When you think about tabletop role-playing games, your mind likely drifts to epic quests, fantastical world-building, and brave adventurers battling mighty evils. But behind every critical hit or devastating fumble, there's a lucky roll on our favorite die. There is a growing movement of artisans pouring heart and skill into creating the very dice that shape our adventures. Not only are the results functional, but stunning and innovative as well. These dice are handcrafted, unique works of art, carefully sculpted and designed by artisans who are as passionate about their craft as the players who roll them.
From translucent gem-like creations to intricately painted polyhedrals, these dice do more than determine the outcome of a game—they bring an extra layer of immersion and magic to the table. So get your math rocks ready, dice goblins. Today, we’re shining a spotlight on dice-makers who are changing the game and making waves in the TTRPG community.
Crystal Maggie: The Jack of All Trades
Scrolling through the Crystal Maggie shop is like flipping through a luxurious catalog where the prices pleasantly surprise you at every turn. It’s easy to spend an hour on this site because of the incredible variety, quality, and beauty of the work. Each new set of dice you’ll find here is more interesting than the last. Glass, UV-activated gemstone, and of course, resin works of art will awe you with their clarity and win you over with the optional accessories that come with your purchase. Necklaces for your d20, wooden dice boxes, trays, and bags all just as high quality as the dice themselves. Some of the designs inside the dice leave me dumbfounded as to how anyone even thought of the idea, much less managed to make such an idea become reality. These are the perfect dice to gift to yourself when you create a new character for a long campaign.
Smoking Glue Guns: Award-Winning Math Rocks
“How do dice win awards?” you might ask yourself when you see the placard in the corner of Smoking Glue Guns’ shop site. The answer: make really good dice. And that’s just what the artisan Whitney of SGG has done for years now, earning a CRIT Award in 2024 in the process. SGG dice are fresh, raunchy, and always with a finger on the pulse of what dice goblins and nerds everywhere want to see. Some dice are filled with little resin babies, others a touching scene from Beauty and the Beast, while others are a collection of all the Infinity Stones, topped off by a Thanos gauntlet d20.
This unapologetically brash and fun style tempered only by the skill of its artisan is why you should keep Smoking Glue Guns in mind when it’s time to buy your next set of dice.
Cassiopeia Dice: The Artisan Who Can Capture Galaxies
It seems impossible that just clicking on a website feels like entering a designer clothing store, but the exceptional calibur of Cassiopeia Dice cannot be understated. The quality of the dice and presentation is gasp-worthy, and it’s immediately apparent how much mastery the artisan has over their craft. Some dice look as if they were pulled from a galaxy entirely apart from our own, others resemble the brilliance of a professionally cut jewel. The expertise is even in the details of the FAQ’s on the shop’s site, where transparency on safety, tools used, and pricing are all laid out with extensive care.
The extraordinary thing about this shop is it aims to help you become your own new favorite dice maker with purchasable molds, dice masters, and mold housings. Not to mention the pinned amazon list for starters supplies with a cost breakdown. The tabletop gaming community is one that often strives to lift others up as we climb, and Cassiopeia Dice is a shining example of that dogma.
Black Oak Workshop: The Mad Scientist of Innovative Dice
No liquid core, no gemstones, and no sharp edges: just quality resin dice with unique themes and shapes. This is a dice shop that completely understands and clearly loves its source material. From white fang d4’s for a vampire set to potion bottle d2’s for witch dice, there is nothing boring about the innovative shapes and styles of this shop. They call their shop the Treasure Room, and it’s incredibly apt for the space. If you’re wondering what rare, wondrous item to loot when exploring the Treasure Room, I encourage you to take a gander at their themed Advent-ure Dice Calendars that come with multiple sets of dice and strange bonus dice to delight those who already have ‘everything’. There are even some UV-activated dice for an extra glow in dark effect.
Black Oak Workshop also offers funny dice bags and great polyhedral sets that are affordable and yet different from anything else you’ll find when searching in the price range.
Heartbeat Dice: The Dice That Roll For A Cause
Visiting this dice shop’s site is like stepping into Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory. There’s an immediate sense of liveliness and joy in this shop that is tangible even through the screen. They specialize in Pride dice, with themed sets to represent every sexual and gender identity. If you support charitable causes, then much of this site will look familiar as they donate a portion of dice sales year-round directly to charities that advocate and support the LGBTQIA+ community. The Trevor Project and Howard Brown Health are just a few, and Heartbeat Dice works with many worthy causes. There’s a massive assortment of beautiful dice. Some in wood, others in metal, some translucent, while some are vibrantly opaque. There’s no shortage of heart or representation here, and there’s something in the price range for everyone!
The results of these incredible efforts speak for themselves: artisan dicemakers do more than just craft beautiful tools for our games—they infuse a sense of personality, artistry, and passion into every roll. The next time you reach for a set of dice, take a moment to appreciate the craftsmanship behind them and the dedication of the artisans who make them. Whether you're a seasoned player, a newcomer, or have loved ones who roll the dice, these pieces of interactable art have the power to elevate your TTRPG experience, making every game feel a little more magical. So, let’s continue to support and celebrate these talented makers who bring color, creativity, and a bit of magic to our favorite pastimes. Because in the world of TTRPGs, every roll matters.
Meadow is a professional Game Master, TTRPG Performer, and Game Designer who loves to game for good causes and uplift others in the TTRPG Community.
