12 Best Accessories for Dungeon Masters UK

The rogue has rolled under the sofa, the wizard cannot find their spell notes, and somebody has placed a fizzy drink perilously close to the battle map. The best accessories for dungeon masters are not just shiny extras. They keep the game moving, protect the precious bits and make every ominous door, tavern brawl and dragon reveal feel like it belongs in the story.

A brilliant DM does not need a table groaning under the weight of gear. Start with the things that solve a real problem at your sessions, then add the pieces that make your world feel more like yours. Here are 12 accessories worth making room for.

12 best accessories for dungeon masters

1. A dice tray that contains the chaos

Every group has a dice roller with the enthusiasm of a medieval siege engine. A dice tray keeps wayward d20s off character sheets, off the floor and, ideally, out of the dog’s water bowl.

Wooden dice trays bring a little more character to the table than a plastic tub, particularly when they feature fantasy artwork, a meaningful symbol or a design that matches the campaign’s mood. Choose one with raised edges and enough rolling room for a fistful of damage dice. If your sessions take place in a busy pub, a compact tray is easier to carry; for a home game, a larger statement piece earns its place.

2. A DM screen built around your actual game

A screen is still one of the most useful tools behind the table. It hides maps, notes and the occasional panic face when the party ignores the carefully prepared plot hook for a suspicious wheelbarrow.

The best version depends on how you run. Rules-heavy DMs may want reference panels and pockets for quick notes. Narrative-first DMs may prefer a beautiful wooden screen that creates atmosphere without putting a wall between them and the players. Look for one that folds neatly, feels solid and leaves space for the information you genuinely consult most often.

3. Initiative trackers everyone can see

Combat slows down when every turn starts with, “Sorry, who is after the bugbear?” An initiative tracker makes the order visible, lets players prepare their turns and saves the DM from repeatedly scanning a scrap of paper.

Magnetic markers, numbered clips and standing name tokens all work well. The clever choice is one you can update quickly when a new monster appears or someone’s character joins halfway through a session. A handmade wooden tracker also looks right at home beside dice, maps and miniature-filled battlefields.

4. Condition markers for less rules fog

Poisoned, restrained, stunned, concentrating, invisible: conditions are dramatic until everyone forgets they exist. Clear markers turn them into something the whole table can remember.

You do not need a marker for every imaginable effect on day one. Begin with the conditions your group encounters most, plus concentration tokens. Small wooden or acrylic markers are easy to move around a map, while rings that sit beneath miniatures are particularly useful when a crowded encounter gets messy.

5. A proper place for your campaign notes

A loose pile of notebook pages is a traditional DM rite of passage. It is also a very efficient way to lose the innkeeper’s name, the villain’s motive and the one clue the party actually noticed three weeks ago.

A campaign journal, binder or wooden organiser gives your notes a permanent home. Divide it into locations, non-player characters, encounters and loose plot threads. If you play digitally, a handsome notebook still earns its keep for quick sketches and secret notes. There is something satisfying about opening a book that looks as though it might contain the route to an ancient ruin rather than next week’s shopping list.

6. Map tiles for flexible encounters

A large printed battle map is excellent when you know exactly where the fight will happen. Modular map tiles are better when players decide to enter the alley, cellar, rooftop or entirely unplanned sewer.

Reusable dungeon tiles let you build rooms as the party explores, rather than revealing a whole layout too soon. They are especially handy for DMs with limited storage, as a small set can become a crypt, a cave network or a wizard’s laboratory. The trade-off is preparation: elaborate tile sets can tempt you into designing every corridor. Leave room for imagination and a few dry-erase lines.

7. Miniatures, standees and memorable villains

Tokens make combat clearer, but a distinctive miniature makes the table sit up. Bringing out a terrifying creature, an ornate villain or a tiny tavern scene signals that this moment matters.

You need not collect a miniature for every goblin in the realm. A mix works beautifully: a few standout models for bosses and player characters, simple tokens for crowds, and reusable standees for everything else. Focus on pieces your campaign will return to. A necromancer’s throne or a familiar dragon can become part of the group’s shared mythology.

8. A dice vault for special rolls

The dice that decide life, death and whether a paladin can talk their way past an angry guard deserve better than the bottom of a backpack. A dice vault or storage box protects favourite sets and keeps the table tidier between games.

This is where handmade wooden accessories shine. A well-made box can feel like a prop from the world you are running, whether your taste leans towards ancient tomes, gothic horror or star-faring adventure. It is also a cracking gift for the DM who claims they have enough dice, despite the audible rattle whenever they walk.

9. Encounter cards for quicker improvisation

A session can change direction in a heartbeat. Encounter cards give you a useful safety net when the party turns left instead of right, or decides the background shopkeeper is now their best friend.

Prepare a small deck with monster statistics, random names, tavern complications, travel events and treasures. Keep the information short enough to use at a glance. Cards are not a replacement for preparation, but they are very good at turning a blank moment into a confident one.

10. A terrain piece with real presence

Terrain is not essential, but one well-chosen centrepiece can do more for an encounter than a whole cupboard of scatter scenery. A bridge over lava, a ritual altar, a ruined gateway or a tavern bar gives players something to picture and interact with.

Choose terrain that invites decisions. Can the bridge collapse? Is the altar powering the monster? Can somebody leap over the bar to escape the guards? The best pieces are not merely decorative. They make the battlefield part of the puzzle.

11. Ambient lighting and a table-safe lantern

Lighting changes the energy of a game faster than almost anything else. A warm lantern for a tavern, a flickering LED candle for a crypt or coloured lights for an alien world can make an ordinary table feel more deliberate.

Keep it practical. Avoid naked flames near character sheets, dice bags and enthusiastic sleeves, and do not make the room so dark that players cannot read their abilities. Low, adjustable LED lighting delivers atmosphere without turning every rules check into an archaeological dig.

12. A display piece that tells players what matters

The final accessory is less about rules and more about invitation. A layered wooden map, fantasy wall art or a themed centrepiece in your gaming space tells your players that they are stepping into a world with history.

For home campaigns, this is often the piece that turns a spare room or dining table into a proper gaming corner. For DMs travelling to friends’ houses or convention games, smaller themed accessories are more practical. My Little Workshop’s handmade tabletop pieces are made with exactly this kind of story-first table in mind: useful, characterful and built by fellow fans rather than a faceless fantasy factory.

Choosing accessories that earn their place

Before buying anything, think about your group’s biggest point of friction. If combat drags, prioritise initiative and condition tracking. If maps are confusing, add tiles, tokens or terrain. If the issue is atmosphere, start with a dice tray, a screen or a piece of lighting that feels at home in your campaign.

It also helps to consider where you play. A travelling DM needs compact, sturdy accessories that pack away quickly. A permanent home setup can support larger terrain, a display-worthy screen and a more elaborate storage system. Do not underestimate storage either. The coolest dragon hoard in the world becomes less useful when it takes twenty minutes to find the goblin tokens.

The right accessory should make your job easier or make your players lean closer to the table. Pick the next piece that solves one small problem, gives it a bit of personality, and let the questionable decisions begin.