AD&D 1E The worst thing about AD&D, and boy is it annoying

[Lanefan]

is the love for using the d4 die. Probably the least favorite die type of all, and man, was it all over AD&D (1e and 2e). What's that? You assumed I was going to say something else based on the title?

Nah, this isn't an edition war, but more tongue-in-cheek. Kinda sorta, because I think most of us can agree that the d4 should be used sparingly. But the title is certainly hyperbole. And yet its shows up way more than it should. It shows up in HP. It shows up in weapon damage a lot (d4, d4+1, 2d4), it shows up a lot in treasure tables (1-4 gems, 50-200 starting gold, 5-20 pp, etc.). It shows up in the most famous damage spell, magic missile. But where it really shows up is in monster damage. And in really weird ways. A lot of monsters have 1d4 for damage. Many have 2d4 (including monsters that use weapons, like troglodytes, when the weapon is 1d6). Several monsters have 5d4 (like a troll's bite). I have to ask myself, why? If you're rolling 5d4, why not just 2d10? Instead of 3d4, how about 2d6? People probably would rather roll 2d10 than a handful of d4s. Who has that many in their dice bag anyway?

The simple answer is that 5d4 produces a much tighter bell curve than does 2d10. A better compromise would be 3d6+2, which gives the same 5-20 range but uses more commonly-available dice.

That said, I've never minded the d4. The forgotten die size IME is the d12 - I'm constantly looking for more ways to incorporate d12s into things.

 

[aco175]

I still like the d4. I have had so many halfling rogues in 5e that only use a dagger or two instead of the rapier.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

I still like the d4. I have had so many halfling rogues in 5e that only use a dagger or two instead of the rapier.

RIP, rapier. You had a good 10-year run of being objectively the best weapon.

 

[sevenbastard]

"Let's use weapon speed," my wife said moments before we divorced.

Maybe she was implying something else

"Hey babe can you weild an awl pike and not a not a jo stick tonight? i want to use weapon speed if you know what I mean"

 

[Voadam]

I really dislike d4s in practice. They are comparatively hard to read with the number there on the bottom instead of the top. I usually prefer rolling a d8 or d12 and doing math to get a 1-4 range.

I also rarely have a bunch of them together at once. 1e Cone of Cold doing 9+ d4+1s worth of damage was a real pain when I played in a high level 1e game.

Also they roll less than other dice, they are caltrops that will stop really quick which feels off.

 

[Voadam]

A better compromise would be 3d6+2, which gives the same 5-20 range but uses more commonly-available dice.

That's a good one.

Figuring out what dice arrangements and math adjustments would get the given odd number range was often its own mini game.

 

[cbwjm]

I really dislike d4s in practice. They are comparatively hard to read with the number there on the bottom instead of the top. I usually prefer rolling a d8 or d12 and doing math to get a 1-4 range.

I also rarely have a bunch of them together at once. 1e Cone of Cold doing 9+ d4+1s worth of damage was a real pain when I played in a high level 1e game.

Also they roll less than other dice, they are caltrops that will stop really quick which feels off.

I think D4s now typically have the number rolled around the point at the top, super confusing when you're rolling both that one and the original at the bottom.

I've seen some d4s that are on a d8, that has its own problems though, you'd need them in a different colour to differentiate them if you don't want to find yourself wondering why you can't roll more than a 4 when hitting with your longsword.

 

[Alzrius]

I've seen some d4s that are on a d8, that has its own problems though, you'd need them in a different colour to differentiate them if you don't want to find yourself wondering why you can't roll more than a 4 when hitting with your longsword.

I've seen some that are sort of d8-shaped, but they make one end larger and the other smaller, like a tall pyramid with a tiny little pyramid glued to the bottom. Only the tall pyramid portion has numbers on it, being so "top-heavy" that the smaller part of the die isn't really ever going to come up.

 

[TwoSix]

I've seen some that are sort of d8-shaped, but they make one end larger and the other smaller, like a tall pyramid with a tiny little pyramid glued to the bottom. Only the tall pyramid portion has numbers on it, being so "top-heavy" that the smaller part of the die isn't really ever going to come up.

I have a few d4s that are just d20s with 5 sets of 1-4, they’re my go to d4s for at-table use.

 

[aco175]

I bought these and found them to be great for the d4. I did add more pips to the d2 to make more d4s since I like that style better..