Gift Ideas for Gamers

Is there someone on your holiday list who loves Dungeons and Dragons and other role-playing games? If so, you might be wondering what gift you can give that would possibly appeal. Here's a list of gift ideas for gamers to make your holiday shopping a little easier.

Traditional Gaming Books. Chances are that the gamer on your list already has a collection of Dungeons and Dragon books. But there are always new supplements, monster manuals and the like being published each year. So check and see if your gamer has a wish list on Amazon.com - that will give you a clue as to what books they don't already have and which books they might like to receive this holiday season.

Indie Game Books. If you haven't a clue what the gamer on your holiday gift list already owns or does not own, go with an Independent Game like those found on indiepressrevolution.com. The good and bad thing about indie games are that they aren't that well known. Nonetheless, many of them are crazy fun and great gift ideas for gamers. For example, maybe the gamer in your life would enjoy an award-winning unusual superhero game like Capes. Perhaps a game about Cleopatra would suit the history loving gamer on your list. Or for a truly unique shoot-em-up adventure that is part game and part social critique, check out Dogs in the Vineyard.

Dice. Most gamers are obsessive about dice. Dice are great gift ideas for gamers because no hard-core gamer can own too many! Six sided, twelve sided, dice shaped like pyramids, dice carved from marble. The more unusual the dice, the more the gamer on your holiday list is bound to enjoy receiving them as a gift. (Also, a lovely dice bag is a gift idea for gamers that is never to be scoffed at. Embroidered or old-fashioned looking pouches are best, especially if they close with a drawstring.)

Pencils. Gamers like to write in pencil on their character sheets, because the marks can be erased after or changed to suit game-play. But why should they need to show up on game day with a geeky number two? Give them a nice mechanical pencil this holiday season. Or heck, give them a whole bag of them. They're not very expensive and they make great stocking stuffers.

Giant Graph Paper. Gamers tend to collect pads of graph paper because it helps them map out the tunnels, forests, or other terrain they plan to use as a backdrop for the game. But don't settle for graph paper that's suited mostly for high school math class. Go with a giant pad of graph paper that can be rolled out on a table for a fantastic map. You can find these at Staples or other office supply stores and if you buy an easel to go with it, so much the better!

World of Warcraft. But maybe the gamer on your list isn't of the old-school table-top generation. Maybe your gamer longs to play on the internet. If that's the case, consider purchasing a gift subscription to World of Warcraft. This is a massively multiplayer online role-playing game with many similarities to Dungeons and Dragons. You can buy a six month subscription for about $78, and it's a gift that will give countless hours of enjoyment to the gamer on your holiday gift list.

Video Games. Along those same lines, don't neglect video games when searching for gift ideas for gamers. There's Final Fantasy 3 for the Nintendo DS. There's Final Fantasy XII for the PlayStation2. Don't forget the forthcoming NeverWinter Nights 2 or Guitar Hero II. These gifts usually fit nicely into a stocking and are sure to elicit near squeals of delight when the holiday gift-opening begins.

An Amazon Gift Certificate. Amazon.com has available many game titles, and book titles, and even video games. If you give one to the gamer on your list, he or she is sure to choose something they'll love, and thank you for it.