Dicenomicon

[JakeBaker]

So, I got dicenomicon for my iPhone yesterday. I'ma liking it. I'm thinking of using it exclusively for dice-rolling, so I don't have to tote my dicebag around. One less thing to worry about in my kit. I'm also thinking of using it exclusively at gencon. Thoughts?

[erichris]

Actually, seeing the Dicenomicon on someone else's i* device was, geekily, one of the big factors in my deciding to buy an iPod Touch a couple of years ago. I thought even the iPod was a frivolous purchase (Homer: "ohhh, it's soooo unnecessary!!!") but it's turned out to be one of the best tech purchases I've made in many years.

I use the Dicenomicon when I don't have dice with me. I like real dice too much to give them up for virtual ones (no matter how amazing and cool Dicenomicon is with sound effects and physics and... *drool*).

I personally wouldn't object to you (or anyone) using it at game, though I'd say that'd be up to the GM... in any game, really. No programming "special" dice though.

Never really understood the prejudice against electronic dice, as in disallowing them. We trust random number algorithms in our computer games, why not on the table top? I prefer virtual dice to be loud, obvious when they roll, and out in the open though. That way someone can't just reroll rapidly until a desired result comes up. "Oh my, *another* natural twenty? It must be my lucky day!"

Someday, I'd love to find an old "Dragonbone", it was an LED based dice wand that was advertised in Dragon Magazine. I doubt I'd use it in game, but it would be a nice collectible.

Chris

[erichris]

p.s. I also wish there was Dicenomicon for Android. Nothing so far in the Android Market compares with it.

[JakeBaker]

I macroed Pan's attacks yesterday. Seems like it will do ok. I wish there was a way to turn off the "shake to reroll" feature, since you'd have to be careful if you needed to pass the iPhone to the GM to verify your or something. But there is a history feature.

I also need to figure out how to produce the swirly re-roll indicator when I roll a critical threat.

[Karl]

Feel free to use it in games I run, if you wish. For myself, I strongly prefer using real dice.

[Karl]

Btw, I am wondering if you will encounter any resistance to using electronic dice at Gen Con, since some may be worried about customized die-rolling software.

[erichris]

I looked into dice apps for Android, and a couple of them even featured built in cheating... loaded virtual dice, you just touch the screen in some prearranged way and the dice come up as you wish. Maybe that kind of design is unfortunately why electronic/computer/virtual dice are mistrusted.

Chris

[JakeBaker]

Btw, I am wondering if you will encounter any resistance to using electronic dice at Gen Con, since some may be worried about customized die-rolling software.

So far, that's been the feedback (strong resistance) I've received from this thread on RPGnet. The poll shows roughly 50/50 support, but the cons seem to be more vocal.

@Chris: I didn't know some dice rollers allowed cheating. Wow, yeah, that's totally pants.

[erichris]

http://www.androidzoom.com/android_appl ... _frws.html

"Keep losing? Why not cheat, using our new Loaded Dice + app!"

Unfortunately, this is the only physics/animated die roller for Android.

On the plus side, even famous Robin Laws is in favor of Dicenomicon. Also, I looked at the "spellbook" for Dicenomicon syntax, and I don't see an obvious way to "customize" in a way that produces loaded dice.

So I guess the moral of the story is, GMs should check out die rolling apps before allowing them, some are honorable, others not so much. Second moral is, ultimately GMs must trust the players and vice versa or the game's not going to be a lot of fun for everyone. There are ways to cheat with physical dice... from cheater dice from vendors to difficult to read dice that the GM might not double check.

Trust, but verify?

Chris

[Karl]

Everything goes more smoothly when you game with people you trust.