Dice rolls you can use at the table

These are not abstract examples. They are the rolls people ask for while a game is already moving.

D&D or Pathfinder: “roll a check”

Use 1d20+5 for a skill check, attack, save or initiative roll with a +5 bonus. The d20 matters because the table usually cares about natural highs and lows, not only the total.

Damage rolls

• 1d8+3 for a weapon hit with a modifier.
• 2d6+4 for a heavy hit or monster attack.
• 8d6 when the spell asks for a handful of six-sided dice.

Board games: fast totals

2d6 covers a lot of movement and resource rolls. The visual dice make it easier for everyone on a call to trust the throw.

Five dice: Yams or house games

Use 5d6 when the result is about the shape of the hand, not just the sum. Seeing the individual dice matters here.

D100: random tables

1d100 works for loot, encounters, weather, mishaps or old-school percentile checks. Choose either the common percentile pair or the physical 100-sided die mode: the tens die shows 00–90 and the units die shows 0–9. 00 + 0 is read as 100.

Remote play tip

Share the screen for important rolls. For quick rolls, copy the table result and paste it into chat.

Need the mechanics? Read how the roller works.