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...

There’s something magical about Saturday morning cartoons. The bold colors, zany characters, and larger-than-life energy captured our imaginations and never really let go. If you’re like me—a GM with a love for nostalgia, vibrant aesthetics, and the satisfying click-clack of dice—it’s only natural to want your dice to reflect a little of that cartoon chaos from childhood. So if you're pulling inspiration from wild worlds and cinematic action, or just want your session to have that cartoon sparkle, grab your soda and a bowl of overly sugary cereal—because today we’re diving into three RPG dice sets that roll with the energy and style of a Saturday morning cartoon. If your dice don’t roll like they’re about to shout their own name in a cartoon theme song, you’re missing the magic. 1. VHS Dice Set: Surge Green  – Bold Enough for a Saturday Morning Mutant Remember the mutant-filled, sewer-dwelling turtle heroes of your childhood? The Surge edition of the 1985 Games VHS Dice...

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...

Let’s be honest: you didn’t mean to become a dice goblin. One minute you were just picking up a backup set for your rogue. The next? You're ankle- deep in mystery dice, dnd dice you don’t remember ordering, and a dog chewing on a glittery d20 you swear was retired. And n ow you’ve got a problem. Don't get me wrong... it's a good problem to have! But  if your dice sets are living rent- free in every drawer, bag, and cupholder you own, it’s time to do something brave: organize them. Because I'm definitely not suggesting you   get rid of any of your  dice ( blasphemy). I'm talking   about giving your collection the respect it deserves— and maybe making it easier to find that one set you swear rolls better. STEP 1: SORT BY PURPOSE, PERSONALITY, OR PURE VIBE Start by laying out all your dice. Yes, even that one set you found under your couch. Mystery dice , unique dnd dice , misfits, and memory- makers alike. Then choose your sorting strategy: By Character/ Class – Ke...

Some people don’t realize they’re walking around with a low-key problem. Not the kind that sends you into a self-help spiral or family therapy. The kind that sneaks in quietly, under the guise of “I have enough dice already.” Spoiler alert: You don’t. Especially not mystery dice . That quiet, persistent itch that your beloved collection is starting to feel a little too predictable? That’s not your imagination. You know what’s in your tackle box. You’ve memorized the chipped edges in th at metal set. There’s no thrill anymore. And that, my friend, is where the problem starts. Now, some gamers will tell you that mystery dice are just leftovers—shelf-sitters, the ones that didn’t sell. Or, they might say it’s for newbies who can’t figure out what they really want. Let me tell you... we’ll dig into that in another post. For now, just know this: mystery dice are way more than that. Mystery dice aren’t just a fun gamble. They’re a lifestyle upgrade. They’re a gift to your future self—...