An Adventurer’s Guide to Dice
Materials, Mischief, and the Pursuit of the Perfect Roll
There are few sounds more universally understood around a gaming table than the clatter of dice. It may signal a desperate attempt to pick an ancient lock, a confrontation with something best left undisturbed, or the remarkably ill-advised decision to insult a dragon.
Whatever the circumstances, the dice have been summoned, and while fate may be impartial, there is absolutely no reason its instruments must be boring.
Your Dice, Your Adventure
Choosing dice is a surprisingly personal affair.
For some adventurers, it is about the reassuring weight of metal in the palm. For others, it is the mesmerizing swirl of a liquid core, the sparkle of polished resin, or a particular shade of green that just happens to match their favorite character’s questionable moral alignment.
Perhaps your dice reflect the character you are playing, the army you command, or the strange and wonderful worlds you prefer to explore. Whatever draws you to a particular set, there is no wrong answer.
Dice are more than random-number generators. In their own small way, they are an extension of the person rolling them. A little expression of personality, imagination, and sometimes an entirely unreasonable attachment to a particular color. And naturally, there is no reason to own just one set. The dice that accompany your noble paladin need not be the same dice you bring to a grim science-fiction battlefield. Your pirate captain may demand something entirely different from your scholarly investigator of the supernatural.
Some call this excessive.
At the Grand Adventurers Club, we consider it being properly equipped.
Of course, most experienced adventurers have a favorite set. A reliable backup. And perhaps a third set reserved for occasions when the first two have clearly betrayed them.
Dice cannot actually hold grudges.
Probably.
A Brief Field Guide to Polyhedral Dice
Before we begin exploring the many wonderful varieties of dice, a quick word about the shapes and terminology you are likely to encounter.
In tabletop gaming, polyhedral dice simply refers to dice with multiple flat faces. While the familiar six-sided die is the one most people recognize, roleplaying games frequently employ dice with four, eight, ten, twelve, twenty, or even more sides.
Fortunately, the naming convention is remarkably straightforward.
The letter D stands for die, followed by the number of sides it has.
D4: A four-sided die
D6: A six-sided die, the familiar cube
D8: An eight-sided die
D10: A ten-sided die
D12: A twelve-sided die
D20: A twenty-sided die, beloved and occasionally cursed by countless adventurers
You will often see these designations combined with another number, such as 2D6 or 3D8.
The number before the D tells you how many dice to roll. The number after the D tells you how many sides each die has.
For example:
2D4 means roll two four-sided dice and add their results together. If you only have one D4, rolling it twice and adding the results accomplishes exactly the same thing.
3D6 means roll three six-sided dice and add the results.
You may also encounter instructions such as 1D20 + 5, which means roll a twenty-sided die and add five to the result.
And if you encounter D100, you are generally being asked for a number between 1 and 100, often generated using two ten-sided dice: one for the tens and another for the ones. A roll of double zero usually represents 100.
Different games have different requirements. Some use only six-sided dice, others employ entire collections of polyhedrals, and still others use specialized dice with symbols rather than numbers.
The important thing is to have the dice your particular game requires.
What they are made of, however, is an entirely different matter.
And that is where things get interesting.
A Quick Comparison at a Glance
For readers who prefer the short version, here is a quick guide to the major dice types:
Material | Weight | Main appeal | Something to consider |
Acrylic | Light | Affordable, colorful, dependable | Simpler appearance than premium styles |
Resin | Light to moderate | Artistic detail, swirls, glitter, inclusions | Some designs can be harder to read |
Solid metal | Heavy | Satisfying weight and presence | Best used with a tray or mat |
Hollow metal | Moderate | Intricate designs, lighter than solid metal | Can be more delicate |
Liquid-core | Moderate | Mesmerizing moving center | Usually pricier and deserves extra care |
Glass / gemstone | Moderate to heavy | Premium beauty and collectibility | Can chip or break if mishandled |
Acrylic dice are affordable and lightweight, resin dice offer artistic designs, metal dice provide substantial heft, and liquid-core dice bring a bit of spectacle to the table. Hollow metal, glass, and gemstone dice offer even more distinctive styles. The best choice depends on what you find beautiful, comfortable, practical, and fun to roll.
Choosing Your Traveling Companions
From humble acrylic to polished gemstones, dice come in an astonishing variety of materials, finishes, and designs.
Each has its own appeal, practical advantages, and distinctive character.
Which one is best?
Well, that depends entirely on the adventurer holding them.
Acrylic Dice: The Trusty Traveling Companions
There is something to be said for a good, dependable set of acrylic dice.
Lightweight, affordable, and available in practically every color imaginable, acrylic dice have accompanied countless adventurers into dungeons, across battlefields, and through situations that could have been avoided with a little common sense.
They are often the first dice a new player owns, and for good reason.
Acrylic dice are easy to carry, generally durable, and gentle on most gaming surfaces. Their relatively low cost makes it practical to collect multiple sets or assemble large quantities for games that demand handfuls of dice.
Why adventurers choose them: Affordability, convenience, an enormous variety of colors, and the simple satisfaction of having plenty of dice at the ready.
Something to consider: Acrylic dice generally lack the heft of metal and the more elaborate visual effects found in some premium materials. But that does not make them any less capable of deciding your character’s fate.
And should one disappear beneath the furniture, replacing it need not require a second mortgage.
Resin Dice: A Little Art in Every Roll
If acrylic dice are the dependable expedition equipment, resin dice are where the artisans begin showing off.
Resin allows for spectacular visual effects: shimmering pigments, suspended glitter, swirling colors, delicate inclusions, and patterns that can make each die feel like a miniature work of art.
Some resemble distant galaxies. Others look like captured storms, enchanted gemstones, or something recovered from a particularly suspicious wizard’s laboratory.
Resin dice tend to be lightweight and comfortable to roll, making them suitable for everything from casual RPG sessions to lengthy campaigns.
Why adventurers choose them: Artistic designs, unusual color combinations, and the opportunity to find dice that perfectly capture a character’s personality or the atmosphere of a game.
Something to consider: Quality varies between manufacturers. Clear, legible numbering is worth looking for, particularly on elaborate designs where beauty can occasionally get in the way of practicality.
After all, an extraordinary die that requires three people and a lantern to read may be more trouble than it is worth.
Metal Dice: For Those Who Appreciate a Little Gravitas
There is something undeniably satisfying about the weight of a metal die resting in your hand.
Metal dice have a presence that their lighter cousins simply do not. They are substantial, often beautifully finished, and announce their arrival on the table with a decidedly authoritative clatter.
Available in a variety of metallic finishes and intricate designs, they can feel like something an adventurer might have carried for generations.
A weathered bronze set might suit a battle-hardened warrior. Dark, angular metal dice could accompany a grim science-fiction campaign. Gleaming silver or gold might be just the thing for someone whose character has expensive tastes and questionable financial judgment.
Why adventurers choose them: Their distinctive weight, tactile satisfaction, craftsmanship, appearance, and the feeling of rolling something substantial.
Something to consider: Metal dice are heavier, and some have sharper edges than their acrylic or resin counterparts. A dice tray or rolling mat is a wise investment to protect tables and other gaming surfaces.
The Quartermaster would also appreciate it if you refrained from testing them directly against the antique furniture.
Hollow Metal Dice: Elegance Without All the Weight
For adventurers who love the look of metal dice but would prefer not to carry a small collection of cannonballs, hollow metal dice offer an intriguing alternative.
These dice use an open framework or decorative metal shell rather than a solid body. Many feature elaborate geometric patterns, intricate cutouts, or fantasy-inspired designs.
They often produce a distinctive ringing or chiming sound when rolled, adding a bit of theatrical flair to an already dramatic moment.
And because they use less material than solid metal dice, they can be considerably lighter.
Why adventurers choose them: Intricate designs, distinctive sounds, lighter weight, and a combination of metallic elegance and artistic detail.
Something to consider: Their delicate structures may be more vulnerable to bending or damage, and some designs can be harder to read. A dice tray is still advisable.
Think of them as fine expedition instruments rather than equipment for hammering tent stakes.
Liquid-Core Dice: A Bit of Magic Captured Inside
Some dice are content to roll.
Others apparently insist on putting on a performance.
Liquid-core dice contain a sealed chamber of fluid, often filled with shimmering particles or suspended decorative elements. When the die moves, the contents swirl, drift, and settle, creating a mesmerizing effect.
They are particularly appealing to players who enjoy an element of spectacle. The shifting colors and glitter can evoke enchanted artifacts, alchemical concoctions, cosmic mysteries, or magical energy.
And they are not restricted to fantasy adventures. A swirling blue or purple set might be equally at home aboard a starship, in an otherworldly horror campaign, or commanding a futuristic army.
Why adventurers choose them: Their captivating movement, magical appearance, unusual construction, and the simple pleasure of watching the contents shift after a roll.
Something to consider: Liquid-core dice are generally more expensive than basic acrylic sets. Their internal chambers also mean they deserve a little extra care, particularly when dropped onto hard surfaces. As with other specialty dice, manufacturing quality matters.
Do they improve your chances of rolling a critical success?
Not in the slightest.
Will you watch the glitter swirl anyway?
Almost certainly.
Glass and Gemstone Dice: Treasures Worth Protecting
Some adventurers prefer their dice to resemble something recovered from an ancient tomb or displayed beneath glass in a museum.
Which brings us, conveniently enough, to glass and gemstone dice.
These premium dice may be crafted from glass, natural stone, or other polished mineral materials. Their appeal lies in their distinctive appearance, texture, and the natural variations that make individual pieces feel special.
A gemstone die can be a beautiful companion to a treasured character or campaign. Glass dice can offer remarkable clarity, color, and visual depth.
Why adventurers choose them: Natural beauty, unusual materials, collectibility, and the pleasure of owning something distinctive.
Something to consider: These materials can chip or break if dropped or rolled against hard surfaces. They are best handled with care and rolled in a padded dice tray.
Not everything recovered on an expedition is meant to survive being thrown across the table.
Novelty and Specialty Dice: Because Someone Had an Idea
Naturally, some dice refuse to fit neatly into any category.
Oversized dice, miniature dice, glow-in-the-dark dice, unusually shaped dice, and dice decorated with themes drawn from every imaginable genre all have their enthusiasts.
And then there are specialty dice designed for particular games or mechanics.
These might use symbols instead of numbers, unusual numbers of sides, or entirely different ways of determining an outcome.
Why adventurers choose them: Personal expression, humor, thematic appeal, portability, or the requirements of a particular game.
Something to consider: Not every unusual die is suitable for every RPG. Before setting out, make sure your chosen dice can actually perform the rolls your game requires.
The Club wholeheartedly supports eccentric equipment.
We do, however, recommend that it be functional.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are metal dice better than resin dice?
Not inherently. Metal dice offer satisfying weight and a substantial feel, while resin dice excel at artistic effects, colorful designs, and comfortable everyday rolling. Which is “better” depends entirely on what you enjoy.
Do expensive dice roll better?
Not necessarily. Price does not guarantee fairness or quality. Manufacturing consistency, shape, and balance matter more than whether a set is costly or inexpensive.
Can I use the same dice for different RPGs?
Often, yes. Many roleplaying games use overlapping dice types. That said, some systems require large numbers of a particular die or use specialized dice with symbols instead of numbers.
The Quartermaster’s Final Advice
The best dice are the ones that make you happy to pick them up and roll.
Certainly, practical considerations matter. Your chosen game may require particular dice. You might prefer something lightweight for travel, something easily readable for long sessions, or something suitably durable for an enthusiastic evening of gaming.
But beyond those considerations, the decision is wonderfully personal.
Perhaps your favorite set matches your character’s armor. Perhaps you prefer the reassuring heft of metal, the quiet simplicity of acrylic, or the tiny swirling universe inside a liquid-core die.
Perhaps you have a particular set that always seems to roll well.
And perhaps you have another set that has been placed in temporary exile after a spectacular series of failures.
We understand.
At the Grand Adventurers Club, we believe your dice should be as individual as the adventures you take them on. If that means owning a different set for every character, campaign, army, and passing obsession, well...
Civilization was dreadfully dull between expeditions.
One might as well collect interesting dice.
Explore the Club’s Dice Cabinet
Whether you are assembling your first set of polyhedral dice, outfitting a new character, or simply adding another beautiful set to a collection that has somehow grown beyond all reasonable expectations, the Grand Adventurers Club invites you to explore our selection of gaming dice.
From practical traveling companions to more extravagant instruments of fate, there may be something waiting for your next adventure.
Filed in the Grand Adventurers Club Field Guide — where curiosity is encouraged, adventure is expected, and excessive dice collections are considered entirely respectable.
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