Update May 22: I have added a version with a taller wall at the front to try and keep dice from bouncing out. The STL is in the model files. I also will post an add-on shield today that you can print if you already made the tower and want to modify it instead of reprinting altogether.

Shield is here: https://makerworld.com/en/models/472240#profileId-382007

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A modified version of an existing Orthanc/Isengard dice tower to print without any supports and fit larger dice.

When my husband got an invite to his first ever DND game, I knew it was time to tackle a dice tower! As you can see from the rest of my uploads, LOTR is a favourite and I knew this tower had to be THE ONE. Unfortunately, reviews pointed out that the original version was more decorative than functional- it could only fit small dice and the dice had a tendency to fly off the base so it would require some changes to work. The height and base sizes would have also limited the ability to just scale up the entire thing and the scale percentage would have just been a guess anyway (although hey, now with the measure feature in the Bambu slicer that kind of task would be easier!). So I made a bunch of changes and now it will fit D20 dice and bonus- it can print without any supports!

Scroll through the photos to see the modifications (and then you can skip reading my long explanation!).

To improve it's function, I made the tower itself wider while keeping the base the same size (to still allow XY resizing if needed). I also set the tower further back on the base and added a less direct path for the dice chute as an attempt to keep the dice from rocketing out of the tray. After printing this early version a couple times and experimenting, it became obvious that the flat overhangs were a major quality issue. Even when well supported they were not at all clean and the print always resulted in fully detached layer line strings in the corners and other areas. The need to remove supports (and face the reality that they barely helped), clean up all the loose lines and worst of all the constant internal debate before even starting the print of what parts really need support made for an unsatisfactory experience.

So I made a couple more changes in hopes of also improving printability- and it actually worked! I cut all the “ledges” on an angle and they now print support-free and result in clean, connected edges. I also cut the underside of the “wings” at the very top to a slightly higher angle which made for a noticeably smoother underside. Additionally, I trimmed a small portion of the tallest tips as well since the last few mm were thin and would break away immediately when handling. I originally expected that the bridge across the top of the door would still need supports but I did a test print of that portion alone without any and I am quite confident now that the entire tower will print without supports. *Your slicer will likely still detect overhangs and suggest supports but I urge you to ignore it and go for it. If that makes you nervous, lowering your layer height (or try variable layer height?) will of course reduce the degree of overhang but will obviously take longer. My tower shown was printed using a 0.2mm layer height, took about 12 hours and had tree supports only under the door to be safe. Everything else was unsupported.

The tower is approx 250mm tall and the base is 195 wide and uses about 250g of filament. In my example, there are 3 different filaments that I just changed at different layers (main tower is granite, base is a dual black/white and a copper). A hilbert curve top surface was added to the dice tray to show off the dual extrusion filament and since I have added the logo and text to the tray it seemed good to show them off in the copper. There are two print porofiles, one with the colour changes marked and a single colour.

Of course all of these changes have resulted in cosmetic differences to the tower's appearance so if you are a LOTR purist and require a skinny, photo accurate dice tower then this is not the one for you. However, if you want a printable, functional dice tower that is fun and still immediately recognizable, I got you covered. And bonus, it also works as a jewelry holder or 3D printed flower vase!