Looking to start playing. What books do I need, apps, or basic things to get started. Thank you for the help!

Looking to start playing.  What books do I need, apps, or basic things to get started.  Thank you for the help! I want to be able to have a character ready to go, and a way to make updates to his stats, equip, HP and all that in a easy way. Can anyone give me a "have these things" package to make this process easy? Is D&D Beyond worth it? Thank you all very very much.

What do you want to play? D&D 5th edition? You can google the basic players guide pdf, it's free on Wizards of the Coast. That should get you started with the basics. There is a Core for each version of D&D that contains a Player Guide (your most important D&D tool), Monster Manual (useful in game) and Dungeon Master Manual (you don't need that right away). You can buy those at amazon or anything similar. Those contain the most information you would need to start playing D&D and as an absolute beginner I would advise using them (or the PDF versions) but searching online can get you a long way without spending a $. I don't think Beyond is worth it right away. It's a good resource though.

I would like to play the established games like this. I just want the easiest thing I can use to create a character, and be able to update that character. Does that help? Ty! Winter Pro Member since: 07/27/18 Hours Played: 567 Dungeon of the Mad Mage Seeing as the quarantine has put me out of a job, I’ve been looking for a way to support myself at least a little. And Read more... Role Playing Game Pay to Play Welcomes New Players Playing D&D 5E 1 Current Players (4 Open Slots) Next Game 1588197600 Played Weekly ; Voice only

Just have a game run by a DM using a set adventure from Wizards. And I can make a character easily, and make easy updates to them.

Roll20 gives you all the tools you need to create and easily edit a character. As for WotC expansions you can buy those and host games fort hem or join games of that expansion (see the topic names in LFG). Getting paid as a DM is possible here, if you have enough experience and a good thing set up you can run paid games from here, just like other people offer on here to help people that can't find a group on discord or just want a closed friends group.

Awesome that was really helpful. Ty for your time.

First it depends on which game system you are discussing.  But assuming it's DND you really don't need anything but the basic rules which are a free download from Wizards of the Coast website.  As far as apps, Roll20 pretty much has you covered.   EDIT: was first poster but site crashed and when it finally posted got pushed down here, lol.

Yep, I just want to play D&D 5E.  The premade adventures from Wizards.  I just want to join a game run by a DM with the adventure, I do not mind paying at all.  I have the rules and know how to play.....just wondering if I should spring for the players handbook and all that.  Also, is this easy to learn, I don't want to start a beginner game, and just ruin it because the interface is tricky.  Ty.