Let's be honest—dice are gamer bling. To support our habit, Wizards of the Coast has released another “dice and miscellany” set, Laeral Silverhand's Explorer's Kit. Much like its predecessor, Baldur's Gate: Descent Into Avernus Dice and Miscellany, the new set features dice, dice trays, a map, and other material.
The dice portion features the standard set of seven polyhedrals plus a second d20 for advantage/disadvantage rolls, and three more d6s for those who like to roll their stats. The dice are a lovely blue with swirly silver undertones. The numbers are inked silver with the stylized ampersand from the Dungeons & Dragons logo on the 20 side of those dice.
Once out of the plastic packaging you have a two-piece box that doubles as two velvet-lined dice trays. Navy blue with iridescent silver ink—what else, considering the name?—the lid has a very pretty compass point design inscribed with “Together in harmony our stories are told.” The bottom half is equally charming though the phrases on it are as if Laeral wrote material for a tourism campaign. “Faerun, World of Adventure, Birthplace of Heroes,” “Wondrous Creatures, Boundless Magic,” “Greatest heroes, Boundless Villains,” “Lost Civilizations, Ancient Mystries,” and a “label” signed by Laeral that reads, “The path to Faerun's wonders is endless and fraught with danger, but one you'll never walk alone.”
The kit includes a folded, full-color, two-sided map with Waterdeep on one side and the Sword Coast on the other. A note from Laeral speaks lyrically of Faerun past and present in a way that, of course, also applies to Dungeons & Dragons itself.
In addition to the dice, the kit includes 19 full-color cards, with art on one side and Laerel's commentary on the topic on the other. It's a mix of people, organizations, and locations that would have been quite handy if it had been released along with Waterdeep: Dragons Heist. I like it, but it seems rather random. The Harpers and Zhentarium get cards but not the other factions. The conceit of being written by Laerel shouldn't change that. She would have opinions about the Order of the Gaunlet, Lord's Alliance, etc.
Similarly, Vajra Safarh, the current Black Staff, Durnan, Mirt, Grand Duke Ulder Ravengard of Baldur's Gate, Halaster Blackcloak (the “mad mage”), Jarlaxle Baenre, Lord Dagult Neverember, Drizzt Do'Urden, and Xanathar get cards, but that brings up my personal disappointment with this product. When I got the notice that WotC was releasing something called “Laeral Silverhand's Explorer's Kit” I thought it was going to be a book like Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes but focused on notable NPCs in Faerun as well as information useful for explorers and adventurers. As much as I love the aesthetics of this product and the dice, I still think a guide to people in Faerun (and beyond?) would be a great addition to what they've done so far.
The final cards are for the locations Baldur's Gate, Candlekeep, Neverwinter, Port Nyanzaru, Waterdeep, and Icewind Dale. Again, it's interesting, but could have included other notable locations, though these are the major human-run areas.
Overall the cards are good but would have been much more handy during either Waterdeep adventure. I love dice. Those and the dice trays are very pretty and most likely the part I'll use the most. I wouldn't call Laeral Silverhand's Explorer's Kit a must-buy, but if you have money to burn and like accessories or just love pretty dice, it's a worthy choice with high production values.
Once out of the plastic packaging you have a two-piece box that doubles as two velvet-lined dice trays. Navy blue with iridescent silver ink—what else, considering the name?—the lid has a very pretty compass point design inscribed with “Together in harmony our stories are told.” The bottom half is equally charming though the phrases on it are as if Laeral wrote material for a tourism campaign. “Faerun, World of Adventure, Birthplace of Heroes,” “Wondrous Creatures, Boundless Magic,” “Greatest heroes, Boundless Villains,” “Lost Civilizations, Ancient Mystries,” and a “label” signed by Laeral that reads, “The path to Faerun's wonders is endless and fraught with danger, but one you'll never walk alone.”
The kit includes a folded, full-color, two-sided map with Waterdeep on one side and the Sword Coast on the other. A note from Laeral speaks lyrically of Faerun past and present in a way that, of course, also applies to Dungeons & Dragons itself.
In addition to the dice, the kit includes 19 full-color cards, with art on one side and Laerel's commentary on the topic on the other. It's a mix of people, organizations, and locations that would have been quite handy if it had been released along with Waterdeep: Dragons Heist. I like it, but it seems rather random. The Harpers and Zhentarium get cards but not the other factions. The conceit of being written by Laerel shouldn't change that. She would have opinions about the Order of the Gaunlet, Lord's Alliance, etc.
Similarly, Vajra Safarh, the current Black Staff, Durnan, Mirt, Grand Duke Ulder Ravengard of Baldur's Gate, Halaster Blackcloak (the “mad mage”), Jarlaxle Baenre, Lord Dagult Neverember, Drizzt Do'Urden, and Xanathar get cards, but that brings up my personal disappointment with this product. When I got the notice that WotC was releasing something called “Laeral Silverhand's Explorer's Kit” I thought it was going to be a book like Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes but focused on notable NPCs in Faerun as well as information useful for explorers and adventurers. As much as I love the aesthetics of this product and the dice, I still think a guide to people in Faerun (and beyond?) would be a great addition to what they've done so far.
The final cards are for the locations Baldur's Gate, Candlekeep, Neverwinter, Port Nyanzaru, Waterdeep, and Icewind Dale. Again, it's interesting, but could have included other notable locations, though these are the major human-run areas.
Overall the cards are good but would have been much more handy during either Waterdeep adventure. I love dice. Those and the dice trays are very pretty and most likely the part I'll use the most. I wouldn't call Laeral Silverhand's Explorer's Kit a must-buy, but if you have money to burn and like accessories or just love pretty dice, it's a worthy choice with high production values.
