Handmade Dice Trays at HLGCon and the Joy of Making
High Level Games Convention turned the Showboat Hotel in Atlantic City into a meeting place for people who believe games are made as much by the people around the table as by the rules. The 2018 event united tabletop role-players, live-action players, designers, artists, publishers and vendors through sessions, panels, workshops, LARP experiences and escape rooms.
Among the handmade dice trays sold at HLGCon were objects that looked simple until handled: shaped vessels with smooth interiors, weighted bases and hand-finished edges. Their appeal joined function and craft. A tray can keep dice together, soften a throw and give a game table a visual centre, yet these examples revealed the maker’s choices in timber, texture and proportion.
They were also objects created for repeated use, likely to travel between campaign nights, convention tables and home sessions. Their Atlantic City display placed handmade gaming goods within a culture of collaborative storytelling, where buying an accessory can lead to demonstrations, designer advice and conversations with other players.
For an Australian audience, the subject raises familiar questions about handmade markets, shipping and quality. Australian tabletop hobbyists often encounter such products through local game stores, small makers, specialist conventions and online marketplaces. The trays at HLGCon deserve attention as useful craft made to enter everyday play, rather than as collectibles alone.
Why the trays felt special
A handmade tray offers a tactile record of its construction. Grain, tool marks, seams or padded lining reveal how it was made, while a commercial tray may prioritise uniformity and low cost. At a stall, that individuality is easy to appreciate because the maker can explain the choices behind the object and its shape.
The practical benefits are modest but meaningful. A recessed base gathers dice, raised edges frame the result, and felted or leather surfaces reduce noise. These qualities matter during a busy campaign night, when a tray must serve several players rather than sit untouched on a shelf.
The convention context added another layer. A handmade accessory can prompt questions, and those conversations often move toward finding a group or testing a new system. Ways to find playtest groups at a convention matter because the vendor hall sits close to designers gathering, exchanging ideas and putting unfinished rules into use.
Inside the 2018 HLGCon marketplace
The setting suited browsing because Atlantic City’s Showboat Hotel offered compact rooms filled with activity. In the exhibitor hall, small makers displayed trays beside dice, books, miniatures and other game goods. The density encouraged comparison: a buyer could lift one tray, feel another lining and compare handmade and factory-finished versions at the same counter.
Conventions give objects a social context that online photographs cannot. A seller can demonstrate how a tray catches dice, explain whether corners have been rounded and discuss repairs. Visitors from LARP groups, escape-room teams and tabletop campaigns could judge features differently, making the display a practical lesson in designing for different kinds of play.
The handmade pieces therefore sat within a lively ecosystem rather than as isolated merchandise. Nearby panels connected artists with publishers, workshops taught skills for home, and play spaces turned products into working tools. The trays gained value from proximity to people who understood making and play.
Materials, shapes and the maker’s hand
Wood displayed the clearest variation. Different species changed colour and grain, while stain, oil or paint altered the tone. A maker might shape a broad rectangular tray for a crowded table or a compact round one for travelling. Hardwood brings visual richness but demands care around moisture, weight and splintering; plywood is easier to keep stable.
Felt and leather were often paired with wood. These layers soften impacts and keep polished dice from striking the base harshly. Leather edges add grip and age visibly, whereas felt can be replaced discreetly. A moulded fabric tray might fold flat, appealing to players who move between flats, shared spaces and convention sessions.
Small asymmetries need not be faults. They can mark hand-cutting, stitching or sanding, showing that the maker valued character over identical repetition. The useful question is whether irregularity affects function: an uneven lip, rough underside or lifting seam deserves more concern than a subtle change in grain or stitch spacing.
Making the HLGCon trays relevant in Australia
Australian players meet tabletop gaming through local conventions, neighbourhood game stores, community groups and online forums. Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Adelaide have active creative scenes, while regional players may rely more on mail order and travel to larger events. A tray seen at HLGCon could therefore enter an Australian home through an overseas purchase.
Distance makes packaging and repair important. Australian Consumer Law requires goods to be of acceptable quality, match their description and be fit for a disclosed purpose, so sellers should state dimensions, materials and finish clearly. Consumer prices normally include GST, but international postage and currency conversion can change the final cost. Comparing landed and local prices is more useful than comparing list prices alone.
Everyday Australian life adds another test. Compact flats encourage storage in cupboards and under beds, while coastal humidity can affect untreated timber in some regions. Many players carry dice to community meetups, gaming rooms or pub trivia nights, so portability, cleanability and noise control may matter more than decoration. A washable fabric tray or durable wooden design can suit those routines better than a fragile display piece.
Buying and caring for a handmade tray
A buyer should first consider the table and game. Measure the space, check whether the tray holds polyhedral dice, and consider whether several players need to reach it. A broad tray can prevent scattering but occupy a shared centre; a narrow one may suit one player but send dice towards a neighbour. The maker’s description is valuable for an overseas purchase.
Finish and joinery deserve attention because they affect appearance and longevity. Ask whether the interior is sealed, whether felt is glued or stitched, and how a leather rim is attached. Good photographs should show the underside, corners and any maker’s mark. For a custom order, agree on size, edge profile, lining and delivery time in writing.
Signs of a well-made tray:
- The base sits flat without rocking.
- Corners and joints show no obvious gaps.
- The interior is smooth, dry and free from splinters.
- Materials and dimensions are stated clearly.
Care routine for regular use:
- Wipe with a dry or lightly damp cloth.
- Keep standing water away from joints and leather edges.
- Condition wood occasionally with a suitable product.
- Store the tray dry and out of prolonged sunlight.
These checks preserve the useful part of a handmade object without treating it like a museum piece. Frequent play deserves a tray that can be cleaned and repaired if a component wears out. Replacing felt or renewing oil can be less wasteful than replacing the whole base, provided the construction allows it.
Handmade value versus commercial convenience
Handmade trays command a premium when labour, design time and smaller production runs explain the price. In return, the buyer may receive distinctive materials, direct advice and satisfaction from acquiring something made for a particular table. A factory tray can still be sensible for travel, children’s groups or frequent replacement, because consistency and low cost have real value.
Promotional material around convention media also needs context. An instant-play casino bonus is an online gambling offer, not a handmade craft feature and not evidence of what HLGCon sellers offered. Keeping that distinction clear helps readers assess advertising independently. Every trader should likewise be judged on materials, durability, transparent pricing and service rather than event excitement.
| Option | Typical construction | Relative cost | Best suited to | Main limitation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Handmade hardwood | Solid timber, hand-finished edges and optional lining | Higher | Home campaigns and display at the table | Weight, humidity care and possible price variation |
| Handmade fabric or leather | Stitched panels, reinforced base and padded interior | Medium to higher | Travel and shared tables where noise matters | Lining and seams may need maintenance |
| Factory-finished tray | Machine-cut wood or moulded plastic with uniform finish | Lower | Groups, schools and high-use settings | Less individuality and fewer custom options |
| DIY tray | Player-built wood, cork or card sections | Low to medium | Makers wanting a personal project | Skill, tools and finishing time required |
The comparison comes down to use rather than prestige. Solid hardwood can make a permanent centrepiece for a home campaign, while a factory tray or self-built version can handle a busy club night. A handmade option earns its premium when the maker’s labour is visible, the materials are durable and the owner values a connection to the person who made it.
The lasting appeal of a useful handmade object
A handmade dice tray sits in an appealing middle ground between tool and keepsake. It protects the table, gathers the result and gives a shared game a physical focus, while its construction records the judgment of its maker. That combination lifted the trays at HLGCon beyond ordinary convention merchandise.
The lasting point is simple: judge each tray by fit, including its material, size, maintenance, price and the character of the maker’s hand. The best choice is the one ready for repeated game nights and valued in gatherings and shared stories rather than display alone.