If you are new to Dungeons and Dragons, seeing all of the dice we use can be really intimidating. What are they all used for and what do you need to know?!? Do you need your own dice? Here is a quick overview to prepare for your first game!
Name of the Dice
We call dice the letter “D” (for die/dice) and then the number of sides they have. So d20 has 20 sides. Saying “D” also just helps us keep it straight when we are saying numbers versus when we are saying the name of a die.
The typical set contains a d4, d6, d8, d10, a different d10, d12, and d20. So 7 in total.
Here is what they are used for!
D20
This is the most important one! It is used to determine if skills you try to use and attacks you try to make are successful. So for a lot of these checks you roll the d20, add your relevant stat modifier (from Strength, Dexterity, Constitution, etc). And then also a proficiency modifier if your character is extra skilled in that check. Keep this one handy, you are going to use it a lot!
The Rest of ‘Em
Honestly the rest of the dice are all in the same category. They are used for very specific situations based on different classes and outcomes. The clearest example of how each of them are used is for calculating damage from different spells or weapon types. A dagger uses a d4 for damage while a long bow uses a d8 and some great weapons use a d12 or 2d6!
Spells also have their damage explained which use different amounts and sizes of dice. A spell called Eldritch Blast uses a d12 for damage and there are even more powerful ones like Fireball which uses 8d6! (It is a crowd favorite).
So as you are planning your first character, look at what weapons, spells, or attacks you are likely to use most often and find out what damage dice you will need and make sure to set those aside so you can keep them straight.
Advantage and Disadvantage
The last thing I want to add about how dice are used in Dungeons and Dragons is a specific rule about rolling D20s. Sometimes, there are specific situations or rulings where your Dungeon Master will ask you to make a roll with Advantage. This is a benefit to your roll that lets you roll the d20 twice and take the higher result, increasing your odds of getting a higher number.
The opposite is true for Disadvantage, where you roll twice and take the lower number.
This is a very common occurrence in D&D so be prepared to roll twice in case the odds are for you… or against you!
Do I Need My Own Dice?
This is a preference entirely up to you and your Dungeon Master. I personally love to have my own dice to roll in front of me and others. I like the colors, the tension, and I really like to get a set that fit the character I am playing. However, many free virtual options exist where you can use websites and generators to simulate dice on your phone or other devices.
Some Dungeon Masters have a preference to have physical dice for accountability or even distrust for random generators! So ask your DM and see. Also, it is very likely someone at our table has an extra set in case you are unsure about picking up your own. (As some of us really like to collect them…)
If you have any questions, throw a comment on the post or the video!