10 Sided Dice: D10 Facts

We may say that the 10-sided dice (or die) is one of the icons of recreational gaming and gambling. We see it in small-time lotteries, in simple board games, and of course in luxurious casinos. here recommended online d10 dice roller you can use it for multiple games.

When we play, we don’t know what has happened throughout the course of human history that brought the dice to what it is today. Well, history tells us a rich story behind the tiny object we throw many times during a single game. 

Surprisingly, there are many types of dice used for different purposes. One particular type is the d10 or the ten-sided dice. How has it evolved and become useful to people? Read more about it below.

Long History

Apparently, the dice have been part of civilization. Thus, in the course of our history, it has appeared consistently. Ancient Egypt has created some of the most beautiful ones. 

The Sumerian times also used it. And up to contemporary times, dice are used in games such as Dungeons and Dragons.

The earliest recorded time when dice were known as 3100 BCE. During this time, there are Senet boards where an object is used for randomization. 

The object is a two-sided piece, which can be considered a dice. In 3000 BCE, game pieces that include dice are found in ancient Turkey. The dice is confirmed as the oldest. 

In 2000 BCE, scientists found cubical dice in Egyptian tombs. This shows that as the dice became part of the games people play, their sides and structure also changed. 

Across history, many parts of Europe have their own share of dice stories. In 600 BCE, there were also cubical dice found by scientists in China. 

As it seems, there is a rich history of how the dice we know today have changed in their shape and purpose.

Polyhedral Dice

The ten-sided is one of the standard polyhedral dice. When we say polyhedral, it is not just the usual six-sided dice we always see in common games. 

Polyhedral has become popular because of its use in various home schools, education institutions, and a lot of contemporary games. You can purchase them individually. You can also have them all in one set.

Use In Contemporary Games

One of the most common uses of a 10-sided dice is in generating numbers from 1 to 100. Gamers usually use two dice with different colors. 

The first one is designated as the ones, while the other is the tens. The designation is associated with the color. In this way, there is consistency and standard rule in the generation of numbers. 

For example, if the colors are red and yellow you may designate red as the ones and yellow as the tens. So, if the red is 5 and the yellow is zero, then the number is 5. 

In this way, there will be no confusion. It will be automatic that everyone is in the agreement with the number generated. This makes the game in order.

What Dice Do You Need For D&D?

The most important dice you’ll need for D&D is the d20, that is, the 20-sided die. Additionally, you’ll need all other standard polyhedral RPG dice (d4, d6, d8, 10, d12, d100) for some specific actions like damage rolls and random tables. 

Lucky you, most dice sets come with one of each kind! However, keep in mind that you’ll often be asked to roll multiple dice of the same kind in a single roll. 

For example, with advantage or disadvantage rolls on D&D. So if you can get two dice of each, this will make everything faster for you!

If you don’t want to go overboard buying dice, one of each with an extra d20 will cover 99% of your rolling needs. And if you ever need to roll two smaller dice at the same time, you can always borrow (or steal if you play rogue) some dice from your friends!

What's The History Of D&D Dice?

Polyhedral dice of all shapes exist since ancient times, although historically the six-sided die (or d6) has always been the most popular one. 

But it wasn’t until the mid-20th century that polyhedral dice sets began to rise in popularity, thanks to wargames and RPGs.

In the 70s, the first D&D Basic Set was published, with an included dice set: d4, d6, d8, d12, and d20. 

As you can see, it initially was missing the d10 and d100, but later on, they would become part of any RPG dice set out there.

Some RPGs use non-standard dice too, like d2s, d3s, or Fudge Dice (which don’t have numbers at all!). Check out this blog post for a breakdown of different ways games use dice.

What To Look For In Good D&D Dice

The most important thing about dice is, of course, balance! The best way to make sure a die is balanced before buying it is to go to reputable brands such as Norse Foundry for RPG dice. 

For example, their aluminum, copper, and tungsten dice are milled with CNC machinery, which gives them precision within 0.05 of a millimeter!

Once you get them, you can try the salt water test if you want to be 100% sure they’ll be fair. 

If the dice are made of a material that can float (like plastic), make them float in salted water and flick them several times. 

If the number that ends up on top is often different, you got a balanced die!

Then there’s, of course, durability! Make sure the materials don’t break or deform easily, as this could change the balance of the die. 

And check that the numbers will still be visible after a lot of use. There’s nothing worse than having to squint after an epic roll to see that tiny worn-out number!

Finally, think about aesthetics! Using bright rainbow dice for a dark, edgy rogue can be a bit of a tone whiplash, so choose dice that fit your character’s mood and tone. 

And it’s not just about the color! Some companies, like Norse Foundry, make metal and gemstone dice, which aren’t just extra shiny but also provide a very satisfying weight! 

Of course, some materials (like gemstones) will be more fragile than others, so you’ll have to choose what’s more important to you.