4 Sided Dice: From Four to Six, the Sides Don’t Mix!

If you trace the origin of the dice game, you’ll discover that four-sided dice existed long before other forms of the gaming tool. 4 sided dice, or “D4” or “Tetrahedral dice”, were common in tabletop games rather than board games. These dice have their numbers randomly placed between 1 and 4 on shapes with rounded and pointed edges. 

Technically, 4 sided dice do not have four numerals on one side; they have three. A tetrahedron has four faces, but it has no chance of balancing on a point. Therefore, D4 often has a triangular shape, so the numbers on it are distributed in a way that they can be read without being touched. 

In this casino news, we’re exploring the history of four-sided dice, the games they can be used in, and their impact on modern gaming. But first, let’s do a comparison.

4 sided dice vs Sided Dice: From Squares to Pyramids

The main difference between D4s (4 sided dice) and D6s (six-sided dice) lies in their range of possible outcomes.

In D4s, the possible outcomes are smaller, only between 1 and 4. With this limited range, it could be used for games that don’t require a large scale of outcomes or to introduce a moderate level of randomness into certain dice games that are not commonly found in online casino games.

On the other hand, a D6 offers outcomes from 1 to 6, providing players with broader possibilities. This makes D6s more versatile for dice live dealer games and other traditional board games like Monopoly or Yahtzee, requiring a wider range of outcomes.

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History of 4-Sided Dice

Their history dates back thousands of years, from when people started to learn how to play dice. Often made with materials such as ivory, stones, and wood, these dice were the first sets of the polyhedral family to be created, and they served several purposes in different regions.

In Egypt, the 4 sided dice were associated with mystical and religious beliefs; the period brought the inception of pyramid-shaped variants used to tell fortunes at the time. Later, during the Roman era, similar shapes, which looked more elongated, called “tali,” were used in gambling and divination. Indians also used the 4 sided dice in divination practices, often serving an oracle—three 4-sided dice were rolled in sequence to form a 64 possible outcome. 

Similarly, in Rome, they were linked with the times of ancient Mesopotamia and used in royal games like the “Ur”. In Scandinavian culture, the game “Daldøs” employed 4-sided long dice, showcasing another early example of this type of dice used for gaming purposes. 

Over time, these dice spread globally, becoming popular across Europe and Asia. However, today, 4-sided dice have reduced immensely in popularity, being outshined by their six-sided counterpart. 

Types of 4 Sided Dice and Usage

There are two major types of them. They are the bottom read, and the top read D4. In the bottom read D4, numbers are counted from down to up, while values are noted from up to down in the top read. So, if you roll either of these two forms of dice, the value at the bottom or up position is the one that counts. 

Four-sided dice don’t have many board games associated, as the six-sided dice have Sic Bo and many more. They are mostly used in low-variance roll games, which are uncommon nowadays. In these games, there are not many options regarding their overall mechanics, so average outcomes are needed.

Learn more about dice casino games, and understand the main differences between these two.

Modern Gaming

In modern gaming, these dice are used for various purposes. They are commonly found in tabletop role-playing games (RPGs) like Dungeons & Dragons. These dice are typically used to determine the outcome of specific actions, such as damage dealt by a weapon or the effectiveness of a spell. But, beyond RPGs, 4-sided dice can also be used in board games and educational activities to introduce randomness and unpredictability into gameplay or decision-making processes.

Other games with dice can always be played for free in their demo version at Slots Paradise Casino. Use our American casino guide section to learn how to play them all.

Conclusion

Six-sided dice games might have outnumbered those played with the 4 sided dice, but their inclusion in any tabletop game promises thrilling gameplay. You may no be able to play a Liar’s Dice game effectively with them, but if you search well, you will find games that best work with D4.

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