Special dice. Do they deserve all the credit?

winkingbishop · February 19, 2010, 02:23:00 PM

I've considered integrating a "special die" into a home-brew system. Quite a few game systems make use of some sort of "special" die. Ghostbusters had its Ghost Die. Some dice explode! Some are just wild! Both In Nomine and Dragon Age single out one of the d6 in a 3d6 resolution as a magnitude die.

How do you feel about some special die getting all the credit? Does it feel too much like a gimmick? Have you had any good or bad experiences with special dice used in resolution?

Drohem · February 19, 2010, 03:36:48 PM

I'm a little unclear as to your question. Do you mean a 'specialty die' as in a unique die or dice that are required in order to play the game? Or, rather, do you mean a die that singled out for determining a special outcome of a die roll (like a Wild die in the D6 System by West End Games)?

winkingbishop · February 19, 2010, 03:58:22 PM

Quote from: Drohem;361641I'm a little unclear as to your question. Do you mean a 'specialty die' as in a unique die or dice that are required in order to play the game? Or, rather, do you mean a die that singled out for determining a special outcome of a die roll (like a Wild die in the D6 System by West End Games)?

The latter. A die or dice that get singled out for resolution mechanics. The Wild die would be one example.

Drohem · February 19, 2010, 04:22:07 PM

Quote from: winkingbishop;361647The latter. A die or dice that get singled out for resolution mechanics. The Wild die would be one example.

Cool, that's what I suspected, but I wanted to make sure. In that case, I have no issues with a specialty die.

Age of Fable · February 21, 2010, 08:04:01 AM

I think that sometimes game designers over-estimate the appeal of unique mechanics.

arminius · February 21, 2010, 09:45:19 AM

I've never played a game that uses a die like that, but I don't have a problem with the idea. I think it could be quite a good way of implementing a "something extra happens" result as part of any resolution. IMO it's more mechanically elegant if the die does double duty.

E.g., instead of rolling 2d6 (regular) + 1d6 (red), with success/failure based on the 2d6 and a "special" when the 1d6 comes up 6, it's more interesting mechanically if success/failure is based on all three dice, with an added special if the red die comes up 6.

Still, I wouldn't get carried away either with complexity or with "cuteness" for its own sake.

Benoist · February 21, 2010, 12:30:37 PM

I don't mind, personally. It's just like some Major Arcana in a Tarot Deck or Joker elsewhere. That's not a type of game design that rubs me the wrong way, if that is your question. I may have misunderstood it, however.

Did I actually answer the OP?

winkingbishop · February 21, 2010, 02:06:07 PM

Quote from: Benoist;361938Did I actually answer the OP?

Certainly. I'm curious about experiences players have had with these 'special' die mechanics. I didn't want a simple poll though, so any additional comments are welcome.

Lawbag · February 22, 2010, 03:37:29 AM

It worked in Ghost Buster and in In Nomine because the dice actually served a humourous and gaming purpose (respectively). Doing it for the sake of it would be a pointless mechanic.

Spinachcat · February 23, 2010, 08:57:02 PM

The Dragon Die in Dragon Age is an excellent mechanic to easily make stunts happen in combat and spellcasting as well as negating ties in opposed rolls. It's very smart mechanics.

Kyle Aaron · February 23, 2010, 09:02:53 PM

I think it better to decide what you want to happen in a game session, then design the dice mechanics to fit that, rather than to come up with a dice mechanic and figure out how you can fit it in.

I know because I've done it the wrong way