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I've only been wargaming for a short time, but I've been interested for years, and I've been an artist for decades.

One of the art projects I've indulged in lately is making its way to reality in the Tinker Metal Dice Kickstarter campaign. These metal dice are sort of steampunky, sort of mechanical, and solid metal. They may not be the best dice for a shaky table full of really light models, but they may well fit in with a heavily armored army.

The project is funded, so we'll be making the dice. At this point we're just trying to get some stretch goals in and spread the word to anyone who might be interested in the dice.

Thanks, and I'd be happy to answer any questions you might have!

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/tishtoshtesh/tinker-dice-steampunk-metal-dice

Nice looking dice. I hope this project goes well for you and your backers!

They look lovely! Also, the idea of someone rolling those near my minis fills me with abject terror.

Are they purely for looks or do they roll balanced?

These are not precision balanced, but they work as well as any bog-standard numbered dice, just with more heft.

For better or worse.

Thanks!

I was going to ask if you had originally made these on Shapeways, and you had all of that info readily available on the KS page, so thank you

Dice seem to be a popular thing on there, but expensive, so taking the next step to have them machined makes a lot of sense!

There were a few metal dice projects like this recently... it always tempts me, but I would actually prefer a cool design like this, but machined from some lighter material / possibly plastic. I know shapeways is possible for that, but I would think that non-metal 3d printed dice would not hold up well.

Very cool project, I'll keep an eye on it

They really do look great but too pricey for me, it's the postage and international shennanegans that does it for me.

Nice designs, I'd love to see what else you come up with!

RiTides, I actually tried a Kickstarter for a plastic version of these first, and it kinda fizzled. I'll reboot it in October, most likely. The metal dice were just more popular, and the plastic ones required a bigger base goal... but I think I've got a good lead on another place that can do them in plastic for me a bit cheaper.

Scrub, yeah, international shipping is a bear. I just got some new estimates on the weight of the dice yesterday, and I'm probably going to be able to squeak by with cheaper international shipping, I'm just waiting on confirmation from one place before I make a big announcement about it.

Still, Kickstarters with physical products almost always have shipping pains from what I can tell. :(

Thanks, guys!

Would that be in molded, rather than machined, plastic? I'd likely be very interested in that when the time comes . I looked through the prior campaign just now, but didn't see where you listed the process (whether they would be machined, or if you were having a mold made).

I'm actually most after a better D4. Chessex sells a D12 with roman numerals on each face (I - IV, each repeated 3 times) to make a more rollable D4. But I'd love to see a more interestingly designed dice like yours with that.

I've also noticed, while dice like this look good, they are often difficult to read. Maybe a combination of anodization and machining could her the numbers a different color?

RiTides, yes, they will be moulded dice, in all cases, actually, metal and plastic. I found places to do laser engraving, but I like the moulded quality much more. It costs more, but I think it's worth it.

HisDivineShadow, these metal dice will be made in zinc with an "antiqued bronze" finish. I'm hoping that helps bring out some of the detail, like it would on a medallion. I suppose that an ink or paint wash pass would also help a bit.

You're right, though, anodizing and shaving off the color for the high points would produce better results, but that's not a process I have access to.

Anodizing isn't an easy process at small 'garage level' operations.
Still, great looking piece, may buy in just for a 'turn number' die.

Anodizing also isn't something you necessarily want on a metal die (or at least the raised surfaces, as Tish already kind of mentioned above), since it can be scratched off. It does look sweet, though!

Anodizing would work better on the Gearpunk designs than the Tinker designs, just because the numbers and gears are "raised" from the plane. It would make sense to let them be lighter and a few little scratches here and there would just add character.

It would be a bit less appealing on the Tinker designs, since it would really be most effective as a way to color the numbers and screws so you didn't wind up with a more unreadable surface. Again, scratches could be character-inducing, but they would be more distracting on the Tinker designs.

...but yes, I've been tempted for months to make an anodyzing rig in my garage. It's not realistic...but I can dream, right?

We've unlocked all of the standard "gaming dice" in the campaign, just doing a few last stretch goals. Thanks for the interest, everyone!

Look good, but I've already got more than enough metal dice(got 6 of the "made from musket balls" replicas when I went to Mt. Vernon).

That sounds really cool, actually. My wife and I might head out that way sometime, I shall have to keep my eyes open for them.

Closing in on the last big stretch goal. Thanks to any of you who have been a part of this!

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/tishtoshtesh/tinker-dice-steampunk-metal-dice/posts/576767

...it's almost too bad that WarMachine doesn't use Fudge dice, really. A Menoth army would be a perfect place for the Tinker Fudge designs.

Wow, almost 22K with 11 hours to go... well done!

Aye, it went really well. Thanks, everyone! Now, for the hard part of putting it all together and getting the dice sent out.