Dice rolling apps

[Locksmith]

Had a cramped tourney this weekend (we were sharing the shop with a 20-man warmahordes tourney). We were elbow to elbow, with no room between the tables for rolling dice. On top of that, the tables we were using had textured surfaces that did not get along with rolling d20s.

I pulled up a dice roller on my phone and used that. Only one opponent objected. I complied with his request that I used 'real' dice, and my next roll was 3 crits out of 4 dice.

I have a feeling that the community wouldn't approve of dice apps, but I happen to think they're fine. As long as it's an app that's widely available (itunes, android app store) so there's some kind of pedigree for the thing.


city by actuallymark, on Flickr

[Oreet]

I have no problem with dice apps as long as you allow your opponent to see your screen, and if he/she requests to use your app for some rolls, you agree to allow it. That helps keep everyone honest.

[Elfenlied]

I sometimes use Dicenomicon, but it generally rolls subpar for me.

[Pierzasty]

I never use and never allow dice apps. I can understand who others may like them, I don't.

[kidterminal]

I never use and never allow dice apps. I can understand who others may like them, I don't.

Why not? They where very popular with RPG players here years ago.

[Pierzasty]

I trust them as far as I can throw them

[kidterminal]

I trust them as far as I can throw them

So you trust dice because you can throw them further? Or are you someone who trusts in a "lucky pair of dice"?

[Pierzasty]

Pair? I have 5 of them and they took over a year to collect. (no they're not cheating-dice, just normal dice that like me ) I'll use a "normal" set if the opponent asks, though.
And I like the physical component of randomizing, whether dice, cards, anything. Using a computer on it somehow feels... off.

[kidterminal]

I don't use one myself. I like to roll dice in a tray or box lid. It's easier to get them back. If they fall of the table the cats run away with them.

[Pierzasty]

Speaking of, any of you use a dice tower for wargames?

[chromedog]

I neither use dice-rolling apps nor a dice tower for my dice. I prefer the tactility of the dice in my hands.
A dice rolling app is so sterile. It's taking interaction (between ME and the game) elements out of the game.

I also neither drop nor "place" my dice when rolling, believing that they should roll and tumble and the collisions DO add an extra randomisation factor to the rolls.
I do roll my dice into a felt lined tray, though.

My phone doesn't have a dice rolling app available to it (beyond a d6) and I trust iphones about as far as I can throw them (36m last time I checked it. I WAS working for Apple at the time and the iphone WAS new).

[kidterminal]

Ok gentlemen we'll call the distance an Iphone can be thrown as 36m.

[PearlJam]

Speaking of, any of you use a dice tower for wargames?

I built one. Works great, except I didn't make the tray very big so I can only roll around 6 dice without getting any cocked dice.

[Aeon]

some RPG-Players had a Kickstarter project some time ago. They make dice rings. Here the Link: http://www.critsuccess.com/

perhaps thats a nice alternative to apps and normal dice

[chromedog]

I don't use dice towers, but I HAVE made periscopes for gaming with.

Used to use an ACTUAL tank periscope when we were playing modern 20mm games back in the late 80s/early 90s.

[kidterminal]

I used to have a toy one we used in games many years ago.

[jwai]

While I'm not totally against dice apps, it can be hard to tell if it's been coded correctly to give truly random results.