If you’re reading this blog, you’re probably familiar with role playing games like Dungeons & Dragons. (If not, take a quick spin through our article: “Role Playing Games Explained”.RPGs are known for many things like combat, exploring, high fantasy, and – not surprisingly – role playing! One of the most unique things about D&D and RPGs more generally however, are the dice used to play also sometimes referred to as D&D dice, are unlike any other.
Have you ever played Dungeons & Dragons or another RPG? If not, are you hesitant because you're worried you won't understand all the funky dice? RPGs are an amazing game category so it breakdown the basics of these polyhedral dice to make this part a bit more accessible.
Polyhedral Dice – What Are They?
All dice are polyhedral, technically. The word "polyhedral" is a mathematical adjective that refers to an object that has many sides (polygons) and is three-dimensional. Polygons have at least three straight angles and sides and are two-dimensional shapes. Any diye that has multiple faces is a polyhedral die. Additionally, the faces are equal to each other in size.
The most common kinds of polyhedral dice are probably the six-sided sets used in backgammon or Yahtzee. As many as 100 sides or as few as 3 can be present on a polyhedral die.
There are seven main types of polyhedral dice for the game Dungeons & Dragons and most RPGs.
D&D Dice
Within the game, seven dice types are used in Dungeons & Dragons. By saying the letter "d" followed afterward by how many sides the die has, players refer to each die.
Here's an example:
A player would refer to a die as a d6 if a six-sided die needed to be used. They would add the number of dice to the beginning if they are rolling multiples of the same die. So, a player would roll 8d6 if they had to roll eight times with a six-sided dice.
The following are the seven types of D&D dice:
- d4 dice which have 4 sides
- d6 dice which have 6 sides
- d8 dice which have 8 sides
- d10 dice which have 10 sides
- d12 dice which have 12 sides
- d20 dice which are 20 sided dice
Which Die Gets Used the Most?
Possibly the most iconic and commonly used D&D die is the d20. To initiate most D&D actions, players will roll this 20-sided die. Activities can include saving throws, attacks, ability checks, and more.
After a successful attack, when dealing with damage, most of the other die types are used. Additionally, when adding a bonus to a roll and with certain kinds of magic, the other dice are used. Here's an example: A player might roll a d10 to determine damage after landing a successful attack on a creature.
Materials
When it comes to sets, the most popular materials for polyhedral dice are the following:
- Plastic
- Metal
- Resin
- Stone
The kind of material you choose may have everything to do with your budget. Additionally, you want them to feel good in your hand. They must be comfortable to roll, hold, etc. There are some astonishingly beautiful sets of dice available to gamers these days. If you spend a lot of money on your dice, be sure to take the appropriate steps to protect them. Purchase a dice box and use to help guard your dice against damage.
Just for the record, you can even buy dice that are actually candy…Nom nom nom!.
Looking For a New Set of Dice?
No matter your game, when you're looking for a new dice set, look no further than the many metal dice sets we carry at Forged Gaming. Whether you’re on a budget or looking for something truly unique, we have something we know you’ll love!
