant update (00:03:26). Virtual Tabletop Support for Legend Edition : When addressing the question of virtual tabletop support, Mildra The Monk stated that they have not done any real coding in at least ten years and lack the skill set to build a custom sheet from scratch for platforms like Roll20 or Foundry. They acknowledged the community's support, noting that people are using their own time to support the game with tools like the Roll20 sheet (00:03:26). Summary of Final Fantasy Legend Edition : Legend Edition is a medium-complexity TTRPG that took about four years to create, aimed at emulating the Final Fantasy mythos. The project originated from Mildra The Monk's pet peeve that previous tabletop versions of Final Fantasy heavily skewed toward the SNES era (IV, V, and VI), neglecting entries like VII, XIV, and XVI which appeal to newer generations of fans (00:04:21). The goal of Legend Edition is to use the recurring Final Fantasy mythos as a neutral sandbox for tables to build campaigns in any direction, prioritizing customization (00:06:43). Game Design Flexibility and High Customization : The game was designed to be equally viable in high fantasy settings, like Final Fantasy III or IV, as it is in steampunk settings, such as Final Fantasy VI or XIV, and futuristic entries, such as Final Fantasy VIII or XIII. Jacob Tegtman noted that playing the game demonstrated that the number of classes and intricate character details allow players to create characters fitting any Final Fantasy experience they desire (00:06:43). Reasoning Behind Free Distribution of Legend Edition : Mildra The Monk explained that the game is available for free because they came up as a tabletop player seeing high-quality fan games that were just as good as paid games, and they wanted to pass along that torch to the community (00:09:44). They expressed the desire for someone to take their work, hack it, and put up their own version, continuing the chain of free content (00:11:02). Research and Design Philosophy for Legend Edition : A major focus of the project was capturing the soul of Final Fantasy, which involved extensive research, including reviewing existing games, cut content from games, behind-the-scenes interviews, and Ultimania books (00:11:02). The core philosophy derived from this research was "iteration and experimentation," which led to the game's foundational design pillars (00:12:16). The Inspiration to Focus on Final Fantasy : Mildra The Monk is a devoted Final Fantasy fan, but other factors drove the project, including a desire to carry on the lineage of prior Final Fantasy TTRPG fan projects like the mid-90s Returners project (00:12:16). A core motivation was bridging the gap between video games and tabletop gaming, using Final Fantasy because its consistent mythology allows for adaptation that goes beyond merely replicating the video games (00:14:29). Avoiding the Trap of Literal IP Adaptation : Mildra The Monk highlighted a common problem with tabletop adaptations of existing IPs, where designers attempt to adapt the source material wholesale, citing the early TSR run of Indiana Jones as an example where they only allowed players to play as movie characters. Instead, people generally prefer to create their own character within the world, such as being a student at Xavier Academy rather than playing as the X-Men (00:15:49). Emulating the Mythos Over One Game : Mildra The Monk emphasized that designers should emulate the overall mythos of a franchise rather than hyperfocusing on one game or one era (00:17:00). For Final Fantasy, this is supported by recurring elements such as job names, play styles, spell names, summons, and abilities that maintain a consistent theme (00:18:09). Classes, Character Creation, and Flexibility : The customization in Legend Edition is demonstrated by the character creation system where players select three classes with different progression speeds, allowing for a unique hybrid character from over 50 classes (00:21:27). This approach is a compromise that provides the strong thematic elements of the job system without restricting player choices, such as customizing weapon lists to be setting-agnostic and avoid favoring one style of fantasy (00:20:06) (00:22:24). Key Design Pillars of Final Fantasy Legend Edition : Mildra The Monk outlined the three major pillars of the game's design: "mythos not setting," "customization is king," and the **phase structure** (00:24:24). The phase structure involves four acts—preparation, exploration, encounter, and downtime—which is loosely inspired by the Asian four-act format (kishōtenketsu) and the Town-Field-Dungeon trinity pioneered by Dragon Quest (00:25:34). The Research Process as a Favorite Part of the Project : Mildra The Monk stated that the research phase was one of their favorite parts, which allowed them to discover early concepts for the video games that were eventually cut (00:27:50). Examples included the early name for Materia being "spheres," which was later revisited for Final Fantasy X, and a puzzle tattoo mechanic for Final Fantasy X's sphere grid, which was cut (00:28:33). Inspirations and Creative Liberties in Design : The research led to design inspirations such as an unused Chocobo Lancer concept art from Final Fantasy XI resulting in the Chocobo Knight class in Legend Edition, addressing the long-desired idea of Chocobo cavalry (00:29:32). The team took certain liberties, like creating the speed-based Dervish to serve as an answer to the Berserker class, and the Ravager as a spell-spamming class, drawing from inspirations like Final Fantasy XIII (00:31:48). Development of the Yo-kai Class : The Yo-kai class began as an idea for a controllable summon, similar to the Aeons in Final Fantasy X, but was changed to avoid replicating one game (00:31:48). The final concept for the Yo-kai, as avatars for Eidolons, was inspired by the design of Yoko in Bravely Second and the concept of the rider or shioal spiritualist in Voodoo (00:32:43). Impact of Extensive Research on Project Quality : Jacob Tegtman acknowledged that the depth of research, spanning Final Fantasy lore, mythology, and diverse concepts like Voodoo, enabled Mildra The Monk to create over 50 classes, each with up to seven tiers of abilities, amounting to hundreds of unique mechanics that synergize well (00:33:58). Mildra The Monk affirmed that this extensive research, modeled after the preparation of Star Trek producer Harve Bennett before producing *Wrath of Khan*, was a necessary baseline (00:36:10). Historical Context of Final Fantasy Combat System : Mildra The Monk highlighted Hiroyuki Itto, the pioneer of the job system and the Active Time Battle (ATB) system, noting that he cited American football and Formula 1 as inspirations for ATB (00:39:09). Mildra The Monk asserted that the shift toward action-based combat, seen in games like Final Fantasy XV and XVI, was an evolution building on foundations laid decades ago by Itto, not a radical shift (00:40:15). Snapshot of Unique Legend Edition Features : For those unfamiliar with Legend Edition, Mildra The Monk listed key differentiators, including high customizability in the job system, easy creation of hybrid archetypes, fewer but more impactful skills, and multiple character creation/advancement methods (00:41:59). Jacob Tegtman added the unique row-based combat and active defenses, such as parrying and evading, which create a tactical, risk-reward philosophy in the design (00:43:17). Future Vision and Upcoming Projects for Mildra The Monk : Immediate future plans include overseeing support elements like new Excel and HTML solo-play sheets, as well as writing world book guides, which are lighter books focused on emulating individual Final Fantasy entries like FFIII or FFVIII (00:45:13). They are also considering TTRPGs based on 2D fighting games, aiming for a defined setting like a fighting game version of Night City, and they intend to create a fantasy-themed mech game and a Wuxia-themed RPG (00:46:24). Ongoing Efforts to Promote the TTRPG Community : Mildra The Monk is continuing their mission to showcase the totality of tabletop role-playing games by highlighting the international scene, including content from Brazil, Germany, and Sweden (00:50:01) (00:52:17). They mentioned forthcoming streams covering the Spanish Anima Universe, Sword World, and *We's Blade*, a game compared to *Panzer Dragoon* (00:51:15). Availability and Support for Mildra The Monk : Mildra The Monk can be found streaming regularly on YouTube and Twitch, on Twitter where they highlight artists and indie games, and in their personal Discord (00:55:07). While Legend Edition remains free, they have set up support mechanisms like Ko-fi for those who wish to leave a tip (00:56:19).
A gnarled, dark tree stands in a misty forest under a pale moon.

Playable Monster Races in D&D: the Gnarlborn - Haunted Treants

By Jacob Tegtman • March 22, 2026
Transcribed content from our recent YouTube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AuryVcZdp4Y Transcription There are kind two ends of the spectrum for D&D races. There’s Story-specific races: These come with a strong, built-in narrative that fits specific campaign worlds or settings, that almost tells you how to play them. Then there’s more Flexible races. These are much easier to slot anywhere because they don’t necessarily come with an expected tone or backstory. You can sort of fit them into any campaign with ease – like playing a human. Some D&D player races feel like they’re built for a specific kind of story. Others feel flexible enough to drop into almost any campaign. Gnarlborn from Crooked Moon… sit somewhere in between—and that’s kind of what makes them interesting. They have strong flavor, but they aren’t restrictive for your campaign. They come with built-in lore that gives you instant roleplay direction, but they aren’t so specific that you can only play them in your Crooked Moon campaign. Welcome back to Eternity TTRPG.  As you can already tell, today we’re looking at a lesser-known player option for playable races, which is the Gnarlborn from Crooked Moon. If you’ve seen my other videos on the topic, Crooked Moon has become one of my favorite D&D settings of all-time. We’re going through each of the races presented in Crooked Moon, and today getting to the treant-like Gnarlborn. Starting with the basics, Gnarlborn are – well, born – from the soil of a region called Ardengloom, a forest that’s less “peaceful woodland,” and more “haunted, thinking ecosystem.” The forest itself is filled with these massive trees called Elderwoods—each one housing lingering Fey spirits. Gnarlborn commune with these spirts and Elderwoods, forming an intricate and well-connected forest community. So yeah, you’re playing basically “a tree person.” But you’re also playing something that exists in a constant, low-level conversation with ancient, possibly unreliable spirits. That alone gives you a strong roleplay hook without needing a complicated backstory, as your tie to those spirits, and who/ what they are could gain any level of depth that you’d like, over the course of a campaign – or even a few adventures. Visually, Gnarlborn are humanoid, but like the trees in your yard, everything about them is asymmetrical—branches, moss instead of clothing accents, glowing hollows where a face might be. No two look the same. Some might feel ancient and slow, while others might come across as curious or even a little disconnected—like they’re only partially focused on the present. And since they can live for hundreds—sometimes thousands—of years, you can decide how much that actually affects your character. Are they wise because of their age, or are they just... slow? Ok, when it comes to core mechanics, let’s talk about what you actually get—because this is where Gnarlborn become very usable. First, we have: Deep Roots You get advantage on checks and saves to avoid being moved or knocked prone. This is simple, but it can be very useful against certain enemies. Next is: Elderwood Whispers After every long rest, you can pick up a new skill, tool proficiency, or even a language. Temporarily. This is probably the most interesting trait the Gnarlborn have. It’s not flashy, but it gives you day-to-day adaptability, which can be nice. It rewards players who like planning ahead—or improvising, based on expected challenges for the day. Third, we have what may be the Gnarlborn’s most *potentially powerful effect, which is: Grasping Branches As a Bonus action, you restrain a creature if they fail a Strength save. Or slow them if they succeed. The main issue here is the saving DC isn’t very high (it’s 8, plus your Constitution modifier, plus your proficiency bonus). But! Even on a successful save, the creature has half speed for a turn. So, grasping branches can be decent battlefield control without requiring you to be a spellcaster. And because this effect recharges on a short rest, you may just actually use it. It’s not overwhelming—but it’s consistently useful. Root Sense gives you tremorsense out to 60 feet. So, the ability to find Invisible enemies, Creatures behind walls, etc. And lastly, you have: Towering Size Which gives you advantage to end being grappled, and – if your group actually tracks carrying capacity, you can in fact carry more stuff. Nothing flashy—but admittedly, very practical. Playing a Gnarlborn definitely isn’t for every player. They don’t provide anything to spike damage, or even do anything unpredictable, really. But you are resisting disruption, controlling space, and adapting between sessions. They fit really well in parties that need consistency rather than specialization. From the roleplaying side, Gnarlborn also work really well in campaigns that lean into: Fey themes, Haunted environments, or Long timelines with ancient histories since they naturally connect to all of those. Gnarlborn feel connected to something bigger: whether that’s the Elderwoods, nature, fey-touched spirits, or an ancient grove deep in the dark woods. So, if you were to play a Gnarlborn, what direction would you take your character? Would you pick them for their subtle combat control, or more to explore their connection with the wilds? Whether you’ve played them in a campaign already, or you have ideas for what you might like to try, let me know in the comments. Thanks for watching, and I’ll catch you in my next Crooked Moon race guide.
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