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I just overheard someone I know who is a TFG casually talking with another guy about Microwaving Dice.

How prevalent is this?

What are the signs if you are playing against someone with Nuked Dice?

(edited for spelling)

UsdiThunder wrote:What are the signs if you are playing against someone with Nuked Dice?

Mr. Geiger Counter starts acting funny.

I haven't personally done this, but I would imagine that some may lose their shape / the faces become slightly concave. I bought a tin of large GW dice that had this symptom, I don't know why... but I feel like there could be some visible indicators on at least some of the dice.

I wouldn't worry about it... not really something in your control and that kind of player will be caught red-handed eventually.

My nipples get erect near microwaved dice


But seriously, if you have a doubt ask to use his dice for saves

Is that supposed to warp the dice so that they roll unfairly?

What? i've never heard of this phenomenon! nuked dice eh! what are the effects supposed to be? you can't exactly control the nuking either can you? so you may as well not bother? correct me if i'm wrong (I am about a lot of things)

I hear if you microwave a CD for a few seconds, it gets a really cool lightning effect all over it

It apparently makes them like loaded dice with less effort.

The theory behind it is that if you place the dice with the number that you want them to roll facing up and then heat them (basicaly should be done in an oven not a microwave). As the dice heats it warps and gravity takes over making the bottom side heavier and ever so slightly wider. Now when rolling that dice the heavy larger side has a lot better odds of being underneath and you get the desired result

sn0zcumb3r wrote:The theory behind it is that if you place the dice with the number that you want them to roll facing up and then heat them (basicaly should be done in an oven not a microwave). As the dice heats it warps and gravity takes over making the bottom side heavier and ever so slightly wider. Now when rolling that dice the heavy larger side has a lot better odds of being underneath and you get the desired result

That would be my thinking on the matter as well. A pretty good (in a bad way) dodge, though would be quite easy to detect if done poorly.

Consider how a microwave works. It works by superheating the water molecules in whatever you put in there, unless its made of metal. It actually generates no real heat at all. Microwaving dice is a myth. That being said, putting them in the oven may work, as there is actual heat to melt the plastic.

But, anyway... If you suspect someone is using loaded/kinked/trick/etc dice, politely ask them to switch sets, either another set of theirs or use yours. Their reaction will tell you if they are cheating, or just really #$%@#%$ lucky.

Or have the unluckiest guy in the room handle the dice. That'll kill any good dice...

Not entirely true, Solo.

Many dice use a resin binder (PVC or other plastic), while other dice are made entirely of plastic. These will heat up in a microwave.

I would strongly advise against this. While it may or may not give you better dice results (cheater, cheater), it will release toxic fumes into your microwave or oven. You know, where you prepare your food?

Not smart. Don't gak where you eat, man.

Well its better then a guy I went against that had 3 dice that all had 5s on them.

Sn0z is right they microwave the dice to get the center of gravity to change.

Other things the TFGuys said:
Clear ones cloud
90% rolls trended 3+
Too long in the microwave and they are too noticeable
The squared edge dice were easier and had more reliable results

I thought it was a myth too, until I heard these two cheats talking about it.

Make sure not to play with those guys and point them out to TO's at tournaments.

Also, a chat with the FLGS manager is in order.

Trust me one was a close friend and is now barely an aquaintance. The other was just another guy in the crowd at the FLGS.

The only thing about talking to the TO or FLGS manager is that everything I heard is heresay until there is more concrete proof.

That's why I came here to see if there were people who had faced cheating like this, and if there were any other signs of this I should be looking for.

I already look for misshapen dice and make sure my opponent rolls his dice instead of dropping it. I also keep $7 available at all time to be able to say "Let's both replace our dice with one of the GW blocks" if I think he's got something funnier than a good run of luck.

kronk wrote:Not entirely true, Solo.
I would strongly advise against this. While it may or may not give you better dice results (cheater, cheater), it will release toxic fumes into your microwave or oven. You know, where you prepare your food?

I've found that the servants of Chaos are willing to give their souls for better dice rolls - so if they manage to poison themselves as well with such a diabolical experiment, well, I would not be surprised.

I don't think this would be easy to detect if done properly. However, I would think that anyone unscrupulous enough to cook their own dice would be caught cheating in other ways as well.

A guy at my local store did it after he was convinced he was cheated by someone. The dice shattered as soon as he rolled them.

Necros wrote:I hear if you microwave a CD for a few seconds, it gets a really cool lightning effect all over it

That is correct. The metal layer reflects the microwaves.

Ha, yeah, the discharge is pretty neat...and the zzzzp noise, like what I assume a shokk attack gun would sound like.

Ok, truth time...who is going to test this out?

Sure, why not. Heard this one forever and I'm curious what happens....

Results! Large Chessex Die in the microwave for 30 seconds. The die got Really hot. To the observation of my naked eye, the base of the die is no wider than the top of the die. However, there's a small spot on one of the sides where it started to crack and bubble out, a very noticeable little wart.

I tried this out a few years ago after someone in our store was accused of cheating with loaded dice. The idea was to see if it was visibly noticeable and if it rolled funny.

Using a few different controls, I microwaved the dice for different periods of time. Too long and it melts. The ideal way was short bursts of 10 seconds. In the end, the warp effect was only noticeable to someone who was looking for it. However, when rolled, they had a tendency to do a weird flip thing if trying to balance on edge. They were easy to spot just by rolling.

how does it roll?

Dice rolling with the power of the atom!

If you really wonder, put them in a cup of water.

SoloFalcon1138 wrote:
Or have the unluckiest guy in the room handle the dice. That'll kill any good dice...

Hey! I resemble that remark!

How did it roll Darkness?

I will try it tonight. I have 2 12mm White Koplow Square edge dice I'm willing to sacrifice to dakka science.

How should I do this little experiment?
nuke 10 seconds at a time...until what end?
How many rolls should I do?

narceron wrote:Ha, yeah, the discharge is pretty neat...and the zzzzp noise, like what I assume a shokk attack gun would sound like.

Ok, truth time...who is going to test this out?

I've done it. That's how I used to destroy confidential DVDs until a secure shredding machine was installed.

It rolls ok. Not superb. But better.

How about this weird flip dynamic, bucket of water test, and visible deformation?