Glossary of Terms: Difference between revisions
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=== Dice === | === Dice === | ||
Epic Path, and indeed, all D20 games, use polyhedral dice. Normal 'gamblers' dice are simple cubes, marked on all sides with unique marks so that they can generate six results with an equal probability of each, on a random basis. In Epic Path, dice rolls are the principal source of randomness. Dice rolls are used one at a time to determine game outcomes such as attack rolls and saving throws. Dice rolls are also used in large aggregate numbers to generate damage rolls, in which case all the dice results (and any modifiers) are added up to generate a random result on a bell curve. In these roles, and all others, dice play a big role in the game mechanics. | : Epic Path, and indeed, all D20 games, use polyhedral dice. Normal 'gamblers' dice are simple cubes, marked on all sides with unique marks so that they can generate six results with an equal probability of each, on a random basis. In Epic Path, dice rolls are the principal source of randomness. Dice rolls are used one at a time to determine game outcomes such as attack rolls and saving throws. Dice rolls are also used in large aggregate numbers to generate damage rolls, in which case all the dice results (and any modifiers) are added up to generate a random result on a bell curve. In these roles, and all others, dice play a big role in the game mechanics. | ||
Epic Path uses dice with 4 sides (d4's), six sides (d6's), eight sides (d8's), ten sides (d10's), twelve sides (d12's) and 20 sides (d20's). Sometimes, two of these dice will be used together to roll a random range larger than 20, the most common of which is rolling two d10's to generate a 'percentile' roll, ranging from 1 to 100. | : Epic Path uses dice with 4 sides (d4's), six sides (d6's), eight sides (d8's), ten sides (d10's), twelve sides (d12's) and 20 sides (d20's). Sometimes, two of these dice will be used together to roll a random range larger than 20, the most common of which is rolling two d10's to generate a 'percentile' roll, ranging from 1 to 100. | ||
All of these dice types except for the D10 represent one of the ancient Platonic Solids, which have been known since antiquity and all of which have great historical significance...which is why they're named after Plato, one of histories greatest and most impactful thinkers. So if anybody is giving you grief about those colorful plastic random number generators, hit them with some historical significance! The D10 is a lowly cylindrical prism with the eye-popping name of 'pentagonal trapezohedron', but don't make too much fun of it, that sort of shape can be used to generate dice with a tremendous number of sides if desired. Epic Path doesn't use such oddities, however. | : All of these dice types except for the D10 represent one of the ancient Platonic Solids, which have been known since antiquity and all of which have great historical significance...which is why they're named after Plato, one of histories greatest and most impactful thinkers. So if anybody is giving you grief about those colorful plastic random number generators, hit them with some historical significance! The D10 is a lowly cylindrical prism with the eye-popping name of 'pentagonal trapezohedron', but don't make too much fun of it, that sort of shape can be used to generate dice with a tremendous number of sides if desired. Epic Path doesn't use such oddities, however. | ||
We strongly encourage all players of Epic Path to purchase at least one set of polyhedral dice from your local gaming store, and we recommend the use of a dice bag or storage tin to keep them in as well. Many hobbyists wind up with daunting collections of dice with sentimental favorites, but we suggest you try to avoid naming your dice in public. | : We strongly encourage all players of Epic Path to purchase at least one set of polyhedral dice from your local gaming store, and we recommend the use of a dice bag or storage tin to keep them in as well. Many hobbyists wind up with daunting collections of dice with sentimental favorites, but we suggest you try to avoid naming your dice in public. | ||
If you do not wish to use dice for your gaming, it is possible to find [http://www.anydice.com/ dice-type random number generators] at many places on the Internet. In general, we find such resources useful in a pinch, but nothing beats rolling some dice to really convey the full gaming experience. | : If you do not wish to use dice for your gaming, it is possible to find [http://www.anydice.com/ dice-type random number generators] at many places on the Internet. In general, we find such resources useful in a pinch, but nothing beats rolling some dice to really convey the full gaming experience. | ||
Remember: Dice karma is a myth. | : Remember: Dice karma is a myth. | ||
=== [[Difficult Terrain]] === | === [[Difficult Terrain]] === | ||