Die rolls

[Quasqueton]

What constitutes a "cocked" die? A die that is tilted in such a way that it needs a reroll. Did that attack roll come up 18 or 2?

I tend to judge my own rolls on whether I can honestly read it, even if it is on a crack or grove. If it is truly half-way between numbers, I'll roll again. Sometimes I ask, "I see 18. Is that OK with everyone?" If it goes off the table completely, I'll reroll.

But I've known some gamers who won't take a roll unless it lands on the book they use as a rolling surface. I've seen it take 3 or 4 rolls to get the die to stay on the surface.

I've also known gamers who won't let *you* take a roll that lands on a crack or groove, even if you think it is perfectly readable. A tilt of 1 degree is enough to need a reroll.

And then, of course, there are those gamers who always read the die in the most favorable way, regardless of how it lands.

What's your rule? Does everyone at your table follow the same rule?

Quasqueton

 

[kanithardm]

If its off the table its a reroll, otherwise its fairgame.

 

[Henry]

We follow the same rule at our table -- a die roll in order to count must have the BOTTOM NUMBER flat on a substrate. If it's cocked in a groove between two adjoining tables, or on the floor, it doesn't count. We also allow some people their variations (roll in a box, roll on a book) as long as they keep consistent. Unless it's cocked, then it's accepted by all. Since we have so few instances of this, we don't think about it more than that.

 

[ThirdWizard]

Always called it a "cobble."

The die must land on the surface (usually the battle-mat) with no tilt whatsoever and perfectly flat. Else, it must be rerolled. Even if it is obvious which side is mostly pointed upward.

 

[Zappo]

If it falls from the table, you pick it up, reroll and get a slap. If it is obviously cocked, you reroll. If it is non-obviously cocked, the DM decides. Generally, I call for rerolls of bad results and let the players keep the good ones.

 

[fafhrd]

What Henry said.

 

[Mercule]

DM's discresion. When I'm DM, if it's off the table, it's always a reroll. Otherwise, I call it on the spot. I don't require people to have a defined rolling area, but if someone says, "Well, I meant for it to be on my book" or some such, then they may reroll but that book is forever more their rolling area.

I like Henry's ruling, though.

 

[Thornir Alekeg]

If it could fall either way between two numbers, it is a re-roll. For example, a die on the edge of the battle map might roll one number if pushed onto the mat, or a different number if pushed onto the table. That is worth a re-roll. If the die is not perfectly flat because it is propped up on some crumbs or the edge of a sheet of paper, take the number that it has come to rest on. Any die roll on the floor is a re-roll. Anywhere on the table; books, mat, papers is in-play.

 

[Warehouse23]

One of the hazards of keeping books on a gaming table is that sometimes dice end up leaning against them, resulting in an unreadable result. These, and clear off the table rolls are re-rolled.


That being said, I don't know what it says about the DEX and BAB of some players that they can't land a die on an 6' x 6' gaming table (that's DC10 ranged touch, given the degree to which some folks hurl their dice)

Mind you, every now and then I roll a 1 and miss the table, too.

 

[jmucchiello]

We go by however the player usually does it. I have a player who, if a die hits the floor will pick up all the dice and reroll. He's even done it when there was 4 6s on 4 of 5d6 showing on the table.

Shouldn't really matter. But people like to get anal about strange things sometimes.