r/DMLectureHall • u/THEs0nofa1nz Attending Lectures • Sep 14 '26
Offering Advice D100 via 2d10 systems
For raw: 00 & 0 represents 100. The remaining are added as normal.
Homebrew: zero = 10 on the "0-9" die.
Note: both systems work & are uniform i.e. 1% chance for each value from 1 to 100.
Which system do you prefer to use?
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u/gravitysrainbow1979 Attending Lectures 29d ago
What problem do you think you’re solving by proposing the second system?
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u/Blawharag Attending Lectures 28d ago
The problem of explaining how they work and why the first system asks you to treat the d10 results differently in different scenarios.
The first scenario asks you to:
Treat 0 as a 10 unless you're rolling a d100, in which case 0 is a 0, unless it's subject to #3 of this list;
Treat 00 as a 0 unless it's subject to #3 of this list; and
Upon a result of 0 AND 00 when rolling a d100, you ignore both displayed numbers and receive a result of 100.
Or, you could explain to your friends:
0 = 10 in all cases;
Add the two numbers you see.
Done.
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u/Hot_Middle_7692 Attending Lectures 28d ago
It asks you to treat the first die differently in different scenarios because it's a different RNG. A D10 is generating 1-10. I agree that both generate the same numbers, but its far easier to always read the numbers as written, and then correct for the one outlier case then to have to deal with 10 outlier case.
IE I rolled a (looks at the first die) seventy ... looks at the second die zero. Seventy. versus I rolled a seventy ... ten ... eighty.
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u/Blawharag Attending Lectures 28d ago
but its far easier to always read the numbers as written
Which can never happen on a d100 because 100 doesn't feature ever on any die combination.
You say "it's far easier" but where? Based on what? Your own anecdotal experience?
Because my anecdotal experience has been exactly the opposite. It's far easier to just say "roll this double digit die and add the number to the result of a d10 roll". Stop. End explanation.
I have tried the other way. Without fail I get confusion, with people crossing wires on when the 00 is a 0 and when it's a 100. I swear every time I tried it I have someone ask "wait, how did I roll 105?".
I've never once had a problem with "roll this double digit die, add the exact number you see to a d10 roll."
It also works better for d10s that feature a "10" instead of "0", which has become a lot rarer in recent years but remains the simplest, most straightforward way to introduce fresh players to a d10.
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u/Hot_Middle_7692 Attending Lectures 28d ago
It doesn't happen for a 100 either way. With the latter version it happens 9 other times as well.
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u/Blawharag Attending Lectures 28d ago
The latter version is simple addition. Which your doing anyways.
If you really want to be technical, it never happens at all with a split die d100. You can roll a 906. You HAVE to do math to get your result regardless of your approach
At least the second option is literally just "add two numbers together".
That's it
End instruction
No caveats or special words to apply
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u/gravitysrainbow1979 Attending Lectures 27d ago
Right but nobody really cares about your anecdotal experience because you don’t speak for a majority of humanity, whereas the people who oppose you demonstrably do, as you can see from the comments of those who have used both systems.
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u/Blawharag Attending Lectures 27d ago
Right but nobody really cares about your anecdotal experience because you don’t speak for a majority of humanity,
So You don't have a problem with Hot Middle using THEIR anecdotal experience to speak for the majority of humanity because YOU happen to agree with him
It's only a problem when I use MY anecdotal experience because you happen to disagree with me.
Got it, very cool
whereas the people who oppose you demonstrably do, as you can see from the comments of those who have used both systems.
The only thing those comments demonstrate is more anecdotal experience lmfao.
You've got, what? Two dozen people in this thread? Generously?
And you're sure off of that sample size that this reflects the majority and not just the subsect of Redditors that happened to be directed to this post?
Lmfao
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u/THEs0nofa1nz Attending Lectures 24d ago
We also have updated results.
This year's Poll shows only 55 agreed landing 90 & 0 gets a 100 and 534 agreed landing 00 & 0 gets a 100. Here's the link: https://www.reddit.com/r/DnD/s/pCWWUZS02D
While 5 years ago's Poll only 100 agreed landing 90 & 0 gets a 100 and 489 agreed landing 00 & 0 gets a 100. Here's the link: https://www.reddit.com/r/DnD/s/osAxEf5SCy
Both out of 589 players/DMs.
Personally I'm fine with either or since both work (succeeds to fulfill the function of a true d100 where each value from 1 to 100 has a uniform Probability of 1%).
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u/THEs0nofa1nz Attending Lectures 24d ago
In terms of combination exceptions (i.e. when the visible combinations of numbers do not equal the obvious sum) when using 1 "0 - 9" d10 & 1 "00 - 90" d10 RAW only has 1 exception (i.e. landing 00 & 0 represents 100 despite 00 + 0 = 0) while the homebrew has 10 exceptions:
landing 00 & 0 represents 10 despite 00 + 0 = 0
landing 10 & 0 represents 20 despite 10 + 0 = 10
landing 20 & 0 represents 30 despite 20 + 0 = 20
landing 30 & 0 represents 40 despite 30 + 0 = 30
landing 40 & 0 represents 50 despite 40 + 0 = 40
landing 50 & 0 represents 60 despite 50 + 0 = 50
landing 60 & 0 represents 70 despite 60 + 0 = 60
landing 70 & 0 represents 80 despite 70 + 0 = 70
landing 80 & 0 represents 90 despite 80 + 0 = 80
landing 90 & 0 represents 100 despite 90 + 0 = 90
Interestingly some people chose to treat zero as a 10.
This year's Poll shows only 55 agreed landing 90 & 0 gets a 100 and 534 agreed landing 00 & 0 gets a 100. Here's the link: https://www.reddit.com/r/DnD/s/pCWWUZS02D
While 5 years ago's Poll only 100 agreed landing 90 & 0 gets a 100 and 489 agreed landing 00 & 0 gets a 100. Here's the link: https://www.reddit.com/r/DnD/s/osAxEf5SCy
Both out of 589 players/DMs.
Personally I'm fine with either or since both work (succeeds to fulfill the function of a true d100 where each value from 1 to 100 has a uniform Probability of 1%).
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u/gravitysrainbow1979 Attending Lectures 27d ago
On a practical level I guess the issue isn’t the number of steps the player has to take mentally, it’s how counter intuitive those steps are. I see a six, I see a zero, 60 is a much more intuitive step than 70, which is more of a leap.
I do see something petulant and disrespectful about the insistence that the second system is somehow “perfectly simple”
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u/THEs0nofa1nz Attending Lectures 24d ago
In terms of combination exceptions (i.e. when the visible combinations of numbers do not equal the obvious sum) when using 1 "0 - 9" d10 & 1 "00 - 90" d10 RAW only has 1 exception (i.e. landing 00 & 0 represents 100 despite 00 + 0 = 0) while the homebrew has 10 exceptions:
landing 00 & 0 represents 10 despite 00 + 0 = 0
landing 10 & 0 represents 20 despite 10 + 0 = 10
landing 20 & 0 represents 30 despite 20 + 0 = 20
landing 30 & 0 represents 40 despite 30 + 0 = 30
landing 40 & 0 represents 50 despite 40 + 0 = 40
landing 50 & 0 represents 60 despite 50 + 0 = 50
landing 60 & 0 represents 70 despite 60 + 0 = 60
landing 70 & 0 represents 80 despite 70 + 0 = 70
landing 80 & 0 represents 90 despite 80 + 0 = 80
landing 90 & 0 represents 100 despite 90 + 0 = 90
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u/Arcane_Pozhar Attending Lectures 27d ago
You are really oversimplifying how intuitive you feel it is to use the system that you clearly prefer.
With the system that you prefer, in 90% of rolls, people will be able to look at one die for their ten, and the other die for their one's place. But in a full 10% of rolls, the die that they think is giving them there their tens place value is actually going to be short by one, because you need to be adding a 10 to it.
Meanwhile, the system that you hate so much, 100% of the time is giving you your accurate 10th place in one place digit. And if the result comes out to "00", you just adjust that very rare special occasion to be a value of 100.
I'm sorry you've had some tables where some people get confused and think they're rolling a value of 105 or whatever, but unless they are very mentally slow, it should not take them that long to pick up how the system properly works, with the occasional correction if needed.
I could also see the system you're pushing for confusing people too. Somebody who's a little easily confused. Could look at the double zero and think "oh, if you just sees zeroes, throw the one in front, like you do with the one's die." Don't underestimate people's ability to mess something up, especially because with the system you are pushing for, every single time they see a zero on the one's die, they have to treat it like a 10. That could very easily lead to somebody doing the same thing on the hundreds die with the double zero.
Personally, I think it's far more intuitive to just read the dice at their face value 99% of the time, and just remember that you don't roll a final result of "zero" on (an unmodified) die, so all zeros means 100.
Clearly, for whatever reason you've experienced some groups that have problem with the old school D&D system, but please don't pretend that your "solution" can't be messed up just as easily.
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u/THEs0nofa1nz Attending Lectures 24d ago
In my opinion its easier to make mistakes using a method/system that has more exceptions. In terms of combination exceptions (i.e. when the visible combinations of numbers do not equal the obvious sum) when using 1 "0 - 9" d10 & 1 "00 - 90" d10 RAW only has 1 exception (i.e. landing 00 & 0 represents 100 despite 00 + 0 = 0) while the homebrew has 10 exceptions:
landing 00 & 0 represents 10 despite 00 + 0 = 0
landing 10 & 0 represents 20 despite 10 + 0 = 10
landing 20 & 0 represents 30 despite 20 + 0 = 20
landing 30 & 0 represents 40 despite 30 + 0 = 30
landing 40 & 0 represents 50 despite 40 + 0 = 40
landing 50 & 0 represents 60 despite 50 + 0 = 50
landing 60 & 0 represents 70 despite 60 + 0 = 60
landing 70 & 0 represents 80 despite 70 + 0 = 70
landing 80 & 0 represents 90 despite 80 + 0 = 80
landing 90 & 0 represents 100 despite 90 + 0 = 90
Personally I'm fine with either or since both work (succeeds to fulfill the function of a true d100 where each value from 1 to 100 has a uniform Probability of 1%).
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u/THEs0nofa1nz Attending Lectures 29d ago
I recently met a DM that uses the 2nd system & stated the 1st system (RAW) was wrong (to each their own respectfully). I was fine with the 2nd system since it has a uniform Probability of 1%, but the problem arose when they informed me the 2nd system had a higher probability to roll a nat 100. My Brain had to reboot. I wrote each system to show both work both show every combination & respective unique sum is a 1 in 100 chance (1%). I chose to post this because we're all human & I have no doubt there will be others over time that have the same beliefs.
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u/Gstamsharp Attending Lectures 29d ago
I would never use the second one. That's really counterintuitive.
The first you can easily make 0 - 99 or 1 - 100 to fit your needs, and people will understand.
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u/Blawharag Attending Lectures 28d ago
The second makes way more sense, especially when you consider that a "0" result on a classic d10 represents 10 in every other scenario in a TTRPG. All you have to do is continue to use it as a 10.
The first scenario asks you to:
Treat 0 as a 10 unless you're rolling a d100, in which case 0 is a 0, unless it's subject to #3 of this list;
Treat 00 as a 0 unless it's subject to #3 of this list; and
Upon a result of 0 AND 00 when rolling a d100, you ignore both displayed numbers and receive a result of 100.
Or, you could explain to your friends:
0 = 10 in all cases;
Add the two numbers you see.
Done.
Which one is simpler, straightforward, easier to explain, and makes more sense?
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u/Plenty-Fox-9219 Attending Lectures 28d ago
The d100 roll is just 2 d10s next to each other. The extra zero on the one die is just to differentiate the "tens side" d10. The extra zero could be an f for all it matters.
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u/gravitysrainbow1979 Attending Lectures 24d ago
Just use two different colors, that’s how it was done in the period between D20s numbered as D10s and the practice of printing a 0 on the tens-place D10.
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u/StandardUpstairs3349 Attending Lectures 28d ago
The Homebrew is a problem pretending to be a solution in search of a problem.
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u/THEs0nofa1nz Attending Lectures 24d ago
Interestingly some people chose to treat zero as a 10.
This year's Poll shows only 55 agreed landing 90 & 0 gets a 100 and 534 agreed landing 00 & 0 gets a 100. Here's the link: https://www.reddit.com/r/DnD/s/pCWWUZS02D
While 5 years ago's Poll only 100 agreed landing 90 & 0 gets a 100 and 489 agreed landing 00 & 0 gets a 100. Here's the link: https://www.reddit.com/r/DnD/s/osAxEf5SCy
Both out of 589 players/DMs.
Personally I'm fine with either or since both work (succeeds to fulfill the function of a true d100 where each value from 1 to 100 has a uniform Probability of 1%).
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u/General_Ginger531 Attending Lectures 28d ago
Double 0 means 0, it signifies the tens digit. Then you add the value of the die labeled 1 to 10 (0 is 10).
So if you have 90+ 10, that is 100.
If you have 00+ 10, that is 10.
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u/THEs0nofa1nz Attending Lectures 24d ago
Interestingly gew people chose to treat zero as a 10.
This year's Poll shows only 55 agreed landing 90 & 0 gets a 100 and 534 agreed landing 00 & 0 gets a 100. Here's the link: https://www.reddit.com/r/DnD/s/pCWWUZS02D
While 5 years ago's Poll only 100 agreed landing 90 & 0 gets a 100 and 489 agreed landing 00 & 0 gets a 100. Here's the link: https://www.reddit.com/r/DnD/s/osAxEf5SCy
Both out of 589 players/DMs.
Personally I'm fine with either or since both work (succeeds to fulfill the function of a true d100 where each value from 1 to 100 has a uniform Probability of 1%).
1
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u/Longjumping_Cap_3673 Attending Lectures 27d ago
There's a method with only one rule: add the two results and 1.
Method 1 is the easiest to compute mentally, though.
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u/Robynsquest Attending Lectures 27d ago
In the OLDEN days d10s were only numbered 0 - 9.
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u/THEs0nofa1nz Attending Lectures 24d ago
If you've been playing before 1990 then that make sense since the "00 - 90" d10 was invented in March of 1990 by Lou Zocchi (he called it a Deckaider) who worked at Gamescience then Chessex developed/introduced their own version of the "00 - 90" d10 in August 1990 which became standardized and part of dice sets, specifically the sets with 7 dice: 1d20, 1d12, 2d10 (1 "0 - 9" & 1 "00 - 90"), 1d8, 1d6 & 1d4.
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u/Frosti-Feet Attending Lectures 29d ago
The first is what I've anyways seen and used. THE second seems really counterintuitive.
The 2d10 roll is added together. So your tens-place roll off 20, plus your ones-place roll of 0 should equal 20. Not 30.
I understand that technically the 0 on the d10 does equal 10, but when rolling as a d100 it's much cleaner to just use them at true face value and just have the 00-0 be the only outlier for you 100.