Robert Fisher

Just thinking out loud

Dice mechanics

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Herein I muse about dice mechanics.

2d6 (Toonish)

  • Traits range from 3–10
  • Roll: 2d6 ≤ trait (+ modifiers)
  • Double indicate an exceptional result
  • In contests, the “better” result wins
    (exceptional success > normal success > normal failure > exceptional failure)

d6 − d6 (similar to Feng Shui?)

  • Traits range from 0–10
  • Difficulties range from 0–10
  • Roll: trait + d6 − d6 ≥ difficulty
  • (Before rolling, declare which die is “positive” & which is “negative”.)

d% (BRP & Pendragon)

  • Traits are rated 1–100
  • Roll: d% ≤ trait (+ modifiers)
  • For contests: The highest roll that doesn't fail wins

d5

This is verbose to explain, but it's actually pretty simple. (& it could use a better name.)

  • If trait ≥ difficulty, success is automatic
  • Roll 2d6
  • Read 6s as zeros
  • Drop the higher die
  • If double-5s were rolled, roll again & add
  • If total is ≥ difficulty, the attempt is a success

e.g. Trait = 3, difficulty = 10. Roll 2d6: 5 & 5. Roll again: 3 & 4. Drop the higher. Add 5 for the 1st roll & 3 for the 2nd roll to 3 for the trait for a total of 11. This is ≥ the difficulty, so the attempt is a success.

e.g. Trait = 3, difficulty = 4. Roll 2d6: 6 & 6, which is really: 0 & 0. 3 + 0 ≱ 4. The attempt fails.

d2 pool (Prince Valiant)

  • Roll any sort of (normal, even-sided) dice
  • Even is 1; odd is zero
  • Roll a number of dice equal to skill level
  • If all dice come up even, roll one bonus die

DP9 (Dream Pod 9)

  • Roll a number of d6 equal to skill level
  • Drop all but the highest
  • Additional 6s add +1 each
  • Attributes ranged from −5 to +5

Rule of 5 The Rule of 5 RPG

  • Roll 2d6
  • If the total ≥ 5: 1 success
  • If the total ≥ 10: 2 successes
  • If either die shows a 5: 1 success

You can have a total of 4 successes on one roll.

Probabilities:

SuccessesChance%
06:3616.7
116:3644.4
211:3630.6
32:365.6
41:362.8