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Baffle box.... one set of dice.... no cups... no clock

Posted By: Colin Owen
Date: Thursday, 19 January 2017, at 5:19 a.m.

In Response To: Baffle box.... one set of dice.... no cups... no clock (alex21)

"I believe shaking dice and trowing them over the board is part of what make this game so successful."

I suspect that you are right: dice are indeed nice to handle, shake (especially in a nice cup) and watch as they roll. But, you should acknowledge that some of us enjoy the game even more - perhaps much more - when dice are rolled through a baffle box as well as over the board. Some prefer to shake them first (in a cup) as well.

"I don't see the comparative advantage of the baffle box."

Is it not true that, in theory anyway, randomness can only be approached and never truly attained? But, with dice - as opposed to with a pack of cards for example - true randomness can be approached very closely, fairly quickly. So, should we not accord value to whatever method achieves this most efficiently and consistently? Unlike a good baffle box, a good dice cup is NOT a virtual random (dice) generator but, rather, a random (dice) facilitator. This is evident in the fact that, even if cups are lipped, there is still a prevailing belief that the dice should also be shaken and rolled properly. Sadly, some players are not very interested in doing this, which can detract from our enjoyment of an already tantalising game. A good baffle box practically eliminates such concerns, particularly (for some) if it is used in conjunction with a cup. Add to this a greatly reduced cocked dice rate (even with the 'on chequer' rule), the virtual eradication of rolls that are not simultaneous, as well as eliminating the time advantage for the player rolling into the outer boards. For some of us, it a no brainer.

And there is no less charm in using a baffle box.

Messages In This Thread

• Baffle box.... one set of dice.... no cups... no clock
  Bill Finneran -- Wednesday, 18 January 2017, at 12:53 p.m.
  • Baffle box.... one set of dice.... no cups... no clock
    Stick -- Wednesday, 18 January 2017, at 1:56 p.m.
    • Baffle box.... one set of dice.... no cups... no clock
      Bill Finneran -- Wednesday, 18 January 2017, at 3:03 p.m.
      • recent tournaments, it's a new rule
        MishyPoo -- Wednesday, 18 January 2017, at 3:14 p.m.
        • recent tournaments, it's a new rule
          Bill Riles -- Wednesday, 18 January 2017, at 9:14 p.m.
        • recent tournaments, it's a new rule
          Grant Hoffman -- Wednesday, 18 January 2017, at 9:22 p.m.
        • recent tournaments, it's a new rule
          Bill Finneran -- Thursday, 19 January 2017, at 12:29 a.m.
      • Baffle box.... one set of dice.... no cups... no clock
        Phil Simborg -- Wednesday, 18 January 2017, at 10:22 p.m.
        • Baffle box.... one set of dice.... no cups... no clock
          Barry Silliman -- Thursday, 19 January 2017, at 4:06 a.m.
  • Baffle box.... one set of dice.... no cups... no clock
    Albert Steg -- Wednesday, 18 January 2017, at 4:09 p.m.
    • Baffle box.... one set of dice.... no cups... no clock
      neilkaz -- Wednesday, 18 January 2017, at 8:40 p.m.
  • Baffle box.... one set of dice.... no cups... no clock
    alex21 -- Wednesday, 18 January 2017, at 9:49 p.m.
    • Baffle box.... one set of dice.... no cups... no clock
      Bill Riles -- Wednesday, 18 January 2017, at 10:00 p.m.
      • Baffle box.... one set of dice.... no cups... no clock
        Bill Finneran -- Thursday, 19 January 2017, at 12:32 a.m.
        • Baffle box.... one set of dice.... no cups... no clock
          Bill Riles -- Thursday, 19 January 2017, at 12:35 a.m.
          • Baffle box.... one set of dice.... no cups... no clock
            Colin Owen -- Thursday, 19 January 2017, at 1:27 a.m.
          • Baffle box.... one set of dice.... no cups... no clock
            vidvis -- Thursday, 19 January 2017, at 12:27 p.m.
    • Baffle box.... one set of dice.... no cups... no clock
      Colin Owen -- Thursday, 19 January 2017, at 5:19 a.m.
  • TRIGGER WARNING: Serious post, no poetry, no satire
    Barry Silliman -- Thursday, 19 January 2017, at 4:34 a.m.
    • TRIGGER WARNING: Serious post, no poetry, no satire
      Colin Owen -- Thursday, 19 January 2017, at 5:21 a.m.
    • TRIGGER WARNING: Serious post, no poetry, no satire
      MishyPoo -- Thursday, 19 January 2017, at 2:42 p.m.
    • TRIGGER WARNING: Serious post, no poetry, no satire
      Stick -- Thursday, 19 January 2017, at 2:52 p.m.
      • TRIGGER WARNING: Serious post, no poetry, no satire
        Barry Silliman -- Thursday, 19 January 2017, at 4:14 p.m.