Without a proper set of dice, there wouldn’t beDungeons & Dragons. Those tiny plastic shapes are integral to the randomization of the fictional events in any TTRPG. They’re so important, that the shape of a D20 has become its own cultural phenomenon.
But dice can come in many different shapes, sizes, and materials. And the types of dice you like most can say a lot about you as a player and a person. Do you like those weighty metal dice, or the sparkly custom-made resin ones? No matter the type, we have you pinned.
If you have a set of dice made from something not included in this list, PLEASE tell me what it is in the comments. I’m wanting to expand my own collection of weird dice materials.
Acrylic
A heavy majority of dice on the market are acrylic. Cheap to mass produce, they allow dice manufacturers to churn out countless colors and styles quickly and affordably.
If your go-to set is a standard set of chessex dice in your favorite color, it means you don’t much care about the details. To you, D&D is about the adventure, the experience, the mechanics, not having flashy dice you touch once a week at best.
Resin
Whether they are epoxy or UV cured, resin dice are the heart and soul of custom dice makers. Easy for crafty folk to get started with, they allow for endless levels of customization to the dice being made.
If your favorite dice are resin-based, it means that you love the novelty. You want sets of dice for each character, with on-theme colors, letters, and even tiny decorations inside. Your pirate dice have seashells inside, the druid set has actual dried flowers, etc. To you, it’s about being unique.
Metal
A usually more expensive dice option, metal dice sets are heavy, strong, and stylish. And you love that. The weight of the dice in your hands as you shake them, the heavy thud as they fall to the table. You avoid using felt rolling trays just to hear that sound more.
You like to feel powerful. You probably have triggered a max level Divine Smite with your paladin and rode that high for the rest of the week.
Liquid Core
Technically part of the acrylic or resin category, liquid core dice belong in an entry of their own. That’s because they are a spectacle. The colors swirling within a solid object seem magical, mystical even.
Whether you love having something cool to show off to others, or you just love pondering the icosagon, liquid core dice provide that visual marvel you crave.
Silicone
Silicone dice are a strange one. Soft and rubbery, they retain the shape of the dice, but are some of the most chaotic things to roll at your table, springing and bouncing all over. You and silicone dice have a lot in common. Bouncy, colorful, fun.
You love good times and good vibes. Your favorite color is probably a pastel or something adjacent, and you’ve consideredplaying a firbolgonce or twice. It’s too bad you don’t use them very much because they’re so bouncy they always spring off of the table when you roll them.
Stone
This is where we start to get into the more obscure materials. Stone dice (and for simplicity, this includes ceramic and gemstone) have that weight to them that metal does, but with a completely different vibe. They’re natural, carved from the mineral of the earth to augment your dice rolling experience.
If your favorite is stone dice, it means you love that solid feeling, but you feel no need to brag. You’re strong but humble, unshakable when it matters. And only a nice set of stone dice can portray that.
Alternatively, you’re a spiritual crystal lover and wanted a dice set based on your favorite gemstone.
Wood
Wooden dice are an unfortunate rarity, but that’s what makes them so special. They represent a wisdom we need more of. Trees are flexible, gentle, but resilient. A renewable, ecologically friendly resource, they show that a stunning set of dice can still harken back to the days before the industrial revolution.
Wood dice are the closest you may get to rolling with nature. And you like that. You’re considerate, environmentally conscious, and want to feel one with your world.
That, or you’replaying an elf.
Bone
What’s up, edge lord? You want more than spectacle, you want shock value. Sometimes a bit of an antagonist, you like to make the outrageous choices that cause your fellow players to gasp. You evenplay a necromancerjust to match the dice.
Bones are actually the original form of dice, when sheep ankle bones were rolled for games. A point you like to bring up whenever someone gives the strong reaction to bone dice you were hoping for.
If you want bone dice without it being weird, antler is a popular material for dice sets.
