Each year we celebrate Autocratik’s #RPGaDay, where we spend a month celebrating RPGs, discussing what we love and what we love about them. Here are the responses of the TRF crew. Be sure to tweet, blog, or post your own with the #RPGaDay!
For August 1, Real dice, dice app, diceless, how do you prefer to ‘roll’?
Aser – I like real dice, the feel of a tangible expression of the probabilities at work. Random number generators may offer a purer randomness than these little pieces of plastic, but feeling and hearing the dice tumble and roll imparts something special to the roll. Even if the randomness is more illusory given the nature of the game, isn’t that part of the fantasy too?
In another important sense, the dice I use are a constant reminder of the inventiveness and inclusiveness of the tabletop gaming community. I use Braille dice, designed by a woman who wanted her friend to be able to experience this iconic activity that forms such a major part of the hobby and brought to fruition through funding from hundreds of people on Kickstarter who thought the idea was worth making a reality. One of our players also bought me a full set of these dice and then some, one of the most meaningful and profoundly appreciated gifts I have ever received.
John D. – Real dice for the true randomness and sound but often online I have been using a free app.
Jonn P. – Real dice when the system is straight forward like fate, savage worlds, etc. For systems like 3.5/Pathfinder with a bunch situational modifiers and iterative attacks, dice apps to preserve what remains of my sanity.
Landan – I prefer to roll dice whenever possible, but in some instances I like digital rollers if it is a ton of dice to make the math quicker.
Megan – I prefer real dice. There’s just something satisfying about listening to them roll. But if I’m rolling more then 10 dice, I’m probably going to use a roller.
Mike G. – Real dice, and I prefer to roll.
Patrick – 100% real dice, forged in the fires of Hades, and kissed by Fortuna on my namesday.
Phil – I prefer a dice app for convenience (esp for dice-heavy games like firefly) but what RPG fan doesn’t like rattling the bones for real…
