Dark Elf Dice Blog

The good folks at Wizards of the Coast have been busy! It's only been a few months since the publishers of the world's greatest roleplaying game released Tasha's Cauldron of Everything, Candlekeep Mysteries, and Van Richten's Guide to Ravenloft. If that wasn't enough new material for eager Dungeon Masters and players, Wizards just announced the release of two new D&D books.

D&D Books: The Wild Beyond The Witchlight

Billed as a "wickedly whimsical adventure for Dungeons & Dragons," The Wild Beyond The Witchlight is slated for a September 21 release. The D&D book will bring the Feywild to 5e for the first time and promises new characters, monsters, mechanics and story hooks. More will be revealed at this year's D&D Live 2021 (scheduled to take place on July 16 and 17), but I'm already excited. A Feywild-inspired adventure will make an awesome one-shot or two, or better yet, an entire campaign.

D&D Books: Strixhaven: A Curriculum of Chaos

The second D&D book announcement is for Strixhaven: A Curriculum of Chaos. According to Wizards, the book will be available on November 16 -- just in time for the holidays. Like the Guildmasters' Guide To Ravnica before it, Strixhaven is another book set in a Magic: The Gathering world. More details will be shared at D&D Live 2021, but the book will include new character options, monsters, mechanics and story hooks.

In Case You Missed It: The Rise Of The Virtual Gaming Convention

Final Thoughts

So there you have it, fellow travelers: two new D&D books to add to your collection this fall. Personally, I know I'll get both books (I'm a sucker for new character options and monsters), but the book I'm looking forward to the most is The Wild Beyond The Witchlight (strictly because of the Feywild setting).

So what do you think? Which D&D book are you most excited about? Share your thoughts and opinions in the comment section below. Keep rolling nat 20s my friends, and don't forget to live each and every day with passion and kindness. Happy adventuring!

Hello fellow travelers! If you're like me, 2020 was a year to forget. As the Covid-19 Pandemic ravaged the world and disrupted our lives, I felt isolated and lonely. Our Wednesday night Pathfinder group stopped meeting in person and I retreated to the safe confines of my office, hidden away from friends and family as the world waited and hoped for things to get better. The months dragged on, but now as summer approaches in this promising new year, life is slowly starting to get back to normal.

Gaming Convention Shut Down!

It wasn't just my Pathfinder group that had to cancel, but it was the gaming cons as well. In a move that would have been thought of as inconceivable a few years back, gaming conventions such as Origins and Gen Con were shuttered. There were economic ramifications from shutting down of course, not to mention the thousands of disappointed would-be attendees. Still, most everyone understood that the health and safety of our fellow gamers came first.

Cancellations were unfortunate, but some cons that had enough time to prepare, like Reaper Con 2020, got creative and went completely virtual. I participated in several of the online painting classes at Reaper Con, and I can attest that the event was an amazing success. Thousands of gamers worldwide were able to attend the convention and take classes on everything from airbrushing to glazing from the likes of Anne Foerster (one of my favorite miniatures painters).

In Case You Missed It: It's All About Sharp Edge Inclusion Dice

The Virtual Gaming Convention

2021 is shaping up to be better than 2020, and in-person gaming conventions are already happening and being planned. This is exciting news of course, but the Pandemic has given rise to the virtual gaming convention, and I hope this format continues to grow.

Some organizers (using Reaper again as an example) are holding live conventions as well as dedicated, virtual events. Due to the success of last year's online version of Reaper Con, the inaugural Reaper Virtual Expo was born. This event, held earlier in March, is to be followed with the normal, in-person Reaper Con slated to take place in September.

Other groups, like Gen Con, are going the hybrid route, with both in-person and virtual events taking place concurrently. Even though this year's Gen Con was pushed back to September, organizers hope this hybrid approach will result in the largest number of gamers being able to get their game on.

And that really is one of the amazing possibilities of the virtual gaming convention format -- having an increased number of attendees being able to participate. Yes, I can't wait for in-person cons, but I would be seriously disappointed if the virtual conventions were completely done away with. Not everyone can go to Denton for Reaper Con, and not everyone can go to Indianapolis for Gen Con. Live streamed events on Twitch and Discord allow gamers from around the world to be part of the action.

As disruptive as the Pandemic was to the gaming community, perhaps something good has come about and virtual gaming conventions will be a permanent fixture...

Final Thoughts

So what are your thoughts fellow travelers? Have you participated in a virtual gaming convention or would you do so if given the opportunity? What do you think are the positives and negatives of an online format? Please feel free to share your thoughts and opinions below, and as always, happy adventuring!

I've been in the dice and gaming business for years, but every now and then a new innovation comes along that knocks me and my pointy wizard hat to the floor. First it was metal dice, then layered dice -- commonplace enough now, but only made possible by creative manufacturing techniques that were new back in the day. In the dice biz, things progress rapidly and the latest innovation making its debut are inclusion dice -- Sharp Edge Inclusion dice to be more exact.

Sharp Edge Inclusion Dice

So what exactly are Sharp Edge Inclusion dice, and what makes them so special? Well, there are a number of things that makes these dice extraordinary, but for me two things stand out:

• First and foremost is just how absolutely breathtakingly beautiful they are. At Dark Elf Dice, we pride ourselves on carrying one of the largest selections of dice on the internet, and there are many beautiful dice in our ever growing catalog. Sharp Edge Inclusion dice though are something extra special -- these are dice with a beauty factor +10. Crafted with pure resin and filled with a holographic foil "inclusion", these dice capture the light in a remarkable way. Just sitting on the game table they seem to have an inner fire and a life of their own. Amazing!

• Secondly, Sharp Edge Inclusion dice are handcrafted in small batches, each set being hand-poured. The molds used to make these dice are slightly larger than a standard set (makes it easier to add the inclusions). Once the resin cures, the dice are washed and finished by hand. The dice aren't tumbled like acrylic and most resin sets (resulting in rounded corners) so the dice retain their sharp points and edges. Though the edges are sharp, the face of each die is glassy-smooth with an almost gem-like feel.

Sharp Edge Inclusion dice: lovingly made by hand!

Small Batches

As you can imagine, making Sharp Edge Inclusion dice is a time intensive process, and we just can't keep the numbers in stock that we'd like to. By their very nature, Sharp Edge Inclusion dice are a boutique product made in much smaller batches than mass produced dice. While this in turn adds to the specialness of the dice, it will result in dice going out of stock fairly frequently. In fact, we sold out of the Dark Adaptation color within a few days of its initial release. More are coming, but it takes time and the manufacturing process really can't be rushed.

In Case You Missed It: Do You Use Dungeons & Dragons Inspiration?

Final Thoughts

So how about it fellow travelers? What do you think about our Sharp Edge Inclusion dice? I've posted photos below of two of the other colors we currently have available: Blood and Ice and Polar Vortex. The dice are beautiful and we hope to have even more colors in stock shortly.

Stay tuned, and here's hoping that all of you have an amazing week with many opportunities for gaming and camaraderie! Always remember that life is special -- that you're special -- and that you have the ability to touch people's lives in so many important ways, and the power to make this world a better place. Happy adventuring!

Sharp Edge Inclusion Dice: Blood and Ice

Sharp Edge Inclusion Dice: Polar Vortex

All right fellow travelers, lets talk about inspiration. Dungeons & Dragons inspiration to be more exact. In my humble opinion, inspiration is one of the more interesting (yet often overlooked) game concepts in the fifth edition of the world’s greatest role-playing game.

What is Dungeons & Dragons Inspiration?

So what is inspiration exactly?

*clears throat and does his best "rules lawyer" voice*

As explained on pages 240 and 241 of the Dungeon Master’s Guide, inspiration is a means to encourage role-playing, risk-taking, and for rewarding players for taking “actions that make the game more exciting, amusing, or memorable.”

Inspiration basically allows a character to gain advantage on one ability check, attack roll, or saving throw. Inspiration is a reward given to a player from the Dungeon Master (or as a variant, from other players if the DM so chooses).

• A character can only have one inspiration at a time.
• A player can award his or her inspiration to another player.
• Inspiration must be declared before the dice roll.
• Inspiration as a game concept is optional, and is at the discretion of the DM.

When Does a DM Award Inspiration?

Dungeons & Dragons inspiration is awarded as the DM sees fit. According to the Dungeon Master’s Guide (again using my "rules lawyer" voice), a general rule of thumb is to reward inspiration to each character once per session. Inspiration can be awarded to a character for:

• Good roleplaying (a character makes an important decision or takes a notable action consistent with their character’s personality, bond, or flaw),
• Acts of heroism (encourages characters to get involved in the action and take risks when fighting monsters, etc.),
• A reward for victory (awarded after characters defeat an important opponent, complete a goal, etc.).

Dungeons & Dragons Inspiration can be awarded for good role-playing and risk taking.

The Negative Aspects of Inspiration

As a game concept, Dungeons & Dragons inspiration should make the game more fun for everyone. Inspiration isn’t OP (overpowered) and advantage on a d20 roll won’t break the game. Still, there are a few potentially negative aspects to keep in mind:

• The awarding of inspiration is more-or-less subjective. As a result, some players may feel upset or irritated that they weren’t awarded inspiration for something their character did that they believed was worthy.
• Again, because of the subjectivity of inspiration, it runs the risk of being awarded unfairly.
• Inspiration gives a busy DM another thing to keep track of during a game.
• Although inspiration is supposed to encourage players to be good roleplayers and risk takers, players may lose sight of the bigger picture — the game at hand — and may find themselves focusing too much on earning inspiration instead of having fun.

In Case You Missed It: The Easy Way To Remove Paint From Miniatures

Do You Use Inspiration?

Personally, I’ve experimented with Dungeons & Dragons inspiration in my own games. Generally I find that my players like the concept. Following one of the suggestions in the Dungeon Master’s Guide, I award inspiration by giving worthy players special d20s to use for their advantage rolls. Once inspiration is spent, the d20 is handed back and tracking doesn’t become an onerous burden.

I always try to be as fair as possible (like any good DM does), though awarding inspiration once per session (as suggested ) doesn’t always play out.

One thing I noted with more experienced groups is that inspiration seems to stand in the way of the game. The award almost becomes silly in some respects. Players are already practicing good role-playing and risk taking for no other reason than that’s what’s expected of their characters. In these instances I forgo inspiration all together and simply grant all players one “re-roll of the night” (at their choosing, a player can make a re-roll once per session to see if they can change fate and improve a bad die roll). Re-rolls can't be carried over to the next session (use it or lose it), and, unlike inspiration, players don't have to declare the re-roll before the dice are cast.

Final Thoughts

So how about you? Do you use Dungeons & Dragons inspiration in your group? What are your experiences (good and bad)? Please feel free to share your thoughts and opinions in the comment section below. And as always, happy adventuring!

Happy Star Wars Day fellow travelers. May the 4th be with you! If memory serves, the original Star Wars was released on May 25, but "May the 25th be with you" just doesn't cut it. So May 4th it is :)

Star Wars Day Is Every Day

It's hard to believe, but 44 years have passed since I watched Star Wars for the very first time. In so many ways, that movie was life changing for me and my generation. Yes, it sounds cliche, but you have to remember that back in those days life was pretty simple for an 8 year old kid. There was no fandom to speak of. No internet. No video games. No epic summer blockbusters. There were books, comics, and television of course, but nothing truly inspired my imagination like Star Wars.

I still have a crystal clear memory of that warm night in May, sitting in the movie theater with my mother, heart pounding as Luke Skywalker nosed his X-Wing into the Death Star's trenches, the whine of blaster fire ringing in my ears. Mom had seen Star Wars the night before, and I remember her coming home, feverish with excitement -- she insisted that I see the movie the next night. This was a rare treat, because she practically never brought me to the movies. I walked into that theater a kid, and walked out a geek newly minted, head filled with color and the possibility of limitless adventure.

In Case You Missed It: The Move To Idaho

To Infinity And Beyond

A few years later, I discovered Dungeons and Dragons, rolling up my first character as I sat cross-legged on my best friend's living room floor. The excitement I felt playing D&D for the first time was in many ways similar to the experience I had watching Star Wars. True, I don't remember my heart pounding, but I was filled with excitement and wonder as I rolled those strangely shaped dice and imagined a story where I was the hero...

And here I sit now, decades later in an office overflowing with those strangely shaped dice. Not cross-legged on a living room floor, but slouched comfortably in front of a computer screen as I type this week's blog article. I'm living a future that my 8-year old self could never have imagined, but I'm happy to say that I'm still that geeky little kid, head filled with color and wonder. Yes indeed -- this life still offers the possibility of limitless adventure.

Final Thoughts

So again I wish you a happy Star Wars Day! From one geek to another I encourage each of us to live our best possible lives -- lives filled with happiness and everlasting adventure.

Thanks Mom :)

All right! Hang onto your pointy wizard hats because it’s time for another Dark Elf Dice giveaway! This time we're giving away a set of Koi Fish Dice to three lucky people.

Dice Giveaway Rules

• Entering for a chance to win is super easy. All you need to do is click the link above to complete a giveaway entry.
• Please Note: Your information WILL ONLY be used to contact you in case you win. You do have the option of subscribing to the Dark Elf Dice newsletter, but this is completely optional and does not improve your chances of being randomly selected.
• Entries will be collected through May 15, 2021 at 10:00PM. Three winners will be chosen at random via Random.org on May 16.
• Only one entry per person please. Multiple entries will be discarded and will not improve the chances of being randomly selected.

I've always been fascinated with metal dice. I suppose I just love the way they look and the weighty feel of the dice in my hand. Back in the old days (1980's, I'm looking at you!), we didn't have a lot of options when it came to game dice, and it'd take an entire generation until metal dice became readily available for the tabletop.

D100 Monster Metal Dice

So this brings me to this week's new product blog post where I discuss the newest addition to the Dark Elf Dice catalog: D100 Monster Metal Dice. In regards to these one hundred-sided dice, all I can say is "Whoa!" These d100s are freaky huge and each one weighs 14.8 ounces -- that's almost one pound of solid metal.

When I saw the d100 prototypes in person, and was able to handle the dice for the first time, I honestly laughed out loud. I've been involved in the dice business for years, but I'd never seen anything quite so massive. The dice are flat-out gorgeous, but what struck me was how heavy they were -- 3X heavier than our Giant D20 Kickstarter dice. Seriously, these metal d100 dice should not be rolled on a glass tabletop or dropped on your foot. Doing so will give a new meaning to "critical hit."

Are D100 Dice Even Practical?

For collectors, Monster Metal d100 dice meet all the criteria for coolness: they're big, beautiful, and look absolutely stunning on a display shelf or desktop. For gamers though, are these one hundred-sided dice even practical for use in a tabletop campaign?

In Case You Missed It: Unicorn Dice Have A Special Kind Of Magic

Before I say anything else, let me clarify that gamers don't need d100 dice to play D&D, Pathfinder, or your tabletop roleplaying game of choice. If you need to generate a random number between 1 and 100, a traditional RPG dice set has a ten and a percentile die to do the dirty work for you. That said, if you're looking for something completely different (and want a "Wow!" factor on game night), bring out one of these bad boys every time a player needs to make a roll on a critical hit or fumble chart. Rolling almost one pound of metal to determine a character's fate? Yeah, it's going to be epic :)

Final Thoughts

Longtime fans of Dark Elf Dice may have noticed that we've been launching a lot of new products lately. We actually have a huge backlog of dice and accessories just waiting to hit the website. The Monster Metal d100 dice are just the beginning of this month's new releases, so stay tuned for more awesome stuff.

Until next time fellow travelers! Keep gaming and keep having fun.

For whatever reason, I'm particularly drawn to D&D adventures featuring an oceangoing, seafaring theme. I really don't know why this is. In truth, I don't have any nautical experience to speak of and I've only seen the ocean once in my life. Perhaps it's the mystery of the water that draws me -- not knowing what lies beneath the waves and the untold possibilities of adventure that await.

Kraken D&D Miniature

One of my earliest D&D homebrew campaigns involved my players sailing the ocean, fighting pirates (Arrgh!) and a sea monster from the deep. I drew out the ship on a vinyl game mat and we had a blast. In those days, there weren't a lot of options (if any) when it came to oversized miniatures and I resorted to using a hard plastic dinosaur as a stand-in for a sea monster. It wasn't too difficult to suspend our disbelief, and we had an amazing time role-playing the adventure. Still, it would have been cool to have a sea monster mini.

Needless to say, I was pumped when WizKids added a monstrous Kraken to their excellent D&D miniature collection (to see the Kraken on our website click here). The Kraken is actually part of a boxed set that includes:

• A huge Kraken body surfacing from the water
• Six waving tentacles
• A row boat with oars and a treasure chest

The pieces are secured nicely in the box, and like other WizKids minis the Kraken and all accessory pieces don't require assembly. In addition, the pieces come primed and ready-to-paint so gamers can get started painting right away with zero prep time.

Final Thoughts

I've been collecting and painting miniatures since the 1980's, and I'm truly impressed with the attention to detail and the Kraken's overall size. The model is huge in relation to a standard 28mm miniature, and the separate tentacles can be positioned however you want to give the illusion of an even bigger menace. I can't wait to release this beast on my current players and see how the battle unfolds (cue maniacal laughter).

Until next time fellow travelers! If you like WizKid miniatures we have a lot to choose from on the site, as well as Reaper, Dark Sword, and Tomb Guardians. We try to stock minis that will inspire your imagination. Keep on role-playing and having fun!

As many of you know, Dark Elf Dice recently moved from Wisconsin to Idaho. The move was a long process, and things went relatively well as we traveled over 1,500 miles across six states (we got lost once in the Black Hills of South Dakota -- that was an adventure in and of itself, and if you're curious I'll tell you all about it if you shoot me an email). We reopened the shop last month, and things are now just starting to feel normal again.

Why Idaho?

You know, it's a question we get asked a lot -- why'd you leave Wisconsin and move across the country to Idaho? There really isn't a simple answer to the question. We don't have family here (some amazing friends though!) and only visited the state once before. I suppose like most things in life it's complex. My family and I were proud to call Wisconsin home for many, many years. My wife and children were all born in the Dairy State, and I've been a Wisconsinite for most of my life (the last 35 years). Perhaps we had grown too comfortable in our lives and needed a change. Maybe we felt time slipping away as we grew older, and honestly wanted something different...

The move here was two years in the making. We visited Idaho for the first time in the autumn of 2017 and truly fell in love with the state -- the people, the mountains, the weather. There really is an allure to the American West. In the end, things just seemed right for a new adventure. We cast the dice, rolled a nat 20, and decided to go for it.

More Space, More Dice

From a strictly business viewpoint, the move made a lot of sense. Our new workspace is huge (much larger than our old one) and we're able to stock and add more inventory (you'll be seeing lots of new dice and miniatures in the coming months!). Also, we're much closer to a major postal hub in Boise, so our packages are being transported and delivered across the country and the world much faster. This definitely is an added bonus, because our business model has always stressed quick order fulfillment.

The End Result

So in the end, we find ourselves in a brand new place at the beginnings of a tremendous adventure. We're truly happy here in Idaho and find ourselves in the unique position of providing an even greater selection of products and even greater customer service than ever before.

Until next time fellow travelers! The year is more than half-way over, but there's a lot happening still in regards to new dice releases from Chessex, Koplow, MDG, Q-workshop and others. Stay tuned! And don't forget to live your best life ever :)

Unicorns are hot right now, riding a wave of mega-popularity. From T-shirts to tattoos, it seems you can't escape these magnificent, mythical creatures even if you wanted to.

Of course gamers are no strangers to unicorns. The animals have been a staple of fantasy role playing games going back to Dungeons and Dragons 1e. In fact, one of my very first gaming miniatures was a unicorn -- its whereabouts now unknown, lost somewhere along life's journey with various Star Wars toys and other mementos of my childhood.

Unicorn Dice

Combining game history with pop culture's unicorn fascination, MDG created the Unicorn dice collection -- a fantastic series of gorgeous dice featuring swirls of color and iridescent glitter. The dice shimmer in the light and the number 20 has been replaced with a unicorn silhouette on the d20 for extra fun.

Unicorn dice were originally part of a successful MDG Kickstarter campaign, and we're now happy to feature the collection on Dark Elf Dice. There are nine sets in total, and each one looks amazing. The dice come as a complete, 7-piece polyhedral set and are great for gamers and collectors alike.

Without further adieu, check out these pics:

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More Dice Incoming

Unicorn dice have a special kind of magic, but you ain't seen nothing yet! We have lots of new dice in the hopper, just waiting to be added to Dark Elf Dice. Until next time fellow travelers! Keep positive and keep rolling. And if anyone crosses paths with my lost unicorn mini, tell her to come home :)

Earlier this week, the new 2019 Chessex dice were released. Six exciting new dice sets were added to the catalog and they look amazing! Chessex is one of the leading manufacturers and innovators in the gaming dice industry. They've been rolling since 1987, and it's safe to say that just about every gamer has at least one or two Chessex dice sets in their arsenal.

New 2019 Chessex Dice

The new dice include three additions to the Festive line, one to the Borealis, one to the Marble, and a brand new glow-in-the-dark set -- Luminary.

Here's the breakdown with photos (you can also view all the new 2019 Chessex dice here):

• Borealis Maple Green
• Festive Pop Art
• Festive Sunburst
• Festive Waterlily
• Luminary Sky
• Marble Oxi-Copper

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Dice Restock

If there's any bad news regarding the new 2019 Chessex dice it's this: we sold out too quickly! It didn't take long for us to sell through our initial supply. At the time of this blog article, four sets are completely sold out. No worries though :) We're receiving a dice restock early this week and should have plenty available for gamers wanting to add a set or two to their collection.

Until next time fellow travelers! We have lots of new dice and miniatures heading your way. We can't wait to show you the new stuff.

The good folks at Dark Sword Miniatures are at it again! Three brand new releases are available for your game table with an exciting Dragonborn Mage leading the pack.

Dragonborn Mage Miniature

The Dragonborn Mage miniature is another outstanding representation of the high quality craftsmanship of Dark Sword Miniatures. Sculpted by Jeff Grace, one of my all-time favorite artists, this mini is flat-out fantastic (note: Jeff has sculpted for all the best companies including Dark Sword, Reaper and Ral Partha Enterprises among others).

• Dragonborn Mage DSM7492

The detail on this model is amazing -- the flowing robes, the mystical amulet, the horned belt buckle, and the dragon-head staff are just a few of the features that make me want to roll-up a Dragonborn spell caster for game night.

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Is There A Cleric In The House?

Besides the Dragonborn Mage, two clerics have also been released. The first is a female dwarven cleric rearing back a mace (presumably to smite an undead horror -- that or an annoying party member... can't really be sure), along with a classic, heavy plate armored cleric with a mace and shield:

• Female Dwarven Cleric With Mace DSM7353
• Male Cleric With Mace And Shield DSM7349

The clerics were crafted by the legendary Tom Meier, another amazing talent who was one of the early sculpting innovators during the golden age of RPG gaming.