Poll: D6 vs D8

JamesR · **Posted:** Thu Sep 04, 2014 1:47 am

As the title says I simply want to know if a game being D8 as opposed to a standard D6 would discourage you from playing at all?

My game that I'm still designing looks like a D8 would work best for what I'm aiming for but I'm looking for some community feedback.

If you wouldn't mind voting and posting any particular objections or viewpoints I'd greatly appreciate it.

Blue Dragon · **Posted:** Thu Sep 04, 2014 2:00 am

I can't see why different dice would be a discouragement. Rule quality and ease of play, on the other hand, would be of influence.

pokyha · **Posted:** Thu Sep 04, 2014 4:51 am

Will you post your new D8 rules sometime soon?

First Ager Smith · **Posted:** Thu Sep 04, 2014 5:13 am

"I see 6's all the way"

cal585 · **Posted:** Thu Sep 04, 2014 5:36 am

The only reason I'd have is that D6 are commonplace while D8 tend to be a bit more specialised. I wouldn't know where to grab one off the top of my head (while I have heaps of D6 kicking around), though I'm sure it wouldn't be that difficult to find. In practical terms, games that come with a D8 or D12 or whatever, have barely registered that it's different to a D6.

Hodush · **Posted:** Thu Sep 04, 2014 6:29 am

I know its just a tiny thing, but I am a normal guy who happens to like LOTR and got into the hobby. I have never seen a D8 before, and I don't want to. Most people never even use dice these days, let alone D8 or D12 or whatever all the options are, so I'm just thinking of their perspective.

The simple things usually work the best.

LordElrond · **Posted:** Thu Sep 04, 2014 6:32 am

Also it would render fight value almost obsolete because of the un likeliness of a drawn combat. This would have to lead to some points cost changes as elves would be severely over costed. In short, it is not a good thing to change because it is messing with a perfectly balanced part of the game and would unbalance the game.

pokyha · **Posted:** Thu Sep 04, 2014 10:27 am

I am guessing he has already thought about this and is working around a house rule to solve the drawn die roles issue.

Blue Dragon · **Posted:** Thu Sep 04, 2014 11:22 am

It doesn't sound to be a SBG extension, so I'm not sure it has anything to do with SBG as far as game changes. In his post, JamesR said that it was for a game he is designing.

Fishlegs · **Posted:** Thu Sep 04, 2014 12:12 pm

X Wing Miniatures game uses D8s and is currently the second best selling game in the US. I reckon you'd get away with D8s in your rule set!

JamesR · **Posted:** Thu Sep 04, 2014 12:25 pm

Apologies for any confusion. I am not working on a LOTR house -rules but a completely unique game with my own IP

Sithious · **Posted:** Thu Sep 04, 2014 1:34 pm

I have played many RPG games, many use a D10 or D20 system, The D8 does get some use in them though. Dice are Dice, they are only to set a random variable of success or failure that ties to a chart or charts, and most games have ways to modify a score or better the odds. Which dice you use is not going to change the game play much.

Sticky Fingersss · **Joined:** Sat Oct 09, 2010 11:20 am **Posts:** 1776

It may make the game better, but it would be a whole new game. All the profiles and wound charts would have to be redone. Also (please correct me if I'm wrong) it is far more difficult to obtain lots of D8s than D6s.

hithero · **Posted:** Thu Sep 04, 2014 8:12 pm

Depends on the rules and period if D8's offer more than D6's, if D8's are not really needed then stick to D6's.

Grungehog · **Posted:** Thu Sep 04, 2014 9:59 pm

the problem is I didn't even know D8 existed, D3 D6 and D12 is about a far as I knew, but then D6 are the easiest dice to come by

Dorthonion · **Posted:** Fri Sep 05, 2014 10:53 am

I play Deadzone - the D8's make perfect senses in that context. I used to play D&D where you needed a bunch of different dice for different things. I don't mind what gets used as long as it works and doesn't affect playability.

theavenger001 · **Posted:** Fri Sep 05, 2014 7:56 pm

D6 are the easier to obtain, but if the gameplay needs (or would be much better) with D8's then don't let that stop you. Gameplay is number one, if it's a great game then people will be willing to go to the 'trouble' of finding a few D8's.

Xelee · **Posted:** Thu Oct 09, 2014 2:02 am

Hi JamesR. Coming late to the thread, I know. However, I'm jotting down rules for a fantasy game today, and read this, so thought I'd reply.

I think d6s suit fantasy. This is probably because they 'feel' right, being used for plenty of different ancients sets and being the 'traditional' die. So people are quite used to swordsman fighting with d6s. They also suit games with a LOT of dice well, being cheap to obtain in large numbers. I would not have enjoyed Wotr using D8s!

In my opinion, D10s and d20s fit nicely with sci-fi and modern rules as they map onto %s and decimal neatly.

I'm tinkering with both post apocalypse skirmish game (D10s) and Fantasy (d6s) and think that certain mechanics can be pretty dice agnostic so selected the dice based on the above.

However some very good games (Force on Force springs to mind) absolutely stand and fall on using specific dice.

So while I think different dice suit different genres, if you've got a dice dependant mechanic in mind, just do it. I can buy different dice at a local chain toy store. Further, if you are thinking of selling your game, then custom dice are an opportunity - look at Saga, Bolt action, anything by FFG, GW games, and so on.

Poll: D6 vs D8

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