RPG dice and accessories: what really helps during a session

The suggestions explained

Set Dadi Cthulhu - Dadi Metallici Da Collezione (7) (GDR)

For a metal set with all seven polyhedral dice

Edition language: Italian

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The metal Cthulhu set includes a d4, a d6, a d8, a d10, a tens die for percentile rolls, a d12 and a d20. I would consider it if your rules use this assortment and you prefer a set you can keep in the reinforced packaging described in the listing. The contents let you check at once which dice you will get: before considering the decorative theme, compare them with the checks and damage rolls that regularly occur in your sessions.

The trade-off to know

One of each type is not always enough when a procedure requires several dice of the same type at once. With metal dice, also consider the rolling surface and ease of transport; material and weight alone do not demonstrate more random results.

Shadowdark - Schermo del GM

For improvising without looking things up in the rulebook every time

Edition language: Italian

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For Shadowdark's Schermo del GM, I would start with the contents listed by NEED GAMES!: tables to help generate elements of the scene, not just a barrier to roll dice behind. I would choose it if you already run the game and want quick aids when the characters meet someone unexpected or explore a direction you have not prepared for. Its value depends on how often those tables actually come into play in your sessions. If you prefer keeping the rulebook closed and just a few sheets in front of you, it can make for a tidy setup; still check how much space you have available.

The trade-off to know

Do not buy the screen expecting it to teach you the rules or include every procedure. For someone who already uses digital references or prefers a completely open table, it may be unnecessary. The core rulebook remains the priority purchase, and the information inside deserves more consideration than the illustration outside.

Fate - Set Di Dadi (verde) (GDR)

For a dedicated set of four Fate dice

Edition language: Italian

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The Fate set contains four dice, described in the listing as the minimum required to play. I would choose it for someone who uses that system and wants to keep a dedicated pack ready, first checking what the group already owns. The colour distinguishes this pack; to decide whether you need a second set, look instead at how many people roll and how often you pass the dice around the table. The useful criterion remains having the dice required by the rules in the quantities actually used.

The trade-off to know

Four Fate dice do not replace a polyhedral assortment or a set with symbols required by another system. The set does not include the rulebook: consider buying it after deciding on the game and whether every participant needs their own dice.

Vaesen - Gdr Horror Dei Miti Nordici - Set Dadi (GDR)

For using Vaesen's six custom d6s

Edition language: Italian

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The Vaesen dice set is listed as containing six d6s with special symbols, designed to accompany the game's mechanics. I would choose it if the group plays Vaesen and finds it convenient to recognise those results from the custom markings. It is a different offering from the traditional polyhedral set: the listing lets you check the number and type of dice before adding an accessory chosen solely for its looks.

The trade-off to know

Count how many dice you may need in a single roll and how many people want a set of their own. Six d6s are not a universal kit for every RPG, and the symbols need to be checked against the procedures of the game you will play.

Not The End - Nuovi Token Esagonali + Sacchetto (GDR)

For a system that resolves checks with tokens and a bag

Edition language: Italian

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The hexagonal tokens with a bag for Not The End are suited to the mechanics of HexSys. The colours represent successes and complications, and the tokens are drawn without looking: I would consider them if you are playing that system and want a dedicated set to keep ready. This choice illustrates a useful check for every purchase: start with the required procedure, because not all roleplaying games use dice for checks.

The trade-off to know

They are an accessory for Not The End and do not include the rulebook needed to understand its rules. If you already have materials suited to the group's procedures, consider whether a dedicated set really improves organisation and makes the results easier to read.

Fabula Ultima - Schermo E Quaderno Del Game Master (GDR)

For combining quick references and preparation tools in Fabula Ultima

Edition language: Italian

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The Schermo e Quaderno del Game Master for Fabula Ultima combines a four-panel A5 screen with a twenty-eight-page booklet. The listing describes rules references and quick-creation tools, plus advice that expands on the rulebook's chapter devoted to the Game Master. I would choose it if you want help both with looking things up during sessions and with preparation between sessions.

The trade-off to know

It supports people who already use Fabula Ultima; it is not a replacement for the Manuale Base. Before adding it to the table, consider whether its height and panels allow you to communicate comfortably with the players and whether its references address the lookups that actually slow down your sessions.

Buying dice based on how you roll them

Check both the type and number of dice used in a single action. Rolling three dice together lets you distinguish the results immediately; rolling one die three times means remembering them and can make it less clear which result belongs to which effect. A different-coloured die can identify a particular role, but agree with the group beforehand on how to read it. Do not assign a meaning to its colour that the rules do not provide for.

With decorative dice, pay particular attention to contrast, how clearly you can read six and nine, and any symbol replacing a number. Look at them under the conditions you play in, not just in a brightly lit photo. For a first set, I would prioritise being able to read the result at a glance. Weight, transparency and finishes are personal preferences: none of these features alone demonstrates greater randomness in the rolls.

A screen is useful for the information it contains

A screen can hide notes, provide tables and create a small workspace, but it can also take up space and visually separate the GM from the rest of the group. Before choosing one, look at the information on the inside. A screen with generation tables does not serve the same purpose as one with combat conditions: both can be useful, but they address different interruptions.

The Schermo del GM for Shadowdark, as presented by the Italian publisher, focuses mainly on tables for improvisation: encounters, names, non-player character traits and treasure. I would consider it for someone who wants to maintain the pace when something they have not prepared for comes up. If the problem instead is remembering a single procedure, a personal reminder beside the rulebook may already be enough. Having the game's name printed on the front does not make the screen essential.

A clear table layout makes things easier for everyone

Separate frequently consulted materials from those that rarely come into play. The character sheet should remain within reach, dice in use should not get mixed in with those already rolled, and resource tokens need to be visible to whoever manages them. Before adding miniatures and maps, decide whether distances need to be measured according to the rules or simply understood within the scene. In the latter case, a simple sketch map may be enough.

For transport, rehearse packing up to go home: can you gather everything into a few containers without mixing up the different kits? An accessory that looks convenient once laid out may require a lot of preparation. With heavy dice, consider a suitable rolling surface too; with a tray, check that the group can see the result. Practical quality means making the action clear to the players, not filling every empty space.