What Are Polyhedral Dice?
A polyhedral set of dice usually consists of seven individual dice: a d4, d6, d8, d10, d12, d20, and a percentile die (d%). These forms are the building blocks for most tabletop RPGs, especially Dungeons & Dragons. These dice sets have special uses, whether rolling damage, success or failure, or ability checks and saving throws.
- d4: Usually used for smaller weapons or spells such as Magic Missile.
- d6: Standard for weapon damage and sneak attacks.
- d8: Often utilized for hit dice or divine spells.
- d10: Excellent for percentile-based rolls or variable outcome determination.
- d12: Usually for high-damage weapons or Barbarian hit dice.
- d20: The core of most D&D rolls, utilized for attacks, skill checks, and saving throws.
A few games introduce funky alternatives such as the d2 dice, which operates like a coin toss but in die format. If you're venturing outside of the norm, odd-shaped dice like the d24 or d30 can provide some interesting mechanics for homebrew campaigns or imaginative encounters. The odd-shape dice are particularly well-liked by players who like to mess with mechanics or provide a sense of randomness to their games.