Every "ultimate TTRPG starter kit" list online seems to have 20 items on it. In practice, most new players only need four or five things to actually improve their sessions. Here's the honest version.
1. A dice set you don't have to think about
One full polyhedral set (d4-d20) is enough to start. Resin or acrylic sets are the easiest on a beginner's budget and read clearly at the table. Metal or gemstone sets are a nice upgrade later, but not a requirement to start playing.
2. Something to roll them in
A basic dice tray or rolling mat stops dice bouncing off the table, knocking over drinks, or disappearing under furniture. This is the single most-skipped item by new players, and the one almost everyone wishes they'd bought sooner.
3. A bag that actually closes
Loose dice in a pencil case get lost. A drawstring dice bag keeps a set together between sessions and is small enough to live in a backpack pocket permanently.
4. Character sheet protection
If you're playing a long campaign, your character sheet gets handled every session for months. A simple card holder or a laminated sheet in a folder saves you from starting over when it tears.
What you don't need on day one
Miniatures, terrain, specialty dice for every damage type, and multiple matching sets are all fun collector items — but none of them make your first session better. Buy those once you know you're sticking with the hobby.
See dice sets, trays, and bags together in Dice, Trays & RPG, or browse the pared-back HexHoard Essentials collection for a shortlist of what we'd actually recommend to a first-timer.