What you actually need to start playing
Blaine From 30+ years at the table
Technically, nothing. A few friends, a couple of hours and some imagination. Everything else makes it easier or prettier. None of it is what makes the game happen.
$0
Free
Friends and some time. That's the real cost of a tabletop game, and it's the one most of us forget to pay.
Pencil and paper. For character sheets and notes.
The rules. A quick internet search turns up tons of free rules. Pathfinder's are pretty much all free on Archives of Nethys. The only thing free rules usually don't come with is the lore and the setting, and that's what your imagination is for.
We didn't have all that as kids. We made stuff up. Borrow the world from your favorite book series or movie, and you're ready.
Dice. A dice app on your phone works fine. Real dice are more fun, but you don't need them to start.
$25 to $35
The first thing to buy: a starter set
Once you're hooked, get a starter set. Most run $25 to $35 and often come with dice. They give you the basics to start: the rules, an adventure, and usually maps or tokens. Two we've reviewed and would hand to a new group:
Cosmere RPG Stormlight Starter Set
About $25 for the rules, an adventure, custom dice, two flip maps, tokens and initiative cards. Joe called it the best D20 system he's ever read.
Cyberpunk Edgerunners Mission Kit
$35 for dice, standees, tokens, flip maps and a Night City map, with the rules split out so they're easy to find. It's what I run Cyberpunk with now.
If you're a player
Usually, nothing. Show up. Everything above is for whoever's running the game.
What you don't need
A $300 setup, terrain, minis, a perfect plan or a voice actor's range. If you want to see what a full kit looks like after years of collecting, that's my GM bag. None of it was there for my first game. For free apps and rules, see the GM tools I use.
Now pick a night
Somebody has to go first. Here's my first game, and New GM November has the tips to read before yours. When your table starts bending the rules, steal a few of my house rules.