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Adventurer’s Handbook

How to Use Dice in Non-RPG Tabletop Games

by 李静 on Mar 13, 2025

Dice have long been integral to gaming, serving as tools of chance and strategy. While role-playing games (RPGs) often come to mind when discussing dice mechanics, their application extends far beyond. This article explores how dice enhance gameplay in non-RPG tabletop games, offering insights into their diverse roles and implementations.

The Role of Dice in Board Games

Dice introduce elements of randomness and strategy, influencing player decisions and game outcomes. Their versatility allows for various applications:

Movement Determination

In many classic board games, dice rolls dictate player movement. For example:

  • Monopoly: Players roll two six-sided dice to advance their tokens, introducing chance and strategic property acquisition.

  • Backgammon: Two dice determine possible moves for checkers, blending luck with tactical decisions.

Resource Generation and Management

Some games utilize dice to simulate resource production or management:

  • Catan: Players roll dice to determine resource distribution, requiring strategic planning based on probabilistic outcomes.

  • Stone Age: Dice rolls represent gathering resources, balancing risk and reward in player choices.

Combat Resolution

Dice often resolve combat scenarios, adding uncertainty to conflicts:

  • Risk: Attacking and defending armies roll dice to determine battle results, incorporating chance into strategic warfare.

  • Axis & Allies: Dice rolls decide combat outcomes, reflecting the unpredictability of war.

Innovative Dice Mechanics in Modern Games

Contemporary designers have expanded dice usage, creating unique mechanics that enrich gameplay:

Dice as Workers

Some games assign dice as workers, where the rolled value determines actions:

  • Kingsburg: Players allocate dice to influence advisors, with sums unlocking various benefits.

  • Alien Frontiers: Dice represent ships, and their values dictate available actions, blending luck with strategic placement.

Dice Pool Systems

Collecting and rolling multiple dice to achieve specific results is central in certain games:

  • Quarriors!: A "dice-building" game where players assemble dice pools to summon creatures and cast spells.

  • Roll for the Galaxy: Players roll dice to develop civilizations, with outcomes guiding strategic decisions.

Custom Dice

Games with custom symbols on dice faces offer tailored experiences:

  • Elder Sign: Custom dice determine success in overcoming challenges, enhancing thematic immersion.

  • King of Tokyo: Unique dice symbols drive monster battles, adding excitement and variability.

Case Study: "Poleana"

Originating in Mexican prisons around 1940, "Poleana" is a board game that has transcended its origins to unite diverse communities. Played on a wooden box, participants race to navigate their pieces to freedom, symbolizing escape from confinement. The game fosters mental agility and social interaction, providing therapeutic escape for enthusiasts. Its resurgence during the COVID-19 pandemic highlights its enduring appeal as a strategic and unifying pastime.

Designing Your Own Dice Mechanics

For aspiring game designers, incorporating dice into non-RPG games involves creativity and balance. Consider the following steps:

  1. Define the Role of Dice: Determine how dice will influence gameplay—movement, resource management, conflict resolution, etc.

  2. Choose Appropriate Dice Types: Select dice that suit your game's needs. Traditional six-sided dice (d6) are common, but polyhedral dice (d4, d8, d10, d12, d20) offer varied probability distributions

  3. Balance Luck and Strategy: Ensure that dice outcomes provide meaningful choices without relying solely on chance. Players should feel their decisions impact the game.

  4. Test and Iterate: Playtest extensively to refine mechanics, ensuring that dice enhance the experience without overshadowing player agency.

Conclusion

Dice are versatile tools that enrich non-RPG tabletop games by introducing elements of chance, strategy, and engagement. From determining movement to resolving conflicts, their applications are vast and varied. Understanding and innovating dice mechanics can lead to more dynamic and enjoyable gaming experiences.

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