Inspired by r/DicePorn/ and dice storage on Esty. I thought I would run a design experiment on what would make the best portable dice and TTRPG storage folio with an integrated dice tower.
My initial interest was perked and the array of options astounding. I focused on a design but at the price I question would it really do everything I wanted. Ans there were some niggling questions. So it lead down this path.
- I compared it to what I currently have for dice storage which are two Sistema 1.7L plastic containers. The box I was interested in was smaller than these ....
So I wondered if I could make a bigger version, say the same size to fit with my existing containers. - I started to layout the design in 2d to get a feel for a layout
- I next extruded my 2d design to 3d so I could generate some reference dimensions to check against my lego prototype.
- When I was happy with the layout. I build a Lego prototype to test my dice mechanism and storage potential. The original design looked a bit narrow at about 25mm clearance in the storage and dice shoot, so I wanted to %test how 40mm would go.
- Building a prototype was a really good exploration. especially testing but the 40mm and 25mm slots. It does not sound like much difference but significant differences in usability were found.
- 40mm is easier to load in a handful of dice.
- 25mm is a more compact feel, more secure dice storage and works okay for feeding in one dice at a time rather than a handful.
- leaving a side of my dice tray allows a drive tower to feed into the tray.
- I also did a quick study of how many dice can fit in a 100mm equilateral triangle, 25mm high. Two sets apparently, almost in one layer but definitely within 25mm. All of my storage slots are bigger then this 100mm triangle.
- Then I saw a folio and wondered if I could fit a character sheet In somewhere. The only option really is somethign around A5 size sitting on top of the storage with some clearance or recessed into the lid. Any clearance would have to not allow dice to fall in from the dice shoot.
40mm Wide test | 25mm Wide Test |
- Think about design patters and what makes a good all in one RPG box of tricks.
- Document where I have gotten to in my thinking
- Seek input to consider things I have overlooked,
Design Patterns
A quick visual summary and some initial thoughts I had on the various tropes.
Pattern |
Thoughts |
Image |
|---|---|---|
| Simple Tray | There is something to be said for the utility of a simple nested box. |  |
| Pen Case | I like the minimalist nature of this ... it might be channelling some old school pencil case memorties. |  |
| Slotted Tray | Pencil case on steroids. |  |
| Dice Box | For the totally organised |  |
| Dice Case | The minimalist solution again. |  |
| Modular | The organised minimalist? |  |
| Rolled Folio | Olde world charm but nos sure if overly useful. Might work well with a dice towner in a backpack. |  |
| Folio Screen | Screen with built-in dice towers |  |
| Dice Tower | Portable. Folding design. Some storage. |  |
| Storage & Dice Tower | Removable multipurpose tray. Built-in dice tower. |  |
| Hex Slotted | Individual compartments. |  |
| Octogon with Dice Tray | Interal perimeter slot for dice storage surrounding a central tray area. About 9x9"outside. 1x1/2"slot around 6x6x1" tray. 100+ dice Storage. Note only 33 around the outer slot. |  |
So what are the design features I like?
- Explicit design features
- dice storage with integrated dice tower.
- single layer. single dice pockets, single dice set row
- dice capture/containment, tray?
- Other item storage. Pens, eraser, mobile phone stand, etc
- storage for papers.
- character sheets
- note pad
- writing surface>
- Other Features
- trackers, hitpoints, initiative.
- Whiteboard areas
- Miniatures
- Status indicators
- Materials
- Solid wood
- Laminates
- Plastic
- Metal?
- Other features
- Rare earth magnets
- decorative hardware, latches, hinges, etc
- felt, cloth, foam
- Implicit design features
- Lightweight
- Does it protect dice from damage?
- robust, wear resistant ?
- Modular
- remove the bits your don't need.
- customise the layout of compartments.
- Small enough as to not impact other players
- Noise ... pleasant or annoying?
- Feel of materials. Plesant or cheap.
- Sustainability
- Economical use of sustainable materials
- Ethical labour
- Local sourced, slow transport
- Ethically run free-trade business
