#rpg dice mechanics

[legionofmyth]

Alien RPG: Game Masters & Campaign Play

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[j-richmond]

When I take my ttrpgs to gaming conventions to sell or demo, one of the most common questions asked is "what kind of dice system does it use?"

And I'll answer the question of course. But what I want to say is "who cares?"

Seriously, who cares?

A dice system (or whatever) is, almost without an exception, the least interesting part of any ttrpg that uses one.

This doesn't mean that some games don't have really neat dice systems that facilitate interesting and meaningful play. But if the dice system is the most interesting part of your game, I think you've probably made a bad game.

How does the game tell its story? How does it structure narrative? How does it allow characters to develop. How does it create conflict? How does it build, examine or reflect its world? How does it present, develop and engage with its themes? What do characters do? Who are they?

[dungeonmalcontent]

Rpg mechanics poll.

Details below poll.

People call these different things but let me describe them so you know what I mean.

Configured DC refers to something similar to the d20 system used by 5e DND. Various statistics contribute to a difficulty threshold for a specific task. The dice must be rolled to meet that threshold for a success, otherwise the roll fails. Degrees of failure can be distinguished but are relative to the DC, but utilizing degrees of success or failure places additional burden on the GM. Additionally, statistical information for the DC to be derived from necessitates a more complex overall system.

Static Dice refers to a system where any given action is rolled on a specific dice and the success or failure of that roll is determined by the dice type. Quite a few systems use these types of rolls. E.g. a six sided dice is rolled and any result of 3 or greater results in a success no matter how complex the topic of the roll. Again, degrees of success or failure can be derived from ranges of results on the dice though. This lessens the burden on the GM and player significantly but does lack nuance and specifying degrees can cause gms and players to narrow in on what specific degrees can look like.

Dice Pool refers to a system where multiple dice are rolled at one to set up a variety of rolls. As an example, a roll might be comprised of two six sided dice which create a goal range and a twelve sided dice which must mee the 2d6 threshold to succeed. The Genesys system fits into this category with its various dice types. It can strike a happy middle ground where statistical likelihood is random and varied and does not depend on GM interpretation. However, requiring multiple dice can be more demanding on the player and might cause confusion as to what dice are contributing to what.

[prima-materia-ttrpg]

Resolution Mechanics and You

Last post, I promised to talk about the dice mechanics in Prima Materia and why they exist the way they do. I also promised this would be a shorter post, so let's get this road on the show.

There were a few things I kept in mind when designing the resolution mechanics. Firstly, it had to involve dice, and a respectable amount of them. I enjoy rolling the click clack rocks quite a bit, and rolling more dice for me seems like a fun time. Secondly, it had to feel right. Feeling right is unfortunately very ambiguous, but I knew I wanted the dice system to feel like Attributes and Skills both mattered and contributed to a roll. I also wanted the system to be able to account for someone being abysmally bad at something, as well as very competent; with measurable steps along that path that feel distinct.

At the start, the only reference I really had was DND, so I researched different dice systems, what their pros and cons were, and branched out to play some other games. It's partially thanks to this that I got introduced to Star Wars D6, Warhammer Fantasy, and LANCER (excellent games, all of them).

After a month or so of this, I decided that no dice mechanics were up to snuff with the image in my mind of the dice system that struck the "correct balance." I didn't want to use a d20 system because there wouldn't be much variety in dice, and it's too swingy. I've never particularly liked d6 dice pools, partially because of the lack of dice variety. Other than that, I just don't subjectively like d6 dice pools in the games I've played that have them. d100 systems seemed interesting to me, but I felt they didn't allow for the kind of nuance I was looking for between the Attributes and Skills.

Regardless of whether or not my assumptions were correct, I decided to make my own dice system. Ironically, it turned out being fairly similar to d6 dice pools with a twist. This also ties in with how the Attributes and Skills work; but the simple version is that every roll comes down to what kind of dice you're rolling, and how many you're meant to roll. Attributes have a dice assigned to them; d4, d6, d8, d10, or d12; that represent how honed that attribute is. Skills have a number of pips that tell you how many dice to roll. For example, someone with a Vitality of d8 and endurance of 3 will roll three eight sided die when rolling endurance.

I think this system, if nothing else, is at least interesting. I'm in the process of playtesting to make sure it's actually fun to engage with and to see how much I need to tweak the math (particularly now that Character Creation mechanics exist), but so far it seems to be working nicely.

Thanks for reading, next time I'll post about some lore. I don't want to overload the blog with mechanics; the setting is just as important to this project (and I have art in the works for it!)

[samayla]

Omg Fable - my Scholomance character - is probably about to die two days into term!

There aren't supposed to be much in the way of mal attacks for the first week after a cleansing, so I haven't been doing the mal encounter rolls for different areas. I figured this was a good way to let players find their feet just a little bit before really digging into the danger and whatnot. BUT a series of VERY BAD dice pool rolls at dinner led to a swarm of jangler mites erupting from a pan of chicken pot pie. Fable's quick thinking incinerated the swarm. A friendly senior (brother to her NPC bestie, Nico) praised her for acting so quickly and taking care of the swarm before it could spread out, so she got a little high on her own success.

Immediately following this, another series of VERY VERY BAD rolls had her deciding that, surely, this close to term, it can't be too terribly dangerous to go down to the supply room on her own... Right? (One of her key personality traits is rash decisions...) So down she goes. Right into an incarnated flame (which should also not be there yet, but the drastically failed rolls needed to mean something, so MALS)!

A few more VERY VERY VERY BAD rolls have her surviving, but coming out of it with three burns, one of which is not minor and will need treatment of some kind, and she didn't even get anything from the supply room (see: incarnated flame), and apparently there is something wrong with the cleansing equipment upstairs, and not just in the Graduation Hall this year? I guess? Yay, big plot! But also, omg she is so going to die at this rate!

[cicadasides]

planning a slightly ambitious twine story and i'm excited

[thecryptidzenith]

purely mechanically what is the stats and level of the bad kids in prince riz.

I can't tell if this is about PoMo or The Other Prince Riz AU but the answer is basically the same in both. Which is to say 'idk, it changes over time and i can mess with it to make the plot i want to happen happen.' Levels aren't really a huge thing for my writing process. They help out, but it's not foundational, and it's especially not the sort of thing I have ironed out before I even write the story. Plus, both of these stories take place over several years and levels change! characters change! That's kind of the whole point of a story.

[maegaasperion]

Getting so Mechanical

The most important question to answer when creating a new tabletop role playing game is about the game’s genre. Closely related to this will be the audience that the game targets. Assisting this will be the mechanics that the game is built upon. These mechanics will allow the players to carry out whatever actions they wish to execute. This will include character generation, combat, interactions,…

[captaingimpy]

Citizen Sleeper Review: A Narrative Experiment That Falls Short as a Game

On paper, Citizen Sleeper seems like a dream for fans of narrative-driven games, especially those who love cyberpunk aesthetics, RNG mechanics, and slower, more thoughtful gameplay. It promises a unique mix of storytelling and dice-based decision-making, all wrapped up in a dystopian sci-fi world. Unfortunately, while the game delivers a solid narrative experience, it stumbles in its execution as…

[thydungeongal]

Ultimately an RPG that uses playing cards as a randomizer but doesn't actually utilize the cards for. You know. The things that cards can do. Is just using them as a fancy, weirdly shaped die.

A few things that cards can do that dice can't:

You know that dice superstition that people have about how if they roll enough low numbers they're bound to get a high one? That sort of actually works with cards provided cards aren't immediately returned to the deck and the deck reshuffled. Because there's a limited number of each "roll," good or bad.

You can hold them in your hand. It's basically like pre-rolling a bunch of numbers and then getting to spend those numbers as they become relevant. Maybe you only get to draw more cards by playing all your cards, meaning that if you don't conserve your good cards your character's luck is eventually bound to run out.

You can make poker hands with them. Added to the previous point, maybe you will be forced to play a worse hand and have your character flub a non-critical roll because you're hoping for that better hand that'll turn the tide.

There's suits as an added bit of information that can be utilized for some mechanics. Maybe matching suit with an action type results in an extra benefit?

[prokopetz]

Like, I'd be lying if I said I was into fucked up yuri RPGs purely for the game mechanics, but it's unavoidably true that Tumblr lesbians as a demographic are doing some of the most innovative rules design the tabletop roleplaying hobby has seen in years. That this often means we're getting fucked up yuri and novel ways to abuse big stupid dice tables in one convenient package is more of a fun bonus.

[legionofmyth]

Alien RPG: Xenomorphs

👽 Discover the terrifying xenomorphs in Alien RPG by Free League Publishing. Learn about neomorphs, chest-bursters, queens, and more. Watch now! #AlienRPG #TabletopRPG #AlienSpecies

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[podsprout]

I

networking night

[educationaldm]

So here's a nice game mechanic for dealing with poor dice rolls.

What do you think?

I like it. It's got a nice thematic feel to it.

[forevergoldgame]

Forever Gold is a text-heavy dark fantasy roleplaying game. Assume the life of Duke Quintrell Barghur, a pariah of high birth, and grapple with your unlikely rise to political relevancy as the thriving alliance between Vestur's three kingdoms comes under strain. Achieve, fail, and despair as you navigate the frustrations of the Tri-Kingdom court and negotiate precarious double-binds. Halfway between visual novel and interactive fiction, Forever Gold is a unique multimedia experience incorporating artwork and writing with RPG mechanics such as skill systems, dice rolls, and lasting narrative decisions. It is intended for mature audiences.

EPISODE 1 NOW AVAILABLE

At long last, our first real installment! Brought to you by @broncoburro and @lsdoiphin, Forever Gold is a massive labor of love; this episode is the first of many more to come. Play online in your browser, or download to play offline on your desktop.

👑Reblogs greatly appreciated!👑

[stonegearstudios]

On the Ruins of Giants

A small RPG about a big, decaying world

Art by @bedupolker / @bedupolker.bsky.social

Well, I went and got big art for a project I was only fiddling with so far, so I guess I need to make a proper post for it

Well, I went and got big art for a project I was only fiddling with so far, so I guess I need to make a proper post for it

Being small mice exploring the decaying ruins of the human world

Building up your colony so that it can survive

Traversing dangerously decayed and overgrown environments, as well as figuring out how to get your salvage back home

Dealing with all manner of mutants as well as seemingly unremarkable threats magnified by your stature

I have a lot of mechanic ideas that need testing (What dice to use, combat and positioning, character creation, exploration and more), and to do that I need to actually write them down outside of jot notes, so i guess I should get back to that

I have a few other posts about it (check the tags) but that's where I'll leave it for now. Little mutated lab mice in a big, hostile world. Coming whenever my ADHD lets me make progress on it. If you want to keep up, follow me here or on my bsky I basically never post unless it's about a project :V

One final thing, there's actually two versions of that pic, the original and one digitally tweaked, which do people like most?