A friend of mine came back from a business trip in Las Vegas and brought me some red casino dice. I'd asked him to get them, because I'm a dice fetishist and casino dice are among the most precisely and finely made dice in the world. Much as I admire Lou Zocchi's Gamescience dice, they don't hold a candle to the six-siders used in casinos, whose manufacturing process is actually regulated by law and whose randomness is, in my experience, much better than the dice that are typically marketed for use with RPGs. Playing OD&D as I do, having good D6s is important and my casino dice are probably the best I've ever seen. A pity they don't make D20s ...
Friday, December 18, 2009
Casino Dice
A friend of mine came back from a business trip in Las Vegas and brought me some red casino dice. I'd asked him to get them, because I'm a dice fetishist and casino dice are among the most precisely and finely made dice in the world. Much as I admire Lou Zocchi's Gamescience dice, they don't hold a candle to the six-siders used in casinos, whose manufacturing process is actually regulated by law and whose randomness is, in my experience, much better than the dice that are typically marketed for use with RPGs. Playing OD&D as I do, having good D6s is important and my casino dice are probably the best I've ever seen. A pity they don't make D20s ...
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Definitely.
ReplyDeleteA friend of mine has a pair of dice from Caesar's Palace. Boy, are they fun to handle and roll. What kind of magic do these little polyhedrons work on my mind?
ReplyDeleteYep! Casino D20's would be a thing to behold.
ReplyDeleteI got three pair when I was there on my honeymoon. That way, my DM and I could each have our 3d6...
ReplyDeleteI've got some casino dice I picked up on a business trip to Reno last year. They are pretty sweet, but I am leery about rolling them right on a wooden table; so I made a dice tray.
ReplyDeleteI have a pair of casino dice as well. Very cool.
ReplyDeleteYep, picked me up a few pairs in Vegas couple years back. They see very little table use in the casinos before being replaced, so although "used" they look brand spanking new...and are cheaper than comparably sized hobby-shop dice to boot. I want to say the price tag on the plastic tubes from The Mirage reads a buck fifty (per pair).
ReplyDeleteFor my birthday last my mom ordered 5d6s from one of the places that makes casino dice. They are the sweetest dice I've ever used (including casino dice, because they're the same thing, but I know all the hands that have touched them).
ReplyDeleteI REALLY want a set of the rpg standards, and a couple extra 10 siders from them...I don't even know if they make them, but I do know that it took two months to ship the order, because _they make dice individually per request_.
I guess growing up in Nevada was good for something. :-) My second wave of dice purchases (after some Gamescience poly sets) were all casino dice, easily acquired in any casino gift shop.
ReplyDeleteMy only gripe for casino dice is they're awfully big, and awfully noisy when rolled on a hard surface.
For those of you liking casino dice (I am not the fan of those painted on pips), check out the PRECISION DICE made for backgammon. They are higher quality than casino dice, and definitely better to lool at. I spent US $23 for 2d6 and wasn too scared of goping into debt to ask if they made any other dice...
ReplyDeleteMy only gripe for casino dice is they're awfully big, and awfully noisy when rolled on a hard surface.
ReplyDeleteSee, that's exactly why I LOVE casino dice!
My favorite dice are a pair of oversized wooden ones I begged off of a friend who didn't care for them. They're not as noisy, but they are beautiful and literally a joy to roll.
Am I the ONLY one who thinks these things are soulless and ugly and completely without charm?
ReplyDeleteUnless everyone is using dice of this quality at the table, then their simply pointless to use.
ReplyDeleteBackgammon dice are indeed cool, but a bit out of my price range. I can't justify spending $20+ on a pair of D6s -- much as I'd love to.
ReplyDeleteAm I the ONLY one who thinks these things are soulless and ugly and completely without charm?
ReplyDeleteOne's taste in dice is a funny thing. I don't touch D10s, even as percentiles in my campaign, but a lot of people look at me like I'm crazy for feeling this way.
Unless everyone is using dice of this quality at the table, then their simply pointless to use.
ReplyDeleteIt's a largely esthetic thing, so there's not really any "point" beyond the fact that I like the look and feel of these things. And, for me anyway, the tactile experience of rolling dice is pleasurable and a significant part of the fun of playing a RPG.
I bought a set of casino dice from Lou the dicemaster ,4d6 and they are mystical. They roll, clink, tumble, and work magic. No crappy dull edges that roll awkwardly, pure 100% random goodness to 1/1000 of an inch perfection.
ReplyDeleteIf you haven't watched that video explaining how casino dice are certified to be held to a certain degree go find it and you'll understand those crappy dice you use for rolling aren't as random as you think.
Am I the ONLY one who thinks these things are soulless and ugly and completely without charm?
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure from your comment if you mean the look of the dice or are speaking from play experience. Depends on one's perspective I guess. I love the Zocchi/Gamescience dice which are really fun to roll and land with verve and exacting precision. Casino dice are designed to be even more fun to handle and roll and I'm easily taken in by this blatant manipulation! :)
Looks of Casino Dices are really brilliant. They made with great patience. I had also put some dices in my drawing room and whenever I look at them it feels my so serene. Please also don't forget to check my Casino Blog
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