December 19, 2024: The Politics Of Dropping

How do you handle fumbled dice? Does out of the dice tray (if you use one) but still on the table count? Off the table? What about "off the table, but it's a really good roll?" Cocked dice trapped in the corner of dice trays, lying on counters or figures, etc.?

As I thought of the question, I realized it's actually a really tricky question. Since most games I play with my family are pretty casual (or even co-op), we tend to be generous and forgiving in our rolls and interpretations. Even so, I realize our method could lead to some really sour moments at some tables, depending on how cutthroat the game is. ("Oops, let me re-roll that one," I mutter as the security guards escort me away from the craps table . . .)

Does everyone at the table have to follow the same policy? Do you sort that out ahead of time, or as it comes up? How "in depth" is the code of honor?

If there's some kind of universal thought or treatise on the topic, I'd love to hear about it (maybe on the forums?). But playing it back in my mind, I'm realizing I'm a lot looser in my randomizer morality than I'd realized on first thought . . .

-- Steven Marsh