Some half-bakers were lamenting the underutilization of the regular dodecahedron (see link). <possibly incorrect> Apparently, even in role-playing games, dodecahedral dice are rarely used. </possibly incorrect> The solution is to sell a version that is numbered only one through six with two of each number. This makes these a drop in replacement for standard six sided cubic dice.

Why would anyone buy these? Well, as a selling point, we will make the matching pairs of numbers appear on opposite faces. We'll say * that this makes it impossible to make a loaded die because anything that increases the probability of one side coming up reduces the probability of the opposite matching side coming up. Also, the dots on opposite sides will be perfectly balanced.

The next step will be to get the state of Nevada to pass a law that requires the use of "balanced" dice in all gambling establishments to ensure fairness. Coincidently, the most reasonable "balanced" die design that has an outcome of 1-6 is this one, so casinos would adopt these to allow them to keep the same games without reworking the rules.

This would accomplish the goal of using more dodecahedrons.

* I suspect that loading these dice might actually be effective, but the marketing department doesn't care about that level of accuracy.
-- scad mientist, Oct 23 2008

Dodecahedral computer hardware Dodecahedral_20computer_20hardware
Discussion which revealed the need for more dodecahedra [scad mientist, Oct 23 2008]

Weapons list for D&D http://www.legolas.org/items/arms.html
This list catalogues the different weapons and the damage they inflict [MikeD, Oct 24 2008]

Bun for the Idea, but you are wrong about 12-sided dice not being used much during RPGs. The katana, long sword, pike, heavy bolt, bastard sword, battle axe and musket (grrr), all require the roll of a 12 sided die every time you attack. <link> I think your largest market would come from RPGers, though. Every D&D player I ever knew took great pride in his/her die collection.

I'd have had one of your die in my set, had they been available.
-- MikeD, Oct 24 2008


Yes, this would definitely be a Good Thing, and unusually, there's even a reason for doing it. Thanks, i appreciate it.
-- nineteenthly, Oct 24 2008


//Every D&D player I ever knew took great pride in his/her die collection// - Yes, quite.
-- hippo, Oct 24 2008


could also substitute for a 4-sided die with appropriate numbering, (eliminating those pesky tetrahedra!), and even allow a 3-sided die.
-- batou, Oct 24 2008


Wonderful idea - I'm amazed no one has heretofore made use of the fact that a 12-sided die has so many divisors.
-- phundug, Oct 24 2008


I have no direct knowledge of 12 sided dice in RPGs. I based my statement on what [phundug] said in an annotation on the first link. I marked it as possibly incorrect.
-- scad mientist, Oct 24 2008


I hadn't thought about using this for other die numberings as well. Great addition [batou]. Now I'm trying to figure out some elegant way to make a single die work well for 2, 3, 4, 6, and 12 sided applications. You could always just have it numbered 1-12 and do some math, or crowd each face with a bunch of numbers, but it seems like there should be a better solution.
-- scad mientist, Oct 24 2008


//Every D&D player I ever knew took great pride in his/her die collection//

Guilty as charged.

As I slowly throw out the old reference texts and leave the monsters and animals and toys scattered in the landscaping for the children to marvel over, I still retain all the dice.
-- normzone, Oct 24 2008


I like it.
-- Voice, May 15 2015


Can I bet on red?
-- wjt, May 15 2015


I had a really good time distributing my collection amongst the landscaping. I'd hear kids walk by comparing what they'd found that week.
-- normzone, May 15 2015


But the dice bag is in the trunk of my car...has been for years, just in case.
-- normzone, May 15 2015



random, halfbakery