Editing Game mechanics (section)

=== Chance and randomization ===
{{See also|Random map|Procedural generation|}}

==== Dice ====
{{main|Dice}}

{{see also|Dice pool}}

The most common use of dice is to randomly determine the outcome of an interaction in a game. An example is a player rolling a die or dice to determine how many board spaces to move a game token.

Dice often determine the outcomes of in-game conflict between players, with different outcomes of the die/dice roll of different benefit (or adverse effect) to each player involved. This occurs in games that simulate direct conflicts of interest.

Different dice formulas are used to generate different probability curves. A single die has equal probability of landing on any particular side, and consequently produces a linear probability distribution curve. The sum of two or more dice, however, results in a bell curve-shaped probability distribution, with the addition of further dice resulting in a steeper bell curve, decreasing the likelihood of an extreme result. A linear curve is generally perceived by players as being more "swingy", whereas a bell curve is perceived as being more "fair".<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-11-22 |title=D&D and the Probability Curve |url=https://www.awesomedice.com/blogs/news/d-d-and-the-probability-curve |access-date=2024-03-05 |website=Awesome Dice |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-09-03 |title=Dice Probability Explained |url=https://www.gmdice.com/blogs/dnd/dice-probability-explained |access-date=2024-03-06 |website=Game Master Dice |language=en}}</ref>

==== Risk and reward ====
Some games include situations where players can "press their luck" in optional actions where the [[Risk|danger]] of a risk must be weighed against the chance of reward. For example, in ''[[Beowulf: The Legend]]'', players may elect to take a "Risk", with success yielding cards and failure weakening the player's ultimate chance of victory.<ref>
{{cite web |title=Beowulf: The Legend DESCRIPTION |url=http://www.fantasyflightgames.com/edge_minisite_sec.asp?eidm=38&esem=1 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101215150410/http://www.fantasyflightgames.com/edge_minisite_sec.asp?eidm=38&esem=1 |archive-date=15 December 2010 |access-date=20 May 2010 |publisher=Fantasy Flight Games}} "the player who took the risk instead takes a "scratch," a minor wound that has the strong potential to ultimately undermine the player's chances of success. These frequent risks are remarkably nerve-racking"
</ref>