Tunnels & Trolls: The First Six-Sider Role-Playing Game

The world's second role-playing game, Tunnels & Trolls, also happens to be the first role-playing game to use six-sided dice exclusively. Not only was it played with more easily obtained dice, it also had easier rules.

Character Creation

Player character attributes are generated by rolling three dice for each of the following: Strength, Intelligence, Luck, Constitution, Dexterity, and Charisma. Starting gold is generated by rolling three dice and multiplying by 10. Height and weight are determined by rolling three dice and consulting a chart.

Combat

Each weapon has dice and "adds" (a number added to the dice roll). Characters might add or subtract further adds based on certain above average or below average attributes. Monsters have dice and adds based on their Monster Rating. In combat, the members of each party roll their dice and adds, combining them all. The lower number is subtracted from the higher number and the remainder is the damage inflicted on the losing party (minus any armor that might be worn), with the damage divided amongst its members.

Saving Rolls

Whenever a character attempts to do something risky or avoid something, the player makes a "saving roll" by rolling two dice. Doubles "add and roll over." The target number varies depending on the level of difficulty.

Level	Formula
1	20 minus attribute
2	25 minus attribute
3	30 minus attribute
4	35 minus attribute

This progresses according to the formula: (Level x 5) + 15 = # to shoot for

Normally, saving rolls are made versus a character's Luck, but sometimes other attributes will be used instead.

Summary

Tunnels & Trolls may not have used "D6" (or "d6") dice notation, but it was clearly a system centered on the six-sider, and its influence on the role-playing hobby can be felt to this day. In fact, not only can you buy the latest edition, Deluxe Tunnels & Trolls, but you can even buy the First Edition Reprint from Flying Buffalo Inc. PDFs are also available via DriveThruRPG.com including a free short version of the rule book, a Beginner's Bundle for T&T, the 1st edition rules, Deluxe T&T, and even the 4th edition rules. (The edition I've always played — 5th — no longer seems to be available through official channels, but might still be found elsewhere.)

Judge Dredd D6

EN Publishing's custodianship of Judge Dredd role-playing, Judge Dredd & The Worlds of 2000 A.D., has come to an end, and once again I am left with something that will become more of a source book than a rule book because I have decided that instead of clinging to rules that are "unofficial" anyways, I shall merely convert it to something I like better: The D6 System 2nd edition, ACE! RPG, Sherpa, Savage Worlds, or perhaps my own system (still in progress). As much as I approve of Judge Dredd going D6 dice pool, I think the W.O.I.N. adaptation is too cumbersome. Judge Dredd role-playing ought to be fast, intuitive, and exciting. I think it can be made better with minimal effort, and I can still use the Games Workshop and EN Publishing books as the excellent source books they are.

News at 6-Sided: Judge Dredd Clearance Sale

I just learned that EN Publishing's rights to publish Judge Dredd & The Worlds of 2000 A.D. expire tomorrow, the last day of February. Until the end of the 28th (GMT, I assume), most of the related material will be discounted at the EN Publishing Judge Dredd RPG clearance sale and at the DriveThruRPG Judge Dredd RPG sale, after which none of it will be available again.

It's very short notice, and I know it's unlikely anyone will learn of it via Decidedly Six-Sided, but I think it's my duty to spread the word for the sake of fellow Judge Dredd fans who are also D6 gamers.

Too Many Twos Tuesday: D2 or Binary Randomizer?

Today, 22 February 2022 or 22-02-2022, a Tuesday, I would like to focus on the subject of the binary randomizer and the D2 (or d2). You have two choices. Continue reading, or cease reading.

Ah, you have chosen to continue reading. Excellent. That was a binary choice. You had two options: do the thing or do not do the thing. That is how binary randomizers work. In its simplest form, such as a coin, you have two possible results: heads or tails (referring to the obverse and reverse sides of a coin). Traditionally, the coin is flipped or tossed by one person and "heads" or "tails" is called by another. If the the coin lands on the side called by the second person, the second person prevails. If it doesn't, the first person prevails. The coin flip can also be used to make a decision for which there are two options, or determine a course of action that can be answered by "yes" or "no." In such cases, heads usually means yes and tails usually means no. Coins have also been used as binary randomizers in certain role-playing games, one of the more famous of which is Prince Valiant. This game takes the concept of the D6 dice pool and replaces it with coins in which heads = 1 and tails = 0. Toss the coins and count those that land on heads. That's your result. Dice can be substituted for coins in which even numbers = 1 and odd numbers = 0. Or you can make 1 through 3 = 0 and 4 through 6 = 1 if you prefer high numbers. You can even find binary dice that have an equal number of sides marked 1 and 0. The point of all this is that binary randomizers, including coins, give you a range of two results: 1 or 0. Something or nothing. Yes or no.

None of this is related to the "D2." Some may claim that a coin is a D2 on the basis that it has two sides, but the number of sides on a randomizer does not necessarily reflect the range of numbers it can generate. Take, if you will, the D3. The D3 is typically a six-sided die in which the result is divided by two (or a six-sided die marked 1 through 3 twice). It has six sides, but the highest number you can roll is 3. That makes it a D3. For a coin to be a D2, one side must be designated as 1 and the other as 2. This would be fine, especially if they were custom made, but there are some who mistakenly call a coin a D2, but use it as a binary randomizer. In actuality, a binary randomizer is a D1 because the highest number you can generate with a single binary randomizer is 1. The coin as a real D2 can exist, but only as an outlier. The coin in its traditional use as decision maker is truly a D1.

In honor of this twice blessed day, though, I offer a true D2 coin that need not be a binary randomizer: the coin bearing the likeness of Janus, the Roman god with two faces. If you roll heads, Janus counts as 2. The other side counts as 1.

Table: Critical Ouchies

Tired of dealing with cumbersome critical hit tables that require you to consult a rule book or squint at the tiny text on a GM screen? Let the Critical Ouchies table make your life easier! It's just one simple table for all critical hits regardless of attack, defense, situation, or type of creature involved. Yes, the Critical Ouchies table solves all your problems across all game systems and genres. 1D6 is all you need. Roll now!

Critical Ouchies

Roll 1D6

1. Vision blurry, but you can see stars dancing around your head.
2. Bruised and dazed with little birdies flying around your head.
3. Knocked flat on your back with both feet extended into the air.
4. Reduced to a pile of ash and two blinking eyes (temporarily).
5. Reduced to a puff of smoke and the shoes you were wearing (temporarily).
6. Limbs, torso, and head separated (temporarily).

#CelebratingAprilFoolsDayEarly

Some d6 Tables from Elsewhere

Here is "A Trove of 1d6 Tables" courtesy of Strange Stones.

Awfully Cheerful Engine! Facebook Group

Did you know there is a Facebook group for the Awfully Cheerful Engine!? Neither did I. But there is. And it's called Awfully Cheerful Engine!. I joined it a moment ago. I haven't explored it yet, but I hope to find in it a wealth of inspiration.

Balancing a Budget Makes Me Feel Good

"Sure Beats Working for a Living" in Barking Alien raises some points on monetary motivations for player characters and mentions a new way to track the resources of a Ghostbusters franchise, which may be of interest to those who play the Ghostbusters role-playing game.

Inspecting Other Methods of Busting Ghosts

Read "Paranormal Activity", an interesting alternative method of running Ghostbusters in Barking Alien.

Some Simple Six-Sider Systems

Two role-playing games of the d6 persuasion were recently made available and both are well worth examining. Behold!

Claytonian of Kill It With Fire! introduces us to "2d6 Everything", which boasts the But Actually System (a system I am strongly tempted to try in other games, too).

Jonathan Hicks of Farsight Blogger presents "What's Up, Dudes? The Simple Sci-Fi Comedy Show RPG" with Jokes ("actual comedy not guaranteed").