Guide · Reading the dice code
Dice Roller with Modifier
Updated: June 2026
Open any rulebook and you'll see shorthand like 3d6+2 or 1d20-1. It looks cryptic but it is just a compact recipe: how many dice, of what kind, plus or minus a fixed number. Learn to read it once and every game makes sense — and you can paste the notation straight into the roller to skip the fields entirely.
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Reading NdX+M
Dice notation follows one pattern: NdX+M. The N is how many dice you roll, the d simply means "die," the X is how many sides each die has, and the +M is an optional modifier added to the total. So 3d6+2 means "roll three six-sided dice, add them up, then add 2." If N is left out, it means one die: d20 is the same as 1d20. The modifier can be negative too — 1d8-1 rolls one eight-sided die and subtracts one.
| Notation | Means | Range |
|---|---|---|
| 1d20 | one 20-sided die | 1–20 |
| 2d6 | two 6-sided dice | 2–12 |
| 3d6+2 | three d6 plus 2 | 5–20 |
| 1d8-1 | one d8 minus 1 | 0–7 |
What a modifier actually does
A modifier is a flat shift applied after the dice are summed. It does not change how the dice behave — the spread of results stays the same shape — it simply slides the whole range up or down by a constant. Adding +2 to 3d6 moves the minimum from 3 to 5, the maximum from 18 to 20, and the average from 10.5 to 12.5. That is why modifiers represent steady bonuses like a character's strength or a weapon's quality: a reliable edge on top of the randomness, not a change to the luck itself.
With the tool, you can either type the modifier in its own field or include it in the notation box. Paste 3d6+2, press the arrow, and it fills the dice count, sides and modifier for you, then rolls — showing each die, the modifier, and the final total separately so the maths is transparent.
Keep highest and keep lowest
Beyond a flat modifier, many rules ask you to roll extra dice and keep only some of them. Rolling with advantage in modern role-playing games means roll two d20 and keep the higher; the classic ability-score roll is 4d6 keep the highest 3. This roller supports both directly: choose Keep Highest or Keep Lowest and set how many to keep. The dropped dice are crossed out so you can see exactly which counted, and only the kept dice feed into the total before any modifier is applied.
- Advantage — 2 dice, 20 sides, keep highest 1.
- Disadvantage — 2 dice, 20 sides, keep lowest 1.
- Ability scores — 4 dice, 6 sides, keep highest 3.
Why notation beats typing fields
Once you are comfortable with NdX+M, the notation box is the fastest way to roll. There is no clicking between fields and no chance of leaving an old modifier behind — you read the value straight from the rulebook, type it once, and roll. It is especially handy during a session when rolls change constantly: 2d6+3 for one attack, 1d12 for the next, 8d6 for a fireball. Whatever the game throws at you, the same little code describes it.
Frequently asked questions
What does 3d6+2 mean?
Roll three six-sided dice, add them, then add 2. The result ranges from 5 to 20, averaging 12.5.
What does the "d" mean?
It stands for die. In NdX, N is the number of dice and X is the number of sides, so 2d8 is two eight-sided dice.
How does a modifier affect the roll?
It's a flat number added to or subtracted from the total after rolling, shifting every result by the same amount.
Can I keep only the best dice?
Yes. Choose Keep Highest or Lowest and set how many to keep — perfect for advantage or 4d6 drop lowest.