Dreams and Machines Starter Set vs Gamemasters Guide: Which First?
By Modiphius US | Published: 2026-11-05
Category: Vergelijkingen
Buy the Starter Set first if you're new to Dreams and Machines; add the Gamemaster's Guide once your group is ready to run the world. Here's the trade-off.
Quick answer
Start with the Dreams And Machines: Starter Set. It gets a new group to the table with the essentials for a beginner RPG, while the Dreams And Machines: Gamemasters Guide is a deeper world and rules toolkit to add once you're already playing.
What each book actually gives you
The Starter Set is built as an entry point: it presents Evera Prime and the Wakers as the backdrop for your first adventures. The Gamemaster's Guide is aimed at the person running the game, adding rules and tools to immerse players in the history and setting of Evera Prime.
That split matters for a beginner RPG group. One product gets everyone playing; the other deepens the experience for the GM once play has begun.
The price trade-off
At catalog prices, the Starter Set is the lower-cost way to try Dreams and Machines, while the Gamemaster's Guide costs more and assumes you already have a group. If budget is tight, the Starter Set is the safer first purchase.
Buying both at once only makes sense if you already know you'll run a campaign and want the setting material on hand.
When the GM guide should come first
If you're an experienced GM who already owns a starter or core rules and just wants the Evera Prime setting and GM tools, the Gamemaster's Guide can be your first purchase. New groups should still begin with the Starter Set.
Trade-offs to weigh
- Starter Set: lower cost, faster start: Choose it if your priority is getting a new group playing quickly with the least spending. Best first purchase for a beginner RPG group.
- Gamemaster's Guide: more setting depth, higher cost: Choose it if you're already committed to running Dreams and Machines and want the GM-facing history and tools. Add it after the Starter Set unless you're an experienced GM.
- Buying both at once: Only do this if you're certain you'll run a campaign and want the setting material ready from session one. Otherwise, start with the Starter Set and add the guide later.
Product facts
- Dreams And Machines: Starter Set: The Starter Set is positioned as the way to begin your adventures in Dreams and Machines on Evera Prime. It's the natural first buy for a group that hasn't played the RPG yet.
Dreams And Machines: Starter Set - Dreams And Machines: Gamemasters Guide: The Gamemaster's Guide provides rules and tools to immerse you and your players in the history and setting of Evera Prime. It's most useful once someone has stepped into the GM role and wants more setting depth.
Dreams And Machines: Gamemasters Guide
Which should you buy?
Best for
- New players and GMs trying Dreams and Machines for the first time
- Groups on a tighter budget who want the essentials in one purchase
Not for
- Experienced GMs who already have the core rules and only want setting material
- Groups that have already played the Starter Set and are ready to expand
