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08:34, 29th March 2024 (GMT+0)

Lost d20, how do you use 3d6 system to replace it lol?

Posted by Andrew Wilson
Andrew Wilson
member, 213 posts
Scary? My mask is to keep
your viscera off my face
Thu 20 Jun 2013
at 15:16
  • msg #11

Re: Lost d20, how do you use 3d6 system to replace it lol?

I dont happen to have a D10, or any fancy dice available to me lol thats why I was wondering how to do it with a d6 lol
MilesGregarius
member, 18 posts
South ot the Yalu
West of the Shannon
Thu 20 Jun 2013
at 15:24
  • msg #12

Re: Lost d20, how do you use 3d6 system to replace it lol?

It's cumbersome, but you could extend the above method to generate 1-20 without the bell curve of a 3d6 roll.

  1. Roll the first d6 to get a result of 1-5; reroll 6s.
  2. Roll the second d6; 1-3 adds nothing to the first result; 4-6 adds 5.
  3. Roll the third d6; 1-3 adds nothing to the first result; 4-6 adds 10.


Steps 1 and 2 replicate a d10. All three steps together get you a d20.

Like I said, not the smoothest of procedures, but closer to an actual d20 roll than adding the result of 3d6.
Andrew Wilson
member, 214 posts
Scary? My mask is to keep
your viscera off my face
Thu 20 Jun 2013
at 15:31
  • msg #13

Re: Lost d20, how do you use 3d6 system to replace it lol?

How could I replicate a D4 or a D8?

I suppose a d4 I could just reroll 5-6

D10 is easy just roll 2D6 -1 each die

What about D8 lol
This message was last edited by the user at 15:32, Thu 20 June 2013.
rogar308
member, 422 posts
Gaming is good!
Got RPOL in my soul
Thu 20 Jun 2013
at 15:32
  • msg #14

Re: Lost d20, how do you use 3d6 system to replace it lol?

Just use multiples of d6. You can set the range or bell curve to whatever you want it to be. Here's just 1 example:

1d4 use 2d6 (2-3(1), 4-6(2), 7-9(3), 10-12(4))
1d6 use 1d6
1d8 use 3d6 (3-4(1), 5-6(2), 7-8(3), 9-10(4), 11-12(5), 13-14(6), 15-16(7), 17-18(8))
1d10 use 4d6 (4-5(1), 6-7(2), 8-9(3), 10-11(4), 12-13(5), 14-16(6), 17-18(7), 19-20(8), 21-22(9), 23-24(10)
1d12 I'd use 2d6

I suppose you are doing table top roleplaying otherwise you can just use the built in die roller here on RPOL.
Shae_Dravenmore
member, 475 posts
Desk Jocky Extraordinaire
Theoretical Writer
Thu 20 Jun 2013
at 20:04
  • msg #15

Re: Lost d20, how do you use 3d6 system to replace it lol?

Honestly, just go to the local gaming shop and buy a new set if you're having to figure out how to "replace" your dice.  Especially if you're gaming in person.  Your group will beat you with their full dice bags like that scene in Full Metal Jacket after a session of this, tops.

Also, who only has a single of any die?  You should have a line-up at least 3 deep (Starter/Crit roller, backup, and bench-warmer in case either of the other two need to be sidelined for poor performance.)
nuric
member, 2259 posts
Love D&D,superhero games
Not very computer savvy
Thu 20 Jun 2013
at 23:50
  • msg #16

Re: Lost d20, how do you use 3d6 system to replace it lol?

Buying your first 'sleeve' of dice, the d4 to the d20, is always a magical experience.
kouk
member, 167 posts
Fri 21 Jun 2013
at 00:12
  • msg #17

Re: Lost d20, how do you use 3d6 system to replace it lol?

Some Barnes and Nobles-type stores even sell dice in their D&D/Vampire other RPG section.

Probably not great quality but most peoples' aren't.
jmkool
member, 301 posts
aka'd as The Kool
Fri 21 Jun 2013
at 00:55
  • msg #18

Re: Lost d20, how do you use 3d6 system to replace it lol?

Indeed, the answer is simple.  Due to the distribution of numbers, and other statistics stuff, you cannot substitute certain dice for other dice unless you do a complicated system of rerolling, number ranges, and referencing charts, like MilesGregarius and meschlum suggested.  The 3d6 bell curve is an entirely different way of rolling dice, with entirely different results, however cool it is (and it is pretty cool).

Simply put, everyone has to use the same dice or else things are unfair, and substitutions are just too complicated.
meschlum
member, 134 posts
Fri 21 Jun 2013
at 07:49
  • msg #19

Re: Lost d20, how do you use 3d6 system to replace it lol?

D&D is the main game involving d20s, and (especially in recent versions) its numbers follow fairly specific patterns - which are significantly affected by changing your dice method.

Example:

A fighter is trading blows with an orc. Normally, it takes an 11 or more to connect, so the fighter hits half (50%) the time. This includes all the bonuses from high strength, a normally enchanted weapon, and the like.

The fighter is wielding an exceptionally magical sword, granting a +1 bonus to hit.

With a d20, that's a 55% chance to hit.
With 3d6, it's 62.5% - between a +2 and a +3 to hit on a d20.

Now the fighter also happens to be somewhat stronger than average, for total of +2 to hit.

With a d20, that's a 60% chance to hit.
With 3d6, it's 74% - almost a +5!

The fighter is flanking, gaining +2 to hit from that, and has a magic sword - total of +3 above average.

With a d20, that's a 65% chance to hit.
With 3d6, it's 83% - in the +6 to +7 range.

Flanking, strength, and magic get a +4 to hit.

With a d20, that's a 70% chance to hit.
With 3d6, it's 90%, so +8.

Add a helpful spell, and you can get +5 to hit.

With a d20, that's a 75% chance to hit.
With 3d6, you're a 95%, so +9 to hit - the area in D&D where you only (and always) miss on a 1.


So by putting effort in collecting diverse minor bonuses in D&D, you can get +5 or so to your combat rolls (versus the average). That gives you a nice boost (you hit one and half times more often in the example), but nothing drastic. With 3d6, a +5 bonus is more or less an automatic win...

So switching from d20 to 3d6 means you need to cut down a lot on the bonuses you get in D&D, or you're going to be invincible. Which is great - until you meet someone who has a +5 bonus against you, and you can't win.
Lady Voldia
member, 647 posts
Changed Person
BTVS fan
Sat 22 Jun 2013
at 21:31
  • msg #20

Re: Lost d20, how do you use 3d6 system to replace it lol?

for a serious prob use the dice roller here. good luck on a natural 20 though.

seriously have a similar prob. luckily only a d4 though. I would go eith 2d10 though.
Eur512
member, 525 posts
Sun 23 Jun 2013
at 22:13
  • msg #21

Re: Lost d20, how do you use 3d6 system to replace it lol?

Hmmm..

Thinking from a different angle for a moment...

A few questions for you.

1)  Do you have d6's to spare?

2)  What are they made of?

3)  Do you have access to a precision milling machine?  If so, what kind of tolerance can you get with the material your dice are made of?  Can the head, column or table tilt, and is the tilt fully adjustable?

4)  Would it be acceptable for the D20 to be somewhat smaller than your d6?

I just might have the solution to your problem here.
jmkool
member, 308 posts
aka'd as The Kool
Mon 24 Jun 2013
at 05:24
  • msg #22

Re: Lost d20, how do you use 3d6 system to replace it lol?

I don't know that many people have #4 just sitting around...

But I think the best suggestion I saw for a for real substitute is a d10 and any other die.  On a higher-than-average roll with the other die, add 10 to your d10.
Mustard Tiger
member, 471 posts
Mon 24 Jun 2013
at 15:33
  • [deleted]
  • msg #23

Re: Lost d20, how do you use 3d6 system to replace it lol?

This message was deleted by the user at 15:35, Mon 24 June 2013.
Mustard Tiger
member, 472 posts
Mon 24 Jun 2013
at 15:34
  • [deleted]
  • msg #24

Re: Lost d20, how do you use 3d6 system to replace it lol?

This message was deleted by the user at 15:34, Mon 24 June 2013.
Lord Caladin
member, 20 posts
Tue 25 Jun 2013
at 00:15
  • msg #25

Re: Lost d20, how do you use 3d6 system to replace it lol?

Statistically speaking there is no way any form of a d6 system will make up for a true d20.

Simply put the odds to roll 3d6 and all be 1 is much higher than rolling 1d20 for a 1 result.

I have to agree if you want to use the D20 system go buy a d20.
ericka rider
member, 2 posts
Tue 25 Jun 2013
at 02:44
  • [deleted]
  • msg #26

Re: Lost d20, how do you use 3d6 system to replace it lol?

This message was deleted by the user at 01:15, Fri 28 June 2013.
ewookie
member, 1 post
Wed 25 Mar 2015
at 02:17
  • msg #27

Re: Lost d20, how do you use 3d6 system to replace it lol?

In reply to Andrew Wilson (msg # 1):

alter one d6 so that it's faces are: 0,2,6,8,12,14

use the altered die and one normal d6 to generate numbers from 1 to 20. there is almost no curve. only 1,2,19,20 have slightly lower chances of being rolled.

here's how i alter a pipped d6 (* are pips; connect the dots as follows):
---
|*| (1) becomes 0
---

--*
 /
*-- (2) becomes 2

  *
 *  (3) becomes 6
*-\

*--*
 \/  (4) becomes 8
 /\
*--*

*    *
/
*-(5) becomes 14
 
* * (can't get the board to format this correctly; connect 2 left-most dots; connect the remaining 3 dots to make a 4. * *-* | / (6) becomes 12 * *-*
This message was last edited by the user at 02:20, Wed 25 Mar 2015.
DarkLightHitomi
member, 882 posts
Wed 25 Mar 2015
at 02:28
  • msg #28

Re: Lost d20, how do you use 3d6 system to replace it lol?

Might be good yo mention that many folks (like me) who dislike the inconsistency of a d20 will use 3d6 for the bell curve.

If you don't mind that, there isn't much needed for the change. All you really need to do is alter the critical hit/miss ranges.

Also suggest reducing any ad-hoc bonuses as a +1 on a bell curve makes a larger difference then on the flat chance of the d20.
Undeadbob
member, 1865 posts
Wed 25 Mar 2015
at 10:35
  • [deleted]
  • msg #29

Re: Lost d20, how do you use 3d6 system to replace it lol?

This message was deleted by a moderator, as it was against the forum rules, at 17:14, Wed 25 Mar 2015.
C-h Freese
member, 163 posts
Survive - Love - Live
Wed 25 Mar 2015
at 17:11
  • msg #30

Re: Lost d20, how do you use 3d6 system to replace it lol?

Roll two die eight and one die six, then subtract two.  That should give you a nice bell curve, and only require totaling.
DarkLightHitomi
member, 883 posts
Wed 25 Mar 2015
at 22:48
  • msg #31

Re: Lost d20, how do you use 3d6 system to replace it lol?

Interestingly this leads to my mechanic of d12 plus a dice based on attribute, and a die based on skill, with d4 as average for each.
pitademon
member, 797 posts
hi all
Thu 26 Mar 2015
at 01:39
  • msg #32

Re: Lost d20, how do you use 3d6 system to replace it lol?

using a d10 and a d6 rolled together was one of the first ways I learned.  roll both.  If the 6 came up a 4,5, or 6 you added 10.

so if you rolled say a 7 on the d10 and the a 5 on the d6 it was 17
if the 6 sided came up 3 then the number rolled was 7.

worked extremely well for us.  we then added a critical hit and fumble table.  if you rolled a 0 on the 10 sided and a 6 on the 6 sided it was a critical hit, if it was a 1 on the 10 sided and then a 1 on the 6 sided it was a critical failure.  made our games WAY more interesting, fun, and often hilarious.
Gaffer
member, 1267 posts
Ocoee FL
40 yrs of RPGs
Thu 26 Mar 2015
at 13:29
  • msg #33

Re: Lost d20, how do you use 3d6 system to replace it lol?

Of course, a D20 doesn't provide any bell curve as multiple D6 does, so chances of rolling high and low are reduced and middle chances are increased.

No local game store? There are many on-line sources for dice and other gaming accessories.
st_nougat
member, 436 posts
Fri 27 Mar 2015
at 02:01
  • msg #34

Re: Lost d20, how do you use 3d6 system to replace it lol?

here are some options: buy dice, you obviously have a computer and I'm sure amazon sell dice because amazon sells everything.

option two: random number generator.

Ive seen apps and websites that will roll any type of dice for you.  as a matter of fact I believe there is this great website called rpol.net that has a rather nice dice roller program.
willvr
member, 652 posts
Fri 27 Mar 2015
at 02:16
  • msg #35

Re: Lost d20, how do you use 3d6 system to replace it lol?

Amazon do sell dice. A friend of mine sent me a whole heap of dice through Amazon for Christmas one year.
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