First of all, thanks to Neko Boy Luke for sending us a dice holder for us to write this review. The works of this craftsman are available by contacting him directly on his Facebook page.
Neko Boy Luke is an Italian boy with various nerdy passions that he expresses by means of his skill as a craftsman, creating accessories for role-playing games. These include the dice holder addressed here and cosplay clothes, besides. His works are produced strictly by hand, through an art handed down from father to son. Having only relatively recently entered the marketplace, he doesn’t have his own website, nor or an official store, but don’t let that prejudice your opinion. His works are professional, and clearly made with passion.
Now, on to the dice holder Neko Boy Luke sent me.
I will give you a more general overview of his work at the end of the article.
What Appealed to Me
Let’s start with the first impact: surprising excellence. This is one of those items that makes you think “I want it” as soon as you see it. It has a deliberately antique and charming appearance, perfect for fantasy lovers. Luke combines simplicity with attention to detail perfectly.
The body of the container is made of sturdy wood in a beautiful shade, worked into a perfectly smooth cylindrical shape. On one of the two ends there is a solid metal closure that is easy to use; even the hinges that allow you to open it give a feeling of solid durability, the kind of quality that lasts for years and years. The other details (i.e., the golden metallic decorative motif and two rows of little nails) embellish the product in a restrained manner; they are fixed to the base structure with some small pegs which further increase the feeling of an “arcane casket”.
The inside of the dice holder is lined with soft red fabric, but there are obvious differences between the two halves. One is wider and follows the semi-cylindrical shape; here the red fabric is fixed directly to the wood by an elegant series of nails, allowing plenty of space for the contents. The other half is glued to the structure, but includes a material similar to foam rubber, reducing the available space but giving it softer feel. In any case, the differences between the two parts are not a problem at all and, indeed, express Luke’s originality.
The internal space is large, allowing you to store two or more sets of classic dice. The closure feels secure, not allowing the contents to escape.
What Can Be Improved
To tell the truth, there are very few aspects of this product that didn’t appeal to me. In some tiny areas you can see small halos of the products used to treat the wood, but you have to look closely to see it. In addition, the rows of nails are not always regular to the millimeter, but this is a feature in a genuine and old-fashioned hand-crafted product, not a flaw, and is neither obvious nor annoying. The interior is beautiful to look at, with a rich feel, although the more padded side is slightly “fluffy”.
The Dice Holders proposed by Neko Boy Luke
As stated, these creations are all hand-crafted and, for this reason, it is difficult to find two that are perfectly identical in all aspects. In my opinion, this is an advantage. I spoke with the author at length and he has always been honest and helpful. His integrity is reflected in his creations. in fact you can commission a dice holder from Neko Boy Luke starting from pre-existing models and modifying them as desired to personalize them. Strange shapes? Extra decorations? Special materials? Ask and you may well be satisfied! This is a feature that mass production/marketing will never be able to match.
Below I leave you some examples of his other works. These are not products that I have seen personally, nor had the opportunity to evaluate.
Final Thoughts on the Dice Holder by Neko Boy Luke
I am definitely satisfied with this product.
My final impressions are of holding something beautiful, precious and lasting in my hands. The fact that the dice holder is handmade and customizable certainly adds to the value. The cost of the dice holder presented is around €40, but such a fine, handmade product is well worth it. Since prices vary a lot depending on the model negotiated, however, I recommend to text Neko Boy Luke in order to ask for a more precise quote. Another point in Luke’s favor is the fact that the production times are not excessive.
If you want to support a role-play gaming accessory-maker who puts care and passion into his work, I can certainly recommend you get in touch with him!
