So, I bet that the d12 is getting kicked to the curb...

[Simia Saturnalia]

Is there any precedent for sacking a die-type from D&D? Because if not... I think messing with the core tools of the game is one of the few things you should not mess with.

Not to my knowledge - though older AD&D editions refer to virtual die types (like the d5) not used in 3.x - but I believe at some point the d10 was added in. Can a grognard back me up?

 

[Cadfan]

The full array of dice are the only sacred cow in D&D about which I have even the slightest hint of sentimentality. I hope the d12 gets to see a renaissance. Even the d4 deserves a little bit of face time.

The game could run just fine without the d4 and the d12, but I'd miss them.

 

[Shortman McLeod]

Not to my knowledge - though older AD&D editions refer to virtual die types (like the d5) not used in 3.x - but I believe at some point the d10 was added in. Can a grognard back me up?

Well, I recall that back in the day we used "chits" instead of dice, but I think that was part of TSR supply issues. I also recall the old school d20s which didn't go from 1-20, but from 1-10 in one color and 1-10 in another color. In fact, I recall a great storyline in Knights of the Dinner Table revolving around this idea.

 

[TwinBahamut]

I like the d12 (and own perhaps more than is useful), so I hope it gets a bit more use in 4E.

Also, 12 is a great number, so if any die is going to be dropped, I hope is is something other than the d12. The annoying d4, maybe? I hate reading those things... Or maybe the d8 or d10. Something about them is just wrong to me.

A d6, d12, and d20 only game would be fine, if you ask me.

 

[Crazy Jerome]

They should make the d12 a replacement for the d20, under the "gritty" ruleset. Likewise for d4s and d8s. If you are playing standard, heroic, larger than life mode, you get to use d6, d10, and d20. If you want gritty mode, you use d4, d8, and d12, respectively. Not only did you just knock 8 of the max skill check (and 4 off the average roll), you just made crits happen 1/12, instead of 1/20 of attacks.

They could even release special d12s that could be used as d12 or d4, same as the old d20s that were numbered to faciliate second use as an extra d10.

I'm only half joking. OK, maybe .91666666666666667 joking.

 

[olshanski]

rolling 2d12 instead of d% is gross.

 

[Olgar Shiverstone]

Put me in the "upgrade all d10s to d12s" camp. Down with non-platonic solids! Plus percentile-based mechanics need to die, anyway.

 

[Zurai]

Any game that uses fixed hit points has one less reason to use d12s-- which at last count means there would be only one reason to roll d12s-- the greataxe.

There are 3E spells that do d12s for damage. Reciprocal Gyre, for example, deals 1d12 per spell effect on the target creature.

 

[Dr. Harry]

Oh, I'm not remotely surprised. But I am advocating this as a standard! Who's with me?

Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more,
Or close the wall up with pointy, obolete d4s!


Long live the dodecahedral d4!!

 

[Dr. Harry]

Hey, you know what's much nicer? Rolling 55+1d10 instead. The average of 24d4 is 60. The standard deviation on totals of 24d4 is only about 5.5, which is also about the average roll on 1d10. So you can use 60 +/-5.6 with a Poisson distribution centred around 60, or a straight 55-65, with an average of 60.5. Or, you can just use 60, if you prefer.

Now *this* is the sort of post of which we need more. Better living through insightful analysis.