This will be split between players and GM's, but I think there are a few things you need for any given table Role Playing Game. If you have different ideas, put them up here, the best ones will get into a youtube video I will make. Just finished one on the perks of the tableTop RPG, so this will be episode 2.
FOr a short list for new players in any given RPG will need or need to keep in mind.
1. Core Rule Book: Short for CRB, this will have the main rules and abilities, feats, skills, and playable races and classes if available. While other supplementary books can further your fun, but unless you are playing a build of Druid or Ranger with a animal companion so you'll need the bestiary, the other 9/10 times not so much. Buy extras as you see fit. As this is often the size of a text book, a digital version for phone, tablet, or computer is usually also available.
2. Character sheet: This has all your gear, background, and abilities. How much experience you have earned, and how much money to your name. Have several different characters as you might be playing in different groups, and your main character might die a horrible death. Most companies have a free PDF you can download then print out. If you are like me, then you also have a writable one that you find with a quick internet search. I'm not a rediter but I found one on a link on Reddit for my current Pathfinder 2 sheet.
3. Pencil and Paper: You will be changing information game to game either from gear bought, items sold, loot taken, and stats increased due to level. Pencil are easily changeable, pen not so much. you are also going to need to take notes. If you are also like me and write big, or don't want t keep flipping though the book for what thingy A does, write them down in your own words and mar which ones you can do.
4. In the case of Organized play, Chronicle sheets. Organized play is a official world wide campaign, and your characters can do various premade missions to see how well they do and get perks from them. You are bound to get bunch of them so keep them organized
5. Binder with Sheet Protectors. If Point 2, 3, and 4 didn't make this apparent enough. have a few sheet protectors to act as dividers and put in a picture or label that says what your character is, which can also double as something you can have out during the game so people don't keep asking what your character name is.
6. Dice: We are going to be rolling lots of dice. Most will be used for damage, others for other in game events. They will often shortedn do D for dice and their Coresponding number. They are, in order of number of sides.
D4: Looks like a Pyramid.
D6: Most common die used in the world.
D8: Looks like a diamond
D10: Looks like a top
D100: A modified D10, but instead of going up by one 1-10, it goes up by ten 10-100. Used in together with the normal D10, they are often called Percentile dice.
D12: Starts taking a ballish shape. ALso the the highest die used in health (Barbarians normally) and damage.
D20: THe most used die in the game as you will use it for saves, attacks, skills, and so much more. Also a common health counter for Magic the Gathering.
7.The Miniature: Called a Mini for short. THis is a small statue that represents your character on the table. Doesn't have to be exactly what you have in your mind's eye, but it does have to be small enough to not take up alot more space than the other characters take up. Most of us use a lot of official minies from all manner of companies, others use plastic army men, a lot of people I played with use legos. I even used tiny little pokemon toys for the smaller races.
8. If using a computer, a long enough extension cord to get to the wall. I prefer to keep most of my info on the computer, with a writable character sheet. Might also want to use an spreadsheet like
9. Being Respectful: Its a game, but unlike in most online games, you cannot hide under animinity. Be polite. Your character can be boisterous and abrasive as you want, but jerks of any flavor can make a game grating at the best of times. Worse case scenario you can drive away other characters. A good GM will keep the bad elements out as much as they can, but the rest not as much. ALso try not to take up all the space. Most hobby stores don't have alot of it and you might have seven other people and their gear all around you.
Conversely, try not to let the other players get to you if THEY are the pain in the neck. Yes, this is as much me telling myself this as you, but try not to (smiling and being poilight annoys the jerks even more). If the problem doesn't go away, or its more abrasive then anyone should have to put up with (the isms, not taking no to unwanted flirtations or in any meaningful way, just general jerkishness, you pick the level of crap you can take), talk privately with the GM. Most GM's will pick up on this before you need to bring this up and will try and deal with it. Even if they don't, once brought up they will deal with it. If they won't, find another group. Its a game, not actual life and death.
10. Bring money. Many a game store might sell snacks and drinks while others might be close enough to places to get food. IF you get something like a large pizza, a large back of chips, or a think of bread sticks, off it to others before devouring the rest. Other times this will be your chance to buy paints and other gaming stuff. In some cases, a game store might have a table fee for the players (say a dollar) so they can pay for the electricity you will use.
11. Do not pick a fight with the GM. I don't care how much of a jerk they are being, they have the high ground and you are Anikin Skywalker. I am saying you are not going to win.
FOr a short list for new players in any given RPG will need or need to keep in mind.
1. Core Rule Book: Short for CRB, this will have the main rules and abilities, feats, skills, and playable races and classes if available. While other supplementary books can further your fun, but unless you are playing a build of Druid or Ranger with a animal companion so you'll need the bestiary, the other 9/10 times not so much. Buy extras as you see fit. As this is often the size of a text book, a digital version for phone, tablet, or computer is usually also available.
2. Character sheet: This has all your gear, background, and abilities. How much experience you have earned, and how much money to your name. Have several different characters as you might be playing in different groups, and your main character might die a horrible death. Most companies have a free PDF you can download then print out. If you are like me, then you also have a writable one that you find with a quick internet search. I'm not a rediter but I found one on a link on Reddit for my current Pathfinder 2 sheet.
3. Pencil and Paper: You will be changing information game to game either from gear bought, items sold, loot taken, and stats increased due to level. Pencil are easily changeable, pen not so much. you are also going to need to take notes. If you are also like me and write big, or don't want t keep flipping though the book for what thingy A does, write them down in your own words and mar which ones you can do.
4. In the case of Organized play, Chronicle sheets. Organized play is a official world wide campaign, and your characters can do various premade missions to see how well they do and get perks from them. You are bound to get bunch of them so keep them organized
5. Binder with Sheet Protectors. If Point 2, 3, and 4 didn't make this apparent enough. have a few sheet protectors to act as dividers and put in a picture or label that says what your character is, which can also double as something you can have out during the game so people don't keep asking what your character name is.
6. Dice: We are going to be rolling lots of dice. Most will be used for damage, others for other in game events. They will often shortedn do D for dice and their Coresponding number. They are, in order of number of sides.
D4: Looks like a Pyramid.
D6: Most common die used in the world.
D8: Looks like a diamond
D10: Looks like a top
D100: A modified D10, but instead of going up by one 1-10, it goes up by ten 10-100. Used in together with the normal D10, they are often called Percentile dice.
D12: Starts taking a ballish shape. ALso the the highest die used in health (Barbarians normally) and damage.
D20: THe most used die in the game as you will use it for saves, attacks, skills, and so much more. Also a common health counter for Magic the Gathering.
7.The Miniature: Called a Mini for short. THis is a small statue that represents your character on the table. Doesn't have to be exactly what you have in your mind's eye, but it does have to be small enough to not take up alot more space than the other characters take up. Most of us use a lot of official minies from all manner of companies, others use plastic army men, a lot of people I played with use legos. I even used tiny little pokemon toys for the smaller races.
8. If using a computer, a long enough extension cord to get to the wall. I prefer to keep most of my info on the computer, with a writable character sheet. Might also want to use an spreadsheet like
9. Being Respectful: Its a game, but unlike in most online games, you cannot hide under animinity. Be polite. Your character can be boisterous and abrasive as you want, but jerks of any flavor can make a game grating at the best of times. Worse case scenario you can drive away other characters. A good GM will keep the bad elements out as much as they can, but the rest not as much. ALso try not to take up all the space. Most hobby stores don't have alot of it and you might have seven other people and their gear all around you.
Conversely, try not to let the other players get to you if THEY are the pain in the neck. Yes, this is as much me telling myself this as you, but try not to (smiling and being poilight annoys the jerks even more). If the problem doesn't go away, or its more abrasive then anyone should have to put up with (the isms, not taking no to unwanted flirtations or in any meaningful way, just general jerkishness, you pick the level of crap you can take), talk privately with the GM. Most GM's will pick up on this before you need to bring this up and will try and deal with it. Even if they don't, once brought up they will deal with it. If they won't, find another group. Its a game, not actual life and death.
10. Bring money. Many a game store might sell snacks and drinks while others might be close enough to places to get food. IF you get something like a large pizza, a large back of chips, or a think of bread sticks, off it to others before devouring the rest. Other times this will be your chance to buy paints and other gaming stuff. In some cases, a game store might have a table fee for the players (say a dollar) so they can pay for the electricity you will use.
11. Do not pick a fight with the GM. I don't care how much of a jerk they are being, they have the high ground and you are Anikin Skywalker. I am saying you are not going to win.