What are wooden dice?

Wooden dice have a unique charm that draws tabletop gamers and collectors alike. These dice offer a natural, rustic aesthetic and a satisfying heft that sets them apart from their plastic or metal counterparts. But are wooden dice any good for tabletop gaming?

In this article, we'll explore what wooden dice are and their advantages and disadvantages, so you can decide whether they're a suitable choice for your collection.

What are wooden dice?

Wooden dice are precisely what they sound like: dice made from various types of wood. Often, artisans create these dice by shaping and carving wood into the familiar polyhedral shapes used in tabletop role-playing games like Dungeons & Dragons.

Wooden dice come in various wood types, each offering unique aesthetics and properties. Some of the most common types of wood used in wooden dice are cherry wood, acacia wood, mahogany wood, and walnut wood.

Is wood a good material for dice?

Each wood type brings its own distinct colour, grain pattern, and texture to the dice, making them visually appealing and unique. These dice can range from small D6s to larger, more complex polyhedral sets, allowing players to find the perfect wooden dice for their preferences.

Some advantages of wooden dice versus metal and plastic dice include:

• Rustic charm: wooden DND dice have a natural and rustic appearance that appeals to many players. They are an excellent choice for characters like rangers and druids who have a strong connection to the natural world. Additionally, they make unique and visually appealing additions to any dice goblin or dice dragon’s collection.
• Lightweight: wooden dice are generally lightweight compared to metal or stone dice. This makes them easy to roll, making them a practical choice for gaming on the go or at crowded gaming tables.
• Smoothness: wooden dice are often polished to a smooth finish, ensuring a satisfying feel when rolling them. The smooth texture adds to the overall tactile experience of using wooden dice, enhancing the enjoyment of the game.

Wooden dice's combination of aesthetics, practicality, and unique tactile qualities makes them a popular choice among tabletop gamers, adding a touch of nature to their gaming sessions.

Why are wooden dice so expensive?

Wooden dice tend to come with a higher price tag compared to their plastic counterparts for a few key reasons. Most importantly, wooden dice are usually handcrafted, while plastic dice are mass-produced using molds and machines, which significantly reduces production costs. This handmade quality of wooden dice adds to their charm and uniqueness but also contributes to their higher cost.

Credit: Delvewood

Additionally, the type of wood used can affect the price. Exotic or rare woods can drive up the cost further due to their scarcity and unique appearance.

Moreover, wooden dice are often polished to a smooth finish, which requires additional labour and attention to detail, adding to their overall cost.

To protect your wooden dice, it's important to use a dice tray during your gaming sessions. A dice tray not only prevents your dice from getting damaged but also safeguards the surface you're rolling on. Additionally, consider using a dice bag to keep your wooden dice snug and safe when not in use, preserving their craftsmanship and quality for years of enjoyable gaming.

Dice sets that don't break the bank

While wooden dice can be quite costly, there are other dice sets available that won't put a strain on your wallet.

At Dice Dragons, we offer a diverse selection of DND dice sets, including liquid core dice, sharp-edge resin dice, and metal dice. Whether you're a dice collector or a tabletop adventurer, explore our collection and find the perfect dice set to elevate your gaming sessions.

If you're intrigued by the world of dice materials, our guide explores the different materials DND dice are made of, providing valuable insights to help you decide which type of dice are best for you.