Using Dice as Pawns

In the current game I am working on, which is a 2 player dual, I too am using a fair quantity of dice. Each turn, players roll 5xd6 (each of a different color). Then players use their point values (rolls) to do different actions. Each action requires its own amount of points. For example, drawing a card from your deck to your hand costs 3 points (any) or moving a unit costs 2 points (of specific colors).

Players must hunt the new value every time also...

BUT the thing is, they are only d6s not d20s or d12s... So there are much less faces even though the dice numbers are probably not sequential. I am favoring NUMERAL dice versus the dice with holes (d6s).

So far in the simple tests I have done, it is not hard to keep track of points (Mana Points = MPs). I am also using d12s for combat... I have been considering upgrading to d20s, not certain yet. Still want to play test the d12s once I receive the 2 green d12s...

Without all of the information this seems like an idea that I would not personally like.

I like the idea of dice score equaling monster difficulty.

I think the range you are talking about is to large. If there is a chance to have 2+ attackers in play you now have a range from 2-40, 3 would be from 3-60. That is huge.

I don't care what Rudyard Kipling says, I don't like the idea that an entire game can turn on one pitch and toss.

You might want to think about changing the range of the d12 to 7-12 and the d20 to 11-20.

If you allow a large range you will find that scalability will be difficult to control. You will also risk pushing the game into the range of boring or impossible. Neither is usually considered fun.

Lastly, I am not sure that the characters need to grow in power. If the mechanic is fun to play with a d6 and only a d6, you might be better leaving it at that. If it is not, you will probably be better served to change the mechanic until it is fun to play with a only a d6. At that time I would address the idea of other dice.

Keep us updated!

I don't know about your game - but do you want/need THAT much variance that you need a d20?

Would a d6 with the six sides being, say... 1, 4, 8, 12, 16, 20 - would that achieve a similar effect? Do you need that much granularity and variance that you get from a d20, or do you just need the min/max?

Because it might be good to use d6's with different values on each of the faces rather than d12 or d20. (And you can actually get a wider range if you want with custom values)

You could try the Quarriors system:

Background: 10 or so cards are laid out and six(ish) dice are placed on each card. Those cards represent spells or creatures, which give you abilities. The game is played just like Dominion, where you buy dice from the pool in the middle of the table and build a collection of dice that you randomly draw from a bag, five or six at a time. (I forget many of the numbers, having only played it once.)

The important details here I want to mention are that most of the dice are creatures. The dice have custom faces, which gives the game vast customizability. When a creature is summoned, it deals damage equal to its attack to each player's sum of creatures. Players choose which of their creatures starts taking the damage. When it dies, the next creature is is chosen, and so on. At the end of your turn, damage goes away. If your creature survives the whole round, then at the start of your next turn, you score it for victory points. So, that's how combat works. Damage is dealt equally to all other players when the creature is summoned, and then it's not kept track of. A creature dies when it takes enough damage in a particular turn. This is a threshold system, like in Magic: The Gathering.

Important points:
- Use customizable dice.
- Forget about keeping track of damage with the dice. Use a damage threshold instead.

New thought:

Dice are creatures, randomly generated by a roll. Different dice are used for different classes of enemies, such as goblins, orcs, black knights, bosses, etc. After you roll a set of dice for an encounter, you place it on the outskirts of the battlefield, prepared for ambush or battle or something.

Here's an example customizable enemy die:

Goblin Enemy
Warrior (2/1, 1/2, or 2/2)
Rock Slinger (1/1, you choose where the damage goes.)
Mad Boss (3/2, other goblins can't retreat)
Shaman (1,1 [thematic ability, for example: sacrifice a goblin to "blow it up".])

There would be some sort of card that shows the abilities and names. Notice that there are six different possible enemies on the same die. One or two are a bit better, but with drawbacks, and this gives some additional appeal. Since the abilities can't be written on the face of a die, use symbols instead (like footnotes). The numbers here would represent power/toughness, and the creatures would be have the same as in MTG, with a threshold damage system.

The enemy above would be great for a game where an opponent controls the enemy. Based on your idea for the game, where the enemy might be controlled by an algorithm or a dungeon master, I'd go with a much simpler enemy:

Goblin Enemy
Warrior (1,1, 2/1, 1/2, or 2/2)
Brute (4/1 or 3/2, doesn't retreat)

You can roll 12 dice and expect about 4 brutes, which will be a bit tougher, but still manageable. They become the obvious targets, especially since they don't retreat. Their algorithms are simpler, though, which makes them more predictable and easier to fight, even though they are slightly tougher enemies.

Based on your description, I'm imagining sort of a D&D style grid and miniatures adventure game. This would definitely be an all-right way of introducing enemies.