The Gamer’s Holiday Gift Guide from WASD20

Hey it’s a gift guide! A bit later than I’d hoped, but I think it will prove a powerful boon for anyone who is still on the quest of hacking and slashing their way through traffic, festive lights, and elves ringing bells.  Here’s a list of 20 items I think would make excellent gifts for the gamer in your life. (Or you know, for you! Treat yourself!)

Note: Prices listed are at time of posting and are likely to fluctuate. Many of these links are affiliate links and a small commission from the sale helps support WASD2o.  More info on that at the end of the guide.

1. Xanathar’s Guide to Everything – The latest D&D 5th edition book is selling like mad, and for good reason! It’s full of new character options for players, magic items, new rules options and much more. Players or DMs will love it! ($29.95 on Amazon) 
   
2. Gamescience Dice – These are some of the best dice around, and the company dates back to the early days of D&D.  They come in a lot of great colors, and most importantly they’re the most balanced and fair dice money can buy. See my review here. (full sets start at $9)
3. Iron Heart – The latest Runehammer release, this card game looks fun, simple, and it’s got that signature Runehammer art style that I can never resist. It’s at the top of this gamer’s wishlist for sure. ($18.50 for core deck)  
   
4. Oath of the Frozen King  Adventure Kit from Absolute Tabletop – An Adventure Kit is a revolutionary approach to the traditional adventure module, as it encourages DMs to use it in a truly modular fashion. Take as little or as much as you want as you prep faster than ever. Generators, roll tables, options and inspiration abound in this wickedly frigid adventure. Oh, and a bit of art from yours truly.  🙂  Available in print and PDF on their site (link above) or on DriveThruRPG. (Print + PDF – $19.99)
   
5. Scythe, from Stonemaier Games – This past summer I played Scythe with some good friends on vacation. It blew my mind. The game has exceptional design and attention to detail in every part, an imaginative alternate history setting with various factions battling it out in 1920s Europe. Oh, and rusty hulking mechs! And animal companions! I’ll shut up now. Just buy it. ($59.99)
   
   
6. Theme Boxes from Dog Might – Making quality woodcraft gaming products at an affordable price, Dog Might is a solid company with a great reputation and really cool products. The theme boxes would make a great gift for any role-player, but browse their other products too! ($59.95) 
   
7. Rise of the Dungeon Master by David Kushner and Korem Shadmi – The true story of Gary Gygax and the creation of D&D, in graphic novel form! This one is a wild ride, that mixes the truly fascinating history with fantasy adventure. Check out my full review here. ($10.40)  
   
8. Adventures in Middle Earth from Cubicle 7 – Dungeons and Dragons 5th Edition with special rules, classes and cultures adapted for Middle Earth. Realize all the Tolkienesque adventures you’ve been thinking about for years easily and fluidly with the rule system so many have come to know and love. This book is gorgeous and well designed. See my full review here. ($28.95) 
   
9. Learn to Paint Bones Kit from Reaper Miniature – Whether they’re just getting started or they’re looking to level-up their paint jobs from the old craft paint, this kit is a solid value for the painting gamer in your life. ($31.70)
   
10. WizKids Unpainted Miniatures – These officially licensed D&D and Pathfinder miniatures look great and can give Reaper Bones a run for their money with exceptional detail and a nice hard, pre-primed plastic surface. Check your local game shop for the best deals – also sold on Miniature Market or Amazon.   ($3.99 and up) 
    
11. Tales From the Loop by Free League Publishing –  “Roleplaying in the ’80s that never was” is the subtitle for this awesome new RPG which clearly channels the likes of E.T. and Stranger Things. The game swept the 2017 Ennie Awards, winning Best Interior Art, Best Setting, Best Game, Best Writing, and Product of the Year! (PDF $24.99, physical $45.99 )
    
12. Pillars of Eternity Complete Edition – An incredible computer RPG epic just got a PS4 and Xbox One release and it’s getting rave reviews all over again! I recommend checking the holiday sales for the PC version, but if you know a console gamer who’s up for a fantasy journey, scoop this one up at a great price now. (Xbox One – $29.99, PS4 $39.99).  
    
13. Heroic Maps – Gorgeous digital battlemats, maps, and modular tiles for the DM in your life. Ready to drop into your online game, or easily printable for table play. Check them out!
         
14. Stranger Things Action Figures from Funko – If you know someone like me who just needs a little more Stranger Things in their life, this seems like as good a way as any to accomplish that. Whether you put them up on the shelf or throw them in the toy bin (ouch), Funko makes a quality toy and, these ones are particularly nice-looking. (3-packs, $22 and up)
    
15. Kubb – Kubb (pronounced koob) is a Swedish lawn game of strategy and skill that some have nicknamed Viking Chess. This game is an absolute blast, but guard your shins from flying hunks of wood! While the Viking origin is a matter of some debate in the historical record, I find nothing wrong with pretending I’m a Northman as I quaff a mug of ale and hurl my instruments of backyard combat at my opponents’ kubbs. Consider this one for the gamer that needs to get off the couch a bit more! ($44.99)  
    
16. Numenera Starter Set by Monte Cook – I’ve owned the Numenera Core Book for a couple years now, but recently picking up the Starter Set has proven a much more approachable way to get into this beautiful and imaginative setting for a newcomer like myself who gets easily intimidated by new rules sets. The box includes excellent coverage of the basic rules, a starter adventure, dice and more. ($24.97)
    
17. Betrayal at Baldur’s Gate by Avalon Hill – The well-regarded Betrayal at the House on the Hill gets a D&D makeover! Check it out if you’re in the mood for a unique murder mystery D&D board game. ($29.17)
    
18. Munchkin Holiday Surprise – A fun holiday version of the classic card game all about killing monster and taking their stuff. It’s one of my all-time favorites, and one simply can’t go wrong with Munchkin! Also, if you’ve never played the original, the deluxe version is discounted on Amazon at time of posting. ($15.25 for Holiday Surprise)
    
19. How to Draw Fantasy Art and RPG Maps by Jared Blando –  A practical step-by-step guide to drawing beautiful maps of your fictional worlds. Even though I’ll likely never follow it step-by-step, various pieces of this book have proven extremely useful and it’s one I go back to often when I need a new way to draw something. Location icons, borders, lakes and trees, advice on tools — This book has it all! (PDF $11.99, paperback $19.79) 
    
20. Steam Gift Card – If you’re at a loss and you know they like PC games, put a smile on their face with a Steam gift card just in time for the holiday sale.  These are also available at certain brick and mortar stores (Best Buy, Gamestop, and more).
    

Thanks for checking out the gift guide! I’d love to hear what you think in the comments below.

** Affiliate commission is received from links to Amazon, DriveThruRPG, and Gamescience. Same great prices for you. In addition to YouTube ad revenue and Patreon, this is a valuable source of funding for WASD20. Thank you, and Happy Holidays!