Maps or a grid
Anyone who looks closely at the rules of Dungeons & Dragons, whether regarding their character sheet or certain spells, will notice that many mechanics depend on ranges. And to capture these in the game, you need maps or a grid that allows you to recognize distances.
At the start of our campaign, we armed ourselves with a lot of printed grids on which obstacles or other structures can be drawn. By now, our game master is looking for more detailed maps from various artists who offer them online.
Conclusion: Without a map, the game becomes significantly more complicated, which is why I would classify maps as a must-have. However, they do not need to be purchased; printed A3 papers are also sufficient.
Character Sheets
Character sheets are needed to record important information about your character and some relevant NPCs. You can manage character sheets digitally and through various apps, but you can also simply print them out. Even with digital usage, I still recommend having a printed copy to jot down some “messier”, but spontaneous and quicker notes.
You can buy character sheets in stores, but there are files for the older sheet from 2014 and the new one from 2024 available on D&D Beyond in German, English, Spanish, French, and Italian. The files are free and can be filled out digitally in PDF or manually after printing.
Conclusion: Character sheets are similar to maps or grids in importance. They are absolutely necessary but do not need to be purchased – unless you want fancy, special paper.
