Disclaimer: It should be noted that The Shop of Many Things provided the products reviewed in this evaluation. It is important to state that all opinions expressed in this review are honest and unbiased. I want to thank The Shop of Many Things for the opportunity to review these products.
After deep diving into the Explorers’ Emporium, I have been itching to review another nerdy shop. Luckily, the opportunity came sooner than expected when an employee from The Shop of Many Things, who shall remain anonymous for privacy reasons, contacted me. Their RPG products are mainly used for in-person games, which is unfortunate because my typical game is hosted online due to my party being back in my home state. However, with my dice bag and cool products in tow, I journeyed home to test them on my players. Let me tell you, we had a blast.
The Shop of Many Things
First things first, we should look at the website. It is easy to navigate and tells me what I need to know; this is an RPG shop. They have everything from intricate puzzles and dice trays to their Ascendice, beautifully crafted floating die. It also showcases a pending Kickstarter for Realm Brew, their hexagonal, magnetic map tiling system. Hale, the owner, also appears to have a blog sharing helpful tips to those new to D&D. Overall, coming to this website is a pleasant experience and excites me to tell you more about what I tested. I tried out their Lock & Key Puzzle, Elemental Ink Pens, and the Dragon Leather Dice Trays Bundle.
The Lock & Key Puzzle
Specs
- Level four challenge rating
- Made out of cast metal
- Weighs 3.3oz (94g)
- Size: 1 3/4″ x 2 1/2″ x 1 5/8″ (4.5 x 6.5 x 1.5cm)
I will say that I had difficulty figuring out the puzzle at first. This is due to user error and the fact that when I am not playing a video game, I have the attention span of a goldfish. I am also stubborn and did not want to look at the solution on the item description page. However, as I picked it up and put it down, I noticed it had a nice weight. It feels good in your hand and is easy to hold. I was confident that if my players got frustrated and started jamming the key in the hole, it would not break. Luckily, my players are more intelligent than me, and it did not come to that. The sheer determination and concentration on their faces brought me pure joy. Overall, the Lock & Key puzzle was fun, and I am glad I used it at our table.
The Elemental Ink Pens
Information
- Works on all paper
- Ink disappears at 104°F (40°C)
- Ink reappears when cold via freezer or dry ice
The Elemental Ink Pens are something I have started using around my house for fun. My spouse is also one of my players, so I had to hide them for a time. I wrote a secret message and had them figure out which household item would cause it to reappear. I had one player wave it around and another drench it in water. Once they figured out the secret, they began writing each other silly messages. I have essential tremors, so writing with a pen is typically challenging. However, the ink glides across the paper well. It is also lightweight and feels good in your hand. I need more weight to my writing implements, but that is due to my shakes. In the end, even with my limitations, I am having fun with them and encourage others looking for a similar product to try them out.
The Dragon Leather Dice Trays Bundle
Information
- Made out of Genuine Dragon Leather
- Also known as PU Leather and Felt
- Reversible design
- Collapses for easy storage
- When snapped into place measures 16cm flat-to-flat and 18cm point-to-point
The Dragon Leather Dice Trays came a little later than the other products, so I did not get to use them at my table. However, that has not stopped me from using them to settle differences with my spouse. I repurposed my current dice tray from a box I found at JOANN Fabric. It is cute but very bulky. I love that these trays can be stored flat. The stitching is well done, and the buttons snap together snuggly. Plus, the button tops have the shop’s name engraved into them. I think this is a beautiful touch and shows attention to detail. These dice trays are fantastic, and I cannot wait to use them in my upcoming session.
Overall Thoughts
My time with The Shop of Many Things was a pleasant experience. Everything I received, from the packaging to the products, was well thought out. As a consumer, I am drawn to pretty packaging, and seeing everything emblazed with their logo was a nice touch. Plus, it has a nice texture which I am a sucker for. Overall, I see myself making purchases here in the future, and if you are looking to spruce up your table, I encourage you to check them out for yourself.
