I play D&D, so I need a lot of dice of various shapes. I’ve found it fun to 3d print them myself, in custom designs. Now, there’s a symbol I’ve long used as a sort of signature on all of my artwork, and so on my dice, I use that symbol as a replacement for the die’s highest number.
So far, this practice has met with 100% satisfaction among all of the users of my dice. But now I’m thinking that I’d maybe like to sell some of my more clever designs (I’ll post a Marketplace thread when it’s all ready). So I ask you guys, what would you think of buying dice with one number replaced by a symbol? Assume, of course, that the designs are sufficiently cool that you’d be otherwise interested.
I have dice already where the one in particular is replaced with another symbol. Some are the Eye of Sauron, some are crest looking devices. So if I needed dice, having a symbol would be OK with me. Though I doubt I’ll be buying any more dice, I have a rather larger than needed supply of them.
Along with the poll, you should post some links to pics.
While it’s been a long time since I was an PRGer I have more recent experience with miniature wargaming which can use some of the same dice. I went with not interested but there’s a slight chance if it was something I thought was cool and it was near the same price.
I’d guess mass production versus 3D printing costs don’t support a similar price point, though.
Obviously having no clue what the design is, Is there any kind of included panel in the symbol that could be used to clearly display the number? that would make me more likely to buy something like that. I really can’t really explain why, I guess just because I have been in enough stupid arguments over things like dice I like 100% un-ambiguity.
The designs are fair, at least. And I wouldn’t be printing them myself; I’d be using Shapeways. From what I’ve seen, the price would probably be about $10-$20 each for metal dice, or about half that for plastic, which I realize is more than most would be willing to pay, but I figure there are probably some gamers out there with a ton of disposable income.
I wouldn’t be opposed to it, but I can’t think of a design that would make me say “Hey, I want that die over a traditional one”. Especially if I’m paying a premium for it. So I said less likely: Not because I’m blocking off the idea, I can’t can’t think of a design that I’d pay extra for.
Most of the molded dice have bias one way or another, and a 3d printed one seems more likely to have that issue. Now, if the die is as reliable and random as a high quality normal die, then if I liked the symbol, I might prefer one like that. As to the specific symbol demonstrated above, I suppose I’m indifferent to it and wouldn’t strongly prefer one or the other based solely on the symbol.
It’s not even that close, really, it just so happens that the only Younger Futhark runes I see on a regular basis are for that icon. So it’s hard not to be reminded. Damned corporate cultural appropriation!
I have a number of dice (particularly d6s) with custom characters on one of the faces. Both Chessex and Crystal Caste (two of the big RPG dice suppliers) offer these, and a lot of conventions will do custom dice (with their logs on a face) as souvenirs.
About a decade ago, I ordered a bunch of d6s from Chessex with a custom face – the logo of the shipping company which my Star Wars RPG character ran. I think that that the minimum run back then was 100 dice; I gave them away to friends for years, and still have a few left.
One thing that frustrates me about the custom d6s is that some of them use the custom art on the “1” face, and others on the “6” face. So, if I see a logo up, I’m not always entirely sure if it’s a “1” or a “6.”
Anyway…I have a bunch of custom dice already, and I would probably only order new ones if I found the art to be particularly attractive.
Magic: the Gathering releases 20-sided dice with every new expansion that are marked similarly; the 20 face is replaced with the symbol for that expansion. I would be willing to buy custom dice with cool symbology, no problem.
Between these two points, I think that decides it. If everyone who customized dice did so on the same face, then it’d be unambiguous, but they don’t, so it isn’t, and ambiguity is bad. Ah, well, I can still put my mark on the ones for my own personal use.
I don’t really care. I’ve noticed the “sometimes it’s the 1, sometimes it’s the 6” thing, but I STILL don’t care, because honestly, I don’t use that many goofy symbol dice, and it’s a matter of a moment to pick the die up and go “I guess that’s the 1.” and then you remember.
It’s not a selling point, but it’s not an unselling point. Though I’d put the symbol on the 1 and not the 6, because there’s only 1 symbol.
Though I guess I should point out that at this point, if I were buying fancy dice, 3D printed wouldn’t be the kind I’d be after.
There are games, like the old Ghostbusters RPG, where you are supposed to have a symbol replacing the 6 on one die which is always rolled. It bugs me that if you lose that die, you will end up having to replace it with just a different colored die with no special symbol. Zero effect on gameplay, of course, but the idea bugs me enough that I avoid games with gimmick dice. Now, if those dice could be readily replaced… that would be another matter.
I’m an RPGer and I do like to purchase unique dice on occasion. But I’d probably be more likely to design and print my own set of dice than purchase someone else’s.
