How to Choose Between Chip Theory Games Base Games: A Buying Guide

Quick answer

Choose Too Many Bones: A Dice Builder RPG if you want a solo-friendly, dice-building campaign with the deepest character progression. Choose a different base game if your group prefers competitive area control, co-op stealth, or a lighter teach. Match player count and table space first, then theme, then complexity.

Chip Theory Games base games share a house style: heavy chips, neoprene mats, and rules that reward planning. But they are not interchangeable. The right pick depends on how many people you play with, how much table space you have, and whether your group wants to cooperate or compete.

This guide walks through the practical differences so you can choose a base game once and still be happy with it a year later. We will use Too Many Bones: A Dice Builder RPG as the reference point because it is the line most people meet first, then show when another base game fits better.

Start with player count and solo support

Player count is the fastest filter. Too Many Bones: A Dice Builder RPG is built around one to four Gearlocs, and it plays cleanly solo because you control the whole party. If your group is usually two people, it stays tense without needing a full table. If you regularly host five or six, you will need to split into teams or look at a base game designed for larger groups.

Solo play is not an afterthought in this line. The same chip-and-dice systems that drive multiplayer also drive solo sessions, so you are not learning two rule sets. Check the box for the supported count before you fall in love with the theme.

• Count your realistic regular group, not your maximum party size.
• If you play alone more than half the time, prioritize a base game with true solo rules.

Match the table footprint to your space

Chip Theory Games uses premium components, and premium components take room. Neoprene mats, chip stacks, and dice trays need a real table. Too Many Bones: A Dice Builder RPG spreads out as your Gearloc collection grows, and expansions add more dice and cards to the same play area. Measure your table before you buy, not after.

If your space is tight, plan for storage and a play mat that fits. A base game you cannot comfortably set up is a base game you will not play. This is also where accessories earn their keep: a Too Many Bones Gearloc Coasters set keeps drinks off the neoprene, and a Too Many Bones Mug keeps your coffee in one place during long sessions.

• Leave at least a few inches of buffer around mats for chip stacks.
• Store dice and chips in a way that makes setup under five minutes.

Decide how much complexity your group wants

Complexity is not the same as depth. Too Many Bones: A Dice Builder RPG has a lot of dice and keyword interactions, but the core loop is learnable in one session. Competitive base games in the line can add more front-loaded rules because every player needs to understand the same systems at once. Co-op base games often teach faster because the group shares the burden.

Pick the complexity your least experienced player can handle. A base game that hits the table every week beats a heavier one that stays on the shelf.

• Teach the first game with the simplest Gearloc or faction available.
• If your group hates rulebook flipping, favor a base game with a shared player aid.

Choose the theme that keeps you coming back

Theme is not decoration here. Too Many Bones: A Dice Builder RPG sends you into Daelore to deal with the Tyrants of The Ebon, and the adventure framing supports long campaigns. If your group wants a story arc, that matters more than a single-session skirmish. If you prefer tight competitive matches, a different base game will feel more honest to that goal.

Read the back of the box as a promise about tone. Dark fantasy, sci-fi, and lighter adventure all exist in the line, and the one you find compelling is the one you will actually play.

• Match theme to the mood your group already enjoys.
• If you are split, pick the theme with the strongest solo mode so someone can still play.

Plan for expansions before you commit

Base games in this line are platforms, not one-off boxes. Too Many Bones: A Dice Builder RPG supports additional Gearlocs such as Too Many Bones: Gasket (The Hydromech) and Too Many Bones: Ghillie (The Scoutmaster), both listed as expansions. That means your first purchase is also a decision about how much you want to expand later.

If you like variety, choose a base game with a clear expansion path you are excited about. If you want one box and done, be honest about that and pick accordingly.

• Check whether the expansions you want require the base game you are considering.
• Budget for one expansion at the same time as the base game if variety matters to you.

Decision rules for picking a base game

• If you mostly play solo or two-player: Choose Too Many Bones: A Dice Builder RPG because it supports controlling a small party and keeps the dice-building loop intact at low player counts. Solo-friendly base game first, expansions later.
• If your group prefers competition over cooperation: Look at a base game built around player-versus-player conflict rather than the co-op adventure structure of Too Many Bones. Match the win condition to your group's temperament.
• If table space is limited: Measure your table and favor a base game with a smaller mat footprint, or plan storage and a mat that fits your space before buying. A game you cannot set up is a game you will not play.
• If you want one purchase and no expansions: Pick the base game with the most replayable core box for your group, and skip the expansion path entirely. Honest self-assessment beats a bigger shelf.

Product facts that affect your decision

• Too Many Bones: A Dice Builder RPG: It is the base game that sends Gearlocs into Daelore to deal with the Tyrants of The Ebon, and it supports building characters with dice and chips. This is the entry point for the Too Many Bones system, so it is the right first purchase if you want the core campaign and the widest expansion path.
• Too Many Bones: Gasket (The Hydromech): Gasket is an expansion Gearloc described as a steambot with a hydro valve and multiple modes of Baddie dismemberment. If you want a second character with a distinct mechanical identity, this expansion is a concrete reason to start with the Too Many Bones base game.
• Too Many Bones: Ghillie (The Scoutmaster): Ghillie is an expansion Gearloc who uses a bow, traps, and animal allies in Daelore. It shows the range of playstyles the base game can grow into, which helps you judge whether the system will hold your interest.
• Too Many Bones: Trover: Trover is an expansion character described as a kobold who is not a Gearloc and has access to Tyrant Dice. It signals that expansions can bend the base game's rules, so buy the base game only if you are comfortable with that kind of variety.

Who should buy which

Best for

• Solo players who want a dice-building campaign with character progression.
• Two-player groups that enjoy co-op puzzle solving and long-term expansion.
• Players who like premium chips, neoprene mats, and tactile components.

Not for

• Groups that want direct competitive conflict as the main mode.
• Players who need a five-minute teach and no keyword tracking.
• Buyers with very limited table space or no interest in expansions.

Pick the base game that matches your real player count, table, and appetite for expansions. Too Many Bones: A Dice Builder RPG is the safest first step for solo and co-op groups, and its expansion Gearlocs give you room to grow when you are ready.