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View Full Version : Most visible color scheme for d20s?



Talakeal
2014-12-28, 04:37 PM
So I have had trouble reading dice that my PCs roll across the table. I am currently using a black with red numbers color scheme, which I have heard is hard to read, and am wondering what you guys have found to be the best?

I have tried black on white, white on black, and white on red, as these seem to be the most obvious, but as far as I can tell they are no easier to read from across the table than my existing dice. I have noticed that speckled dice are harder to read than solid colors, but no improvements.

Any advice or anecdotes about d20 visibility or clarity?

oxybe
2014-12-28, 05:18 PM
Get a little felt box or something to roll in. It helps if the dice keep getting away from you or you can't see them from a distance. The one I use, oddly enough, was a Christmas gift from work. It actually came with individually wrapped candies inside, of all things, but MAN it works as a smexy re-purposed dice box.

http://i.imgur.com/5SUmhYo.jpg

You'll notice most of my dice are solids on solids, with contrasting-ish colors on them: white on black, white on blue, black on white, black on pink, white on red. there are a few yellow on blue d6's but they're the exception, really.

Those circular things are plastic pop bottle tops that I've threaded through a paperclip. Works great as "I'm invisible", "This guy is flying", "I'm on fire" and whatnot reminders.

Sorry 'bout the fuzzy picture, but the 3DS has a rather sorry camera.

Talakeal
2014-12-28, 05:23 PM
Get a little felt box or something to roll in. It helps if the dice keep getting away from you or you can't see them from a distance. The one I use, oddly enough, was a Christmas gift from work. It actually came with individually wrapped candies inside, of all things, but MAN it works as a smexy re-purposed dice box.

http://i.imgur.com/5SUmhYo.jpg

You'll notice most of my dice are solids on solids, with contrasting-ish colors on them: white on black, white on blue, black on white, black on pink, white on red. there are a few yellow on blue d6's but they're the exception, really.

Those circular things are plastic pop bottle tops that I've threaded through a paperclip. Works great as "I'm invisible", "This guy is flying", "I'm on fire" and whatnot reminders.

Sorry 'bout the fuzzy picture, but the 3DS has a rather sorry camera.

Thanks for the tip. I actually have something like that for when I am playing on a couch or other soft surface.

The problem I am having though, is not so much reading my own dice, as reading other people's dice and vice versa. I supply all the dice for my gaming group, and I want something that will be visible from across the table so we can all see one another's rolls more easily.

Jay R
2014-12-28, 07:53 PM
Since the invention of heraldry in the 12th century, it's been established that you get better contrast with color (red, blue, black, green, purple) against metal (yellow & white, representing gold & silver). I tossed all my color-on-color dice years ago.

I also recommend monotone, opaque dice.

Knaight
2014-12-28, 09:19 PM
Lighter colored backgrounds with dark text or light text on dark backgrounds is generally more readable, solid color dice are way more readable than speckled dice. Then there's the matter of line thickness, where you need somewhat thick dice.

I used to have a black on light grey d20 that was very readable, and it's that (plus white dice) that really stands out. That said, the issue here seems to be that you're trying to read dice rolled some distance away. Rolling your own dice close to you and trusting other people when they report their rolls pretty much covers things.

oxybe
2014-12-28, 09:47 PM
I'll echo Knaight, you don't need to read your buddy's dice: just trust him that the 17 is a 17. Unless you really don't trust this person (or persons), I would say I've found that others being nearby will keep even the sketchiest of gamers honest. Otherwise give everyone a designated seat and have them sit next to you.

So yeah, unless you're rolling comically large dice, the numbers will almost always be harder to read from that far off.

Opaque, monotone & contrasting colors are perfect for your personal dice, from a utility standpoint, but even under the best circumstances you'll probably have problems seeing others' dice faces from across the table due to angle and distance (or even just table clutter, like minis or the stray pop can or coffee).

Feddlefew
2014-12-28, 10:13 PM
My personal dice us silvery white on dark read with little black flecks, and they're both readable and distinct. I've had problems with some of my white on blue dice and my yellow on green dice.

On a related topic, what's the best way to repaint dice where the color has been rubbed out of the groove? I had a player a few years back who used to rub the dice on his (fastidiously clean) sleeve before each roll, and it wore the paint off a couple dice.

Edit: He was a bit of a germaphobe, but he used to use lisol wipes so by then it was more of a good-luck ritual than anything.

Svata
2014-12-28, 10:22 PM
My gold on red d20 is easily readable, as is my blue on silver.

goto124
2014-12-28, 10:50 PM
unless you're rolling comically large dice

http://cdn3.volusion.com/grpn6.7z24g/v/vspfiles/photos/GDICE-3.jpg?1357900908

This sounds like a rather fun idea, actually :smalltongue:

Feddlefew
2014-12-28, 11:16 PM
http://cdn3.volusion.com/grpn6.7z24g/v/vspfiles/photos/GDICE-3.jpg?1357900908

This sounds like a rather fun idea, actually :smalltongue:

Well, I was going to crochet some D20s. Might as well make an entire set! :smallbiggrin:

Milodiah
2014-12-29, 02:11 AM
http://cdn3.volusion.com/grpn6.7z24g/v/vspfiles/photos/GDICE-3.jpg?1357900908

This sounds like a rather fun idea, actually :smalltongue:

Let's play Shadowrun, everyone!


"Err...roll 50d6."

AmewTheFox
2014-12-29, 02:32 AM
http://cdn3.volusion.com/grpn6.7z24g/v/vspfiles/photos/GDICE-3.jpg?1357900908

This sounds like a rather fun idea, actually :smalltongue:


Let's play Shadowrun, everyone!


"Err...roll 50d6."

`"Aha! You've activated my trap!" *pulls on string* *50 baloons vaguely in the shape of d6s fall from a cage above* "It took me weeks to set that up."

Kol Korran
2014-12-29, 05:21 AM
I would second the issue of trusting your players about just being truthful about their dice. If you can't have trust, then the whole game suffers, and there are other ways to cheat other than dice. It may seem that soem palyers are constantly rolling poorly, while others are rolling badly, but that is the matter of dice- It has been shown (I can't find the article), that most regular gaming dice arefaulty, and do indeed have a higher than expected probability for certain dice rolls. There are ways to but for supposedly correct dice (You'll notice the sharp edges) as my group has. (Though only some use them).

If you are set on seeing the dice the players roll, here are some ideas:
1) Each player has an establish space (Usually a small box with very low rims- enough to keep the dice in, not enough to block the view). These are put at a short distance to the DM, and with an easy-on-the-eyes background. even if you can't have small boxes, designate a place, such as on the battle grid, or such, with close proximity. With such small numbers, distance makes a LOT of difference.

2) Larger dice- One of my players in a gaming group long ago gave me such dice, meant for visually impaired. about twice the size of regular dice, black on white, thick lines. Worked wonders for me. But I assume you won't be able to have all of the players get them.

3) Colors: A lot have been said already. Strangely though, black on white tires the eye and makes it a bit harder to read than softer background colors- soft yellow, pink (Not red for some reason), or my favorite- soft brown.

4) Consider an eye sight optometrist check, if you have any other slight impairment in vision, of whatever sort (I'm no expert). Most gamers are book readers, avid internet readers, and spend a lot of time on the screen. Not good things for our eyesight. No biggie, but sometime a little help can do wonders.

But really? Establish trust with your team. It helps on SOOOOO many levels. Makes it so much easier being a DM. No need to monitor every little damned thing! :smalltongue:

Good luck to you!

Yora
2014-12-29, 05:50 AM
The more fancy, the harder to read. There really isn't much that beats these ones:
http://s.ecrater.com/stores/246731/4f5b854866d53_246731b.jpg
Even though white on blue isn't very strong contrast, these dice are so plain and the colors so uniform, that it doesn't really hurt.

If you want something a bit prettier, I recommend going for maximum contrast.
http://product-images.highwire.com/1884314/2917212_290.jpg

Clear and frosted, but very strong contrast between colors.

http://cdn1.bigcommerce.com/server4800/70184/products/402/images/384/7pc_glitter_bl__52454.1336953910.1280.1280.jpg
http://www.gmdice.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/g/e/gemini-blue-green.jpg

Multiple colors, but all very similar shade, again with very bright numbers.

These are pretty much unreadable even under perfect conditions.
http://images.frpgames.org/products/product_13174.jpg

And I think I've found the worst dice design ever. :smallannoyed:
http://thegeekgift.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/elvish_dice_set_for_roleplaying_rpg.jpg

Blue on white (bad!), clear plastic (bad!), fancy numbers (bad!) and additional decorations (bad!)

Taet
2014-12-29, 01:16 PM
There is one problem with glitter dice edges. They are so soft I have a hard time seeing which side of d20 is up. I like sharp edges on d20s. I have a glitter d10 and that is only just Ok. The other shapes are probably Ok.

I have a d% that should be hard to read but it is not. It is hard to take a good picture of it though. I have a d10 and a d% made with speckle white and yellow and orange. A sort of natural stone look. One of those is black numbers and one is red numbers. It is the red numbers that are easy to read. They should be hard to read against the orange and yellow and white but somehow they pop.

But I am standing up all the time to read the cards on the other side of the table anyway. I might just get a cheap toy hand telescope or something soon. :smallfrown:

And I have a better offer for the worst reading dice ever. I have another d10 and d%. Clear plastic with white numbers. And the 10 20 30 are printed sideways on the d% and so they are even smaller. :smallsigh:

Faily
2015-01-01, 06:09 PM
Maybe I just have very good vision, but I have pastel-colored dice with glitter and everything where the numbers are gold, silver or white. And I see it just perfectly. I don't think any of the players sitting next to me ever had problems with it either.

My main d20 is a dark blue mixed with various shades of lighter blue (I love mixed color base), with white numbers, so it's really easy to read. But my glittery pastel-dice with pale numbers work just fine for me.