 |
| My Dice Board |
As you should know, unless you're a bit dim (it's okay, I know a few just like you), you know you can roll dice just about anywhere. You can roll dice on a table (as is traditional), the floor (a bit hard on the knees), a bit of scrap wood (you could, but why), the pavement (if your wife's thrown you out), the coffin of recently deceased loved one (a bit distateful perhaps), a runway at Heathrow airport (just don't get confused for a Just Stop Oil moron), even on the ample forehead of a gobby nephew. Any flat surface will do.
But, as Yahtzee connoisseurs, are we not sophisticated people? The kind of sophistication you would find in a golf resort or a country club sipping brandy and discussing the stock market? Nah, of course not, well at least I know I'm not. I'm common as muck, mouth like a sewer with a hankering for too much cider. But even so, surely we can do a lot better than just a generic flat surface. Well, don't worry, we CAN do a lot better. This is where the dice board comes in. In fact, if you're playing competitive Yahtzee, especially in the bloated numbers that our faction often does, a dice board is required. There is a reason for this. It isn't just me being pedantic. The dice board serves to keep the dice well contained so you aren't having to reach across the table and over fellow players to retrieve errant dice. It also serves to give each player a fair view of what the other player is rolling, just in case your faction has the odd sneaky opponent (like ours)!
So, what do you wanna look for when getting a dice board? Let's be clear, it's not rocket science, but there are a few things to consider. No dice board is going to make you a better player. If you're crap, that's on you, but a decent dice board can make a match a lot more efficient. So the first thing to consider is the size. Size does matter (as my wife keeps reminding me). You don't want some big numb dice board that totally negates the reason for having a dice board in the first place. Plus you'll need some space on the table for your beers, because as you know, Yahtzee is always better with alcohol. When you're on the dice you want them as accessible as possible. You want to be able to see all five dice at the same time so you can make your make or break decisions efficiently and accurately. If you can't catch them in your line of sight from the start; USELESS!! You've got a match to win, by God! Don't let these needless distractions bog you down! You deserve better than that! You're a winner (presumably). Conversely, you don't want some silly little dice board no bigger than a coaster. Trust me, I have one. These things are, quite frankly, a bloody faff. Much like a great ballet dancer needs space on the stage to ply their trade, so does the proficient Yahtzee player while they're at the board. It must be big enough that you can set dice to the side without taking them out of the board leaving plenty of room for them not to hinder subsequent rolls. Not only does removing the dice from the board invite those pesky cheats to take their chance, it's also a huge pain in the arse.
Secondly, you want to consider how your dice board is made. If you're like me, you want to get something that's gonna last. I mean, let's not be wasteful kids! You don't want some flimsy piece of crap that won't last a league! You can buy cheap dice boards that come flat and they press stud together to form the walls of the board. Don't waste your money. They're just not man enough. Go for a nice wooden one with a solid wood base. Providing you get a quality one, it'll last until you convince yourself you need another. Also, get one with a nice felt lining. Red lining if you wanna feel like you're in a saloon in the old west. Green if you want that good old british working men's club vibe. The felt really dampens the noise and can make a surprising difference when your temper is on a hair trigger and the slightest noise can send you into a rampage.
Finally, and probably least important is the shape. There are usually two basic shapes; rectangular and octagonal. Is either one better than the other? I doubt it. This is probably one aspect, one of the very few aspects, that I have no opinion of. To me, it really just comes down to preference. I use an octagonal one, but nothing would stop me from getting a rectangular one in the future.
Dice boards can be bought relatively cheaply, but as with most things, you get what you pay for. So you don't have to spend a fortune but I wouldn't advise being a skinflint. I will not attempt sway your decision on what dice board you should get by bombarding you with links to products. Dice boards can be found very easily on amazon or a number of different role playing game stores, so I would suggest taking the time rather than just listening to me. I am here merely to offer the benefit of my experience, not to dictate. I can't cope with those people. I ain't no Yahtzee Nazi.
Until next time, happy rolling!!
Comments
Post a Comment