11 Strange and Fancy 20-Sided Dice

For thousands of years, people have used dice in many different games. But the 20-sided die is perhaps most often used today in tabletop role-playing games. They're symbols of good times spent with friends exploring exotic worlds of the imagination. Let's look at some of the oddest 20-sided dice ever made.

1. Pictured above is Charless C. Fowlkes's die made of 20 pecan pies. He created it by building custom pans that link together with magnets. All he needs to do now is add numbers with frosting. (via Boing Boing)

2. For Christmas, Our Nerd Home made a 20-sider (and a d4 and d6) with graham crackers and white chocolate Candy Melts. The d20 is particularly delicate. The bloggers at Our Nerd Home had to make several attempts to get it right. (via Make)

3. Although they didn't play Dungeons & Dragons, the ancient Romans had uses for 20-sided dice. This rock crystal d20 owned by the British Museum dates back to the First or Second Century A.D. (via Luana Fasulkey)

4. This ancient 20-sider is owned by the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. It dates back to Egypt in the Second to Fourth Century A.D. The faces are inscribed with Greek letters. (via CNET)

5. A bad roll can sting you, but so can a good throw with this thorny d20. Shapeways member Chuck Stover makes metal dice that look like woven steel. (via Stephanie Peters)

(Photo: Ben Jacobson)

6. Gary Gygax, one of the founders of Dungeons & Dragons, passed away in 2008. Later that year, at GenCon in Indianapolis, this giant die was placed on the convention floor in his honor.

7. Stained glass artisans have made dice using their craft. These two by John F. Talarico are excellent examples.

8. Stained glass is perhaps not the best medium for functional dice. But it can be used to make dandy lamps. Claudia Malmberg uses stained glass to build clocks, planters, picture frames and this lovely lamp. (via Nerd Approved)

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9. Instructables member flaming_pele! makes many different crafts, including an Iron Throne and a motorized secret passage. Pictured above his his computer server housing made of duct tape and shaped like a d20. It has alternating lights inside.

10. In my gaming days, a Crown Royal dice bag was the standard of quality. But some gamers prefer dice bags that look like dice. Etsy seller Adam Poisal makes leather dice bags that look like d20s.

11. Etsy seller Jes also makes 20-sided dice bags, but hers look ready to bite your hands off! This is Chomp'd, one of several aggressive-looking dice bags that she made.