I get the bag and store solution, but I chose to do the following:

• Place all character faction tokens and a portion of number tokens in GMT counter trays (printing out triple dividers for the ship units to store them efficiently). Set up for each player's counter mix is take a tray and remove the lid. Its all sorted with mining ships, colonies, infantry, boarding ships, and so on.
  
  
• Bought dice with velvet bags to give each player a d10 in their color (though I need to order some more d10s in their colors to fill out the sets) plus get velvet bags to put their region tokens in (black for deep space). Oh, and I also chose this set to get player colored dice for Here I Stand.
  
  
• Put the tokens, cards, board, dice, player aids, some log sheets, and rules in the base game box. Extra log sheets go into the expansion box.
  
  I'm a bit behind. I need to process the expansion Replicators, which means rethinking my organization. Probably I'll store the counter trays in the base game box, but the game board/rules/log sheets/player aids in the Close Encounters box, and the rest in the Replicators box.
  
  Still, your organization solution looks nice and clean. I also like the box lid design you made - but, as said, that's way too small to fit all the expansion content in it, so it wouldn't work for me.

Amazon has a few options (1, 2, 3) but the little bags don't seem like anything special. However, they do the job.

I would say to pick up a few things. Just starting out, and if you've got the money I would recommend this stuff if you want to do a full homebrew story:

[Minis](
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00W5WSN5A/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=A1B7M9EQGNCLQA&psc=1) - You need creatures for your game, and while minis can be expensive I see these as being a good start.


Of course the rulebook.


Monster Manuel. Just flipping through it will give you ideas for encounters.


Erasable Grid Tileset - great for anything, from dungeons to wilderness. I would predraw before your session.


[Dice!](
https://www.amazon.com/Kuuqa-Polyhedral-Complete-Dungeons-Dragons/dp/B01MF5G9DY/ref=sr_1_7?s=toys-and-games&ie=UTF8&qid=1517791222&sr=1-7&keywords=D%26D+dice) Enough for all your adventurers and yourself.


The books can be expensive, so if you're looking for a PDF version of anything really check here.

Again, it shouldn't be an issue. But, the default rule for everything is "Check with your DM.", since your DM (whomever that's going to be) is part storyteller, part arbiter of the rules, part cheerleader, and part voice to everything else in the game. When it comes to characters and character creation that a DM is going to be on the lookout for is OP characters that break the game. Usually this is done by Min/Maxers (people who play Computer based RPGs) that look for every advantage in making their characters and by Rules Lawyers who look to bend the rules in their favor (and then argue against ANYONE ELSE DOING THE SAME BECAUSE IT'S AGAINST THE SPIRIT OF THE RULES!) so, don't be those guys. So, since your DM (whomever it's going to be) is just as new, don't go out and purchase the Player's Handbook (PHB) and Xanathar's Guide to Everything (XGE), and generate a super OP character from what you find there. They got enough going on. Also, don't be too harsh on them if they make mistakes. Even veteran DM's can screw up occasionally. (Or more so in my case.)

And, it usually happens that the person with all the books ends up being the DM. But, it doesn't always have to be that way. (And, you can switch out DMs every so often to avoid DM burnout, so long as you switch modules and characters. This way, it keeps everything compartmentalized and less confusing.)

Suggestions:

• I believe EVERYTHING in the starter set (except the one set of obligatory crappy dice) is available free online. Get the rules and read up on them. Maybe print off a copy of the PDF to share, so everyone isn't trying to refer to the same physical copy. You should be able to get that from DnDBeyond.com, the D&D site, or the D&D Adventurers League. Just stay out of the Lost Mines of P (LMoP) module to avoid spoiling the fun.
  
• You can also get additional modules for free from the D&D Adventurers League site. You don't have to get a DCI number and have a public party. If you want to do D&D at conventions under this banner, then yes you do. BUT, it's not a problem if you're just doing this out of someone's home and it's a private party.
  
• Amazon has a few packs of dice, including a ncie, 10 sets of the standard polyhedral dice in different colors. If you guys all chip in, it's a cheap way to get one or two sets of nice looking dice. Seeing the Chessex sets go for $10 USD a pop, this is a great way for everyone to get some dice: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01MF5G9DY/ref=s9_acsd_simh_hd_bw_bBFRg3_c_x_w?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=merchandised-search-3&pf_rd_r=6AK8PW0PJQR9SH1BE5JJ&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=52422c58-cbab-52fd-8092-25ea7a37cce6&pf_rd_i=166221011
  
• Check out the FAQ section of this subreddit, since I believe they'll have links to new player and new DM tutorial stuff.

If he makes his own campaigns, he already owns every book he could want.

He looks a bit lacking in dice, I'd either get him one nice pair of dice (I personally like these, or if he doesn't have many sets of dice (some spells use a bunch of D6s at once so it's worth having multiple sets) get him something like this which is way more useful than the one set of spiky dice I linked the first time.

D&D Basics (Getting started)

The Absolute Basics

First you will want to grab either the Basic rules (Free), the Starter Set (Cheap), or the Players handbook, Dungeon Masters Guide, and Probably Monster Manual

Then you need to have at least a few items

• Dice (Phone apps will work if absolutely necessary, or these)
  
• Paper & Pencil (for notes)
  
• Character Sheet (In the free PDF or an app)
  
  The starter set is nice because it does a bunch of the work for you, it has an easy to follow adventure, pre-made characters, Dice, and rules for the DM and players. And at half the cost of just the players handbook AND including an adventure, it is an incredible value.
  
  Once you finish that then looking at at least a players handbook for the extra races, classes, backgrounds, and other things is a good deal. That should let you run free adventures people have put online.
  
  The DM's guide will let you get deeper into rules and the right way to call them, break them, and make them.
  
  The monster manual can be a great tool to make better encounters.
  
  If you want to run a commercial adventure after the one's included in the starter set, "Tales from the Yawning Portal" includes the Sunless Citidel, considered by many to be an excellent adventure for those new to the game and just recently brought up from 3.5e into 5e
  
  

  Common Tools of the Trade
  

  
  As you start running more complex adventures you are going to want to have a few tools to keep things moving, either as a player or as a DM.
  
  

  As a Player
  

  
  The bare essentials every players should have are listed above, but most players agree having a few extras can make the game run really quick.
  
  

  Spell Cards
  

  
  These cards have all the spells available for specific classes or from specific books on really well organized cards that make it easy to set aside your prepared spells and quickly reference all the core details.
  
  Cleric, Arcane, Ranger, Druid, Bard, Paladin, Martial Powers and Races, Xanathars Guide to Everything
  
  

  Binders & Sheet Protectors
  

  
  Keeping everything neat and organized can be a huge time saver and make it much easier for you to find what you need. Binders can be a great way to keep your notes and other materials organized. In addition many sheet protectors easily erase dry erase markers making it easy to keep track of spells and other changes without ruining character sheets with constant erasing.
  
  

  As a DM
  

  
  DMs have their work cut out for them. But a few simple tools can make the game run smooth and leave everyone having that much more fun.
  
  

  Index Cards
  

  
  A set of index cards can go a long way to speeding up the game. Players can put details on spells or magic items on them. You can prepare loot for the game ahead of time and hand it out allowing players to look over the gear as the game continues. You can also use them to hide portions of a battle map or commerical map to give the effect of fog of war.
  
  

  Game Mats
  

  
  A game mat let's you make single maps by drawing on them with dry erase or wet erase markers. Many are made of vinyl and can last a long time. Normally they will have either 1" squares or hex shapes.
  
  

  Minitures
  

  
  These things can be expensive, but giving your game that 3D upgrade and helping players better manage space in a game can be well worth it. You can use actual miniatures (Like those from Reaper), Create custom ones on Hero's Forge, or even just buy some cheap stand in tokens from Game Mash.
  
  If you just need a cheap way to keep track of positions army men, bottle caps, colored game pieces, and even legos can all play the role.
  
  No matter what you use, you can pick up colored rubber bands to mark status conditions or other information.
  
  

  Where Can I Play?
  

  
  You can find tons of places to play D&D.
  
  

• Get together a gaming group.
  
• Find a Guild or club in your area. Meetup.com,
  
• Most hobby shops and especially comic book and gaming shops offer games, usually Adventure League. WotC offers a tool to find stores here.
  
• /r/lfg can be a great way to find others to play online with.
  
• Play by Mail sites like RPoL allow you to play by forum post.
  
  

  Also:
  

  
  Critical Role - Voice actors playing DnD, Matt Mercer (The DM) is an amazing Dungeon Master and shows how the game should be played.
  
  Matthew Colville - Amazing videos on being a DM, must watch material for every DM. Even when your opinions differ he gives good reasons and great advice.
  
  

  Compendiums
  

  
  These let you ciew all the free open rules (SRD & Basic Rules) for D&D 5e at no cost.
  
  Roll20 Compendium - Has all the open rules for the game, so a good source for monsters, items, spells, etc.
  
  DnDBeyond - A more official source for the content, plus you can buy all the materials released by WotC to use, and has a great character builder.
  
  

  Adventures & Maps
  

  
  DMsGuild - Tons of free and paid adventures and other materials. The quality can be varying, but many are free and that can be great.
  
  /r/dndmaps/ - What more can they say, D&D Maps.
  
  Mike Schley Makes many of the maps for the D&D Adventures.