Dice Throne SAGAS Kickstarter Buying Guide

Which Dice Throne SAGAS pledge should you buy?

If you want Dice Throne SAGAS: The Crimson Code, the most important distinction is that it is a separate solo and cooperative adventure offered alongside Dice Throne Nexus, not automatically included with the cheapest Nexus StrongBox. The Kickstarter introduces four new duel-ready Nexus Heroes and a book-based 1–4-player SAGAS experience; you can enjoy existing Dice Throne Heroes in SAGAS without purchasing the new four-character lineup.

Three purchasing routes make sense for different people. The $145 Level 2 combines the Limited Edition Nexus StrongBox, SAGAS and four Nexus Accessory Packs. A player who wants only the story and already owns Heroes should compare a SAGAS add-on or future retail copy instead of assuming a bundle is necessary. A collector who wants physical extras may prefer the $295 Level 3, but those extras are not required to play the story.

This guide addresses the cost decisions that the main Crimson Code overview does not cover in depth: exact tier differences, which add-ons are missing from bundles, how a $1 pledge works, what shipping can change, the publisher’s retail advice and the risk of post-campaign cancellations. For Hero cross-compatibility, use our Nexus compatibility guide.

Pricing note: The US-dollar amounts below come from the official 13 October 2026 launch announcement. Pledge prices are not final delivered costs: taxes, shipping, exchange rates, optional add-ons and available reward tiers can change the real amount. The Kickstarter campaign closed on 3 November 2026 (4 November in some time zones). The prices below are historical campaign tiers, not confirmed current offers; verify any late-pledge or pledge-manager availability directly with Dice Throne.

Pledge comparison: what each level actually includes

This table is based on the publisher’s 13 October launch press release. It is a component checklist, not a claim that every premium accessory improves game balance. These are historical campaign tiers, so do not assume they remain available or priced identically in any late pledge manager. Check the creator’s current terms before paying.

Common trap: The separate SAGAS Accessory Pack is not included even in Level 3. The Kickstarter FAQ says it must be purchased separately. The four Nexus Hero Accessory Packs bundled with Levels 2 and 3 are a different product. This distinction matters because the names sound similar but do not describe the same set of accessories.

1. Level 1: the $60 Nexus StrongBox is not the SAGAS adventure

Level 1 is aimed at players who want the four new Heroes: Punch-A-Tron 3000, Snyper, Hacker and Phantom Runner. The limited StrongBox includes its large OR10N lid and campaign extras, including eight Mythic cards, four limited promotional cards and four Nexus Slam Throne Caps. The physical token upgrades include metallic, acrylic and lenticular items associated with the four Heroes.

For someone mainly interested in competitive Dice Throne duels, this is the most direct campaign route to the new roster without purchasing the story adventure. For someone whose primary goal is solo/cooperative gameplay, it is not the correct standalone choice because The Crimson Code is missing.

The important distinction is between exclusive packaging/components and exclusive characters. The publisher says the four playable Nexus Heroes are planned for separate single-Hero retail release in 2027, though the limited StrongBox packaging and premium token upgrades may not be offered in that standard retail format. A home player focused exclusively on mechanics does not need to chase cosmetics in order to keep the hero system compatible.

Before choosing Level 1, ask whether anyone in your group wants to play a cooperative story. If they do, check whether SAGAS remains available through the creator’s pledge manager, or plan to buy at retail rather than assuming the base tier supplies both products.

2. Level 2: why $145 is the key SAGAS bundle

Level 2 is the point where SAGAS: The Crimson Code is actually included. It contains the entire Level 1 Nexus StrongBox offer, plus the separate co-op adventure and four Accessory Packs for the Nexus Heroes. That makes it the obvious campaign tier to compare when you want both the new competitive Hero roster and the new story.

The incremental cost from Level 1 is $85. You are not simply paying $85 for SAGAS: you are adding SAGAS and the four Hero Accessory Packs. Those packs change the component experience, with items such as sleeves, acrylic pieces and mini-sculpts. Whether they provide good value depends on whether you would actually buy those extras individually.

If you only want the adventure, Level 2 may represent avoidable spending on four Heroes and accessories. The campaign’s official FAQ explicitly recommends considering local retail for standalone SAGAS purchases because you can avoid crowdfunding shipping costs. If you want the full new product lineup, however, Level 2 avoids having to purchase the StrongBox and co-op game separately.

Illustrative purchasing decision

You already own eight Dice Throne Heroes, you rarely play competitive matches and you primarily want new 1–4-player cooperative missions. You likely need only SAGAS, not four additional combatants. Compare a standalone SAGAS add-on or retail copy with the delivered cost of Level 2. That is a buyer scenario, not a recommendation that Level 2 is always poor value.

3. Level 3: what the extra $150 actually buys

At the announced $295 price, Level 3 adds an accessory-heavy package to everything in Level 2. Specifically, it adds five playmats—one for OR10N and one for each Nexus Hero—plus the Nexi-fied Fiery Brawn alternate-art Hero board set and a Nexus dice tray. The incremental price over Level 2 is $150.

These additions are primarily for people who value deluxe table presentation or collectible art. They are not necessary to make the Nexus Hero system work, do not supply a different cooperative campaign, and do not remove the need to consult the actual SAGAS rules. If your priority is simply to play a new adventure, Level 3 will usually add much more physical material than you need.

The Kickstarter FAQ says the playmats and dice tray are planned as one print run, with only limited stock possibly available afterward. That is relevant for collectors, but scarcity should not override a sensible delivered-price calculation: consider storage space, whether you use playmats already, and the potential shipping charge for a larger parcel.

If you are undecided, compare the exact accessories you personally value against buying Level 2 plus only the add-ons you would have wanted. The real comparison is your list of desired components, not the promotional phrase “All The New Stuff.”

4. Does a $1 pledge reserve SAGAS or the Kickstarter promos?

According to the official FAQ, during the original live campaign a $1 No Reward pledge provided access to the post-campaign pledge manager. Because the campaign has now closed, this is historical advice, not an assurance that a new $1 pledge can still be made. From there you can upgrade to a full reward tier, subject to what remains available, or select certain add-ons. It does not itself give you the Nexus Mythic cards, promotional cards or Slam Throne Caps.

For add-on-only purchases, the publisher limits the selection. The listed options include SAGAS, the Minimalist StrongBox, alternate-art boards and a digital cosmetics bundle. Add-ons purchased in this way can have different pricing from Kickstarter add-on prices and may be available only in limited quantities.

Therefore, a $1 pledge is not a loophole guaranteeing every reward at the original Kickstarter price. It is a method for retaining a possible later purchasing option; the buyer still has to complete their order, select the products and pay relevant charges. Upgrades are subject to the pledge manager’s actual terms.

Do not confuse this with the “$60 Level 1” pledge. Level 1 has physical rewards, including campaign exclusives. The No Reward choice is exactly that until a buyer later upgrades or orders an allowed add-on.

5. The simplest decision if you only want The Crimson Code

If you already own playable Heroes, you do not have to purchase Nexus Heroes merely to use SAGAS. The publisher’s launch announcement says the 1–4-player cooperative adventure works with all previously released Dice Throne Heroes. Check individual hero components before play, but the game is explicitly presented as a way to use your existing collection in a new story.

There are three realistic purchase paths to compare. Buying Level 2 gives you SAGAS, four new Heroes and their accessory packs together. Pledging $1 and buying SAGAS as an add-on may keep the purchase focused, but pricing and availability differ. Waiting for retail SAGAS avoids the Kickstarter bundle and, according to the publisher’s own FAQ, may save shipping when bought from a local store.

Which is best depends on the actual delivered price for your country, local retailer availability, your preference for supporting the campaign and how much you value the new Heroes. It is not possible to claim a universal lowest-cost option from the nominal pledge prices alone because no single shipping and tax rate applies to all backers.

For most buyers deciding strictly on content, the useful question is “Do I need four more Heroes?” If the answer is no and your only interest is the story, compare standalone SAGAS access and retail first. If yes, Level 2 is the more relevant starting point.

6. Storage and sleeving: a small detail that changes the purchase

Dice Throne SAGAS uses a book-based format and is designed to fit a StrongBox slot. The FAQ states that the SAGAS tray does not have enough room for sleeved SAGAS cards. This is a meaningful limitation for buyers who automatically sleeve every game, particularly when their purchase decision is influenced by storage compatibility.

The publisher explains that these cards are handled less frequently than a normal Hero deck, so the storage format was not designed around sleeving them all. That is a statement about the publisher’s practical design choice, not a guarantee that nobody’s cards will wear. If sleeving is a firm requirement, plan for alternative storage rather than purchasing Level 3 in the assumption that its dice tray or StrongBox solves the SAGAS card-fit problem.

Similarly, the Nexus Hero Accessory Packs are different from SAGAS’s separate accessory pack. Buying an accessory tier does not automatically provide every storage upgrade for the co-op book. Check the actual add-on images and descriptions before assuming compatibility between physical organizers.

7. Shipping and taxes can reverse a good-looking pledge price

The announced tiers are in US dollars. A backer’s actual payment can include international shipping, applicable taxes/VAT, currency conversion fees and potentially tariffs or other charges. The FAQ warns that additional charges may apply in some regions and that rewards ship only to countries specifically listed on the campaign page.

The publisher also says that the shipping estimates already include a subsidy, so adding more items can increase shipping. It does not promise that combining several backers’ orders into one pledge will eliminate the extra costs. And products ordered separately from the Dice Throne online store cannot be added to an existing Nexus Kickstarter fulfillment shipment.

As an independent dated reference, a UK crowdfunding tracker listed estimated fulfillment in September 2027. That estimate is not a guarantee of delivery on a particular day, or the same as a retail release date. Budget against the creator’s latest fulfillment updates and allow for production, freight and regional fulfillment changes.

Compare delivered costs, not only pledges

For example, a $145 Level 2 pledge with shipping and taxes may cost substantially more than $145 by the time it arrives. A local retailer’s standalone SAGAS price may also be different from the campaign’s base price. Both amounts must be calculated in the same currency and include all applicable charges before you can identify a genuine saving.

8. Read the campaign refund and cancellation policy

Kickstarter backing is not the same as a conventional retail purchase. The publisher’s FAQ says you may cancel without charge while the campaign is active, subject to Kickstarter’s rules. Once the campaign closes, its listed pre-shipment policy offers either a 90% refund to the original payment method or 100% Dice Throne store credit, where that store credit is available for your region.

After rewards have shipped, the publisher lists them as final sale, apart from applicable legal rights and cases such as damaged or incorrect components. Those are the campaign’s stated terms; local consumer law can differ by jurisdiction, so consult the official policy and any applicable protections rather than treating this article as legal advice.

Because the campaign has closed, anyone considering a pledge-manager upgrade should assess the final delivered cost and current refund rules before making a further financial commitment. The pledge manager allows upgrades, but an upgrade is still a financial commitment that needs to be evaluated against the final cost.

9. What if you need a language other than English?

The Kickstarter FAQ says English is the only language available during this campaign. The publisher is discussing potential localization with partners but provides no confirmed timeline for another language. For a story-led cooperative adventure, this is especially important: the enjoyment of SAGAS relies heavily on reading the unfolding narrative, cards and instructions.

If the group cannot comfortably follow English rules and story text, waiting for a confirmed translation or checking a local publisher’s announcement may be the better option. Do not assume that a future language pack will exist for the same pledge, or that an English Kickstarter order will later include replacement translated material at no cost.

The decision differs from buying a standard Dice Throne Hero for quick battles. A Hero’s icon and action vocabulary can become familiar with practice; a book-style scenario involves more continuous reading. Make language confidence part of the buying decision, not an afterthought.

10. Is waiting for retail actually the better choice?

The publisher explicitly confirms that SAGAS: The Crimson Code will be sold at retail and is not a limited-edition-only product. It also says Kickstarter backers get favorable SAGAS pricing. Both statements can be true while retail remains the better total-cost choice for someone who wants only the adventure and would otherwise pay for international shipping.

Retail offers potential benefits: buying from a local store, comparing actual stock and delivery dates, avoiding speculative freight estimates and reading more reports once physical copies exist. Kickstarter offers different potential benefits: earlier access, bundled rewards, campaign incentives and the possibility of limited collector extras.

The important distinction is the adventure is not the scarce component. The limited StrongBox upgrades and some playmats or alternate-art accessories have restricted runs; the playable SAGAS product itself has a confirmed retail plan. A reader does not need to rush into an expensive collector bundle merely because they fear the cooperative campaign will never be sold separately.

For a dedicated Dice Throne fan who already knows they want every new Hero and the new adventure, the Level 2 package may still be attractive. For a casual co-op player with an existing Hero collection, local retail is a credible alternative. The best decision depends on total cost, expected timing and desired extras.

11. Six common pledge mistakes to avoid

1. Buying Level 1 for SAGAS: the $60 Nexus StrongBox contains the four new Heroes, not the adventure.
2. Assuming Level 3 includes every add-on: the standalone SAGAS Accessory Pack is not included in any of the three listed pledge tiers.
3. Assuming $1 guarantees promotions: No Reward backers do not receive the limited promos, Mythics or Slam Throne Caps without qualifying purchases.
4. Ignoring delivered cost: shipping, taxes, currency conversion and possible tariffs change what you actually pay.
5. Confusing the fulfillment estimate with a retail launch: September 2027 is a campaign planning estimate, not a guaranteed storefront release date.
6. Buying an English-only story product expecting a translation: other languages are not confirmed for the campaign.

If you avoid these errors, the buying decision becomes less about marketing terminology and more about which physical products your group needs.

12. Four buyer profiles with different best options

A. The returning solo Dice Throne player

You own one or more Heroes and want the new solo story. You do not need the full Nexus roster to make your existing character work in SAGAS. Focus on a standalone SAGAS add-on or future retail copy, then compare the complete delivered price against Level 2. If you also want new characters, the bundle becomes more attractive.

B. The two-player competitive group

Your main interest is having fresh matchups. Level 1 gives all four Nexus Heroes and campaign extras; Level 2 adds an adventure you may not use. If you only want one character, planned 2027 single-Hero retail releases may avoid the cost of buying all four.

C. The all-in collector

You value playmats, art variations, upgraded tokens and a physical collection that matches previous premium releases. Compare Level 3 with Level 2 plus your desired add-ons, but remember that the separate SAGAS Accessory Pack is still not included. Buy based on the specific extras rather than an assumption that “All The New Stuff” includes everything.

D. The international shopper who prefers local stores

You have enough Heroes and don’t care about limited cosmetics. Shipping, taxes or a country restriction may make a standalone retail copy more practical. The publisher itself identifies local-game-store buying as a potential money saver for SAGAS. Verify a retailer’s planned release and local-language availability before relying on that route.

Dice Throne SAGAS Kickstarter buying FAQ

Which Kickstarter tier includes The Crimson Code?

Level 2 ($145) and Level 3 ($295) include SAGAS. Level 1 ($60) contains the Nexus StrongBox but not SAGAS.

Does Level 2 include all four Hero Accessory Packs?

Yes, the four Nexus Hero Accessory Packs are included at Level 2 and Level 3. They are distinct from the separate SAGAS Accessory Pack.

Is the SAGAS Accessory Pack included in Level 3?

No. The publisher explicitly says it is excluded from every main tier and must be added separately.

Can I still pledge $1 and buy only SAGAS?

The original campaign FAQ allowed limited add-on-only orders through the pledge manager for existing No Reward backers, including SAGAS. The campaign closed on 3 November 2026; whether new late pledges or add-on-only purchases remain open must be checked with Dice Throne. The historical $1 contribution itself included no physical reward.

Do I need the four Nexus Heroes to play SAGAS?

No. The publisher says all previously released Dice Throne Heroes are compatible with the new cooperative adventure.

Will SAGAS be sold outside Kickstarter?

Yes. The official FAQ confirms a retail release and says the product is not a limited edition. An exact date for your country’s retail stock is not guaranteed.

Do sleeve-protected SAGAS cards fit the included tray?

No. The publisher says the designed tray does not have enough room for sleeved SAGAS cards. Consider alternative storage if sleeving is essential to you.

Are playmats permanently exclusive?

The publisher plans one print run for the five mats and dice tray, with some limited remaining availability possible after the campaign. The exact post-campaign stock is not guaranteed.

Can I add old Dice Throne products to the same shipment?

No. The Kickstarter FAQ says purchases from outside the Nexus campaign are not combined into the same pledge fulfillment shipment.

Will my pledge include VAT and shipping?

Do not assume so. Use the creator’s latest regional shipping estimates and tax information to calculate the complete delivered cost, including possible additional charges.

When did the campaign end?

The main Kickstarter campaign closed on 3 November 2026; some time-zone-specific listings show 4 November. Check the official project for post-campaign updates or late-pledge information.

When will it be delivered?

Campaign trackers list an estimated September 2027 fulfillment window. That estimate is not a guarantee and should not be confused with a fixed retail release date.

Can I get my full money back after the campaign?

The publisher’s FAQ lists a 90% cash refund or 100% eligible store credit before shipping after the campaign closes, subject to its stated conditions and applicable law. Cancellation during the live campaign is different.

Is there a localized SAGAS edition in this campaign?

No. Dice Throne says the Kickstarter campaign offers English versions only, with other languages being discussed but no confirmed schedules.

Publisher sources and editorial transparency

Official campaign facts: Dice Throne Nexus Kickstarter, campaign rewards, and publisher-maintained FAQ. The FAQ supplies the retail confirmation, pledge-manager limitations, add-on exclusions, sleeving answer, language policy, shipping conditions and cancellation policy.

Original tier announcement: 13 October 2026 Dice Throne press release, which identifies the $60, $145 and $295 main tiers and included items. BoardGame Sorted’s dated crowdfunding tracker supplies an independent UK deadline and September 2027 planning reference, not an unconditional shipping guarantee.

Prepared 1 November 2026; campaign status updated 9 November 2026. The guide is original consumer-oriented analysis of published campaign terms. It does not reproduce card art, claim the authors received review copies, or guarantee any pledge’s delivered cost or retail availability. Readers should consult the creator’s latest project and pledge-manager updates before placing any order. No third-party advertising scripts are embedded; see editorial policy. Related pages: SAGAS overview, Nexus game hub, and compatibility reference.