Guide • 5 min read •
Dice Notation Guide - How to Read and Write NdM+K Syntax
Dice notation is the universal shorthand used by tabletop roleplaying games and digital dice rollers to specify how many dice to roll, how many sides they possess, and any static modifiers to apply.
The Anatomy of NdM Syntax
Standard dice notation follows the formula **NdM**, where:
- **N** represents the **quantity** of dice to roll (e.g. 1, 2, 4, 10). If omitted (like *d20*), N defaults to 1.
- **d** stands for **die** or **dice**.
- **M** represents the **number of sides (faces)** on each die (e.g. 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 20, 100).
For example, **3d6** directs the roller to roll three six-sided dice and add their outcomes together.
Adding Modifiers: NdM + K and NdM - K
Modifiers are static integers added to or subtracted from the dice sum to account for character attributes, proficiency bonuses, equipment quality, or environmental penalties.
- **1d20 + 5**: Roll one 20-sided die and add 5 to the total (e.g. roll 14 + 5 = 19).
- **2d6 + 3**: Roll two 6-sided dice and add 3 to the sum.
- **4d6 - 2**: Roll four 6-sided dice and subtract 2 from the sum.
Supported Syntax on DiceRoller.fun
Our engine implements a strict, safe arithmetic parser without using unsafe eval():
- **Standard Expressions**: `1d6`, `2d8`, `1d20`, `1d100`
- **Modifiers**: `2d6+4`, `1d20-3`, `3d8+10`
- **Implicit Count**: `d6` (evaluates as 1d6), `d20+2` (evaluates as 1d20+2)
- **Arbitrary Custom Dice**: `1d17`, `3d50`, `2d1000`
- **Limits**: Maximum 100 dice, maximum 1000 sides, modifiers from -100,000 to +100,000.
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Guide FAQ
What does 2d6+3 mean?
It means roll two six-sided dice, sum their faces, and add 3 to the total. The minimum possible roll is 5 (1+1+3) and the maximum is 15 (6+6+3).
Can you roll a die with odd numbers like 1d7?
Yes! Our custom dice roller supports any face count between 2 and 1000, including 1d7, 1d17, and 1d50.