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Post by Tesla Ranger on Jul 4, 2015 6:39:52 GMT
Because we're both massive nerds my wife and I just spend the evening testing the balance on all our D20s. Turns out that out of 7 dice one of them is almost-kinda balanced, one of them is balanced in the "good" way (towards 15) and the rest are all pretty abyssmal. The worst is a dice I'd used to use for a Paladin who was best known for her terribad rolls, and now I have an inkling why. That dice was balanced to favor 1s. We were able to test about half the dice by floating them in salt-water and for the rest we used this guy's statistical model. Anywho, this probably isn't strictly a DM problem but I'm guessing the balance issue is probably a fault in the manufacturing process. Do any of ya'll have any particular places you go to to pick up balanced dice? |
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Samuel Wise
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Favorite D&D Class: Warlock
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Post by Samuel Wise on Jul 4, 2015 7:05:11 GMT
Anywho, this probably isn't strictly a DM problem but I'm guessing the balance issue is probably a fault in the manufacturing process. Do any of ya'll have any particular places you go to to pick up balanced dice? I have no particular place, but I'm afraid all mine are imbalanced. They usually have a chest of dice at board game stores, so I'm going to (after asking permission) try testing each dice in that chest... or maybe that is overboard... |
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Post by Tesla Ranger on Jul 4, 2015 15:48:23 GMT
That's something we were thinking about too. The statistic model takes a while to do (100 rolls and then some math) but floating them in salt water is pretty quick. After 10 pokes you've got a pretty good idea of the balance of the die. We had to dissolve a considerable amount of salt though, and you'll want to wipe off the dice afterward (they get a salty residue).
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Samuel Wise
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Favorite D&D Class: Warlock
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Post by Samuel Wise on Jul 4, 2015 16:11:41 GMT
We had to dissolve a considerable amount of salt though, and you'll want to wipe off the dice afterward (they get a salty residue). Just stick a couple in your evening martini. "Yes? I am a nerd. I like my d20s shaken not stirred". |
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Post by joatmoniac on Jul 4, 2015 23:44:23 GMT
I posted a video in another thread of a guy doing the salt test in Almarianknight''s story of awesomeness about nag 20s. I remember him saying that the clear dice are often more balanced because you can't hide imperfections as easily as you can with solid dice. After he cut a few of the dice up it was plain to see what could cause imperfections. I'm definitely going to test some of my dice to see where they fall and also lean towards using the clear ones. Also, a dice tower never hurts. P.S. You need to buy this Almarianknight www.thinkgeek.com/product/14d6/ |
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Post by Tesla Ranger on Jul 5, 2015 0:42:02 GMT
One of the dice we tested was translucent so I expected it to be pretty random (based off your video anyway). Turns out it was just as un-random as all the other dice and on closer inspection I noticed there were lots of little bubbles in it. It's probably something I should look for in the future though.
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Samuel Wise
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Posts: 989
Favorite D&D Class: Warlock
Favorite D&D Race: Mousefolk
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Post by Samuel Wise on Jul 5, 2015 0:54:34 GMT
Thank you! I didn't even know that existed, it will go perfectly with my all time favorite, extra hoppy, IPA! Now they just need a dungeons and dragons themed tea set... |
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Post by joatmoniac on Jul 5, 2015 2:57:49 GMT
I only have regular whiskey stones that look like cubes. I think I should put pips on them so that they look like d6s, haha.
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Samuel Wise
Demigod
Ready to Help...
Posts: 989
Favorite D&D Class: Warlock
Favorite D&D Race: Mousefolk
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Post by Samuel Wise on Jul 5, 2015 5:10:22 GMT
I only have regular whiskey stones that look like cubes. I think I should put pips on them so that they look like d6s, haha. My poor gaming table will soon be destroyed... |
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