1d2, 1d3 - How implemented?

[msd]

Newbie question.

I am reading through the PHB and noticed that some of the weapons for SMALL/MEDIUM creatures show damage as 1d2 or 1d3. How is this implemented. 1-2 and 3-4 on a d4 (for 1d2)? Flipping a coin? I know this sounds stupid but it doesn't seem to be something that they explain.

Thanks in advance for your help. You guys are always very helpful to new people...

-matt

 

[random user]

Hiya,

Whichever way you want to do it is fine. Most people just use 1-2 = 1 and 3-4 = 2 for d2. Or they roll odd = 1, even = 2 on any die.

For 1d3, usually it's 1-2 = 1, 3-4 = 2, 5-6 = 3, but I've also seen 1&4 = 1, 2&5=2, and 3&6 = 3.

It really doesn't matter as long as you and the players all agree to it beforehand.

 

[Tarrasque Wrangler]

You can either flip a coin for 1d2 or halve a 1d4 (1-2=1, 3-4=2), and halve a 1d6 for a 1d3.

 

[JBowtie]

Newbie question.

I am reading through the PHB and noticed that some of the weapons for SMALL/MEDIUM creatures show damage as 1d2 or 1d3. How is this implemented. 1-2 and 3-4 on a d4 (for 1d2)? Flipping a coin? I know this sounds stupid but it doesn't seem to be something that they explain.

Thanks in advance for your help. You guys are always very helpful to new people...

-matt

Most people I know do 1d3 by rolling 1d6 and dividing by 2(round up). You could also use a d12 divided by 4.
For 1d2 you can just grab the closest die; odd is 1 and even is 2. Or the first half (1-5 on a d10, for example) is 1 and the second is 2...whichever is more intuitive for you.

That said I notice most players avoid anything that does less than 1d4 (such as a dagger) unless the weapon has special advantages. As a DM, I usually just use 2 or 3 as my result instead of rolling.

 

[cignus_pfaccari]

Newbie question.

I am reading through the PHB and noticed that some of the weapons for SMALL/MEDIUM creatures show damage as 1d2 or 1d3. How is this implemented. 1-2 and 3-4 on a d4 (for 1d2)? Flipping a coin? I know this sounds stupid but it doesn't seem to be something that they explain.

Well, you can flip a coin, but that's hard to get a d3's results. ;-)

Seriously, you're right. A d3 is easily modeled with a d6 (1-2 = 1, 3-4 = 2, & 5-6 = 3), as the d2 is modeled with a d4.

Alternately, you can use a d4 for a d3, by rolling and disregarding results of 4.

Brad

 

[msd]

OK. Thanks guys for the quick replies. That makes sense, but given that it wasn't explicit in the PHB, I thought it was better to ask...

Thanks again!

-matt

 

[Greatwyrm]

One of my buddies uses a Chuck E. Cheese game token with a "1" taped to one side and a "2" taped to the other.

 

[kuje31]

They do make dice for d3's. It's a d6 except it's labeled 1,2,3. 1,2,3.

 

[Duncan Haldane]

I'd also recommend following some standard conventions for your dice rolls.
eg
- High is always good for the roller. This means if it's not declared before hand then it always works that way.
- Miss chance is usually 50%. So, you can roll any dice you want for your miss chance, and if it's high you don't miss due to the miss chance.
- I usually roll stabalisation on a d20, since I have more of them at hand than I do d10s. This means that, with the high is good roll, a 19 or 20 stabalises, since that's a 10% chance.

There are also other parts of dice etiquette
- Don't roll until the DM asks. IMPORTANT - you can't roll dice when you want, keep a high roll, and they use it as your next roll.
- Roll where other players can see too (not necessary for the DM, but as DM you may want to make some rolls in the open).
- Myself, I don't like the mini dice - too easy for players to "accidently" mis-read them, and hard for others to verify.
- Use dice that are easy to read. If you have to squint and move closer to the dice you need glasses or your dice aren't easy to read. Strong, bright colour for the inking on highly contrasted solid colours is good - eg, purple dice with write numbering. Light Grey dice with white numbering is bad.

Oh, and marbles make good D1s, but they take a long time to stop rolling.

Duncan

 

[reanjr]

Newbie question.

I am reading through the PHB and noticed that some of the weapons for SMALL/MEDIUM creatures show damage as 1d2 or 1d3. How is this implemented. 1-2 and 3-4 on a d4 (for 1d2)? Flipping a coin? I know this sounds stupid but it doesn't seem to be something that they explain.

Thanks in advance for your help. You guys are always very helpful to new people...

-matt

I'm weird, but I use a d20.

For d2: odds are 1, evens are 2
For d3: 1,4,7,10,13,16 are 1; 2,5,8,11,14,17 are 2; 3,6,9,12,15,18 are 3; 19,20 are rerolls.

I tend to use a d20 for a d4, d10, and a d12, as well. I never bring my own dice, so I just borrow a d20 and a d6 from a player. I then ask for a d8 or d12 as necessary, but usually for the others I use a d20. It is the d20 system, remember.