GLOSSARY · Dice & Randomizers
Dice Notation
The shorthand for describing a roll, like 2d6+3, meaning roll two six-sided dice and add 3 to the total.
Detailed definition
Dice notation is the quick shorthand rulebooks and character sheets use instead of spelling everything out. The number before the “d” is how many dice to roll, the number after is what kind of die, and anything tacked on the end is a flat modifier — so “2d6+3” means roll two six-sided dice, add them together, then add 3.
It looks intimidating the first time you see it on a sheet, but it’s really just a compact way of writing instructions that would otherwise take a full sentence. Once it clicks, you can read almost any roll a game asks for at a glance, whether it’s a simple “1d4” or a stacked “3d8+2.”
Want to decode what's actually on that character sheet?
Questions about how this applies to your situation? Ask us directly and we will give you a straight answer.