| |
BGonline.org Forums
Dice and Boards
Posted By: Gregg Cattanach In Response To: Dice and Boards (Bill Riles)
Date: Tuesday, 28 October 2008, at 5:55 p.m.
1) Once the 4 dice are selected for the match, it's against the rules to bring any new dice into the game, (unless you have a defective die.) "Rule 3.3 [...] the equipment initially selected shall be used throughout." The tradition of two dice each of two colors (and each player gets one of each) is a sensible anti-cheating measure, though not spelled out in the rules. Four identical dice would achieve the same goal.
2) I hate hard surfaced boards as well. All that waiting for a die to quit spinning on its corner like a ballerina is beyond annoying. And it could be a real consideration in clocked matches.
3) Speaking of Malcolm, he prefers to use two dice of the same color when playing a clocked match. Then there isn't a debate as to who gets which die on the opening roll. (Actually, this makes a smidgen of sense to defeat a possible dice cheat, though using gaffed dice throughout a clocked match is a pretty stupid way to cheat.)
4) Selecting boards: The rules say you get to roll for board preference, (and/or seats, checker color, direction of play). If someone has a REALLY dodgey board that would be a major distraction, I might go to the TD to ask that we not use it if the player really wants to use it, thought the rules are silent about the size, style and types of boards that are acceptable. I've seen a few boards with a very wide bar that can make it hard to 'see' and visualize moves across that larger than normal bar.
5) Small dice. I agree that the small dice give much more action in the cup and across the board, and are therefore 'more random', (if there is such a thing.) If you use the largest dice on a hard surface, you can roll without having them tumble much at all.
| |
BGonline.org Forums is maintained by Stick with WebBBS 5.12.