So Darksilver Forge may not have many options available right now, but what they do have is uniformity and consistency. Today, we’ll be taking a look at their second “launch” set of dice: Cthulhu’s Gold. Let’s step right into the review.
Storage
Much like their Dragonsteel option, their Cthulhu inspire dice box also has a very prominent and much more easily visible artistic flair on the lid of the box. Arguably, this one is much more thematically appropriate for the name of the dice, and the pirate motif fits very well with the gold bounty within.
Inside, like always with these pressed metal tins, we have a decent amount of space between the dice and the thin metal of the lid, and a firm pre-cut foam insert to keep the dice stable and held quite securely.
I do appreciate the thickness of the foam and the case in general and hope that other companies follow suit. Though I would like to see some variety in the shape or composition of these cases – seems a shame that the only differences so far are colors and lid-art, but with first-run products, the kinks still need to be worked out.
Color
DSF has an eye for matte finished products that appeal to a fair audience. I enjoy the finger print resistant quality as well as the additional luster it provides for these gold dice.
Oh wow that’s ugly as sin.
Hold on.
MUCH better. Uniformity, people. I do have to admit, however, that these dice do not really look gold. They look like a Dijon mustard yellow. The finish adds some softness and helps give that protective layer to hide scratches and help the dice have a wonderful feeling in the hand – but really it ends up having a tan/sand color that isn’t as appealing as a more glossy option.
Weight and Cut
Like most other aspects, these dice are cut and weigh the exact same as the Dragonsteel set we reviewed previously. Identical dice in every way save the color and the case. It makes for a safe buying option – if you like one, chances are you’ll like the other.
Final Verdict
So this review is quite short, I know. But in a side-by-side comparison to Darksilver Forge’s “Dragonsteel” dice, you’ll understand:
The cut, the box, the foam insert, the coating, the numbers, the weight, and the price – these two are near identical other than thematic color changes.
On the whole, i think this is a good sign. Darksilver Forge wants to make a product that is reliable and gives you no concerns over future purchases.
Sadly, this one is a bit of a mixed bag, though. The tin looks great – a semi-gloss finish, the black is even and very dark, it matches the foam exceptionally well. The lid art is fantastic and gives a fun and interesting take on the Cthulhu trend (elder god pirates would be one heck of a game of Fiasco). But the dice themselves don’t really do it for me. The color is appropriate, but without that gentle sheen or soft glow – that almost ceramic quality that real gold has – these dice fall a little flat with me.
Luckily, if you enjoy the color, you can pick these guys up comforted in the utter surety that it’ll be a uniform and well made set.
I don’t always advocate rolling, but when I do… be sure you have to Drop the Die.
Review by JB Little, Follow me on twitter for more “useful” information.