"Bolt Action Orders Dice Available for Pre-Order" Topic

Okay, so I didn't even look at a Demo while I was at GenCon, but what the heck are "Order Dice" used for? Not "throw it and that's your action this turn" surely?

Are they just another form of "order counters"?

Order counters.

A single die for each unit/crew/tank whatever are all put in a dice cup for each side. You randomly pull out a die to see who activates a unit next. Use these dice and you can also mark the orders given at the same time.

It's one less thing to clutter the table top by combining the dice and counters into one.

And what is nice is that the rules quite clearly state that ordinary dice can be used instead, so these are an optional add on to enhance the visual experience, rather than a "you must buy" option. I like, and will probably be picking some up anyway if they come in four colours. But wish they came in bigger pack sizes :-)

From what I understand you just need two lots of different coloured counters, doesn't need to be dice at all…

Mick

That's true. It just so happens there are 6 order types and a six-side die works out well.

But the demos I was in used dice for the dice cup and big order counters for the units. The counters were VERY easy to read which was a plus as far as I'm concerned.

If you don't have a ton of D6 (who doesn't?!?), the bolt action order dice will work quite well.

I played a few games while reviewing BA for Henry Hyde.

First time we just used standard D6. They look clunky on the table top and I don't think the "official" ones will alter that.

link

As the unit is activated the moment a dice/counter is drawn and placed by it, it doesn't need to go on the table top except to indicate the unit has spent its order so something more discrete could be used (and to indicate the "ambush" and "down" states).

Now the Warstore needs to get them on the siite for USA folks.

How many dice do you need for a game?

You need one dice or alternate counter for every unit in your force. Priestley's model force in this article link lists 13 units so that would be 13 dice.

The way the system works is that you have as many dice/tokens in the pot as you have units and these are drawn randomly to see whose and which unit is activated.

You need them even less than you need Saga dice for Saga

I need them and I ordered them.

So for 13 dice per side I need four packs, two per side. Okay thanks.

Counters and playing cards have the same effect.

@Tin Soldier Man: that's assuming you play a small game. Priestley doesn't preclude playing a larger one even if it's beyond what he might do.

They are an expensive gimmick.

They are not necessary.

The best thing about them is you can feel all smug and superior than those poor benighted heathens who actually bought them!!

Oh, so if I bought three packd per side would that cover me for bigger games? Thirty dice per side would surely let me do big games like the WWPD guys? That would limit my spend on the dice to £48.00 GBP for sixty D6.

I hope I don"t need to spend more than that?

Save the £48.00 GBP Use tiddlywink type counters.

What did Barnum say about one being born every minute?

Jeremy Sutcliff: While I DO understand what you are saying, it should be noted that unless you write the orders on the tiddly wink type counter, you will only get the dice cup benefit and not the orders marker benefit.

Some people prefer to keep track of less things on the table-top. Myself, I'm going to use cards for activation and little order counters for the orders assigned to the unit.

As the order is implemented immediately all you need is a marker to indicate that a unit's order has been spent for that turn or one that indicates that the order given is eiother "down" or "ambush"

The order dice remain an expensive and conspicuous gimmick on the tabletop.