Players: If you're not going to be running D&D adventures for your friends, you really don't need the 4th edition Dungeon Master's Guide or Monster Manual. You can play the game with only the Player's Handbook.

DMs: If you're buying your core rulebooks á là carte, you'll want this volume to provide you with monsters to challenge your players' characters. Players: You might also want this volume, just to see what you're up against. Just remember to keep player knowledge separate from character knowledge!

DMs: Buy this product if you like Dungeon Tiles but want some outdoor scenery. Currently, "Ruins" is WotC's only outdoor tiles product. In my opinion, this is the least useful of the Dungeon Tiles line, because outdoor settings can be so much more fluid than dungeon settings. Combine these tiles with outdoor maps from the D&D Miniatures game to expand the usefulness of both for role-playing.

DMs: Buy this product if you want to set miniatures-scale battles or adventures in ancient tombs or pyramids. Be aware, though, that the tiles in this set have a yellowish cast to them, intended to evoke a "desert" feel but significantly different in color from WotC's other Dungeon Tiles. If color doesn't matter much to you, you can certainly mix and match.

DMs: Buy this product if you haven't used Dungeon Tiles before and you want a basic set to get started. Also buy this product if you're experienced with Dungeon Tiles but you want the beautifully-illustrated giant-themed pieces to coordinate with the Against the Giants miniatures set.