I've been playing around with the dice app, and while I like it for custom games or relaxed settings, I almost feel concerned that it may be "abused" for tournaments.

I've been testing blue rolls, trying to zero in on the exact number of fighters I want on my Sloane fleet, and I've noticed that the dice app can get stuck on a face.

For instance:

My first set of 12 did 9 damage 3 accuracy (started on hit)
The second set of 12 did 5 damage 7 accuracy (started on acc)
My third set of 12 did 5 damage 7 accuracy (started on acc)

While I noticed the pattern for the 1st and 2nd I didn't record it, but for set number 3 results for rolls 1-4 were all acc, then a crit (rerolled to a hit) then 4 more hits 2 accuracy and a crit (reroll to accuracy).

Out of 12 blues, with a reroll on crits I feel like I should be seeing numbers closer to 7-8 damage 2-3 accuracy

I have yet to test it with my real dice but I should be seeing more damage than accuracy, right?

Has anyone else noticed this with the app?

My first thought would be to say any company releasing an official dice app would overkill on QA testing to ensure the probabilities of any roll were correct, and what you are seeing is just 'luck'.

...and then my second thought is you can't test every piece of hardware, everything has bugs.

I have the dice app and have used it for a few games. I have noticed that when re-rolling a single die that at times even though it bounces all over the screen, it never really rotated at all and stayed on the die face it had when I rolled it. In general though, I just like to roll REAL dice...

It's a tabletop game! Always use real stuff!

If I wanted digital components to my game, I'd play a video game.

I prefer dice. But I have noticed in Vassal I can get an oddly large proportion of blue hits when I want Accs for Sloane.

18 minutes ago, itzSteve said:

I have the dice app and have used it for a few games. I have noticed that when re-rolling a single die that at times even though it bounces all over the screen, it never really rotated at all and stayed on the die face it had when I rolled it. In general though, I just like to roll REAL dice...

This exactly! It seems to be a common problem, I've even tried adjusting the roll intensity and it still does it!

16 minutes ago, ricefrisbeetreats said:

It's a tabletop game! Always use real stuff!

If I wanted digital components to my game, I'd play a video game.

I always do, I like real dice too. However, the thought I was having is, if these dice are getting stuck on a single face a player could abuse it, even if only slightly controlled, to farm results, even in a strict environment, as I believe the dice app is legal at all levels of play.

15 minutes ago, Undeadguy said:

I prefer dice. But I have noticed in Vassal I can get an oddly large proportion of blue hits when I want Accs for Sloane.

I haven't used the vassal dice since wave 2 lol It's been a loooong time!

31 minutes ago, Darth Sanguis said:

I always do, I like real dice too. However, the thought I was having is, if these dice are getting stuck on a single face a player could abuse it, even if only slightly controlled, to farm results, even in a strict environment, as I believe the dice app is legal at all levels of play.

From the Regulations:

If a player uses the Star Wars™ Dice App, the device with the app must be displayed in full view of both players at all times, and his or her opponent may request to share the app.

One argues that by sharing the app, its sufficiently broken for both sides... But of course, there will be arguments that it would be gamed .

If you believe the app is sufficiently broken (and its likely demonstratable), then talk to your Judge - they can mandate that one set of actual physical dice is used between players...

Well, if the issue is only with blue die, the player could build his fleet around blue dice to maximize a benefit, whereas the requesting player would then be at a disadvantage if he/she doesn't use blue dice at all

Does the official app have a "no graphics" option where it did th show any 3D animations? I'd rather just have an honest random number generator if I'm using an app. And given that I've had official dice where I know the balance is poor, I'd be willing to use an app for tournament play. It would also help me pack a bit less for big trips.

Ii wouldn't mind trying the dice app, since I seem to have no luck with physical dice, but there is no way I'm going to pay $9 for a random number generator

Obviously the Dice App is legal, and I won't bother anyone deciding to use it.

Still, I personally find it annoying - it takes time.

On the other hand, it's a good way to stop me from subconsciously stealing your dice. I have a habit of picking up other people's dice. I don't mean to do it, and I try to make sure that people have all their dice before they leave the table, but I do have a subconscious internal kleptomaniac.

I've used the app a lot. I love the sound effects! I've found a glitch, however, when rolling reds: ~20% of the double hits will change face during the righting animation to either a blank or crit but the animation shows the die lying on its edge. So, you have to look at the tally below to figure out which one it is. Because of that I've stopped using it. I told FFG and they said they'll fix it … in the future … sometime. But I love it and it seems random enough to me. As random as the reals.

9 hours ago, Darth Sanguis said:

I've been playing around with the dice app, and while I like it for custom games or relaxed settings, I almost feel concerned that it may be "abused" for tournaments.

I've been testing blue rolls, trying to zero in on the exact number of fighters I want on my Sloane fleet, and I've noticed that the dice app can get stuck on a face.

For instance:

My first set of 12 did 9 damage 3 accuracy (started on hit)
The second set of 12 did 5 damage 7 accuracy (started on acc)
My third set of 12 did 5 damage 7 accuracy (started on acc)

While I noticed the pattern for the 1st and 2nd I didn't record it, but for set number 3 results for rolls 1-4 were all acc, then a crit (rerolled to a hit) then 4 more hits 2 accuracy and a crit (reroll to accuracy).

Out of 12 blues, with a reroll on crits I feel like I should be seeing numbers closer to 7-8 damage 2-3 accuracy

I have yet to test it with my real dice but I should be seeing more damage than accuracy, right?

Has anyone else noticed this with the app?

If you insist on using the dice app, I WILL hurt you, until you recant.

First of all, always use real stuff. This is a tabletop game after all.

Secondly the dices produce slightly different results than you would expect based on the number of symbols on them. This is because the carvings slightly change the weight balance of the dices. Although there are special dices with little bubbles in them which try to compensate this.

Thirdly every diceroll app works with random numbers. Except that computers cant generate true random numbers, they use complex, multi-variance algorythms to emulate random picking. Therefore there always will be some kind of pattern in the rolls of the app (the more you roll the clearer it grets), something you would never see with real dices.

2 hours ago, Green Knight said:

If you insist on using the dice app, I WILL hurt you, until you recant.

GK, I have some bad news regarding Vassal games...

1 hour ago, thecactusman17 said:

GK, I have some bad news regarding Vassal games...

5 hours ago, Norell said:

First of all, always use real stuff. This is a tabletop game after all.

Secondly the dices produce slightly different results than you would expect based on the number of symbols on them. This is because the carvings slightly change the weight balance of the dices. Although there are special dices with little bubbles in them which try to compensate this.

Thirdly every diceroll app works with random numbers. Except that computers cant generate true random numbers, they use complex, multi-variance algorythms to emulate random picking. Therefore there always will be some kind of pattern in the rolls of the app (the more you roll the clearer it grets), something you would never see with real dices.

I don't know if you've used FFG's, it seems to just be a physics engine with dice in it....

6 hours ago, Green Knight said:

If you insist on using the dice app, I WILL hurt you, until you recant.

Heh I prefer the real thing myself lol

8 hours ago, Green Knight said:

If you insist on using the dice app, I WILL hurt you, until you recant.

The Dice app doesn't bother me.

Its when people use the word dices in this context that gets me ::shudder::

(Not that you did, but it happens )

Always dice!

How could you get the pleasure from shooting with an ISD or Ackbar?

2 hours ago, Darth Sanguis said:

I don't know if you've used FFG's, it seems to just be a physics engine with dice in it....

ANY program that has random elements needs a random generator of some sort. It doesn't matter if it only gives you a random number or it "rolls" a virtual dice.

39 minutes ago, ovinomanc3r said:

Always dice!

How could you get the pleasure from shooting with an ISD or Ackbar?

Especially when you roll the dice and say "pew, pew, pew..." while rolling...WAAAAY better sound effects if you ask me!

22 hours ago, Norell said:

First of all, always use real stuff. This is a tabletop game after all.

Secondly the dices produce slightly different results than you would expect based on the number of symbols on them. This is because the carvings slightly change the weight balance of the dices. Although there are special dices with little bubbles in them which try to compensate this.

Thirdly every diceroll app works with random numbers. Except that computers cant generate true random numbers, they use complex, multi-variance algorythms to emulate random picking. Therefore there always will be some kind of pattern in the rolls of the app (the more you roll the clearer it grets), something you would never see with real dices.

But if you don't know what the bias in any given random number generator - digital or octohedronic - is, then what does it matter that there is an infinitesimal bias in them?

Personally, I just put my faith in the Dark Side and trust that the Emperor wants me to do well.

It doesn't matter what method the program uses, its rolls bever will be as random as rolling dices. Plus rolling them by yourself feels sooooo satisfying

Touchy Feeny. ..

Dice all the way, and I'm not really a kinaesthetic!