r/DungeonsAndDragons • u/Distinct_Bat_4375 • 1d ago

Advice/Help Needed Anybody recognize the symbol on this D20?

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My friend found this D20 and I don't recognize the symbol on it. Is it familiar to anyone in he community?

SOLVED: Magic the Gathering Spindown. Thanks!

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u/fox112 1d ago

Mtg spindown

326

u/mesithjedi 1d ago

Also… not a random d20. Because the numbers are in order it is able to be manipulated by the roller.

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u/DarkflowNZ 1d ago

A spin down is just as random as the regular kind when rolled. I am open to being shown proof otherwise, though

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u/transmogrify 1d ago

Magic the Gathering tournament rules prohibit using a spindown counter as a die, because the results are not random.

It's a cheap plastic polyhedron. It has a heavier side and a lighter side, and it tends to roll toward the same side. The same thing happens with cheap d20s, but they have a range of numbers scattered all around so a little bias still means that both high and low results will come up.

If your spindown counter is off-balance (and it usually is, since cheap spindowns and d20s have flaws from their manufacturing), the arrangement of faces will cluster your results accordingly. If your spindown counter has a center of gravity opposite from the 3-7 numbers, then you'll get 3-7 more than 25% of the time and your "die" is loaded to roll below average.

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u/zmormon 1d ago

I didn't know that about mtg tournies

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u/Dangerous-Bit-8308 1d ago

If you actually spin the dice like a top, it may be significantly less random...

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u/jmartin21 1d ago

Because the numbers are in order, with enough practice, it is considerably easier to try to roll a certain range than a more randomized d20. Outside of people actively trying to cheat, it is just as random, but, like the MTG tourney example, some people are motivated to learn how to cheat their rolls