Random numbers with minimal fuss, a bunch of other stuff, and Sparkle Mode.
Featuring:
- Binary, hexademical, and dice modes
- Non-numeric modes for random cards, emoji, etc
- Quick button sets for ranges / options
- History for quick re-rolls, or reference
- "Slideshow" mode for a periodic stream of numbers
- Dice notation support
- Light and Dark mode
The app is available for android, or via web browser (PWA) at this url: https://randomlydie.vaults.ca
Use randomness for good.
Below are just some silly details you need not worry about. Have a nice day.
Oh, that. Well, one of the early uses for this app was to assist in creating random characters for roll playing games and rogue-likes. These unique creatures would frequently sadly and/or hilariously die. And, you know, the singular of dice? So there, you've dragged it out of me, it's some sort of filthy rotten pun-like construct! Are you happy now? I am so (not) ashamed.
That is, at least, part of the story.
Randomly/Die is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or (at your option) any later version.
See LICENSE for the full license text, and the source code is here: https://github.com/timtoo/randomlydie
I had the idea of implementing a game console-inspired text input mode, allowing standard old Dungeons & Dragons dice notation. Just as a sort of joke? But it could be useful?? Turns out there's a Wikipedia article on dice notation, which maybe I really should do more than glance at... but then I may find I may need a full blown resursive descent parser! Maybe just more fudges than anticipated, would do? Yeah, yeah, regex is fine.
More importantly (?), is there some way to extend the notation to encapsulate
the other settings of this generator, so I can use this notation throughout the
app? Namely, the "zero base" and "exclusive" flags. Maybe just append z and/or
x at the end? where d6 would be 1-6, d6zx would generate digits 0-5. That
seems simple enough? Also I need to specify a minimum value in addition the the
highest value (i.e the die number).
- standard:
3d6 - with optional multiplier:
3d6x5 - with optional plus or minus modifier:
3d6+2or3d6x5-2 - with optional repeat:
4x(3d6+2) - 1d6 is default, so these compact notations are equivalent:
d,d6,1d
The main addition is the ability to specify a lower bound (or a minimum value) on a dice rather than the assumed value of 1. This may be imagined by a rule stating that if any dice roles are below the given value those dice are re-rolled until they meet or exceed the minimum value.
To optionally note this role, append immedately after the die number (ie. number of sides, or maximum value) a greater than sign (closing angle bracket) followed by the minimum value. For example:
- 3 to 6:
1d6>3 - 8 to 12:
1d6>3 - 8 to 12 minus 4 (effectively 4 to 8):
d12>8-4 - 2 to 6:
d>2
In addition we add the concept of flags to the end of the notation. A flag is a single letter. There may be multiple flags, or no flags.
The flags are:
- exclusive mode:
x - zero based mode:
z
Exclusive mode means the upper bound (die number) is one more than the highest possible number. Zero based means we start counting at zero rather than one. (These flags are redundant in that the range could be expressed in absolute numbers, but they add semantic meaning for some uses.)
- 0 to 5:
1d6xzor1d6>0xor1d5>0
Other notes:
- If the upper bound is is less than the lower, they will be swapped.
So
1d20>10is functionally the same as1d10>20 - You can use negative numbers for upper and/or lower bounds:
1d-1>-6for a range between -1 and -6. - zero flag will not override explictly specified lower bound.
1d6>1zis still just1d6despite the zero base flag, but1d6zwould be the range 0 to 6.
We are trying really hard with the accessibility elements. Hopefully it's not too bad.