Tabletop guide / Published September 20, 2026

Tabletop RPGs Beyond D&D

How TTRPG dice systems differ

Most tabletop RPGs resolve actions with dice, but the type and number of dice vary. The three big families:

• d20 / polyhedral — roll one D20 (plus modifiers) against a target. D&D, Pathfinder.
• Percentile (d100) — roll two d10 for a 1–100 result, aiming under a skill %. Call of Cthulhu, RuneQuest.
• Dice pools — roll a handful of matching dice and count successes. Shadowrun, World of Darkness, Blades in the Dark.

8 systems and the dice they use

Takeaway for buyers: a standard seven-piece set (the 7-piece polyhedral set explained) covers d20 and mixed-polyhedral games; percentile games just need two d10; dice-pool games want many matching d6 or d10 in one color.

What to buy for each style

• d20 games (Pathfinder, D&D): one polyhedral set per player — see the best dice for D&D.
• Percentile games (Cthulhu): a set works; a spare pair of d10 helps.
• Dice-pool games (Shadowrun, Blades, WoD): buy 10–20 matching d6 or d10 so your pool is one clean color.
• Collectors: a premium resin, metal, or gemstone set for the character you love (resin dice guide, metal dice guide, gemstone dice guide).

For shops and publishers

Dice-pool games are an under-served stocking opportunity: sell matching-color d6 and d10 bundles, not just seven-piece sets. Publishers can commission custom pool dice with their own symbols — see custom dice for board games and custom configurator. Bulk options are in the wholesale D&D dice sets.

Frequently asked questions

Do all tabletop RPGs use the same dice as D&D?

No. D&D and Pathfinder use the d20 polyhedral set, but many systems use different dice: Call of Cthulhu uses percentile (two d10), while Shadowrun, World of Darkness, and Blades in the Dark use pools of matching d6 or d10. Star Wars/Genesys uses special narrative dice, and Dungeon Crawl Classics uses unusual "funky dice."

What is a dice pool?

A dice pool is a mechanic where you roll a handful of matching dice at once and count how many meet a success threshold, rather than rolling a single die. Shadowrun uses pools of d6, and World of Darkness uses pools of d10. Players usually want many dice of one color for a clean pool.

What dice do I need for Pathfinder?

Pathfinder uses the same standard seven-piece polyhedral set as D&D — D4, D6, D8, D10, D%, D12, and D20 — because it is a d20-based system. One set per player is the usual setup.

What dice does Call of Cthulhu use?

Call of Cthulhu is a percentile (d100) system: you roll two ten-sided dice to generate a result from 1 to 100 and try to roll under your skill percentage. A standard polyhedral set includes the d10s you need, though a dedicated percentile pair is handy.

How many dice should I buy for a dice-pool game?

For dice-pool systems like Shadowrun, World of Darkness, or Blades in the Dark, buy roughly 10–20 matching dice in a single color — d6 or d10 depending on the game — so your whole pool reads as one set. Sold as color-matched bundles, these are a great stocking item for shops.