What is Fate?
Fate is a fiction-focused roleplaying system in which aspects describe important truths about characters and situations. Skills or approaches say what a character can do; dice introduce uncertainty around that competence. The total on the four dice is therefore not normally the whole action result. A character with a strong relevant rating remains capable even when the dice themselves are merely average.
How to use the presets
Each Fate die has three equally likely outcomes: +1, 0 and -1. Four dice add to a value between -4 and +4. Add the appropriate skill or approach as an arithmetic modifier. The center is more common than either extreme. Invoking an aspect, spending a fate point or choosing a reroll is a rules decision, not something the page guesses from a disappointing result.
+, blank, -, + adds to +1. With a skill rating of +3, the action total is +4.
Four dice, with a soft spot for zero.
Four Fate dice have 81 equally likely symbol combinations. Select a total to see how many combinations produce it.
Practical table tips
- Write the skill or approach into the group label when sharing. A +2 dice result without a named action leaves out much of the useful context.
- Use separate modifier rows only when you want an explicit breakdown. A single combined bonus is easier to read if the table already agreed on it.
- Do not replace 4dF with 4d6 and a cosmetic label. The outcomes and distribution would be completely different.
Fate dice FAQ
Are blank faces zero?
Yes. A blank contributes zero to the dice total. It does not cancel a plus or trigger an extra roll.
Can I use this for Fate Accelerated?
Yes, for the basic dice operation. Supply an approach rating instead of a skill rating when your rules call for it.
Does the link save aspects or fate points?
No. It preserves dice groups and arithmetic modifiers, not the character sheet or session resources.
The tool does not resolve invokes, compels, opposition, ties or shifts automatically. It supplies the dice and the adjusted total.
Independent, unofficial dice aid. Game names identify the intended use; their publishers do not endorse this page. These original explanations are not a replacement for the rules.
🍜 Noodles can wait beside the dice. They do not contribute an extra modifier.