It is a bright, early morning during the first week of Eleint. Alinda, a young wizard, makes her way through the courtyard of her new academy, gripping the handle of her staff, her only lifeline. As if it were a barrage of Identify spells aimed at her back, she feels the stares of unfamiliar peers boring into her, attempting to investigate and interrogate her before she even sets foot inside the school itself. Nevertheless, the stares are not enough to dissuade our wizard; Alinda squares her shoulders and lifts her chin, targeting the large front doors with a determined glare. She will not be intimidated.
A Back-to-School Gift Guide for Adventurers
The beginning of a new school year is not unlike the beginning of a new campaign. A fresh adventure awaits on the horizon, filled with endless possibilities and the lure of the unknown. And, perhaps, a bit of fear for the danger that may lie ahead. Whether you’re starting your first year of high school, or you’ve already acquired your diploma, fall is a perfect time for starting anew. It is an opportunity to redefine oneself, if one so desires.
I’ve had the opportunity to partner with Redbubble to create a tabletop-inspired guide. These awesome designs are sure to aid you in your upcoming adventures through classes, exams, and all the extracurriculars in-between! Perhaps your quest is one of academic pursuit, or you’re going on a personal journey for the latter half of the year. Bards, paladins, and warlocks alike will find something that captures the spirit of their characters amongst Redbubble’s millions of unique products designed by over 600,000 artists. Since its inception in 2006, Redbubble has become a hub for independent creators, providing fans with the opportunity to display their love of their favorite hobbies, shows, and games throughout the many facets of their lives.
Unlike holiday shopping, back-to-school shopping involves a heavy component of treat yo’ self. It’s time for new notebooks, folders, and your favorite pens. Additionally, new clothes and accessories to help you survive long hours of studying. I explored Redbubble to find the best tabletop-inspired designs for representing your adventurer identity on campus and give you the advantage you need to succeed.
In this post, I’ll be sharing more of the “accessory” back-to-school products that support your studies (or, at the very least, study habits). We’ll dive into tabletop fashion looks towards the end, so stay tuned for hoodies, leggings, and more!
Mug: “Druid” by sarahspivey
We’ve all had late-night study sessions — or, alternatively, late-night character design sessions where we can’t bring ourselves to abandon our sketchbooks. No matter your quest, Sarah Spivey has a design for every class that can be added to mugs, phone cases, notebooks, and more!
Laptop Sleeve: “Rolling Love” by atomicsarky
Show up to lecture with a decidedly-aesthetic proclamation of your allegiance to the almighty D20. Redbubble’s laptop sleeves are fully padded to protect from scratches and impact damage.
Additionally, the 13″ and 15″ sleeves also fit the Player’s Handbook. Just as, you know, a fun fact. That happened to be tested out of pure curiosity.
Pouch: “Magic User Dice” by kyrajones
Redbubble offers sturdy zippered pouches that are perfect for carrying pens and pencils, but if you’re already set when it comes to writing instruments, they make a fantastic transportation system for dice! Similar to my plastic grocery bag philosophy, I like to put dice bags inside of another bag. That way, no matter what character I’m playing, I can grab the same pouch and know that the right set is in there.
Stickers: “I’ll DM You” by matte-bat; “Words Are My Weapons” & “Force of Nature” by sheppard56
Even as an adult, I love stickers. (Correction: I adore stickers.) They’re a quick way to customize anything you own, such as that plain composition notebook you’re required to use. Lately, I’ve taken to adding stickers to the back of my iPad case, along with blank journals to instantly create a custom player notebook. Which… may not be entirely used for schoolwork.
Travel Mug: “Music Is My Weapon” by sheppard56
It’s dangerous to go alone — so make sure you can bring your beverage of choice along with you! If the bard class isn’t quite your style, Sheppard has designs available for every DnD class. (By this point, I think it’s clear what class I love to play the most. *strums Wonderwall*)
Hoodie: “Use Your Initiative” by JammyScribbler
At the beginning of a new semester, there’s no better mantra to adopt than use your initiative. Your semester is in your hands; it is what you make of it, based on your courage and valor. This hoodie will remind you of that motivation, encouraging you to power through even the toughest of academic challenges. (And it’ll keep you warm in those chilly lecture halls.)
Tote Bag: “Bard’s Inventory” by Charlotte Sandmael
Want to let everyone know exactly what’s in your inventory? This tote bag puts it all on display! What I love about this design is that, to the casual eye, it just looks like an eclectic collection of random items, but to those with a high Perception score, they can connect the clues to understand that it’s a Bard’s starting inventory. It’s large enough to carry your laptop, textbooks, PHB, and tons more! (Also: this is the Medium size. If you need a larger bag to hold your items, Redbubble has you covered!)
Tank Top: “Got Game?” by trxtr5
If you’re hitting up the campus gym, this tank top will challenge that Frat Boy Barbarian who’s hogging the free weights. (He may think his Intimidation score is high, but in reality…) The fabric is super comfortable and perfect for both casual wear or workout gear! Plus, it’s just the right level of subtly nerdy; it won’t encourage odd stares, but if someone recognizes the die, you may make a new gym buddy!
Leggings: “Dice Roll – Sunset” by kayesdoodles
I was a little skeptical about the Redbubble legging fabric at first after reading reviews, but I can vouch: these leggings endured a 4-mile hike up, around, and down a mountain ridge. They have a fantastic moisture-wicking quality, and they’re snug enough that you’ll feel secure throughout your adventure. Also, in spite of them being white, they were perfectly opaque!
V-Neck T-Shirt: “Roll Like a Girl” by alysaavery
Breaking news: girls play D&D. And they’re pretty amazing at it, too. This is one of my new favorite shirts to wear around town; it’s garnered plenty of compliments from femme D&D players who are excited to see better representation within the tabletop community!
If you want to add any of these Redbubble designs to your back-to-school shopping list, you can use the code “B2S-fawnina15” to receive 15% off your entire order until August 31st, 2018.
(DISCLAIMER: I do not receive any commission from your order. This promotion consisted of a RedBubble voucher for products I wished to include in my gift guide to share with all of you; additional compensation was not received. This still qualifies as a sponsored post for Redbubble – that being said, the opinions about the products I’ve chosen to feature are my own. Plus, and MOST importantly, any purchase of the items in my B2S guide supports the original artists of the design you select! If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to ask for clarification.)