It’s been three years since Wyrmwood Gaming brought their incredible Dice Tower to Kickstarter. They’re back again, but with a refined system, access to even more rare woods, and speciality deco tiers that will make GMs (and fans of Critical Role) drool.
Back to the Beginning
Catching up with co-founder Ed Maranville after GenCon this past week, he was eager to put some perspective on why, after all this time, Wyrmwood is offering up a fresh dice tower Kickstarter.
“The first Magnetic Dice Tower campaign was a turning point for us, and really helped launch the company. We have grown a lot since, in many ways, and wanted to give people that didn’t know us then the opportunity to get the tower in exotic woods that we generally reserve for Kickstarter campaigns.”
While you can simply purchase some of those exotic woods through the campaign, there’s a more intriguing option for those that are willing to gamble.
Wyrmwood’s “Roll The Dice” option, usually reserved for special sales, is available as a pledge tier. With this tier, you’ll pledge a little more than you would for a dice tower set in one of Wyrmwood’s standard (but still gorgeous) woods. When you do, you’ll receive at least a cherry wood set. However, there’s a chance that you’ll receive something much more valuable.
Every wood unlocked during the campaign can be randomly selected as your Roll the Dice reward, even the Mistress of Maps and Dungeon Master sets (though there’s only an approximately 1 in 300 chance that you’ll win one of those). Several of the woods included are available only from Wyrwmood’s custom shop that usually require a sourcing fee. Especially if you don’t have your heart set on a specific wood, it’s the best option for getting something truly special for less.
A Critical Team-Up
If you’re a fan of Critical Role, the new campaign will be of particular interest to you. The guild’s cartographer, Mistress of Maps, Deven Rue, has teamed up with Wyrmwood to create dice towers engraved with her amazing designs. For the campaign, she’s created a map of “The Painted Lands” and is creating a complete world with NPCs and backstory.
Happy to announce my map of The Painted Lands will be "home" to @WyrmwoodGaming in my original world of Kor'Treum & featured on their dice towers! I'll be adding NPCs, cultures & history to the land including a village of woodworkers. Get your tower on KS https://t.co/d6zhGGDRw2 pic.twitter.com/UrbN9MkvSK
— Deven Rue ~ Matriarch of Maps (@DevenRue) August 17, 2018
Wyrmwood Gaming sent me a tower with one of Rue’s designs featuring the recently unlocked map of Bliyss Valley. It’s stunning in person. The intricate designs are etched into the wood and create a visual landscape that you can lose yourself in. It’s a step above the standard tower. You can pick up a Mistress of Maps dice tower on its own, in Cherry wood, for $165. It’s also available in more expensive wood options.
Dungeon Master Tier and More
In addition to the Mistress of Maps tier, backers can get custom leather straps (as seen on Kickstarter projects like the Adventurer’s Arsenal). Recently unlocked are additional leather designs that let you select a geometric design embossed into the leather, as well as a custom-cut strap.
For all you “high rolling” DMs, there’s an all-new version of the Dungeon Master tier with a new take on the Celtic-inspired marquetry and inlay from the original campaign. Crafted with Elm Burl, highly figured Maple, Holly, Ebony, and silver, it’s not a stretch to say these towers will stand out as masterpieces on the gaming table.
What Cost, Glory?
As with every Wyrmwood Gaming Kickstarter campaign, the prices are variable. A simple Alder wood dice tower will run you $133 for the tower and personal dice tray used to store the tower pieces when disassembled (a matching dice vaults is extra). But then if you choose something like Gabon Ebony, it’s going to cost you $415 for the tower alone. If you decide you want to get the Dungeon Master collection, it will set you back over $1,000 for the complete set.
It’s one of the things that make the Roll the Dice option so attractive – the rarer woods quickly add to the price of your set. Being able to get any of the high-level woods at a discount is a thrill.
The build quality is just as gorgeous as it was with Wyrmwood’s first Dice Tower campaign. The small refinements, like the number-stamped pieces and stronger magnets, make them an even better buy. Wyrmwood’s proven track record of build quality, guaranteed craftsmanship, and on-time delivery make this Kickstarter a sure bet. If you’re looking to add something extra to your RPG loadout, you have just 10 days left to pledge.
