Quick answer

If you want a deep, epic campaign with heavy dice management and a premium price, choose Too Many Bones. If you prefer a fast, minimalist, brain-burning puzzle that fits in a pocket, choose Dragons of Etchinstone.

Scale and commitment

Too Many Bones is a full-scale adventure: you save the land of Daelore, battle Tyrants, and manage a Gearloc’s abilities across a multi-hour session. It’s a big-box experience with a price tag to match.

Dragons of Etchinstone strips everything down. There are no dice, no chips, and no backup plan—just your brain. It’s a minimalist puzzle that still delivers epic, brain-melting strategy, but in a fraction of the time and table space.

Cost and accessibility

Price is a major differentiator. Too Many Bones is a premium investment, while Dragons of Etchinstone is an affordable entry point into Chip Theory’s design philosophy.

If you’re new to dice builder RPGs or want a travel-friendly game, the lower cost and smaller footprint of Dragons of Etchinstone make it much easier to try.

The trade-off

  • Depth vs. simplicity: Too Many Bones offers a sprawling campaign with many components and rules, while Dragons of Etchinstone distills strategy to its purest form. If you have limited table space or time, simplicity wins.
  • Cost vs. value: Too Many Bones is a premium product at a premium price, while Dragons of Etchinstone is a budget-friendly way to experience a dice builder RPG. Consider how often you'll play to justify the higher cost.
  • Player count and portability: Too Many Bones is designed for solo or a small group with a large footprint, while Dragons of Etchinstone is ultra-portable and ideal for solo play on the go. If you travel often, portability may be the deciding factor.

Product facts

  • Too Many Bones: A Dice Builder RPG: Too Many Bones is a dice builder RPG where you save Daelore by battling Tyrants, using Gearlocs with unique abilities. This gives you a deep, character-driven campaign with high replayability, but it requires a significant time and money investment.

    Too Many Bones: A Dice Builder RPG

    Too Many Bones: A Dice Builder RPG

  • Dragons of Etchinstone: Dragons of Etchinstone is a minimalist dice builder RPG with no dice, no chips, and no backup plan—just your brain. It delivers intense strategic decisions in a compact, affordable format, perfect for quick sessions and travel.

    Dragons of Etchinstone

    Dragons of Etchinstone

Which one fits you?

Best for

  • Players who want a deep, epic campaign with high replayability and don't mind a higher price.
  • Solo gamers who enjoy complex dice management and a large table presence.

Not for

  • Players seeking a quick, minimalist puzzle that fits in a pocket or budget.