Why Your Dice Hate You (And How to Fix It)

Why Your Dice Hate You (And How to Fix It)

If you're like me, you've stared at a d20 with fury in your eyes after yet another failed saving throw. You blame bad luck. You threaten your dice. Some of us have even banished them to dice jail. Sound familiar? You're not alone. It might feel like your dice hate you—but there’s more going on here than just misfortune. Let’s dive into the real reasons your rolls are cursed, and more importantly, what you can do about it.

The Curse of the Cold Dice

Ever sit down to your weekly game and notice that for the first 30 minutes, it’s nothing but ones and threes? You’re not imagining things. Dice that haven’t been rolled or warmed up can behave unpredictably. Plastic, resin, and even sharp-edged dice can roll differently based on minor temperature and wear factors.

You might think your dice are cursed, but in reality—they’re just misunderstood.

The solution? Get those rolls moving before game time. Roll your dice a few dozen times before play begins. Get them warmed up, mentally and physically. Just like stretching your DM muscles, it sets the tone.

Not All Dice Are Created Equal

Let’s talk manufacturing. Dice can be mass-made or hand-poured. Some are poorly balanced due to air bubbles or uneven distribution of material, resulting in a clear bias in your rolls. No joke—some mass-market dice sets are basically the gacha of Tabletop RPG tools.

Enter precision dice. Specifically, these Sharp Edge Dice from 1985 Games. These beauties aren't just visually stunning—they’re hand-poured with care, meaning better balance and consistency. I personally keep a set in my GM kit for important NPC rolls, because I know I can trust them to behave.

Superstition and the Psychology of Chance

We gamers have rituals: spinning dice, stacking minis, setting the scene music just right. But when you roll low three times in a row, it starts feeding into a feedback loop. That negativity becomes expectation. Expecting failure strangely makes us more likely to misinterpret and remember bad rolls. Science backs this—humans are wired to prioritize negative outcomes.

Breaking the cycle is easier than you might think. Switch out your dice. Instill them with new “mojo.” That’s why I keep multiple sets within reach during my sessions. Lately, I’ve been using the Sweetheart Dice Set—not just for their killer look with heart-shaped designs, but because they help reset my mindset. New dice, new narrative.

Dice Discipline: How You Roll Matters

If you're rolling your dice onto a soft couch cushion or your character sheet (please stop), you're setting yourself up for bad outcomes. Uneven surfaces cause inconsistent roll physics. That means more failed rolls, more frustration, and more suspicious glances from your players.

Note: Always use a hard, flat surface or a quality dice tray to maintain fair roll mechanics. It’s not just about style—it’s about fairness and consistency.

Don't want to lug around the same translucent blue dice set you've had since 2011? Try spicing it up with something fresh like this Mystery Dice Set. These are perfect if you're aiming for a unique set that feels thematic and rolls with gravitas. Surprisingly balanced and eye-catching, these dice breathe new life into your rolls—and they help you feel more immersed, too.

Time for a Dice Exorcism?

Okay, maybe “exorcism” is a bit much… but if you’ve named your dice and have a favorite d20 that you swear rolls better under moonlight, you're deep in the culture—and it’s kind of awesome. We love our dice for their drama and personality. So, why not make it a thing?

Here are a few fun ways players and GMs reset the vibes around their unlucky dice:

• Dice Jail: Isolate under-performing dice into a separate container. (Bonus points if it's thematic—I've used a Lego dungeon.)
• The Sacrifice: Destroy an old, unbalanced die in grand fashion. One of my players took a hammer to theirs—ceremoniously, of course.
• The Blessing: Let someone else roll your cursed die. If they roll high, the bad luck is broken. (Probably.)

Even GMs Aren’t Immune

Look, even as Game Masters—seen by our players as divine narrators of fate—we’re still ruled by the same chaotic forces of RNG. I’ll never forget the time I built a whole boss battle and then rolled triple nat 1s on their most epic abilities. The villain tripped over her cloak, dropped her dagger, then triggered her own trap.

Sometimes, the dice want the comedy of errors more than any twist you could write.

That’s part of the charm of TTRPGs, right? The unexpected, the beautiful disasters, the sessions where every roll derails your plans—in the best way. But having trustworthy dice helps smooth out those moments where tension matters more than chaos.

How to Fix Your Relationship with Dice

So here's the TL;DR if you're feeling like your fate is forever tied to botched rolls:

• Warm up your dice before the session.
• Invest in quality, balanced sets like the Sharp Edge Dice or Sweetheart Dice.
• Use proper rolling surfaces or trays for fair outcomes.
• Change up dice sets to reset the psychological creep of “bad luck.”
• Have fun with superstition—lean into the drama, not the frustration.

At the end of the day, they’re just little hunks of plastic or resin. But with the storytelling weight we give them, they might as well be sentient. Whether you’re rolling for initiative or making that final death save, a good set of dice doesn’t just change probabilities—it changes perception. And in this game we love, perception is everything.

Post updated on June 13, 2025, to improve navigation

Discover More GM Tips on YouTube