---
key: mechanic/tabletop-systems--t182
type: mechanic
id: tabletop-systems--t182
lang: en
title: 'Dice, rerolls and result assignment'
summary: >-
  A roll supplies limited values; rerolling and assignment turn a random outcome
  into a manageable resource.
updatedAt: '2026-10-22'
status: active
url: 'https://gamemechanics.pro/en/knowledge/mechanic/tabletop-systems--t182/'
jsonUrl: >-
  https://gamemechanics.pro/api/v1/knowledge/en/mechanic/tabletop-systems--t182.json
markdownUrl: >-
  https://gamemechanics.pro/content/knowledge/en/mechanic/tabletop-systems--t182.md
aliases: []
tags:
  - 'Cards, dice and tabletop mechanics'
  - Mechanics and variants
sourceIds:
  - source-eceba0e40b661634
  - source-1701f69d697ae522
  - source-127368020a891d54
sources:
  - id: source-eceba0e40b661634
    title: 'PuzzleScript: Rules'
    url: 'https://www.puzzlescript.net/Documentation/rules.html'
    verifiedAt: null
  - id: source-1701f69d697ae522
    title: 'Wizards of the Coast: Magic rules'
    url: 'https://magic.wizards.com/en/rules'
    verifiedAt: null
  - id: source-127368020a891d54
    title: Dicey Dungeons
    url: 'https://store.steampowered.com/app/861540/'
    verifiedAt: null
relations: []
placements:
  - catalogId: tabletop-systems
    id: t182
    title: 'Cards, dice and tabletop mechanics'
    url: 'https://gamemechanics.pro/en/mechanics/tabletop-systems/#t182'
    categoryIds:
      - mechanics
supersededBy: []
attributes:
  preview:
    updatedAt: '2026-10-22'
    title: 'Dice, rerolls and result assignment'
    description: >-
      A roll supplies limited values; rerolling and assignment turn a random
      outcome into a manageable resource.
    image:
      src: images/mechanics/broad-dicey-dungeons-00.webp
      width: 1440
      height: 810
      game: Dicey Dungeons
      sourceUrl: 'https://store.steampowered.com/app/861540/'
      originalUrl: >-
        https://shared.akamai.steamstatic.com/store_item_assets/steam/apps/861540/ss_34c9e63f73c668bcde5dd4671e944c09e1c169b5.1920x1080.jpg?t=1761845135
      credit: Terry Cavanagh / Terry Cavanagh
      rights: © Terry Cavanagh / Terry Cavanagh. All rights reserved.
      caption: A rolled value is assigned to an eligible ability
      alt: A rolled value is assigned to an eligible ability
      markers:
        - x: 48
          'y': 34
          label: Duplicate accepts a die with a value of at least four
    tips:
      - Distinguish randomly obtaining a value from deliberately assigning it.
    examples:
      - title: Dicey Dungeons
        url: 'https://store.steampowered.com/app/861540/'
endsAt: null
provenance: >-
  Original bilingual editorial overviews authored for gamemechanics.pro on
  2026-10-20 and reviewed on 2026-10-21. Scenarios are hypothetical design
  examples; prototype checks describe work to perform, not completed playtests.
  Primary sources support the stated techniques and implementation context, not
  every proposed variant.
license: CC-BY-4.0
codeLicense: MIT
attribution: gamemechanics.pro contributors
catalogKey: catalog/tabletop-systems
---
# Dice, rerolls and result assignment

id: tabletop-systems--t182
type: mechanic
key: mechanic/tabletop-systems--t182
lang: en
status: active
url: https://gamemechanics.pro/en/knowledge/mechanic/tabletop-systems--t182/

A roll supplies limited values; rerolling and assignment turn a random outcome into a manageable resource.

## At a glance

![A rolled value is assigned to an eligible ability](https://gamemechanics.pro/images/mechanics/broad-dicey-dungeons-00.webp)

[Dicey Dungeons](https://store.steampowered.com/app/861540/) · © Terry Cavanagh / Terry Cavanagh. All rights reserved.

1. Duplicate accepts a die with a value of at least four

- Distinguish randomly obtaining a value from deliberately assigning it.

- [Dicey Dungeons](https://store.steampowered.com/app/861540/)

## How it works

A roll supplies limited values; rerolling and assignment turn a random outcome into a manageable resource.

## Variants

### Mechanic variants

<a id="t182-variants"></a>

- Keeping dice locks in useful results. <a id="t182-v1"></a>
- Rerolls consume a limited attempt budget. <a id="t182-v2"></a>
- Assignment distributes values between actions. <a id="t182-v3"></a>
- Modifiers alter results for an explicit cost. <a id="t182-v4"></a>

## Design example

A six can power an attack or long movement but cannot serve both actions at once.

Prototype check: Test locking and rerolling during simultaneous confirmations so each die is consumed only once.

## Context and limits

Tabletop mechanisms allocate limited actions and hidden information through cards, dice, positions and commitments. Each overview separates player actions, state changes and alternative rules. Examples are hypothetical design scenarios, not claims about a named game. A prototype check states an observable question for the next iteration. Existing detailed references remain separately linked from the direction map.

## Connected materials


## Sources and provenance

Original bilingual editorial overviews authored for gamemechanics.pro on 2026-10-20 and reviewed on 2026-10-21. Scenarios are hypothetical design examples; prototype checks describe work to perform, not completed playtests. Primary sources support the stated techniques and implementation context, not every proposed variant.

- [PuzzleScript: Rules](https://www.puzzlescript.net/Documentation/rules.html) (id: source-eceba0e40b661634)
- [Wizards of the Coast: Magic rules](https://magic.wizards.com/en/rules) (id: source-1701f69d697ae522)
- [Dicey Dungeons](https://store.steampowered.com/app/861540/) (id: source-127368020a891d54)

CC-BY-4.0 · gamemechanics.pro contributors