Spartan Games Exploding Dice Tracking Method

Exploding dice in Spartan Games systems is a core function of the combat rules. The concept of exploding dice might be a strange one for those who are not used to it. A good way of keeping track of the dice that explode was taught to me during Gottacon when playing Firestorm Armada.

 

For regular weapons a four or five counts as one hit and a six counts as two hits. For an example of the exploding dice technique I have the above Brittania cruiser firing on a Prussian cruiser for the Dystopian Wars miniature game. It is firing broadsides torpedoes at range band two (eight to sixteen inches). The cruiser rolled six dice at this range band and on average one will come up a six. Because a six counts as the exploding die it counts as two hits and another die is rolled. Another die is rolled and the gunners are accurate today as this die came up with another six. On the second extra die a four is rolled. If another six was rolled yet another two hits would have been scored and yet another die is rolled. This is how a small frigate can take out a battleship, although the odds would be against it.

Spending the time counting would make seven hits, four for two sixes and three for the other three hits.

You could also make a pile of the dice that count as hits, by adding a die to it for every six. Now compare the two above pictures and tell me which one makes it faster to count the hits. The second method saves time and means more time gaming. Try it out.