✍️ Dice Notation Explained: d20, 2d6, d100 and 4dF
How to read common dice expressions without pretending it is advanced algebra.
Dice notation compresses a roll into a few characters. Once you know the pattern, expressions like 2d6+3 stop looking like encrypted tabletop paperwork.
The basic pattern: XdY
The number before the letter d tells you how many dice to roll. The number after it tells you how many sides each die has.
| Notation | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 1d6 | Roll one six-sided die. |
| 2d6 | Roll two six-sided dice and usually add them. |
| 3d8 | Roll three eight-sided dice. |
| 1d20 | Roll one twenty-sided die. |
| 1d100 | Generate a result from 1 to 100. |
Modifiers come after the roll
An expression such as 2d6+3 means roll two D6, add their values, then add 3. A minus sign works the same way in reverse. Other notation such as keeping the highest die, exploding dice or rerolls varies by game, so the rulebook defines the exact syntax.
What is 4dF?
Fudge/Fate dice use faces marked plus, minus and blank rather than ordinary numbers. Rolling four of them produces a total from -4 to +4, with values near 0 much more common than the extremes.