How to use the command 'rolldice' (with examples)

The ‘rolldice’ command is used to simulate rolling dice in a virtual environment. It can be used to roll a single dice or multiple dice with modifiers and special rules. This command is useful for various tabletop role-playing games, board games, or any activity that requires random dice outcomes.

Use case 1: Roll a single 20 sided dice

Code:

rolldice d20

Motivation:

This use case is helpful when you need to simulate rolling a single 20-sided dice, commonly referred to as a d20. In many role-playing games, such as Dungeons and Dragons, d20 rolls are frequently used to determine outcomes like attack results, skill checks, or saving throws.

Explanation:

In this use case, the ‘rolldice’ command is followed by the argument ‘d20’, which specifies the type of dice to roll. The letter ’d’ followed by the number represents the type of dice. Here, ‘d20’ indicates a 20-sided dice roll.

Example output:

Rolling a d20...
Result: 17

The output of this command would display the result of rolling a single 20-sided dice, which in this case is 17.

Use case 2: Roll two six sided dice and drop the lowest roll

Code:

rolldice 2d6s1

Motivation:

Sometimes, certain games require rolling multiple dice and applying certain rules to determine the outcome. The use case of rolling two six-sided dice and dropping the lowest roll comes in handy in this scenario. It helps simulate situations where the lowest roll is disregarded, and only the higher roll is considered.

Explanation:

In this use case, the ‘rolldice’ command is followed by the argument ‘2d6s1’, which denotes rolling two six-sided dice and dropping the lowest roll. The number ‘2’ indicates the number of dice to roll, ‘d6’ represents six-sided dice, and ‘s1’ signifies that we should ignore the lowest roll.

Example output:

Rolling 2d6, dropping the lowest...
Results: 5, 4

The output of this command would display the results of rolling two six-sided dice, omitting the lowest roll. In this example, the results are 5 and 4.

Use case 3: Roll two 20 sided dice and add a modifier value

Code:

rolldice 2d20+5

Motivation:

In certain games, players may need to roll dice and incorporate additional modifiers to determine the final outcome. The use case of rolling two 20-sided dice and adding a modifier value enables such calculations.

Explanation:

In this use case, the ‘rolldice’ command is followed by the argument ‘2d20+5’, which involves rolling two 20-sided dice and adding a modifier value of 5. The number ‘2’ indicates the number of dice to roll, ‘d20’ denotes 20-sided dice, and ‘+5’ represents the modifier value to add to the final result.

Example output:

Rolling 2d20 and adding 5...
Results: 12, 16
Total: 33

The output of this command would display the results of rolling two 20-sided dice, along with the sum after adding the modifier value. In this example, the results of the dice rolls are 12 and 16, resulting in a total of 33 after adding the modifier.

Use case 4: Roll a 20 sided dice two times

Code:

rolldice 2xd20

Motivation:

There are situations where players may need to roll a specific type of dice multiple times. This use case of rolling a 20-sided dice two times allows for simulating such scenarios.

Explanation:

In this use case, the ‘rolldice’ command is followed by the argument ‘2xd20’, indicating the requirement to roll a 20-sided dice two times. The letter ‘x’ followed by the number specifies the number of times the dice should be rolled.

Example output:

Rolling a d20 twice...
Results: 19, 7

The output of this command would display the results of rolling a 20-sided dice two times. In this example, the results are 19 and 7.

Conclusion:

The ‘rolldice’ command provides a convenient way to simulate rolling dice in a virtual environment. By using different arguments, you can roll various types and quantities of dice, apply modifiers, and incorporate special rules. This flexibility makes it a versatile tool for tabletop role-playing games, board games, or any activity that requires random dice outcomes.