D20 Cabal

Intro (Editor's note: This guest blogger is not an affiliate of 1985 Games) I did not plan to have this many dice. About 18 months ago—after a pretty rough stretch—I bought my first mystery dice set at a comic shop. I didn't think I would start a collection. I'd been toying with the idea of learning D&D and saw this pretty cool-looking Halloween set hanging near a box of '70s horror comics.  And now as I write this, I'm staring at four giant D20s that have no more point than to sit near my mouse like stones that would power some kind of warp drive in yet another Star Trek  series. I guess I've become like kids these days who get antsy if they don't have their tablet and headphones in reach. All I can say is that being a dice hoarder keeps me plugged into a world that I would rather be in if I didn't have to do dumb stuff like work so I can do more dumb stuff like eat. Without my dice hoard, I would be in a sorry state. For perspective, I would not sa...

Let’s be honest—if you’ve ever run or played in a TTRPG campaign, you already know how powerful the right set of dice can be. And not just mechanically powerful, I mean the kind of dice that spark joy every time you touch them. Dice that look so good, they practically beg you to roll a nat 20.  That’s where cute D&D dice come in. They’re not just accessories—they're mood setters, character enhancers, and conversation starters. Not to mention the ultimate in joyful d&d gifts!  But now let me tell you why cute dice—also known as kawaii dice if you're new to the dice goblin business—absolutely deserve a place of honor in every gamer’s hoard. Cute dice aren't just fun—they're immersive tools that enhance our stories and bring a little magic to every roll. The Aesthetic Stats Matter Most of us are deeply invested in theme and aesthetic—whether you’re sketching out a brooding warlock’s backstory or designing your next Feywild-inspired one-shot. So why wouldn...

Every TTRPG GM knows the thrill of introducing a plot twist their players never saw coming. But outside of game night, where do we find that same suspenseful joy? The answer, friends, might just be in a little package full of potential: mystery dice sets . If you're like me, you've got a soft spot for shiny click-clack math rocks. Whether it's the weight of a metal d20, the perfect clarity of a resin die, or even the chaotic tumble of a glitter-packed d4, dice are more than tools. They're tiny artifacts of possibility. And nothing captures that feeling like opening a mystery set, not knowing whether you're about to unveil celestial sparkle or abyssal gloom. Rolling mystery dice is like drawing a random magic item from a loot table—you never know what you’ll get, and that’s the fun of it. Why Choose a Mystery Dice Set? At first glance, mystery sets seem like a gamble. Why not just choose a specific set you know you'll like? That’s a fair question. But t...

There’s something magical about cracking open a box of polyhedral dice that look like they tumbled out of a 1980s lunchbox cluttered with graph paper and lead miniatures. Maybe it's the nostalgia, maybe it's the brutalist aesthetic, or maybe it's just the way those old-school colors and fonts make the game feel grittier and a little more dangerous. Whatever the reason, retro-style dice are back—big time—and they’re here to bring all the throwback feels to your modern tabletop. I’ve been GMing for over a decade now, and while I love the sleek, sharp-edged gemstone dice that glitter like dragon hoards, nothing beats the vibe of a good retro set. These dice don’t just roll—they tell a story, and if you’re like me, you're always hunting for the next set that sparks that old-school flavor. Like this glorious chaos, which looks like it was summoned from a Saturday morning cartoon with a hit die: I love round sharks... #dice #dnd #ttrpg pic.twitter.com/UM2EonMhWk — DIS...

Why Your Dice Hate You (And How to Fix It) If you're like me, you've stared at a d20 with fury in your eyes after yet another failed saving throw. You blame bad luck. You threaten your dice. Some of us have even banished them to dice jail. Sound familiar? You're not alone. It might feel like your dice hate you —but there’s more going on here than just misfortune. Let’s dive into the real reasons your rolls are cursed, and more importantly, what you can do about it. The Curse of the Cold Dice Ever sit down to your weekly game and notice that for the first 30 minutes, it’s nothing but ones and threes? You’re not imagining things. Dice that haven’t been rolled or warmed up can behave unpredictably. Plastic, resin, and even sharp-edged dice can roll differently based on minor temperature and wear factors. You might think your dice are cursed, but in reality—they’re just misunderstood. The solution? Get those rolls moving before game time. Roll your dice a few dozen ...

I once walked into a gym, curious but clueless about all the equipment. The first thing I saw was a guy lifting a massive barbell— so heavy it looked like it could anchor a Warhammer tank. When he set it down, the crash sounded like a Basilisk artillery shell hitting a LARP field. I quietly backed out, realizing that kind of intensity wasn’t for me. But that over- the- top energy? That’s exactly what an RPG table needs. And nothing brings that vibe like a giant d20 dice ready to make a statement. Because let’s be honest: sometimes the only thing better than rolling high is doing it with thunderous flair.  BIG ROLL ENERGY There’s nothing subtle about a giant d20 dice. That’s the point. These dice roll like they mean it. They’re loud, theatrical, and just a little bit dramatic— perfect for the moment your bard tries to seduce the villain or your barbarian finally gets to rage. Even if you’re the kind of player who usually goes for sharp edge dice precision or miniature dice fi...

Let me take you to a scene in Bull Durham , a baseball movie that has absolutely nothing to do with tabletop gaming— and yet, somehow, everything to do with dice collecting. A hotshot young pitcher is bragging: he’s got a Porsche, he’s got a quadraphonic Blaupunkt stereo system, he’s flying high. But his veteran catcher— grizzled, grounded, and not here for nonsense— gives it to him straight: “ Christ, you don’t need a quadraphonic Blaupunkt. What you need is a curveball!” Now hold that thought. Because if you’re the kind of person with 40+ sets of sharp edge dice , one- of- a- kind resin swirls, and a growing addiction to mystery dice drops… you may just be the pitcher in this story. And what you need? Is a dice tray. 1. THE BEAUTY OF CHAOS— UNTIL IT’S NOT Don’t get me wrong— I love the chaos. The dnd dice that glow in the dark, the ones filled with floating koi, the absurdly sharp ones that feel like they could stab a god. Chaos is kind of the point. But chaos without bo...