Dice

Dices are the core mechanics of D&D. In every situation, dice are rolled to determine the outcome of a myriad of situations, such as whether or not a character will succeed at using a particular skill, if an attack will land and how much damage it will do, and even when the DM feels like adding a little unpredictability.

Dice Notation

D&D uses the d20 system—a role-playing game system published in 2000 by Wizards of the Coast, originally developed for the 3rd edition of Dungeons & Dragons. Though the name is d20, it often includes other dice notations as well—usually notated with a d followed by the number of sides on that specific die.

d4 --> d6 --> d8 --> d10 --> d12 --> d20

The number of dice to be rolled is notated immediately before the d. Any applicable modifiers for the roll are given as an addition (if it is a bonus) or subtraction (if it is a penalty) after the dice notation. When a single twenty-sided die (d20) is rolled with no modifiers, it is notated as 1d20. When two six-sided dice (d6) are rolled with a modifier of +3, the roll is notated as 2d6+3.

Die Size Adjustment

Certain game mechanics or features may cause the size of a die to increase or decrease. When a die increases by one size, it moves to the next larger die in the sequence (e.g., d4 increases to d6). Conversely, when a die decreases by one size, it moves to the next smaller die (e.g., d6 decreases to d4).

Occasionally, a mechanic may specify an increase or decrease by two sizes, though this is rare. For example, an increase by two sizes would change a d4 to a d8, while a decrease by two sizes would change a d10 to a d6.

The sequence of die sizes is as follows:
d4 --> d6 --> d8 --> d10 --> d12

Limits on Die Size Changes The size of a die cannot be increased beyond a d12 or decreased below a d4. If an effect would increase a d12 or decrease a d4, the die size remains unchanged at the respective limit.

Percentile Dice

The rules sometimes refer to a d100. While such dice exist, the common way to roll a 1d100 is to use a pair of ten-sided dice numbered from 1 to 9, known as a Percentile Dice. One die-that you designate before rolling-gives the tens digit, and the other gives the ones digit. If you roll a 7 for the tens digit and a 1 for the ones digit, for example, the number rolled is 71. Two 0s represent 100.

Some then-sided dice are numbered in tens (00, 10, 20, and so on), making it easier to distinguish the tens digit from the ones digit. In this case, a roll of 70 and 1 is 71, and 00 and 0 is 100

D3

The same d notation appears in the expresion "1d3", even though it's rare to find dice with oly three sides. To simulate rolling 1d3, roll a 1d6 and divide the number rolled by 2 (round up).

Digital Dice Rollers

While physical dice are often a staple in tabletop gaming, they can also be expensive and not always practical, especially when playing online. Digital dice rollers offer a convenient and accessible alternative, allowing players to easily roll dice in virtual environments.

One of the key benefits of using a digital dice roller is visibility—everyone can see the results in real-time, ensuring transparency and preventing any accidental misunderstandings during gameplay. Additionally, digital rollers can handle irregular dice such as d3, d100, or other custom rolls that may not be readily available in physical sets, offering more flexibility to the game.

For those playing online or looking for cost-effective alternatives, I recommend using either the Dice Maiden bot on Discord or the dice roller provided by Google. Both options provide a quick and easy way to roll dice and keep your game moving smoothly.

What Are Dice For?

Here are the most common uses of dice in D&D.

D20 Tests

In D&D, the twenty-sided die ( d20) is central to the game's mechanics, determining the success or failure of a wide range of actions. Whenever a creature attempts an action with a chance of failure, it rolls a d20 and adds any applicable modifiers. The result is compared to a target number to see if the attempt succeeds.

The term d20 Test encompasses the three main d20 rolls of the game: attack rolls - which are rolled against the target's Armour Class (AC), Ability Check - which are rolled against the check's Difficulty Class (DC), and Saving Throws - which are rolled against a save DC.

Damage

The most common use for dice other than the d20 is to determine damage. When you make a succesful Attack Roll, you roll damage to see how effective the attack is. When you cast a spell, you might also roll damage. Different weapons and spells use different dice for damage. For example, a dagger uses 1d4, a Greataxe uses 1d12, and a Fireball spell uses 8d6.