All Things Dice

Owned by Derek Batting
Last updated: Mar 26, 2024
12 min read

The Dice menu was recently revamped with a redesign and much greater functionality in Fantasy Grounds Unity v4.3.1. Some sections below may look slightly different than the latest updated version, including some videos examples. We are working to update this section in a timely manner. Thank you for your patience.

Rolling Dice

Rolling Arbitrary Dice

To roll a die, grab the 3D die on the tabletop and drop it on the chat window.

To quickly add another die to your roll, just right click while dragging the 3D die.

To select multiple dice of the same type at once, right click on the 3D die and select the number of dice you want from the menu.

Dice Sets

To create a set of dice to roll, grab a 3D die and drop it onto a hot key at the bottom of the tabletop.

To add additional dice to the dice set, grab another die and drop it on the same hot key.

You can drag multiple dice, including combinations of different dice, to a slot on the Macro / Hotkeys bar at the bottom of your screen for quick rolling. You can right click on this slot to name the Dice Pool or to modify the pool.

Rolling From Sheets

Many of the rulesets built for Fantasy Grounds allow users to drag dice rolls directly from the fields displayed on the individual PC and NPC sheets, as well as the GM combat tracker. On the PC sheets, these fields are denoted by a die icon in the lower corner of the field or activated by a die button. To activate these rolls, you can drag to the chat window, double-click a number/string field, or click the die button.

Custom Dice

Custom dice can be specified by the creator of a ruleset. (Ex: d2/d3 for the 4E/PFRPG/3.5E rulesets)

Supported Die Types

Currently, there are 3D models for the following die types: d100, d20, d12, d10, d8, d6, d4, dF

The dice displayed on the tabletop are controlled by the creator of the ruleset for the game system you are playing.

Rolling from the Chat Window Command Line

You can use /die [NdN NdN +N] <message> command to roll any combination and number of dice. If you add more than 30 total dice, only 30 will actually roll in the chat window, but all roll results will be reported. You can also drag this command to the Macro / Hotkey bar. An example roll command could look like: /die 2d10+1d6+3 Enchanted Long Sword of Fire

Supported Dice Expressions

You can use any of these with the following syntax:

/die {expression} Example: /die 3d6

Dice Expression

Features

Meaning

Dice Expression

Features

Meaning

(3*2)d6

Math

Roll 6d6

(3d4+2d6)kl2

Dice set, Keep lowest, Math

Roll 3d4 and 2d6; keep lowest 2 of 5 die results;
When roll completes; add the terms to provide result

2d6!+2d4!

Compounding Die, Math

Roll 2d6; If max rolled, then roll again and add to that die total. (repeats)
Roll 2d4; If max rolled, then roll again and add to that die total. (repeats)
When roll completes; add the terms to provide result

d6+d4+d3

Custom Die, Math

Roll d6, d4 and d3; (d3 is usually custom die in ruleset equivalent to d6/2);
When roll completes; add the terms to provide result.

d7+d5

Non-Physical Die, Math

Any d# expression that doesn’t match a physical die will generate a random number;
When roll completes; add the terms to provide result.

2d6k1+3d8k1

Keep highest, Math

Roll 2d6; keep one highest d6.
Roll 3d8; keep one highest d8.
When roll completes, add the terms to provide result.

2d6!k1

Compounding Die, Keep highest

Roll 2d6; If max rolled, then roll again and add to that die total. (repeats)
When roll completes, keep highest 1 die roll.

2d6d6

Drop lowest

0 always (i.e. 2d6 drop 6 lowest d6)

3d6e-2d4e

Exploding Die, Math

Roll 3d6; If max rolled, then append another d6 to roll. (repeats)
Roll 2d4; If max rolled, then append another d4 to roll. (repeats)
When roll completes, subtract the terms to provide result.

(3*2)d6d2

Drop lowest, Math

Roll 6d6; drop 2 lowest d6 rolls

3*2

Math

Simple math expression. (Equals 6)

5d10s9#2s7f2#2f4

Success-based Rolls

Roll 5d10;
Calculate 2 successes (+2) for every roll of 9-10
Calculate 1 success (+1) for every roll of 7-8
Calculate 1 failure (-1) for every roll of 3-4
Calculate 2 failures (-2) for every roll of 1-2

3d6p

Penetrating Die

Roll 3d6; If max rolled, then roll again and add result-1 to that die total. (repeats)

2d8r2e7

Reroll Die, Exploding Die

Roll 2d8;
If 2 or less rolled, then roll again and use new result (repeats);
if 7 or greater rolled, then append another d8 to roll (repeats)

Dice Tower

If the ruleset provides a dice tower option, the GM can enable a dice tower that appears on the tabletop of the players. The GM doesn't see the tower unless they also have "Chat: show GM Rolls" enabled in the campaign options. The dice tower allows the GM to ask a player to make a roll that only the GM can see the result of. To make a dice tower roll, just drag and drop the desired roll on the dice tower.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q20r_jzAkOA&list=PL3h0dIaiayC9tC2khAOXr0bxNqQv1Ni0w&index=7

The Dice Window

The Dice window can be opened by clicking on the ‘d20’ polyhedral die in the Sidebar. The Dice window contains six major elements to interact with dice:

  • Dice Color - used to change the color of the body and text of default dice and some Dice Pack dice.

  • Desktop Dice - used to add or remove specific die types from your Dice Tray.

  • Dice Scaling - used to change the size of the dice in the Dice Tray.

  • Dice Skin Selection - used to choose the Dice Skin to be used.

  • Toggle Panel Lock - used to unlock and relock the Dice Tray so that it can be moved around or secured once moved.

  • Custom Dice Rolls - used to change which die type is used for certain roll types (e.g.: fire damage, slashing damage, healing, etc.)

Desktop Dice Toggle

The Desktop Dice toggle feature allows you to remove or re-add certain dice types from your Dice Tray. This helps reduce clutter for systems that may, for example, only use a d20 and a d6.

Dice Scaling

The Dice Scaling buttons allow you to increase the size of the dice in the Dice Tray up to 120% of the default size and down to 80% of the default size in increments of 10%.

Unlocking and Moving The Dice Tray

The Dice Tray can be unlocked and moved freely around the Fantasy Grounds Unity desktop.

There are two ways to unlock the tray.
One way is to hover your mouse just to the upper-left of the D20. A Locked icon with appear. Click it to change it to an Unlocked icon. A Reset Position icon will also appear beneath the Unlock icon.

The second is to click the Dice menu icon in the upper-right corner of the Sidebar, then click the Toggle Panel Lock button.

Once unlocked, you will also notice a thin border around the dice area. Clicking and dragging on an empty area within the Dice Tray border will allow you to drag it around and place it elsewhere.
To return it to its default location, click the Reset Position icon.

The Dice Tray can move anywhere inside the Fantasy Grounds Unity application, but cannot be rotated to be vertical. It will remain horizontal. This feature may be available in future updates.

Color Picker for Player Dice

NOTE: Effects Dice and Dice Packs were released in FGU v4.3.0. The Color Picker instructions here apply to some Effects Dice packs, but not all. This is covered more in the Effects Dice section below.

Each player and GM can customize the color of their dice by using the Dice Color tool. The Dice window is available in the upper right corner of the Tool category on the Sidebar.

Once open, you will be presented with the option to change the color of the dice or change the color of the numerals.

Clicking on the color circle opens the color picker tool. RGB and Alpha values can be changed from here, and HTML color codes can also be used.

There is the Eye Dropper tool, which allows you to pick the color directly under the cursor. To use the Eye dropper tool, click it once to select Eye Dropper mode, then move the cursor to the color pixel you’d like to sample, then click again. You will see the top color block change as well as the body color of your dice at the bottom of the screen.

Players can define a unique color for the dice of each character they have activated for the session.

Effects Dice

Effects Dice come in a variety of different colors and textures, and they feature new animated effects that show up when you roll them. Some effects include auras, force fields, magical sigils, elemental effects, and more.

When loaded, Effects Dice sets will display certain icons to denote what type they are, what effect they display, and whether they are tintable.

If you do not see the Effect Dice or Dice Packs previews in the Dice window, be sure to click the + next to each entry.

Dice Skin Selection

The Dice Skin Selection is where you will choose from a selection of free or purchased Dice Packs, the default dice, and the free Elemental Basics Dice Pack included in Fantasy Grounds Unity.

Note: this example shows free and purchased Dice Packs. If you have not purchased any Dice Packs, only Default and Elemental Basics will be selectable.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Types of Effects and Icons Legend

Below we’ll discuss what the icons surrounding the dice pack icons mean. Animated examples can be found further down in the Dice Packs section and overviews of them in the Dice Videos section.

If dice do not show any accompanying icons, then they are simply themed, have no effects, and are not tintable.

Themed

 

If dice do not show any accompanying icons, then they are simply themed and have no extra effects and are not tintable.

Tintable

This die can be colorized by using the Dice Color tool discussed above. If a dice set is not tintable, the Dice Color tool will be hidden and will not appear.

Attributes

Aura Cast

The Aura Cast effect displays a static or pulsating aua effect of arcane sigils around the dice when clicked or rolled.

Aura Enchant

 

The Aura Enchant effect displays a spinning aura of arcane sigils around the dice when clicked or rolled.

Trail

The Trail effect displays a solid or particle trailing effect behind the dice as they are moved or rolled.

Force Field

The Force Field effect displays a solid or particle force field effect around the dice when clicked or rolled.

Mixed Effects

Some dice will denote two or more icons combined to generate multiple effects in one dice set, such as Aura with Trails.

The icon in the lower-right of the Dice Pack selection window denotes the element and color the effect represents.

Elements

Arcane

Earth

Fire

Frost

Life

Light

Lightning

Shadow

Storm

Water

Badges

Artificer

Clover

Decorative

Artificer

Clover

Decorative

Heart

Skull

Star

Disable Dice Effects

Dice Effects can be disabled via a chat command. In the chat box, type /diceeffect off and press Enter. This will turn off all dice effects while leaving the colors intact. To re-enable effects, type /diceeffect on and press Enter.

Custom Dice Rolls

Custom Dice Rolls allow you to assign specific dice to specific roll types. For example, you can set a metal die from the Metal Dice Pack for general damage, green glowing trails dice for Acid damage, orange fire trails for fire damage, etc. These dice will be used whenever that specific kind of roll is made, a spell is cast, etc.

By clicking the + icon to the right of the Roll Type, you can also set a Critical die type. This will trigger off of whatever is set as Critical Range for attacks, whether that be the ruleset default, or customized for individual weapons or spells.

 

Certain dice come as default for each Roll Type, but these can be overridden by dragging the specific die type you would like to assign to it into the “Custom” box beside the Roll Type.

There are currently twenty different Roll Types that can be customized, and twelve of those currently have default dice types assigned to them. Customizable fields are as follows:

Generic Damage:

  • Damage (basic / general)

Elemental Damage:

  • Damage: Element - Acid

  • Damage: Element - Cold

  • Damage: Element - Fire

  • Damage: Element - Force

  • Damage: Element - Lightning

  • Damage: Element - Necrotic

  • Damage: Element - Poison

  • Damage: Element - Psychic

  • Damage: Element - Radiant

  • Damage: Element - Thunder

Material Damage:

  • Damage: Material - Adamantine

  • Damage: Material - Cold Iron

  • Damage: Material - Silver

Physical Damage:

  • Damage: Physical - Bludgeoning

  • Damage: Physical - Piercing

  • Damage: Physical - Slashing

Magical Damage:

  • Damage: Special - Magic

Healing:

  • Healing (general)

  • Healing: Health

  • Healing: Temp

Additional Information

Be sure to see our Dice Pack Gallery, Dice Packs - Frequently Asked Questions and Dice Videos pages for more information!