Review of Unique D2 & D4 Runic Dice (white on black D2 & black on white D4)

Blurb from the publisher: 'Throw the future in the runes!'

What you get: Your EUR 8 or equivalent will buy you the Unique D2 & D4 Runic Dice (white on black D2 & black on white D4), a set of two plastic four-sided dice with an attitude, seeing how they are not standard platonic solids.

From far away the dice look like six-siders. Close inspection however reveals that they have neither angles nor corners. In fact, they are comprised of two different levels interlocking with one another, each bent like a horse shoe. Thus, each die can come to rest in only four positions (two of the would-be sides of the imagined six-sider are curves). On the first die one or two pips adorn each rest side, while the other one has numbers from one to four in a script that looks celtic, viking or old-fashioned in any event.

The dice are bigger than standard-size, with a length of 1,7 cm. The d4 is white with black numbers, while the d2 is black with white pips. Both have the same line of repeating runes on the rim where the die's two surfaces touch.

The set can be also purchased with inverted colours from Q-Workshop's website.

The strong points: These dice are gorgeous! The word unique in their title is not a misnomer; they truly are. Use them, and you will forget that you are playing a game. I have no idea whether the design is a modern one or whether such dice had been constructed in the past (I would tilt towards the former, not the latter), yet using them transports you back in history to a time of pagan tribes, of mysteries, of fantastical powers and uncertainty. The gods are here, deciding the future for you.

It is not just their looks, the beautifully drawn runes (which might or might not mean something) or the cool-looking font; it's how the dice behave. Contrary to practically all other dice, the Unique Runic Dice do not firmly rest upon properly landing. Being curved and not having a single straight line, the dice will slightly vibrate even when they reach their uncontested final position, as if Lady Luck is already reconsidering her decision. You will feel the gravity of the fates talking to you, and that the die might jump to another result. No other dice ever raised my adrenalin as much when rolling.

When it comes to visibility, they are both perfect. There is zero chance of misinterpreting a result.

The weak points: Unless the dice come poorly manufactured, there aren't many flaws one can find on a set. There are no defects or imbalances when it comes to dice-rolling. I rolled each die around a hundred times, and even though the numbers obviously did not come out as statistically expected, there is nothing to suggest that there are inherent flaws. Even more so, on the d2 I have no idea which of the two ones or twos was coming up each time. I wasn't going to deface the die to find out.

The price would be the biggest point of contention. Two dice for EUR 8 falls definitely on the upper part of the market's price range. I understand the reasons, seeing how well-crafted and incredibly thematic these dice are. Yet, for that price I would have liked them even bigger. I am also not convinced about how they are marketed. I don't know whether having two of the same colour would have been a better idea, or two of the same type (i.e. two d4s, or two d2s). At least buying two of them comes at a discount. When purchased separately, each die costs EUR 5. Ouch.

Then again, it might be the d2. What's the actual point of a d2, when it's easier to flip a coin? Wouldn't it be preferable to insert two d4s in the set? The results of a two-sider can be emulated on every single die with an even number of sides. The d2 is thematic with the pips and all, I won't argue that, it doesn't feel however necessary.

I probably don't need to say this: one d2 and one d4 never answered anybody's gaming needs. Clearly, this is a luxury set for those looking for something exotic and extravagant.

These two beauties are too well-themed. Thus, they will look totally out of place in sci-fi or hi-tech games, unless runes and magic somehow manage to creep in.

Conclusion: Beauty comes at a price. The Unique D2 & D4 Runic Dice (white on black D2 & black on white D4) will not be the most useful or most used dice you have on your table. They will be however two of the most fearsome. They shiver before resting; you will be shivering as well.

To find out more about Q-Workshop take a look at http://q-workshop.com.

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