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4 of the Most Common TTRPG Dice Systems

Me, Myself and Die!

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There are so many great RPG systems out there - here are some examples of the most common dice mechanics!

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20 Comments

@cajunmitch4081 2 years ago (edited)

Savage Worlds, and games with changing die types, are called "Dice Ladder" systems.

@Ishpeck 3 years ago

This is an important conversation to have. System does matter and talking about their impact on game-play/narrative is vital for the artistry of RPG's to truly unfold.

@andrewdreasler428 3 years ago

7:08 ❤❤❤❤❤ GURPS! My favorite system!

@NefariousKoel 3 years ago

Dice Pools generally have another advantage I like. Less die roll modifiers to add or subtract from your die rolls. You often don't have to track a bunch of minuses and pluses for various things. Just count the number of successful dice and compare to the amount of successes the GM stipulated for success. Or, in some systems you just add or remove an amount of dice from your pool, beforehand, regarding bonuses or penalties. Cuts down on the math and DRMs at the table.

I also rather like that you only get a vague idea how easy a test will be with dice pools. Because when I'm preparing to do something difficult, I don't normally think to myself, "I have a 65 percent (or 13 out of 20) chance of succeeding at this." Yet you still get vague idea after becoming accustomed to the dice pool system you're using, depending on your character's skill & ability.

@justinsinke2088 3 years ago

Information like this needs to get out more. I have found it borderline depressing trying to get folks to understand systems that aren't D&D and they struggle because they're looking for parallels to D&D (made even more confusing for them when it's not even a D20 system) that aren't there, with questions like "how do I determine my AC" or "what's my attack roll modifier" in a system that doesn't use those concepts, or at least not in the same way D&D does, and they end up trying to force a square peg through a round hole trying desperately to try and find the parallels to find an ease of familiarity that just isn't there. It often feels like if they're not rolling a d20, they can't fathom how the system even functions because using a d20 is just how TTRPGs function in their minds. It makes it really hard to teach someone when the first lesson has to be reiterating several times how this isn't a d20 system and that, yes, there are systems other than the d20 systems that are still TTRPGs.

@billn5866 3 years ago (edited)

Thank you for increasing exposure to other systems! I get a little frustrated when discussions about "other than D&D" only involve D&D clones.
I particularly love the Genesys dice pool system, Free League's Year Zero engine, and the Modiphius 2D20 systems.

@Moonlight-Fox-Stories 3 years ago

Ah, breaking the mold as in the less common dice systems. Not breaking the mold as in resolving everything using a Jenga Tower (Though, seriously, Dread is a great example of what you said at the start about different dice systems (resolution mechanics in Dread's case) adding to the atmosphere - That mounting tension of increased chance of failure until someone knocks over the tower and their character dies captures the mounting tension and release horror often benefits from extremely well, and bakes it into the resolution system without any bookkeeping)

@magiuspendragon 3 years ago

It's worth pointing out, d20 roll under is basically a the same as a. d100 system, in terms of how the probabilities work out -- One of your cons was about the swinginess of d20, because it's a uniform probabilities. d20 roll under -- if you apply modifiers to the target number instead and then multiply by 5 you'll get the probability for a d100.

@jonberry2083 2 years ago

For Shadowrun, playing 1st-3rd editions will generate a smaller dice pool than than the later versions. I personally like running 3rd edition Shadowrun because I have most of the books and it's a different system than a d20 system, also a bit more deadly which makes my players think a bit more before taking actions.

@ronwisegamgee 3 years ago

WEG Star Wars is both dice pool and dice curve. Dice pool because the greater your ability, the more dice you roll. Dice curve because you're adding all of the pips to get a total.

Savage Worlds is a dice pool system in its task resolution (trait die and Wild Die), but dice curve in its damage (trait die + weapon die or multiple weapon dice).

Blades in the Dark is a dice pool system; it differs from others in so far that you're looking for the highest result out of all of the dice (and multiple 6s are the best outcome).

@joaosevero9052 3 years ago

I am so glad to hear what you said at the very end of the D20 section, about the system not emphasizing the characters skills so much. I always felt that and it is exactly what prompted me to look for and eventually try to develop something else.
I always felt that in the D20 system whatever skills and bonuses your character has, they all pale in comparison to a single dice roll.

@swiftigoth 2 years ago

Kudos to you for pointing out the "swinginess" of a d20 - everything is a flat 5% chance. Although d20 systems use "10" as the "average", there is no "average" with a single die.

@SgtDansChannel 3 years ago

Dice Curve: HERO System/Champions
Dice Pool: Shadowrun
D20 System: Cypher System

My favorites

@teya1937 3 years ago

Something I’ve only seen in Neoclassical Geek Revival but think is absolutely great is kind of an extension of Stars Without Numbers. What dice system you use depends on your character’s stress level. If you’re calm and everything is going right for you add a flat +10 to your modifier, when something first goes wrong, you fail a check or take damage you’re shifted up to 3d6 and when you’re totally panicked and don’t feel at all in control of the situation you roll 1d20. You need to get back to somewhere safe and get a full rest to go back down to calm. Playing that system really got me to appreciate how big a difference die mechanics can make to the tension of a moment in game.

@Mantorp86 3 years ago

As much as I like simple systems the only thing that bothers me about roll-under system is that it's based mostly on your skill and it doesn't take in consideration the opposition. If my character is good with a bow for example it will be more difficult to hit a moving target than a static target.
I lately found out about the dice pool systems in particular the FU RPG (Freeform Universal RPG) and it's really simple and fun to play. The whole point is that roll as many d6 as your character is good at a particular action and remove as many d6 for every thing that makes the situation harder for the character. So if your character is really good with a bow you should roll 2d6 but because the target is moving you subtract 1d6 so you should roll just 1d6 (2d6 - 1d6 = 1d6). The game is free which is the best thing :)

@StepBackHistory 3 years ago

Controversial take, but I like how the odds in dice pools are messy. It lets you see chances in the sort of vague way that you would in assessing risk in a real situation. But admittedly I am in love with the Blades in the Dark system.

@tanakathecowboy 2 years ago

Sir, you're a gentleman and a scholar. Thank you.

@thevilside179 3 years ago

It would be nice to have a series of videos similar to this one outlining other mechanics of rpgs that are done differently: injury and pain, fear and madness, equipment load etc...

@mata6669 3 years ago

Earth Dawn from the 90's to its most current reincarnation uses an unique system. It uses steps. The skilled you are, the more steps you have. Each step # has its own dice you throw. From step 1 [d2] to step 37 [2d20 d12 2d6] or even more steps.

@jonathanbaago5312 3 years ago

My favorite to date is Forbidden Lands dice pool. It works well, its quick and deadly and flavorful in combat and its very easy to work in with and learn newcomers