I would warn you against Artisan Dice, OP. As you mentioned in another comment, they have more than just mixed reviews. They're unfortunately known as scam artists pretty widely. You can search their name on reddit or just look at their BBB page, but I've seem dozens of complaints about them over the years. I've wanted their gatorbone set for a long time, but I honestly don't believe I'll receive it if I attempt to purchase it.

Anyway. Here's a list of sweet dream dice I mostly can't afford.

Metal dice:

So there are basically two forms of metal dice, cast and planed (also called 'machined' or 'CNC'). Planed metal dice tend to be more expensive, but have a very clean look, are available in a variety of materials, and are said to be extremely precise. I feel that they're a bit of a status symbol.

Cast metal dice ($40-$50): Metallic Dice Games, Ultrapro, Koplow, and T&G manufacture cast metal dice sets that usually retail for about $40. Q Workshop also offers a selection of interesting metal dice ($10-$100), with shapes and patterns you won't find anywhere else. Compared to planed metal, cast metal has softer edges, less defined edges, and more closely resemble resin dice, though they are metal. They may also be prone to being a bit harder to read, especially in the case of Q Workshop. However, they are able to feature decorative detailing that planed dice just can't. They are sold by many different distributors (and FLGSs), so choose your favorite.

Enamel metal dice ($40-$50): Haxtec manufactures cast metal dice whose planes have coated with colorful enamel. They come in multiple colors, bi-color, glitter, and can glow-in-the-dark. I have a single color set. They're a bit smaller than my resin dice, but they're heavy and satisfying to roll. They are sold by many different distributors (and FLGSs), so choose your favorite.

3D printed dice ($110-$140): Here's a fun option for custom dice: databases of 3D models that can be printed in a material of your choice hold hundreds of designs for unique polyhedral dice. Shapeways is the most popular for dice, with Thingiverse coming in second. Select your design and material, and they will be custom printed and sent to your door. There are some caveats: 3D printed sets don't necessarily have the cleanest casting, and they run the risk of being unbalanced and impossible to read. However, they're easily the most unique metal sets you're going to come across. Some sets even offer option for bronze and gold casting!

Planed metal dice ($90-$400): My favorite: Zucati Elemetals. Zucati sells planed dice sets made of tungsten, copper, zirconium, and aluminum. Different metals cost more; aluminum ($90-$150) is the cheapest and come in a variety of colors and patterns. Level Up Dice, Gravity Dice, and Norse Foundry also sells planed metal dice: Level Up Dice also carries Titanium and Stainless Steel. NF has brass, bronze, and magnesium. I've never seen the Norse Foundry in person, but I've seen the Zucati Elemetal and whatever brand Level Up carries, and they're both beautiful.

A note on 'caged' metal dice ($200-400$): This 'caged' style of metal dice is very popular. Note quite sure about the manufacturer. While they are very cool-looking, everyone I've seen use them has a problem with the D20s, in the sense that they tend to land cocked every one out of three rolls or so. It seems to only effect the D20s. Honestly, most of the people I know who own them don't mind, but it's worth knowing.

Stone & Glass Dice

Your cheapest stone dice are always going to be hematite which will run you about $25 a set.

Metallic Dice Games ($30-$80) manufactures a nice range of reasonably priced glass and carved gemstone polyhedral sets. However, their numbers are stickers rather than being carved, and they are prone to wearing off. I own a rose quartz set, and some of the stickers have worn off after about two years of handling. They are sold by many different distributors (and FLGSs), so choose your favorite.

Crystal Caste Dice ($50-$80) also manufacture a line of gemstone dice called Dwarven Dice, some in unique shapes. They're quite popular and are sold from a variety of distributors.

Level Up Dice ($30-$110) and Norse Foundry both carry gemstone unique sets of gemstone dice. I bought an agate set from Norse Foundry and was disappointing in the planing of the D20. That said, their customer service did offer to replace it, and I never followed up, so I don't want to cast aspersions on the company because of one janky die.

Wood & Bone Dice

Unfortunately, the clear winner of the wood & bone game is Artisan Dice, but they just aren't reliable. If their products were cheaper, it might be easier to justify taking the risk.

Norse Foundry has recently released a few sets of wooden dice ($135-$230). I have yet to see any of these sets in person, but I'm definitely interested. And right now, they're essentially the only game in town.

For bone dice, it's easy to find d6s, but I haven't seen a set of bone polyhedrals that weren't from artisan disregard that, Norse Foundry has a few sets.

Handmade or Custom-Made Resin Casts

An example of a custom resin dice creator's website. Custom dice creation has really been blowing up in the last few months. Custom dice are hard to get-- they can either be commissioned, or you can camp the creators' instagram or facebook pages, waiting for them to announce a set, and then hope you purchase them quickly. However, I think all that also adds up to make them the most unique and desirable dice on the market. It's hard to know all of the custom dice creators out there, but a little google-based research will turn up several.

Custom resin dice can often bear flaws and imperfections, however, so tempering your expectations is always a good thing.

---

This was fun to write! Hope it helps!

I wouldn’t use metal dice on that tray, my friend. My buddy has the same one and when I bought him a metal set, he nicked up pretty good with the first few rolls before he noticed what he was doing.

I recommend one like this leather tray because it’s cushioned and is easy to bring with you as it unfolds flat and fits into a binder or notebook pocket

This is a pretty obscure question, because I don't really know what you already know about!

But, here are some not-your-usual-dice dice that I like and have been wanting to get. Some have been around for ages, some are new.

Wiz Dice have Titan Dice: Nyx which are pretty new and very cool. First dice from Wiz that I've seen with designs on them.

Crystal Caste dice have been around a while but are pretty cool.

Q-Workshop metal Steampunk dice are not new, but they are certainly different; there's a metal Tech set too.

Nurgle Death Guard Dice from Games Workshop are pretty unique.

These dice are made from Baltic amber. And these ones from bone.

Are you familiar with Polyhero? They're fairly unique amongst dice sets.

Tesselations make weird truncated dice.

​

These dice are all a little bit different.

If you do go the DIY route, don't be me and use acetone to get permanent marker off. I ended up dulling the glossy finish on some of my dice that way. I haven't tried the acrylic paint method yet, but there's some videos on Youtube showing how to do it.

I'm thinking Lustrous blue or Festive green could be good candidates.

Also, it wasn't bad for a Monday! Hope today went well for you too.

Use some micromesh like this: MicroMesh and then some nice plastic polish after you go through the grits to keep them shiny.

Granted I haven't done this on any dice but I've removed scratches from plexiglass and acrylic this way and its pretty good all said and done.

I got some on Amazon, part of a bundle of 7 sets of dice. Here's a link to the amazon page. Good quality, and quite a good deal with 7 sets for that price. I recommend them.

Edit: they're more pearly white than pink or gold, but I would still definitely recommend these dice.

It's only an issue with the Borealis. If you haven't bought them, you wouldn't have experienced it. Chessex or not, this is a problem with this specific line. And doing some research, this is a known issue that's been brought up on this sub before and can be found in the reviews for these type of dice.

One of the reviewers even mentions contacting Chessex:


> EDIT: I contacted Chessex and they responded quickly; apparently the scuffs are mold marks (they provided pictures to show that all of the borealis and translucent dice have them). Oh well. Added two stars because of good customer service, not full because of the marks though.

Yes they came in the usual packaging. Yes, they're Chessex dice. Sparkly dice have enough draw that anybody making "counterfeit" could probably just brand their own and sell them without the need to fake the Chessex label. I suspect that places like Amazon (or its sellers) are just buying off the B Grade dice for cheap to sell. And yes, Chessex has B grade dice, every manufacturer does. Where do you think their Pound of Dice comes from?

Looks like Chessex Vortex Slime. However, I'd try to find them in person at a FLGS if you can. Vortex get muddy easy, and slime NEEDS those nice swirls to look good.

you probably need more material and a vacuum chamber.https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00W8ZU5FK/?coliid=IKPZI52V796YI&colid=3HUBTLT676WDO&psc=1&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it

this is one i have on my list for my dice making project for later. You want to put your unpored resin into the chamber for 20 minutes, then put in your dice for 30 minutes. Always put something under your molds. you can leave the dice to cure for 20 some hours in the chamber turned off. If you want my dice amazon list i'll gladly hand it over.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiocf36TFwHWWtyfajz6Aqg

This guy gives lots of good tips.

Looks like Chessex festive carousel. That's a really pretty one! You mean a polyhedral set, right? https://www.amazon.com/Chessex-Dice-Polyhedral-Festive-Carousel/dp/B00415PKFA Or more d6? either way, still in print and shouldn't be hard to get.

Wow! I love the white ones with the multicolored pips. Do you have a link or name for those?

Edit: they're most likely these

Searching “numbered d6 set” on Amazon gives you quite a few good options. Here’s one of the first ones, but if you don’t like it for whatever reason there are definitely more out there.

50 Six Sided Dice - Numbered Translucent Dice With At Least 5 Different Colors - 16mm Standard Size https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01HBOO9ZE/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_eh3ACbAM5HK0F

I have been using a storage tower. I really like it! As I was growing my collection, it was nice to see it fill up. Plus it's clear so I was still able to quickly find a set I was looking for. Here's the listing on Amazon.

So I found these, I haven't tried them, but they're half the size of my bottles. So, it may be good for just one set. That's quite a bit of money to spend if they don't work though. I'll try to find better examples when I'm at my computer and I'll reply again if you want? I know I've seen different jars with only one set in them.

I own this one:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000XVG8XY/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

it's not the best looking one but it works just fine. It is a lighter wood color so if you like darker colors then it is not for you. For $20 it is not bad but if you look around Amazon a bit you can find other ones that are similar priced.

I love the idea of plastic test tubes too https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07HCF8CYM/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_3JkjDbVR5SDAB

Wizdice

Or apparently their new set that I just noticed series ii

I've picked up 3 lbs of the first link, came with almost always complete sets, with maybe 5 random extra dice that didn't match.

Edit, found a picture of the last [bag] (http://i.imgur.com/JZVxCQE.jpg)