Make-your-own-dragonbone?

[Firebeetle]

Some of you may remember the Dragonbone electronic dice roller of old. I was considering recreating one of these, since they are nigh impossible to find and I'd like to build one into a toy sword. I'm not even looking to reproduce the whole thing, just a d20 roll would be nice.

What componenets would I need to do it? I have virtually no knowledge of electronic beyond the different types of circuits and what a fuse and breaker are. Could anyone help me out here? I think this is an interesting project. Mainly, I can't find an electronic component that will create random numbers.

 

[Meloncov]

I know nothing of how to build one, but out of curiosity, is this intended for a LARP or just to look cool?

 

[Firebeetle]

I know nothing of how to build one, but out of curiosity, is this intended for a LARP or just to look cool?

Just to look cool at the table.

Anybody have an idea of how to do this? Any info on who made the original dragon bone? A company name (or the name of a person!) would be terrific.

 

[joshuakanton]

Did you try ebay?

 

[Thunderfoot]

First you'll need 28 LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes), a circuit board (Pre-printed based on your schemetic) or breaboard circuit so that you can line things up regardless. A 2-position selector switch that allows power to the board as a whole (ie. on - off), a power terminal of some sort (either DC and battery poles (probably run in serial mode)) or AC with a regulator based on your projected power draw (probably 5 - 10 V tops). You will need an 8-position switch or potentiomemer to select die variable (2,4,6,8,10,20,100) and a button to activate (ie. roll), rosin core solder, flux limiter, plenty of .30 guage wire and a soldering iron or gun. A programable Integrated Cuircuit (thats a chip in modern slang) and programming prog to program the random generation sequence of numbers and drive the system. And a various assortment or resistors and capacitors so thing doesn't melt.

Google the schemetics and try finding the exact parts you will need - if you don't have the tools necessary to start the project, then it would be easier to try and find one on e-bay.
(PS I'm currently taking EET-118 and EET-130 if wondering about my qualifications). Personally I would try to find a used one and convert the housings.

 

[Contrarian]

According to the ad I just found in my copy of Dragon #69, the Dragonbone was a product of "DB Enterprises". I'm pretty sure they don't exist anymore -- it was one of those "guy in his garage" companies -- the body of the original model was just a piece of PVC pipe that he cut some holes in!

There is an electronic dice roller still on the market -- the "Range 1 Electronic Dice Roller", distributed by Gamescience, I think. (Lou Zochhi tried to sell me one at Gencon, but I'm too old-fashioned for those new-fangled gizmos.) Advancing Hordes has it on their site.

Here's an odd do-it-yourself link I just found while googling for the Range 1: Elektor Magazine is selling PDF instructions for building your own! I don't know how good the plan is, because I didn't want to pay for a blueprint I'm not qualified to judge.

 

[Conaill]

Here's an easy, halfway-decent, random number generator:

http://willware.net:8080/hw-rng.html

 

[Conaill]

For extra credit, take one die of each type, in transparent plastic of different colors, saw each die in half and glue them on top of push buttons to select the die size. With some care you can make them look like jewels on the hilt of your toy sword. (Make sure the highest number shows on each die, or use unnumbered dice).

You can also drill a small hole into the back of each half-die and insert a little LED, to indicate which die size is active (helps to keep track if you accidentally pushed two buttons at once).

 

[Firebeetle]

According to the ad I just found in my copy of Dragon #69, the Dragonbone was a product of "DB Enterprises". I'm pretty sure they don't exist anymore -- it was one of those "guy in his garage" companies -- the body of the original model was just a piece of PVC pipe that he cut some holes in!

There is an electronic dice roller still on the market -- the "Range 1 Electronic Dice Roller", distributed by Gamescience, I think. (Lou Zochhi tried to sell me one at Gencon, but I'm too old-fashioned for those new-fangled gizmos.) Advancing Hordes has it on their site.

Here's an odd do-it-yourself link I just found while googling for the Range 1: Elektor Magazine is selling PDF instructions for building your own! I don't know how good the plan is, because I didn't want to pay for a blueprint I'm not qualified to judge.

You guys rock! It would be easiest to get the electronic roller and transfer the works, but I'm on a budget. When I have money (heaven knows when that will be) I'll get components and the blueprint. I'm hoping to add it to a toy sword that makes sounds.

I'll post any successes I have.

 

[Conaill]

A couple of electronic kits for you, complete with parts list and circuit diagrams:

Dual electronic dice
Single electronic die
Shaking dice
Multifunctional clock (also includes random number generator, electronic dice, and a bunch of other functions)
Single 'PIC'n Roll' LED Dice
Super LED Electronic Dice with Slowdown
Dual 'PIC'n Roll' LED Dice

Most of these (with the exception of the clock) work not using a random number generator, but simply by cycling through the number very rapidly, stopping when you hit the button. If you cycle fast enough (watch out for that d100!), that's plenty random for a hand-operated dice roller.