Alternative to D16 for the Blood Bowl Board Game

Alternative to D16 for the Blood Bowl Board Game

Blood Bowl 2020 introduced the Prayer to Nuffles Table and changed the Injury Table, which utilizes a 16-sided die (d16) for determining results. However, this creates a challenge since 16-sided dice are relatively rare in board gaming. The scarcity of d16s makes them difficult to find and even harder to replace. The only other popular game that uses a d16 is Magic: The Gathering, which employs a spin-down die. Additionally, the d16s included in official sets from Games Workshop (GW) are also spin-down dice, likely chosen to reduce costs, further complicating the situation.

The Drawbacks of Using a Spin-Down Die

Using a d16 spin-down die, where the numbers are arranged sequentially, is generally less effective for generating truly random results compared to a d16 with alternating numbers. In a spin-down die, numbers are placed next to each other in order (1, 2, 3, etc.), which increases the likelihood of certain areas landing face-up more frequently due to subtle weight imbalances and reduced variability. In contrast, a d16 with alternating numbers spreads high and low values across different sides, enhancing the chances of achieving a truly random roll. This even distribution reduces the likelihood of favoring specific ranges of numbers, ensuring a fairer outcome—an essential factor in games that rely on randomness.

A Viable Replacement Option: Using a D6 and D8

Fortunately, there is a straightforward replacement option: use a d6 and a d8, similar to how the original game functioned but in a modified way. In this approach, the d6 serves as a coin flip to represent the high and low sides of the d16 numbers, while the d8 represents the number itself.

Example:

  • D6 Rolls 1-3: d8 rolls 1-8 (results range from 1 to 8)
  • D6 Rolls 4-6: d8 rolls 1-8 + 8 (results range from 9 to 16)

Breakdown of Rolls

  1. D6 for Tens Place:
    • When the d6 rolls "1-3," the outcome is in the range 1-8.
    • When the d6 rolls "4-6," you add 8 to the d8 result, giving a range of 9-16.
  2. D8 for Ones Place:
    • When the d6 is "1-3," the d8 rolls between 1 and 8, yielding results from 1 to 8.
    • When the d6 is "4-6," the d8 rolls between 1 and 8, and adding 8 shifts the range to 9-16.

Example of Adjusted Results

  • D6 = 2: d8 rolls 1 through 8, resulting in outcomes from 1 to 8.
  • D6 = 5: d8 rolls 1 through 8, and adding 8 gives results from 9 through 16.

Final Range and Probability

This setup effectively produces results from 1 to 16, just like a d16, covering the full range of possible outcomes. Each number from 1 to 16 has an equal probability of being rolled. Since the d6 splits outcomes into two ranges (1-8 for d6 "1-3" and 9-16 for d6 "4-6"), and the d8 generates numbers evenly within those ranges, the overall probability for each result remains at 1/16 (6.25%).

Conclusion

Using a d6 for the tens place and a d8 for the ones place, while adding 8 to the d8 result when the d6 shows "10," replicates the probability distribution of rolling a d16. This method ensures that each outcome from 1 to 16 is equally likely, matching the behavior of a standard d16. Additionally, this approach simplifies gameplay by reducing the number of dice needed and allows for greater variability in dice used.

 

Note: I created this article because I sometimes receive requests to produce a d16 for Blood Bowl. However, I don't manufacture a d16 since the market for this specialty die is too small to justify making it out of wood. Instead, I wanted to provide an alternative solution for those seeking to use a d16 in their games. I use this same solution when I play Blood Bowl as I'm not too fond of the Games Workshop dice.

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