Do you need or prefer physical dice when playing?

[Jfdlsjfd]

Imagine the joy of throwing 15d4... I'd so love that, asking everyone at the table "can you lend me d4s ?"

I'd say that in person, I'd be nonplussed (but wouldn't comment) if someone used an app. My group have plenty of spare dice so we'd lend a set (or three...) easily if someone was rushing from work to our Friday night session and couldn't take the time to collect everything. We are often scanning character sheet so someone in this predicamnet could find it printed when arriving.

 

[DragonLancer]

Physical dice all the way for me. Part of the fun is rolling those dice and the tactile approach of that.

 

[Deset Gled]

Imagine the joy of throwing 15d4... I'd so love that, asking everyone at the table "can you lend me d4s ?"

It's been a long time since I've seen a roll like that in a real game, but I do remember some Star Wars WEG d6 system games where you started rolling piles and piles of d6s (IIRC, it was prone to occurring when you started mixing scales in combat, i.e. humans, speeders, ships, etc.).

It was always fun at first. But the joy had rapidly diminishing returns if combat stretched out.

 

[Staffan]

It's been a long time since I've seen a roll like that in a real game, but I do remember some Star Wars WEG d6 system games where you started rolling piles and piles of d6s (IIRC, it was prone to occurring when you started mixing scales in combat, i.e. humans, speeders, ships, etc.).

It was always fun at first. But the joy had rapidly diminishing returns if combat stretched out.

I don't mind rolling fistfuls (fistsful?) of d6es at all. I don't really mind doing it with d8s either, except d8s generally aren't sold in bricks of 12 or 36 so you have to collect a bunch of mismatched dice from all over the place. But d4s behave very differently to those. They don't really roll – you have to toss them so they spin around in the air and then land. That's why I don't like rolling large numbers of d4s.

 

[el-remmen]

I love physical dice and prefer them. In my remote game I encourage players to roll their own dice (we use the honor system and no VTT) because to be honest I think it is usually faster than most virtual dice esp. when you u have to click to other tabs.

 

[CleverNickName]

Yep, I need the clicky math rocks.

At my table (and much to certain players' chagrin) we roll everything. We roll stats, we roll hit points at every level-up (and at 1st level), we roll starting gold, we roll random encounters, we roll damage, we roll initiative, and so on. And when rolling large amounts of damage--say, 10d6--I'll roll one die and multiply it to get the most "swingy" result possible.

Predictability is the enemy of surprise, and as the DM I really like being surprised.

 

[Snarf Zagyg]

So general thoughts on the poll and the comments so far!

1. @Clint_L - I know you're not Beetlejuice, and you don't have to come when summoned, but I'm still hoping that you can expand on the thoughts that started this thread.

2. The poll reveals an overwhelming preference for physical dice for in-person play. I suspected that would be the case, both because that's my experience (and as we all know, Snarf's experience is universal) and because the people actively participating here skew older. I think it might be a little less overwhelming if we had a large sample of 13-21 year olds.

3. One thing I never considered that was brought up is the ability to cheat with electronic rollers- either through programming, or just hitting reroll quietly until you "show" the good result. Huh. I never thought of that, but you know who has? DEREK. The last few games make a lot more sense now!

4. Building on what I said in my original posts, I think two things people like about dice are the ritual (assuming you grew up doing it) and the gambling aspect of it. It feels good to roll dem bones.

5. Finally, we can all agree that the d4 sucks. It only exists to wait for you, unaware, on the floor like a caltrop (or lego brick) so that you can step on it with your bare feet. The d4 is the DJ Khaled of dice.

 

[CleverNickName]

Finally, we can all agree that the d4 sucks. It only exists to wait for you, unaware, on the floor like a caltrop (or lego brick) so that you can step on it with your bare feet. The d4 is the DJ Khaled of dice.

Somewhere out there is a d12 that is numbered from 1-4 three times, and was intended to replace that dreadful d4. It was part of a set (the d6 was a d12 numbered from 1-6 twice, the d3 was...you get the idea). I saw them at a convention several years ago and I haven't seen them since.

 

[Snarf Zagyg]

Somewhere out there is a d12 that is numbered from 1-4 three times, and was intended to replace that dreadful d4. It was part of a set (the d6 was a d12 numbered from 1-6 twice, the d3 was...you get the idea). I saw them at a convention several years ago and I haven't seen them since.

On the one hand, that is great! On the other hand, no one should besmirch the d12 (THE KING OF DICE) with d4 junk.

Do you think some other dice is better? Well, here are the probabilities that you are wrong.

1. Your momma didn't raise you right, and you never learned to respect the d12's authority.

2. You looked at a barbarian's hit points, and thought to yourself, "Self, I prefer weak and easy-to-kill, so Ima use an accessible d6."

3. You're one of those ... short sword fans. If you know what I mean. Not that I'm judging (I'm judging).

4. Just in time for the holidays, you want to ruin the 12 Days of Christmas by making it the 100 days of Christmas, which is just too much. On the 83rd Day of Christmas, My True Love Gave To me, 83 Drummers Drumming ...

5. Every time you roll a d12, an angel gets its wings and a puppy finds a home.

6. You are a metric lover with your 5% increments. Captain Jean Luc Picard might not know how many lights there are, but there will always be TWELVE INCHES IN A FOOT!

7. You were confused by the movie Twelve Monkeys, and thought, eh, Eight is Enough. Or maybe dSixth Sense was more your speed, M. Night????

8. You have a d20 and never have to generate time; this is why your characters are late for everything.

9. All of your D&D games start at 12 sharp and end at d20 dull.

10. If twelve is good enough for a jury to sentence someone to die, it's good enough for a die.

11. Because the people, and the people are never wrong. Except when they disagree with me. Then they're like, super-wrong.

12. Well, the d12 is two more, isn't it? It's not ten. You see, most blokes, you know, will be rolling at ten. You're on ten here, all the way up, all the way up, all the way up, you're on ten on your rolls. Where can you go from there? Where?

How do I choose what die to roll? That's right. There is only one way. One. True. Way.

The d12, the very best there is. When you absolutely, positively got to kill every mother ... monster in the room. Accept no substitutes.

 

[Warpiglet-7]

On the one hand, that is great! On the other hand, no one should besmirch the d12 (THE KING OF DICE) with d4 junk.

Do you think some other dice is better? Well, here are the probabilities that you are wrong.

1. Your momma didn't raise you right, and you never learned to respect the d12's authority.

2. You looked at a barbarian's hit points, and thought to yourself, "Self, I prefer weak and easy-to-kill, so Ima use an accessible d6."

3. You're one of those ... short sword fans. If you know what I mean. Not that I'm judging (I'm judging).

4. Just in time for the holidays, you want to ruin the 12 Days of Christmas by making it the 100 days of Christmas, which is just too much. On the 83rd Day of Christmas, My True Love Gave To me, 83 Drummers Drumming ...

5. Every time you roll a d12, an angel gets its wings and a puppy finds a home.

6. You are a metric lover with your 5% increments. Captain Jean Luc Picard might not know how many lights there are, but there will always be TWELVE INCHES IN A FOOT!

7. You were confused by the movie Twelve Monkeys, and thought, eh, Eight is Enough. Or maybe dSixth Sense was more your speed, M. Night????

8. You have a d20 and never have to generate time; this is why your characters are late for everything.

9. All of your D&D games start at 12 sharp and end at d20 dull.

10. If twelve is good enough for a jury to sentence someone to die, it's good enough for a die.

11. Because the people, and the people are never wrong. Except when they disagree with me. Then they're like, super-wrong.

12. Well, the d12 is two more, isn't it? It's not ten. You see, most blokes, you know, will be rolling at ten. You're on ten here, all the way up, all the way up, all the way up, you're on ten on your rolls. Where can you go from there? Where?

How do I choose what die to roll? That's right. There is only one way. One. True. Way.

The d12, the very best there is. When you absolutely, positively got to kill every mother ... monster in the room. Accept no substitutes.

I deeply love the d12 to the extent I might use a pike…and…

A fellow player uses d12s that have two sides with 1-6 pips each.

I probably should buy some…