Project Overview

This concept is for a 55mm clear plastic resin die featuring a 3D-printed miniature of the Monkey King riding a cloud, suspended within. The die incorporates carefully crafted, resin-saturated cotton wool clouds, hand-painted details, and a wireless LED light embedded in the base to give the illusion of movement and energy. Each dice is made entirely in-house by our resin team and includes custom 3D-printed and hand-painted miniatures. This project is inspired by traditional Chinese lore and the recent popularisation of the Monkey King myth.

Project Backstory / Inspiration

The idea for this project was born from an English class taught by my wife at her private school, where she used the Black Myth: Wukong game to engage her students. The children loved the Monkey King’s story, and to add some fun, I printed a miniature Monkey King for our son. Accidentally printing the figure too small, I realised it could fit within one of our large dice molds, sparking the idea for this dice project. We’ve crafted this as an homage to the classic Monkey King tale, without infringing on any intellectual property related to the game.

Craft & Process

Each Monkey King die begins with a 3D-printed miniature of the Monkey King, approximately 25mm in height, printed in-house with a commercial license. The miniature is hand-painted, sealed with a clear coat, and embedded within clouds made from resin-soaked cotton wool, which are hand-painted and carefully positioned. To add a dynamic effect, tiny wires are attached to the Monkey King's staff to simulate lightning, and a wireless LED light is embedded in the base of the die, this relates to a future project, but we wanted this one-off piece to have the ability to light up from within.

The assembly process is intricate, involving precise layering of resin and suspension techniques. The cotton wool clouds are fixed in place with UV resin and thin strips of cured UV resin to keep them from sinking. The dice are then vacuum-sealed to remove bubbles, topped up with resin, and placed in a pressure pot to cure. Once completed, each die undergoes polishing and inking for a premium finish.

Environmental and Ethical Notes

All stages of production are handled in-house, ensuring ethical oversight and high craftsmanship standards. The resin used is UV-stable and exceptionally durable, and each mold is crafted in-house to minimise environmental impact from outsourcing.

Collaborators / Artists Needed

We are currently looking for collaborators to help promote this project, whether through a Kickstarter campaign or pre-orders with a retail partner. We’d love to work with individuals or companies who are interested in a profit-sharing arrangement, with a 50/50 split of profits after wholesale production costs. This is a limited-run product inspired by the Monkey King legend and would be an excellent fit for anyone passionate about fantasy, myth or a stream who is actually playing the game to offer to their audience.

Uses

This die is a collectible item and a unique addition to any tabletop gaming setup, adding a striking visual element to gameplay and serving as a conversation piece. It’s also a meaningful gift for those interested in Chinese folklore or the legend of the Monkey King/game.

Edition / Exclusivity

We envision this as a single-run product, given the limited window of popularity surrounding the Monkey King game. This will allow us to maintain exclusivity and ensure quality in each piece, offering a rare and unique item to collectors and gaming enthusiasts.

Collaboration Opportunity

We plan to launch this as a crowdfunded or pre-order project, likely on Kickstarter or with a dedicated promotional partner. We’re open to partnerships with retailers or influencers in the tabletop gaming space who could help us promote this unique dice project, ideally sooner rather than later.

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What This Needs to Move Forward

We have completed prototype development and are ready to provide samples for promotional purposes. We are looking to collaborate with gaming influencers, retail partners, or others who can help bring visibility to this project. Production is manageable in-house, and we will cover sample production costs.

Compensation Agreement

Collaborators will receive compensation once the project’s funding goal is achieved and sales are completed. Terms of payment will be finalised before launch, with a 50/50 profit-sharing arrangement after wholesale production costs are covered.