A wide horizontal charcoal sketch of tabletop gamers and costumed live-action role players gathered around a table, dramatic black and grey shading with a moody, energetic atmosphere

High Level Games Convention

LARP · RPG · Table-Top Gaming in Atlantic City

The best dice sets from HLGCon’s vendors, with photos

High Level Games Convention turned the Showboat Hotel in Atlantic City into a meeting place for tabletop role-players, live-action performers, designers, artists, publishers and vendors in 2018. Among the creative clutter of panels, workshops, LARP encounters and escape rooms, dice remained one of the most photographable objects. A good set can signal the character of a game before a single die is rolled, and the exhibitor displays offered plenty of chances to compare finish, scale and personality.

The convention was especially useful for judging dice in context rather than from polished catalogue images alone. Table games demanded clear results and comfortable handling; live-action play needed dice that could disappear into a belt pouch or become part of a costume; design discussions raised questions about casting, engraving and durability. This mix made HLGCon more than a showcase of shiny objects. It was a place where practical play, visual theatre and independent publishing sat side by side.

Photography helps preserve those contrasts. Wide shots reveal how a vendor arranged a display at the Showboat, while close-ups expose the cut of numerals, the depth of an engraving and the way light behaves on resin, wood or metal. Colour can also distort perceptions, so a convincing photo-led buying guide should balance atmosphere with plain descriptions of size, weight and use. The aim is not to crown a permanent champion, but to identify sets suited to different Australian tables and budgets.

For this guide, “best” means the strongest fit for a particular need. A travelling LARP player may prize a compact narrative set, while a dungeon crawler needs balanced polyhedrals, readable faces and a dependable d20. A new group may want a straightforward wooden starter set, and a collector may choose an ornate resin or metal release as a centrepiece. These are the criteria used to assess the most interesting choices associated with HLGCon’s vendor hall.

What the vendor hall put on the table

The exhibitor side of HLGCon covered far more than conventional role-playing equipment. Small presses shared floor space with artists, makers and specialist sellers, reflecting the collaborative nature of the HLGCon’s official site event. That variety matters when choosing dice: a familiar polyhedral set, a tactile alternative and a story-focused tool can all belong in the same game bag without serving the same purpose.

Among conventional dice, the d20 receives the closest inspection because it does so much of the work in modern tabletop RPGs. Well-shaped faces settle cleanly, readable numerals reduce arguments about results and smooth edges prevent a heavily used die from catching on everything in a character sheet. Sets including a d4, d6, d8, d10, d12, d20 and percentile die offer the broadest compatibility with different systems.

LARP and escape-room displays encouraged a broader definition of value. Small narrative dice, prompt dice and chunky tokens can be just as important as a numerical set when rules reward clever decisions rather than chance. Their usefulness depends on thematic fit, portability and the atmosphere they create, which is why photographs of those displays matter as much as conventional specifications.

Reading shape, weight and story

Shape is the first feature to examine in a close-up photograph. Deeply cut numerals can look dramatic while making the actual figures harder to read. Raised or painted details may disappear under the warm lighting of a hotel ballroom, whereas dark numerals remain clear against pale resin, wood or ivory-coloured faces. Rounded edges also improve comfort during long sessions.

Material changes the character of a set without changing its basic function. Wood feels warm, absorbs sound and is usually gentle on tables. Resin supports intricate colour schemes and fantasy imagery, making it an appealing display piece. Metal feels substantial and rolls with authority, although it can be loud, slippery when chilled and hard on nearby game components. Metal dice are often better suited to occasional use than to every session.

Weight should be judged against use rather than glamour. A small set with sharp resin details can become tiring after several hours, while a wooden set may feel almost weightless. Metal dice have a weight advantage for tactile players but can pull pockets downward during LARP events. Balance, readable numbering and consistent results should come before heft.

Narrative dice deserve separate consideration because they solve a different problem. Instead of producing numbers, they provide prompts, locations, characters, complications or actions. They work particularly well for story games, one-shot scenarios and live-action encounters. A photo of such a set should show both its artwork and the breadth of its prompts, since a beautiful icon may still be disappointing if it repeatedly produces the same narrow range of outcomes.

A shortlist for Australian gaming groups

The event’s hidden-gems exhibitor guide captures the appeal of independent exhibitors who favour distinctive production over mass-market uniformity. The same principle applies to dice shopping: compare what each set does, then consider whether its materials suit your group. The following shortlist covers the most useful categories without pretending that one decorative finish should suit every campaign.

For Australian buyers, the shortlist also works as a practical filter at conventions, specialist shops and online marketplaces. Check the number of pieces, dimensions and included accessories before paying for presentation features that the game may never use.

  • A balanced polyhedral set: Choose an exhibitor’s standard seven-die collection when the group plays several RPG systems and needs dependable d4, d6, d8, d10, d12, d20 and percentile results.

  • A readable resin set: Look for crisp dark numerals, comfortable edges and a colour scheme that remains distinguishable under ordinary venue lighting; intricate mythic imagery is worthwhile only if it does not compromise clarity.

  • A wooden starter set: Natural wood dice are often the sound choice for new groups, campaign dice that travel frequently or tables where loud rolling and constant knocking would become a nuisance.

  • A metal display-and-play set: Metal polyhedrals suit collectors and special-event sessions, provided the weight is acceptable and the table can handle the noise without turning every roll into an interruption.

  • A narrative or prompt set: Choose dice with varied symbols and outcomes for story-focused games, escape rooms and LARP scenarios where player decisions should matter more than arithmetic.

Buying locally without losing the plot

Australian players have good reasons to compare prices in Australian dollars before falling for an overseas “rare set” listing. Local purchases generally show the 10% GST clearly, while imported orders can add exchange-rate movement, freight, insurance and tax treatment at checkout. Shipping through Australia Post may be inexpensive and reliable, but the full landed cost can still exceed a locally available alternative.

Independent game stores offer another advantage: staff often handle the products and can explain how a set feels or performs. Melbourne’s Cherry HQ, Canberra’s Boffins Games and Sydney’s Gamehaus are examples of specialist outlets where tabletop culture has developed a strong local following. Smaller community stores and convention stalls provide similar advice, often with the added benefit of seeing the actual finish before buying.

Conventions create their own market rhythm. Brisbane’s ConQuest, Canberra tabletop gatherings and major Australian RPG events can provide access to sellers who do not maintain permanent shops. Australian buyers commonly call a particularly attractive item “beaut” and describe a premium purchase as “a bit of a splurge”, but a convincing display is not proof of balanced dice. Bring a notebook, check recent reviews and leave room in the budget for a future replacement rather than chasing every limited release.

Making the photos useful at the table

The best convention photographs explain an object’s role in the event rather than merely record what was for sale. A close-up of resin numerals tells you about readability, while a wider view of a wooden set beside rulebooks shows how it lived within the gaming space. The Boardwalk LARP report captures that sense of Atlantic City atmosphere, demonstrating why surrounding spaces affect the way creative objects are perceived.

Photographs can also expose practical faults that product descriptions miss. Look for excess flash on polished surfaces, numerals filled with paint, moulding seams, inconsistent edges or a case that cannot protect protruding details. Wood should appear smooth without deep cracks, while resin should have clean joins between its decorative sections. For metal, inspect the weight distribution and the depth of each engraved number.

Take those visual details into a store or convention and test the dice if possible. Roll several d20s, check the faces from a player’s normal viewing angle and imagine using the set after two hours of play. The most practical choice is the set you can read at a glance, roll consistently and comfortably keep beside you through a three-hour session; those qualities will matter long after any photograph stops doing the selling.