Dice Tower

[Lysander]

I've seen in DnD 4.0 games a 'dice tower', where players roll skill checks that only GM's can see.

Savage Worlds ruleset could use that. Is it on the list of things to do? Or is it already available and I'm just missing it?

[Mask_of_winter]

I'll second that, I was just wishing that the Savage Worlds Ruleset had a dice tower also.

[Doswelk]

I failed to incorporate "the Box" when it was first written as the dice rolling code for the Savage Worlds ruleset is very different!

As I do not do any of the updates to the rule set (I just do the modules!), I cannot comment officially either way....

[phantomwhale]

I'd quite like to see one of these - but yeah, the Savage rolling has a few nuances with wild die, that might change things.

All said, what are the options for developing this as an extension ? I guess there might be legal difficulties here, as it'd be easiest to take the 4E code (property of Smiteworks) and either offering it to the community under open license (licensing issue) or as an extension under Smiteworks (unlikely to be a good offering - think users would rather see this is an updated ruleset than as a "bolt on extras" option).

That said, "The Box" is open licensed right ? Or is that what led to the 4E dice tower, thus not so open now ? I feel a grey area coming on... Either way, could use that as a starting point for a less legally cumbersome extension...

Probably should finish the one I'm working on first though

[phantomwhale]

Right, lets do this...

What should "The Box" - hence forth known as the SW Dice Tower - actually DO ? I've got the following initial spec (which is the 4E tower behavior):

• Allow player's to drop rolls onto the tower - this will inform the player the roll has been sent (e.g. "[Secret] Notice d6") and roll the dice normally on the GM's screen. Only the GM sees the results - it acts as a standard "hidden" roll.
• If the GM is running with revealed dice, have the tower appear to allow him to drop hidden rolls through the tower himself (as above, except no "informing" chat line, just the result)
• Turn it off and on via the options menu

Does that cover everything ? Or are there other conditions that this doesn't cover ? Also any thoughts on icons - I can re-use the 4E tower, but is there something more... Savage ?!? (or Western, even, thinking ahead to the DLR skin...)

[Doswelk]

Just some thoughts....

Should the players be allowed to see dice exploding?

I can arguments both ways, not sure if it can be stopped anyway.

With regard to icons...

Not good any good ideas:

The compass from the SWEX book?
Something similar to the tower but with Smiling Jack on it?

For Deadlands a wooden fort?

[phantomwhale]

I think they'll see dice explode - currently the interface is "roll visibly" or "roll hidden", there is no "roll without anyone seeing" ability, short of making a separate, secret GM-only chat window, or just rolling on the desktop and doing the exploding / adding up yourself !

Again, I see the argument either way, so will go with "players WILL see the dice explode" as it's the easiest option.

[mr_h]

All said, what are the options for developing this as an extension ? I guess there might be legal difficulties here, as it'd be easiest to take the 4E code (property of Smiteworks) and either offering it to the community under open license (licensing issue) or as an extension under Smiteworks (unlikely to be a good offering - think users would rather see this is an updated ruleset than as a "bolt on extras" option).

That said, "The Box" is open licensed right ? Or is that what led to the 4E dice tower, thus not so open now ? I feel a grey area coming on... Either way, could use that as a starting point for a less legally cumbersome extension...

I can't help with coding discussions, but there's a 'box' in the Castles and Crusades ruleset I think. I'm not sure if it's the same as the 4E one however.

[phantomwhale]

Well, just to be clear, the post you were quoting was from me before I got "on the inside" E.g. when I wanted to make a free extension to supplement the SW ruleset. Now I'm coding it for the SW ruleset, so licensing issues aren't an issue (e.g. I can just pinch the 4E code) as it's all under Smiteworks copyright.

So my question here, as someone who has never used "The Box" or the 4E tower, is what scenarios do people use these in, and does the above specification as a user cover all those possible scenarios ?

[mr_h]

That'll show me for not checking the date on posts...

Only one other situation that MIGHT arise: What if a player is say, picking another players pocket. He'd roll in secret to the GM, but he might need to see his own roll. (Note, this has never occurred to me yet, and maybe there's another way around it, but just one thing that came up to me).

As for the icon:
-I like Doswelks 'compass' idea
-Something with Bennies? (A benny with smiling jack?)