Getting into tabletop roleplaying games is deceptively expensive. At the start, it seems affordable; you just grab the rulebook and a set of dice and you're good to go. But then, you want to purchase a dice tray. And then some more dice. After that, maybe a book to keep adventure logs in. Then some cards to remind you how spells work. And then some more dice. Now you need a bag to keep it all in. Then you grab a miniature of your hero and a little box to bring it around. And then some more dice.

Fortunately, there are plenty of D&D accessories you can 3D print instead of purchasing. I don't recommend printing everything you need for a TTRPG session (I'm unsure if a 3D printed D20 will actually roll well, for instance), but there are some items you can make out of resin and save some money.

4 Pick out a miniature for your hero (or your party's demise)

3D print your own monsters

One of the more obvious and useful ways you can use a 3D printer for TTRPGs is for making miniatures. While it's totally possible to run games like D&D with no battle maps, more often than not, you'll be using one. So, why not get cool-looking miniatures for your table? If you're a player, you can grab a 3D model that represents your character plus their familiars. DMs can make good use of it by 3D printing the monsters the players have to fight. No longer do you need to use random household objects as stand-ins.

While printing your own minis may seem obvious, what may not be so well-known are the sheer number of TTRPG model Patreons out there. These are run by people who are really passionate about the game and create really high-quality 3D models you can download and print at home. I'm personally a huge fan of Titan-Forge Miniatures.

3 Keep on top of things with trackers

Never be caught without a spell again

Honestly, I need all the help I can get when it comes to remembering all the things I have going on. I can't tell you how many times I've forgotten that I have the exact potion or magic item to solve an issue, only to remember the next session while idly looking through my character sheet.

Well, there are a ton of trackers out there you can download and print, and you can even make your own if you're feeling brave. I'm personally a huge fan of the spell slot tracker in the video above; it's an easy and simple way to keep tabs on how many times you can fireball the room before you're out of gas.

2 3D print an awesome dice tower

Makes rolling the dice exciting

If you're new to TTRPGs, let me break down a little something about how people approach the gaming table. See, people really like to show off their creative and original stuff when it's time to play. By far, the most common item people bling out is the dice. When you start out, you don't see much point in getting a die that does anything past rolling a number, but give it a few years and you'll be looking into liquid core dice with stuff floating around in its middle. Happens to all of us.

Like I said above, I've never tried 3D printing dice, but I can't imagine it would go well. Fortunately, we can 3D print the second-most extravagant item people love to splash out on: the dice tower. These handy accessories are small towers where you pour the dice you want to roll into the top. They trickle down the tower until they're spat out at the bottom into a tray where you can see the result. Not only is it a nice way to prevent rolling dice off the table, but it ensures each die gets a good scramble before it lands on a result.

The thing is, people get really creative with how dice towers look. Take the above example, for instance, where someone 3D printed a dice tower modelled as a shipwreck and the dice are shot out into a miniature ice lake tray. Incredible stuff.

1 Keep your dice safe with a dice box

Because you need to bring them around somehow

You may have noticed a trend in which I've discussed dice frequently throughout this article. TTRPG players love their dice; they're what decides if their character lives or dies, after all. So, why not 3D print something to keep your dice organised when you bring them over for a games night?

The above video showcases a unique cylindrical design that allows you to attach trays of dice using magnets. Best of all, you can even convert the core into a dice tower when it's time to throw down. It's very cool.

Why buy D&D accessories when you can make your own?

Whether you're making a dice tower from a cool STL you saw on a website once to creating a horde of goblins for your party to fight, a 3D printer can really come in handy when you're getting into TTRPGs like D&D. The next time you feel the urge to kit out your accessories, maybe try making your own instead of paying.