10 Gift Ideas for Game Masters
Looking for the perfect Christmas gift for your favorite GM? We've put together a complete list of ideas to suit every type of Game Master and every budget.
This article was co-created by members of our team. None of the products mentioned below are sponsored, and no artificial intelligence was used to write this article or generate gift ideas.
For the GM who's just getting started...
New Game Masters often think they need a lot of equipment, but in most cases, a good starter set is all they really need.
A tabletop RPG starter set usually contains everything a GM needs to begin: an introductory adventure, character creation guides, dice, maps, and more.
Many of the components can be reused for future campaigns, and the included rulebook often provides enough material for several adventures.
It's a great way for a new GM to experiment with different styles of storytelling and gameplay.
For the GM who always forgets the numbers...
Does your Game Master struggle to keep track of every point and modifier? That's perfectly normal!
A simple manual counter can make their life much easier. Instead of constantly scribbling numbers on a sheet of paper, they can track everything with a quick click.
Counters can be used for health points, experience points, resources, action points, mana, and much more.
For the GM who loves collecting...
When a roleplayer loves a particular setting, they're often delighted to own more pieces of that universe: themed dice, card decks, expansions, miniatures, accessories, and collectibles.
These gifts are easy to find and can fit almost any budget.
For the GM who calls for dice rolls every five minutes...
If your GM asks for dice rolls at every opportunity, why not turn every roll into an event?
A beautiful dice tower can quickly become the centerpiece of the gaming table.
Depending on their favorite setting, you'll find countless styles ranging from medieval castles and fantasy ruins to futuristic structures.
For the GM who writes down everything...
If your GM meticulously records every action their players take, they'll probably appreciate a high-quality refillable notebook.
It's the perfect place to keep track of memorable moments, player achievements, campaign notes, and plans for future adventures.
Of course, if your Game Master already uses Tome, our RPG campaign management software, there's a built-in note-taking system ready to handle all of that.
For the GM who loves epic battles...
Are legendary battles a regular occurrence at your table? Then why not make them even more memorable?
A Hit Location D12 is an inexpensive gift that can add excitement and unpredictability to every combat encounter, letting fate decide exactly where each character is struck.
For the GM who sometimes wishes they could be a player...
Is the same person always running your games?
Then consider offering them the RPG Storymaker Deck.
This clever little gift helps GMs generate new scenario ideas whenever inspiration runs low. It can also be handed to another player, making it easier for someone else to take the GM's seat and build an adventure collaboratively.
It's also perfect for aspiring Game Masters who want to run games but worry about running out of ideas.
For the GM who only plays online...
Does your GM run all their sessions online?
That doesn't mean they won't appreciate physical tools to support their games.
Card packs, tokens, reference aids, and tabletop accessories can still be incredibly useful when preparing and managing virtual sessions.
For the GM who runs games around a real table...
If your sessions are played in person, your GM will probably love a custom GM screen.
You can even make one yourself for a truly personal gift. If crafting isn't your thing, many online services allow you to design and order personalized screens with custom artwork, notes, and reference panels.
The perfect gift for every game master...
And of course, every GM should have the Amsel Suite!
Tome helps Game Masters build and run tabletop RPG campaigns, while Lore lets them organize and store the worlds they've created, whether they're entirely homebrew or based on their favorite settings.
If your GM already owns the suite, that's great news! They may be interested in Harp, our upcoming software designed to manage a campaign's soundscape, or Scry, which allows Game Masters to share information directly with their players.
Both products are available through Late Pledge until December 31, 2026, and are scheduled for release in September 2027. The beta version is planned for June 2027.
And if they already have all of that, then your Game Master is clearly someone with excellent taste. Maybe they'd enjoy a set of custom interface themes instead.
We'll stop promoting our software now, we promise.
Thanks for reading, and we hope you've found the perfect gift idea for your favorite Game Master!
