"Custom Dice Cup" Topic

I've enjoyed 18th century games and stories for decades – I read the classic books as a kid & translated them into wargames in the 60's. I loved Koenig's Krieg 1st edition when it came out, Polemos Great Northern War & War of Spanish Succession have also been staples of my gaming diet. All of these I recommend highly. Recently Studio Tomahawk has released an English version of their game "Muskets & Tomahawks" which is a skirmish level game with creative mechanics that is based on the French & Indian War & the American Revolutionary War.

One thing I have wanted to do for many years now is make a custom dice cup for myself to use with these games. Yes some of you have heard or even own my "magic baskets" (as my friend Daryl named them) that I have made & that bring good fortune to the dice rolling. I have one myself but still wanted to do one out of cowhorn & made to look like an 18th century Powder Horn. This is a perfectly functional powder horn but with an extra twist of also being a dice cup. I scrimshawed it with a couple of designs as well.

On one side there is a French soldier of the period – the other side is based on Georgian Porn, LOL, or rather Dame Fortuna as she was often drawn, naked & reclining (on a cloud in this case) & tossing dice into the air.

Awful fancy. I think I'd hang it on the wall and admire it rather than use it. Very nicely done.

Very cool. Really nice work!

Sweet!!!

I like it…

That is a great idea sven. I have a blank horn and a "how to" book. I might have to give that a try.

Nice! I see you play The One Ring as well.

Thank you guys. It was fun making it during the evenings at a the Tall Trees (Mountain-man) Rendezvous as well as being traditional to the period. Admittedly I will often hang it on the wall as decoration but will also use it to intimidate other gamers. My dice baskets seem to have acquired quite a reputation for rolling well & Daryl uses his for his critical Warhammer games, LOL. This one should be over the top for me.

@Dave – yes I recently got the rule book, but haven't played it yet. I would be interested in hearing your review of it if you want to PM me.

@Twiningham – my trick is to finish the horn completely polished then draw my design in pencil or with tracing paper. Then put workable fixative over that before cutting the design. I find it helps prevent the ink from seeping into pores & unintended areas & makes clean-up easier. I use a Q-tip to apply the ink.

Tusen Takk,
Sven

Nice tip Sven, thanks. That way I can even get my wife to make the sketch for me since she's a far superior artist!

Now that is way cool!
VR
James Mattes

@ Twiningham: BTW, practice on some old soup bones or the like first. I often use a draw cut (like using an Xacto knife) instead of a push cut (like using a chisel). Also don't make your drawing overly large as it becomes hard to wrap around a complex curve without crinkling. Larger works you trace down in sections or freehand it with pencil directly on the horn. Then put the fixative over it.

Very cool! Excellent job. My dice cup is a barrel which fits my hand made from the deck planking of HMS Lion (also have a smaller one made from decking of HMS Ganges)

that is cool!

Yes .. VERY nice dice cup … now the question is .. where to acquire the One Ring Dice :)

Really great idea!
Nicely done!