D&D 4E Whither the d12 in 4e?

[cignus_pfaccari]

But what will we use for Divine Blasts? Getting smacked for 20d12 at 12th level is fun!

Brad

 

[CleverNickName]

I'd love to see the "d4" version of the d12 become a regular part of the game. You'd have three faces each marked 1, 2, 3 and 4 respectively. Keep the 1 through 12 die active as well (for the few things it's always been used for, maybe more), but eliminate the "four triangles" version of the d4 and manufacture a die that's easier to roll and more fair/random.

Sorry for the tangent, I just enjoy rolling the d12 - it has a pleasing shape and how many of us have watched players fling their d4's across the room awkwardly trying to "roll" them?

If the lack of d12 action has you down, and if you are frustrated with the inability to "roll" a triangle, here is a quick solution: instead of rolling a d4, roll a d12 and divide by 3. The d12 gets more tabletop action, and that easy-to-fudge d4 stays in the dice bag where it belongs.

Of course, you would have to do division with every roll, and multiple d4s in a single throw would only make it worse. Here's an idea: you could have Koplow Games manufacture a custom set of d12s for you that are numbered from 1 to 4, three times. (I'm kidding, of course, but only halfway. Koplow requires a minimum order of, like, a hundred dice or something for a custom die...but I'd go in for ten bucks worth if someone in this thread were interested. I collect unique dice.)

 

[Vrecknidj]

Of all the dice, the d12 tends to roll off the table more than any other (even the d20, for some reason). At least, this is the case with my dice.

I like that it gives the ability to represent halves, thirds and quarters all with one die (and sixths to boot!). The d20 is, of course, equally versatile, but the thing is handy.

However, I'd be (slightly pleasantly) surprised to see it get any significant use in 4e.

Dave

 

[Remathilis]

My theory:

if class hit dice still exist, every class is getting a HD bump.

wizards and warlocks roll d6
rogues and rangers get d8
warlords and clerics get d10
fighters and paladins get d12.

If so, the d12 is going to get more popular...

(and besides barbarians, warblades and knights got d12s for HD as well...)

 

[Klaus]

I'm bumping bastard sword from d10 to d12 IMC.

The d12 is just so pretty.

 

[Andre]

The problem with D12 is the randomness - 2d6 will roll 12 only 3% of the time. A d12 will do the same 8% of the time. There's a reason that 3.5 took the greataxe away from orcs (hint: too many dead pc's when the orc rolled max damage).

That said, d12's are among my favorite dice to roll - just something about the way it leaves the hand and rolls across the table...

 

[Fifth Element]

Barbarian (UA) HD. Couple of the random tables in the back of the DMG (specifically one or more of them for generating NPC party encounters..maybe the magic items they carry or something).

Giant crayfish had a damage attack that used it, so did the crocodile, triceratops, one of the hydras I think (15 headed or something), mummy, spotted lion, giant slug, unicorn. (probably some more monsters in MM2 and FF that used it as well)

3.x undead also have d12 hit dice. There's a couple of spells that use it as well I think.

My point was that 3.x doesn't really use the d12 any less than previous editions. Which is to say, hardly at all.

 

[Merlin the Tuna]

There's a reason that 3.5 took the greataxe away from orcs (hint: too many dead pc's when the orc rolled max damage).

The falchion isn't really much of an improvement; crits for 4d4+8 don't let low level characters stay on their feet for too long.

 

[CleverNickName]

There's a reason that 3.5 took the greataxe away from orcs (hint: too many dead pc's when the orc rolled max damage).

According to the 3.5 SRD, orc warriors are proficient with all simple weapons and either the falchion or the greataxe.

 

[delericho]

I'd like them to minimize the dice to as few types as possible.

I'm inclined to agree. As far as I can see, the game could be designed to run just fine with only the d6 and d20.

However, the WotC dice set for next year is set to include all the dice types, which suggests that they're all staying in the game.