A Serendipitous Die Encounter

[GMMichael]

A few days ago, I learned what a spindown die is: a d20 with sequentially numbered faces. The next day, my wife gave me a die she'd found: my first spindown die! They're often used for tracking health/HP in Magic: the Gathering, but I don't play this game.

So, do you use a spindown die for something other than counting (they're also called countdown dice)? I need ideas!

 

[Thierry-Advent]

A few days ago, I learned what a spindown die is: a d20 with sequentially numbered faces. The next day, my wife gave me a die she'd found: my first spindown die! They're often used for tracking health/HP in Magic: the Gathering, but I don't play this game.

So, do you use a spindown die for something other than counting (they're also called countdown dice)? I need ideas!

They are somwhat controversial for gaming, as all the high numbers are on the same side. Easier to cheat with an adroit sleight of hands. We have had multiple page debates about them on wargaming forums. I banned them at my table.

 

[Tigris]

I use then normally only for counting. Or sometimed use even/odd for a coinflip / deciding who starts in a game.


I have most likely around 100 of them. Some look nice.


People in the past at magic touenaments used them for high roll but this changed to even odds years ago.


Could be used as a fear counter in daggerheart.

 

[Blue]

I don't intentionally use them for anything but counting. But I'm looking for more because a number of my boardgames I can replace the normal d10s with spindown dice to improve.

 

[Tigris]

I don't intentionally use them for anything but counting. But I'm looking for more because a number of my boardgames I can replace the normal d10s with spindown dice to improve.

If you look for more ask magic players. You get one of them on each (pre)release tournament/event

 

[Byrd]

TIL: what game the large d20's at the FLGS (with the numbers and an arrow pointing to the next sequential number) are used for.

 

[Reynard]

Wait -- does the sequential numbering change the probability of a roll on the MtG d20?

 

[Tigris]

Wait -- does the sequential numbering change the probability of a roll on the MtG d20?

Well depends on who is rolling.


If you are dexterous: yes it changes the average a lot, since its relatively easy to make the dice roll on one half side of it. In the ordered one all the high numbers are on the same half. On the unordered one this is not the case, so landing with high probability in one half of the dice will not help you with the unordered dice.


So you can make sure to never roll below a 10, if you are good with rolling, when using the sequential D20 from MtG

 

[Thierry-Advent]

Wait -- does the sequential numbering change the probability of a roll on the MtG d20?

It does not but dextrous players can come up with dice throwing routines that guarantees the die falls on the high result side (10+), every the time. There are shallow graves in the Vegas desert for d6 sleight of hands cheaters.

Try bringing sequential d6s in Vegas, see what happens.

 

[aco175]

I bought one last year at the local convention since it was a bit larger and easy to read, and I tend to buy some dice when at a convention. I really liked it and bought another this year. The only minor problem is that the 6 and 9 are the same, so I need to look at the numbers near it to tell which one it is.