One of the changes in recent years in the RPG hobby that attracted my attention is the large selection of dice available. When I was a teenager I didn’t care about what dice I used. As long as I had enough to play I didn’t give them a second thought. Now that I’m returning to the hobby I want to have dice that I enjoy using. I’ve eliminated the dull solid-color opaque dice and the ugly ones with glitter inside (they went straight to the noob bag for new players in my games).
They’re not only attractive but have a nice feel when rolled.
Fancy dice are now finding their way into gamers’ hands. These are dice made of metal and attractive stones. Extra fancy dice are even available like dice made from semi precious stones and metal dice carefully manufactured to have separated interiors that chime when rolled. I got to see these for the first time at the PAX South 2018 convention. Although the convention focused on video games several booths were selling metal and stone dice. Those booths were packed with gamers examining each variety with careful attention.
Anodized aluminum dice have a look that can’t be matched.
Gamers are debating whether fancy dice are collectibles or meant to be used at the game table. Metal and stone dice wreak havoc on the surface of most tables so a padded surface or rolling tray becomes necessary. These dice also become damaged when thrown into a bag together so foam or specially designed wooden cases must be used. These considerations are enough to turn off many gamers but some don’t mind a small tin and folding leather tray in their shoulder bag. A game store owner in Austin, Texas makes his own wooden dice trays with leather lining to sell in his store. They look so attractive I may pick one up even though I don’t have any fancy dice.
Although prone to chipping stone dice have a look that justifies their popularity.
A more radical innovation is removing dice entirely and using software. This is the topic that gets many gamers upset. For many people, if they don’t feel the dice in their hand it isn’t really roleplaying. I’ve been writing my own Web applications to handle certain aspects of the games I play and I’m excited about the possibilities. The math many games require like adding or subtracting from a roll is done instantly. You can execute die rolls on dice with any number of sides. No more re-rolling if you hit the highest or lowest number on a die.
Does that look like a d10 to you?
The real beauty of software support for games is chart checking becomes instant. Games like Mekton Z and Dungeon Crawl Classics don’t have to slow down while someone checks a chart and then rolls on another chart. With the prevalence of tablet computers at game tables now it only takes a little JavaScript know-how to create something everyone can use.
Photos don’t do justice to the true appearance of stone dice. See some at a convention & I’m confident you’ll agree.
I realize software at the gaming table is an iffy proposition. The tactile experience of rolling the dice and the traditions built up over years like “trust the dice” are not going to step aside easily. However, I remain hopeful. If fancy dice can find a place at many game tables then why not digital dice?
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