Chessex Dice Blocks: How to Pick Size, Pips and Finish

A practical Chessex dice block buying guide covering 12mm vs 16mm dice, pips vs numbers, and how to choose the right finish for your table.

Publishing teamXI LANGS Editorial

PublishedOct 16, 2026

Page updatedOct 19, 2026

Reading time7 minutes

Chessex Dice Blocks: How to Pick Size, Pips and Finish

Quick answer

If you want a large pool of dice for wargames or rolling handfuls, start with the Chessex Opaque Black with White Numbers 12mm Dice Block (36 dice). If you want dice you can actually read across a table and enjoy rolling for RPGs, choose the Chessex Nebula Oceanic Luminary with Gold Pips 16mm Dice Block (12 dice). For a complete polyhedral set with a glow-in-the-dark finish, the Chessex Borealis Luminary Royal Purple Polyhedral Dice Set of 7 is the better single purchase.

Size first: what 12mm and 16mm dice actually change

Dice size is the decision that affects everything else. A 12mm d6 is roughly half the volume of a 16mm d6, so 36 of them take up about as much table space as a dozen 16mm dice. That density is the whole point of a 36-die block: you can roll twenty orcs' attacks without chasing dice under the sofa. The trade-off is legibility. Smaller faces mean smaller numbers, and at arm's length across a game table you will be leaning in more often.

16mm dice are the standard size most people picture when they hear 'dice.' They are easier to read, easier to pick up, and they feel more substantial in the hand. A 12-die block of 16mm dice is the right shape for a player who rolls a handful at a time, not a bucket. If you are buying for a group, consider one 36-die 12mm block for the shared pool and individual 16mm blocks for each player's personal set.

Pips vs numbers: legibility and theme

Pips are the traditional dots you see on casino dice. They read fast once your eye is trained, and they suit games where you scan a result and move on. Numbers are printed digits, which are clearer for new players, players with vision issues, or anyone rolling at a distance. The Chessex Opaque Black with White Numbers 12mm block uses printed white numbers on a black body, which is about as high-contrast as a d6 gets. The Chessex Nebula Oceanic Luminary 16mm block uses gold pips on an oceanic body, which is a more decorative look and slightly harder to read in low light.

There is no objectively better option here, only a better match. If your group constantly asks 'what did you roll?' across the table, numbers win. If you want dice that look like they belong in a specific game or army, pips often fit the aesthetic better. Note that the Nebula Luminary dice glow in the dark, which is a genuine advantage for late-night sessions but does not replace good contrast under normal lighting.

Finish and material: opaque, Nebula, and Borealis

Chessex groups its dice into lines, and the line tells you what to expect. Opaque dice are solid-colored with no special effect. They are the workhorses: cheap, consistent, and easy to replace. The Opaque Black with White Numbers block is a good example, and at 36 dice it is the most economical way to build a pool.

Nebula Luminary dice add a swirled, semi-translucent look and glow-in-the-dark pigment. The Nebula Oceanic with Gold Pips block is the 16mm option here, and the glow effect is the main reason to pay more per die. Borealis Luminary dice are similar in spirit but come as polyhedral sets. The Borealis Luminary Royal Purple set of 7 includes the full range of dice a typical RPG needs: d4, d6, d8, d10, d12, d20, and a percentile die. If you need a complete set rather than a d6 block, this is the one to look at.

One honest caveat applies to all three: Chessex notes that coloring varies from set to set and may not match the photo exactly. Swirl patterns and glow intensity are not identical between blocks. If matching a specific color scheme matters, buy the dice you need at once rather than in separate orders.

How many dice do you actually need?

Count the largest number of dice you roll in a single action, then add a few for luck and lost dice. A 36-die block covers almost any wargame or dice-pool system. A 12-die block covers most RPG turns, where you rarely roll more than a handful at once. A 7-die polyhedral set covers one player's standard kit. Buying a 36-die block when you only ever roll two dice means 34 dice sitting in a box, and buying a 7-die set when your game calls for twenty d6 means constant rerolling.

Storage is part of the count. All three products come in a clear hard plastic container, which is fine for a shelf but not for a crowded game bag. If you plan to travel with them, plan to move them into a dice bag or box that fits your bag.

A note on priming and painting dice

Some players prime and paint dice for custom sets or display pieces. If you go that route, use a primer made for plastic and metal miniatures so the coating stays thin. The Vallejo Spray: White Primer is formulated for metal, plastic, and resin models and leaves a matt, self-levelling finish, which is the behavior you want on small faces. Keep in mind that priming dice will fill in pips and printed numbers, so this is a project for blank or sacrificial dice, not your main reading set.

Vallejo Spray: White Primer

Decision rules for buying a Chessex dice block

If you roll more than ten dice at once: Buy the 36-die 12mm block. The small size keeps the pool manageable on the table and the cost per die is the lowest of the three options. Checkpoint: count your largest single roll before choosing.
If you want dice that read clearly across the table: Choose 16mm dice with printed numbers or high-contrast pips. The Nebula Oceanic 16mm block is the larger option here, but its gold pips are decorative rather than high-contrast. Checkpoint: pick printed numbers over pips if legibility is the priority.
If you need a complete RPG set, not just d6s: Buy the Borealis Luminary Royal Purple polyhedral set of 7. It includes d4, d6, d8, d10, d12, d20, and a percentile die, so you are not buying a d6 block and then hunting for the rest. Checkpoint: a d6 block cannot substitute for a polyhedral set.
If you care about exact color matching: Buy all the dice you need in one order. Chessex states that coloring varies from set to set and may not match the product photo. Checkpoint: separate orders may not match each other.

Product facts

Chessex Opaque Black with White Numbers 12 mm Dice Block (36 dice): Block of 36 12mm d6 dice from the Chessex Opaque line, black with white numbers, packaged in a clear hard plastic container. The 36-die count and high-contrast white-on-black numbers make this the most practical choice for dice-pool games and shared tables where you roll many dice at once.
Chessex Nebula Oceanic Luminary with Gold Pips 16mm Dice Block (12 dice): Block of 12 16mm d6 dice from the Chessex Nebula Luminary line, oceanic with gold pips, packaged in a clear hard plastic container, glow in the dark. The larger 16mm size reads better across a table, and the glow-in-the-dark finish is a real advantage for late sessions, but the gold pips are less legible than printed numbers in normal light.
Chessex Borealis Luminary™ Royal Purple Polyhedral Dice with Gold Numbers - Set of 7: Polyhedral dice set from the Chessex Borealis Luminary line, royal purple with gold numbers, packaged in a clear hard plastic container, including 1 d4, 1 d6, 1 d8, 1 d10, 1 d12, 1 d20, and 1 percentile die. This is the only option here that covers the full range of dice a standard RPG needs in one purchase, so it is the right pick if you need more than d6s.