Real dinosaur fossils, 15th-century chainmail, and meteorite fragments estimated to be 4.5 billion years old are being embedded into polyhedral dice in a new partnership between FanRoll Dice and Mini Museum.
The project, titled Roll with History, represents a collaboration between the dice manufacturer and the specimen curator to bring tangible artefacts to tabletop roleplaying games. The collection is scheduled to debut via a crowdfunding campaign on Backerkit later this month.
While premium dice featuring inclusions are not new to the hobby, the provenance of the materials in this collection distinguishes it from standard glitter or synthetic inserts. Mini Museum specialises in the sourcing and preservation of rare historical and scientific specimens, which FanRoll (nee Metallic Dice Games) has encapsulated in resin.
This collaboration suggests a new tier of ambition for FanRoll, whose existing high-end lines might find themselves rivalled by these new historic artefacts. For example, their intricate Catan inclusion dice are already a technical feat, embedding miniature resource hexes into standard-sized dice. However, replacing sculpted inserts with organic fossils and ancient metalwork introduces a level of rarity and complexity that sets Roll with History apart in the “luxury math rock” market.
The collection will launch with three primary offerings, each targeting a different era of history. The “Meteorite D20” contains fragments of the Campo Del Cielo meteorite, a massive impact event in Argentina estimated to have occurred roughly 4,500 years ago, though the matter itself is billions of years old.
For players preferring fantasy settings, the “Chainmail D20” features links from a 15th-century hauberk, marking the end of the mail armour era in Europe. Perhaps the most significant technical challenge and draw for collectors is the “Dinosaur Fossil Polyhedral Set”. The companies have confirmed the inclusion of Tyrannosaurus rex fossils in the d20, with further dinosaur specimens to be revealed as the campaign approaches.
Neal Hoffman, CEO of FanRoll Dice, said in a statement:
At FanRoll, we are always asking ourselves how we can do things that have never been done before that will blow people’s minds. The idea of taking unique elements like fossils or meteorites and turning them into playable keepsakes is really exciting, and we’re thrilled to have found the perfect partner in Mini Museum.”
The partnership leverages FanRoll‘s manufacturing capabilities to stabilise these often fragile or corrosive materials for regular gameplay use.
A spokesperson for Mini Museum explained in the press release:
We love finding new ways to share the love of science and history with the world, and FanRoll’s vision for this project is just so fun and engaging. They’ve also matched our drive to make each Mini Museum the best it can be with a collection that is breathtakingly beautiful and a natural to inspire wonder.”
The Roll with History campaign launches on Backerkit on January 27. The crowdfunding page can be viewed here.
