Some friends and I talked about it this weekend, and I'm curious about what you guys think. Here are some opinions that were brought up:

No, because there is a possibility for someone to hack the app giving them an unfair advantage

No, because there seem to be too many hits/evades rolled with the app vs regular die.

No, because the sounds are annoying.

Yes, because it is a FFG product just like the X-wing game itself.

Yes, because it was paid for so that I didn't have to purchase a Dice Pack or additional Starter. If I can't use it, then I feel cheated.

Yes, because of the cool sounds.

I'm sure there are more reasons for or against the use of the Dice App in tournaments. That is why I started this thread. I already sent a rules question asking if there will be an official ruling and will it be legal in the FFG World Championship Weekend? So, what do you guys think?

Roy

I was thinking the same thing. And I agree -- No.

No. Plain and simple.

Thanks for the replies. But please tell me why you say no?

Roy

While Roy didn't outright say it, I think it was implied from his original post that feedback would be helpful. These current responses sound like knee jerk reactions by technophobes. You may not be one, but that is what the posts came across as. I personally wouldn't prefer the dice app in tournament play but I don't see why they wouldn't sanction it. It's built by the company and billed as a different dice option for those that would prefer not to buy dice. If you can't use it during regular play, why make it available?

I would be more comfortable seeing it in regulation play if there was more intel behind the randomizing formulas to show that it is a consistent and fair randomizer. Even if they do allow it, I think requiring that if you bring the app, you must give your opponent the option to use the app (even if that means sharing your device), would go along way to breeding trust from those that hate these types of apps.

Yes. It's a FFG product. If you were talking about a second hand dice roller then that'd be a different story.

It's also an official XWing product listed under the "accessories" group right with the Dice pack itself.

The only section I see in the Tournament rules that would reference it is:

"Each player must bring an X-Wing core set and any additional components he needs for his squad. This includes but is not limited to dice, a range ruler, maneuver templates, asteroid tokens and a complete Damage deck."

The "but not limited to" tells me there's room for the dice app.

If the sound is annoying ask your opponent to turn it off, if they try to be a **** about it have the TO peg them for Unsportsmanlike Conduct. But if you're a **** about asking I'll pull the call right back at you.

I can't tell you how many times I've seen complaints about dice programs not being properly random. I've proven them out before and never found them to be incorrect. Not sure I can prove this one, but I see no reason for FFG to produce a skewed dice program and it's not rocket science to call rand().

Hacking, sure it's possible, but not likely. If it does happen it'll be out there quick, then they can release a new version and TOs can envorce a specific version number. Build in a check system to make sure it's valid, but that's probably all overkill.

I say no because FFG more than likely isn't going to have someone on hand qualified to verify the authenticity of the app. I, for one, am 100% capable of de-compiling and modifying the app to cheat in my favor. And I know there are many other people in the software field that can do the same. Physical dice don't lie.

I totally see it being allowed. It is an FFG offcial product, so my guess is that they would have to allow it. I think a dice roller is just as good as dice.

I agree that if one player used a dice roller, than both should be able to use it.

Thanks,

Duncan

Tawnos said:

Buhahahahahahahaha. heh… hahahahahaa.

You sir are hilarious.

Why don't you try and take you're own dice to a craps table in Vegas or Atlantic City give them that line and see what they say.

Are you suggesting that FFG provide the dice for official tournaments? Because that's probably a possibility.

Tawnos said:

No I'm simply sugesting that if someone wants to cheat and the requirement is to bring your own "dice" that it's possible wether it's electronic or physical.

I would wager that there's many more gamers capable of modifying a die rolling app than there are that can forge their own convincing weighted Star Wars dice. Also, dice can be inspected and replaced on the spot. I seriously doubt you could inspect the application and determine if it's been tampered with in the same amount of time.

And besides, if someone does end up suspecting that someone's app has been tampered with, what's going to happen? They're gonna be given physical dice to use in place of the app. So why not just cut out the middle man and say physical dice only?

Tawnos said:

One could probably offer the choice of an on-the-spot re-download of the app from the appropriate trusted app store (the iTunes store or Android Market) or to swap out for dice if the veracity of the app was under suspicion.

kaffis said:

I like this idea. It is very simple to delete an app and then redownload it for free. Usually just takes a few seconds. This could be done in front of the judge at the beginning of the tournament. That way everyone knows that it is a version that has not been tampered with.

Roy

Another option would be to rule that the player with the app must offer use of the app to his opponent. That way both players have access to it and no one would have an advantage.

Roy

drkjedi35 said:

This was one of the compromises I suggested earlier. If someone hacks their app, then allowing your opponent the opportunity to use the hacked app too should help. It isn't fool proof but may help bridge the gap.

Downloading the app may not be an option. At Gencon, there is no open wifi so redownloading can be difficult depending on the device.

I think people that want to cheat will always find a way. One option may be to release new versions of the app right before tournaments so that the window to hack is small. Maybe that won't matter to serious hackers but it can help prevent people from reading up on a forum and downloading the hack.