Discussing another matter, the use of custom shapped dies (D4, D8, D10) has been suggested. I was wondering what is the level of acceptance of such dice in games played by casual/mainstream gamers. The reason I am asking is because I have never seen these in boardgames I have played (only in RPGs such D&D). Also, what about standard dice with pictures on them (à la HeroQuest)? Would casual gamers feel more at ease using these?
Custom Shaped Dice
Wed, 04/19/2006 - 12:05
Wed, 04/19/2006 - 12:13
#1
Custom Shaped Dice
I've seen them in other games. Battle Ball, for instance, uses them to great effect. It's a football game. Each unit has a colored base that corresponds to the color of the dice.
d20 is red
d12 is gren
d10 is blue
d8 is black
d6 is yellow
The dice correspond to that unit's movement (roll the dice, move that many spaces), and tackling (opposing units roll dice, the lower value wins). The fast guys can't tackle well. The slow guys kill everything. It's very well thought out. There's even a huge "2d6" guy. When you roll speed or tackle, you choose the lowest of the two.
I think the reason we don't see them in games is because they are expensive (as opposed to regular six siders), and because if you lose a special dice, the game can't be played any more. Normlly, you can scavenge six siders from other games.
Wed, 04/19/2006 - 12:38
#2
Custom Shaped Dice
In my experience, when a non-gamers first see a d4, d8, d10, etc. they love them. They are surprised, and intrigued, maybe, but in a positive way. Julius has already mentioned the probable reasons of them being so rare.
Seo
Wed, 04/19/2006 - 13:25
#3
Custom Shaped Dice
I was going to offer much the same insight... non-gamers are usually delighted at the "exotic" feel of anything other than a d6. I know that I was certainly impressed by the dice when I was first introduced to D&D as a twelve-year old kid... even though I had only joined the D&D club to avoid going outside during freezing-cold Toronto lunch recess!
~Josh
Wed, 04/19/2006 - 14:02
#4
Custom Shaped Dice
In Samurai Swords (Milton Bradley, Shogun for the 1986 version) uses 8 sided die and is still sold in regular stores.
But yeah, exotic dice are cool, they can add a lot to a game's theme. My circle of friends find it very cool and interesting when they see a "different" type of die.
Memoir 44, Attack, The War of the Ring, all of them use 6 sided dice with pictures on them.
soul
Wed, 04/19/2006 - 17:07
#5
Custom Shaped Dice
I think the d4 is a little hard for a casual gamer to adjust to, because you don't read it the same way as the others (which is why I re-did some d8s to have two of each number, 1-4, and used that for years for playing D&D.
d8, d10, d12 and d20, I think, are fine for the casual gamer...
Trek
Wed, 04/19/2006 - 18:30
#6
Custom Shaped Dice
I don't think people will be scared away by weird dices. They will get used to it.
But you cannot expect people to have weird dices. This is an important thing to consider for example when making PDF games since you do not supply dices.
Wed, 04/19/2006 - 19:23
#7
Custom Shaped Dice
The incredibly successful Cranium uses a d10. I don't think people are freaked by them at all.
-- Matthew
Wed, 04/19/2006 - 23:34
#8
Custom Shaped Dice
They make a d4 that you can read normally, though you don't see them much.
Wed, 04/19/2006 - 23:35
#9
Custom Shaped Dice
Hey I made a post about 4 sided dice now my forum ranking is 4 sided die.....mysterious!
Thu, 04/20/2006 - 02:34
#10
Custom Shaped Dice
soulbeach wrote:
In Samurai Swords (Milton Bradley, Shogun for the 1986 version) uses 8 sided die and is still sold in regular stores.
But yeah, exotic dice are cool, they can add a lot to a game's theme. My circle of friends find it very cool and interesting when they see a "different" type of die.
Memoir 44, Attack, The War of the Ring, all of them use 6 sided dice with pictures on them.
soul
Samurai Swords actually uses d12s (probably the most shuned rpg die).
Risk 2210 uses d8s for the commands. When I play this game with non-gamers they usually refer to them as either the special dice, or weird dice.
Most people don't think they're that odd. They just haven't seen them before. It won't actually turn anyone off.
Hell, Scatagories uses a d20 with letters on it and that is arguably a "mainstream" game.
Thu, 04/20/2006 - 07:38
#11
Custom Shaped Dice
Jpwoo wrote:
They make a d4 that you can read normally, though you don't see them much.
Well, you see them on each of your posts now, but will see them less often once you reach the 60 posts barrier. ;-)
Thu, 04/20/2006 - 09:03
#13
Custom Shaped Dice
Jebbou wrote:
I really though those dice would scare the non-geek crowd. I'm glad to see that people are more open minded than I thought. :) I am also suprised to see how many games use special dice.
The minus side is that they are considerably more expensive to produce.
Guys,
I really though those dice would scare the non-geek crowd. I'm glad to see that people are more open minded than I thought. :) I am also suprised to see how many games use special dice.
Jeb