Do you need or prefer physical dice when playing?

[aramis erak]

First, a poll! The poll is going to ask you if you have to use dice when you're playing in person.

given the nature of the responses available, NONE FIT.

I prefer physical dice, but I've no major issues with people using electronic ones, provided they are either my work or are from a reputable source. I've occasionally used my own for specific games - most notably Star Wars and Tunnels and Trolls.
For T&T, it's just the sheer numbers of d6's for a big fight. Hence my Monsterator HTML+JavaScript tool.. I was able to use my Nintendo 3DSXL with it...
For Star Wars, I did a different HTML+JavaScript. But remember, this was before HTML 5... it uses a custom font, so you need to grab that from my fonts page if you want to make an offline copy in other than ASCII mode.

For using rollers, I only allow them at table if laid flat in full view BEFORE pushing the roll button, and the task is defined before as well. (I've had players roll quietly repeatedly then hold a "good" result until a task was called for.)

Monsterator:

T&T Monsterator

To use locally, save to disk, open in a javascript and forms enabled browser.

Star Wars:

EOTE Roller Fancy

The font: http://aramis.hostman.us/sw/SWRPGSymb.otf
To use locally, put the font and the page in the same directory, and open in a Javascript enabled browser. (its URL is relative).

I've not ported it to genesys symbols yet, nor have I done one for WFRP 3... but the code's portable, and as long as I get credit for the work I did, I don't mind people putting up variants. Basically, CC-BY-NC.

 

[Vaslov]

Where is the option for the punch out chits? I have these plastic tiki cups from Bob Chin's to draw them from. I do have a few physical dice that I generally use when in public. Chits are for good friends.

 

[TiQuinn]

I love my dice and I deplore games that try to boil everything down to d6 rolls, but even I have reached the point that rolling 10d8 or 12d6 gets me whipping out the phone.

 

[Reynard]

I'm definitely in the camp.that if we are playing in person, people should use math rocks instead of some other RNG.

 

[Thomas Shey]

Back when I was GMing pf1 I used the roller in situations I had numerous monsters, especially those with different saves. It was usually only D20 but I had to roll so many times.

Since moving online with foundry, I can build macros for whatever I need no matter the combination.

I do that with the 13th Age campaign I'm running with Maptool now.

I was thinking more of playing a some games where the number and specifics of dice I'd be rolling would change frequently. depending on what you're doing.

 

[Thomas Shey]

Where is the option for the punch out chits? I have these plastic tiki cups from Bob Chin's to draw them from. I do have a few physical dice that I generally use when in public. Chits are for good friends.

We did that back in the very early days of OD&D.

 

[bedir than]

Not only do I prefer physical dice for gaming. I prefer physical dice in my pockets so that I can fidget with something throughout the day.

 

[Parmandur]

Not only do I prefer physical dice for gaming. I prefer physical dice in my pockets so that I can fidget with something throughout the day.

 

[Staffan]

I love my dice and I deplore games that try to boil everything down to d6 rolls, but even I have reached the point that rolling 10d8 or 12d6 gets me whipping out the phone.

Rolling masses of d8s or d6es is fine. But... in our Pathfinder campaign my sorcerer has gained the ability to turn into a dragon. This includes brass dragons, with a breath weapon dealing 15d4 damage. The designer did not think that one through.

 

[Thomas Shey]

Rolling masses of d8s or d6es is fine. But... in our Pathfinder campaign my sorcerer has gained the ability to turn into a dragon. This includes brass dragons, with a breath weapon dealing 15d4 damage. The designer did not think that one through.

Yeah, I'm not sure I even own 15 D4s. (There are some newer designs for D4's where rolling a lot of them isn't as annoying as the old symmetrical-tetrahedron version, but you still have to either be willing to roll multiple rolls or have more of them than I suspect most people will ever have).