IdeaWell

Project ideas from Hacker News discussions.

New type of dice guarantees no tie when deciding who goes first

Original Article

Hacker News Discussion

📝 Discussion Summary (Click to expand)

1. Physical vs. mathematical feasibility
Many commenters stressed that the challenge was not just proving a solution exists mathematically, but finding one that could actually be made.
- “So it was more of a physical problem rather than a mathematical one” – selcuka
- “They knew a solution existed but it was physically unfeasible, which prompted them to mathematically optimize the solution by using fewer sides” – complex_fir_rea

2. Computational difficulty of searching for fair dice
A recurring theme is the immense search space and the years of CPU time required to find or rule out small‑sided sets.
- “The big open question is whether a set of 5 (permutation fair) 30‑sided dice exists… exhausting the whole space I’m searching will still take my computer an estimated 70 years.” – bmenrigh
- “A lower bound of 30 is known but brute‑forcing it is still computationally expensive.” – complex_fir_rea

3. Simpler alternatives and what the problem actually demands
Participants repeatedly suggested easier ways (a single large die, token draws, fractional base‑six rolls) and debated whether those meet the stricter “permutation‑fair” requirement.
- “You can just pull tokens out of a bag to generate a random sequence of virtually any length.” – Fricken
- “Can somebody explain why not just make a die with 5! sides, and roll it once to decide the order?” – archargelod
- “Roll dice as if you're rolling a fractional base six number … preserving order without rerolls.” – kbelder

🚀 Project Ideas

Generating project ideas…

GoFirst Dice Solver

Summary

  • A web‑based search tool that finds permutation‑fair dice sets (Go First dice) for any number of players while minimizing the number of sides per die.
  • Provides board game designers and math enthusiasts with ready‑to‑use, manufacturable dice solutions that eliminate ties and guarantee fair ordering.

Details

Key Value
Target Audience Board game designers, puzzle solvers, recreational mathematicians
Core Feature Constraint‑based search (backtracking + pruning) that outputs dice face lists with verified permutation fairness and minimal side count
Tech Stack Python (NumPy, OR‑Tools SAT solver), Flask API, React frontend; optional WebAssembly for heavy search
Difficulty Medium
Monetization Hobby

Notes

  • HN commenters expressed frustration with the computational expense: “exhausting the whole space … will still take my computer an estimated 70 years” – a solver would let them “distribute the search and enlist help” (bmenrigh).
  • Enables quick experimentation: users can test “what if we try 30‑sided dice?” and instantly see if a solution exists, sparking further discussion on optimality.

Dice Fairness Validator & Visualizer

Summary

  • An interactive tool where users input the faces of each die and instantly see win/tie probabilities, permutation‑fairness scores, and visual heatmaps of outcomes.
  • Removes the guesswork in verifying proposed dice sets, letting users confirm fairness before sharing or manufacturing.

Details

Key Value
Target Audience Hobbyists, educators, game designers validating dice concepts
Core Feature Face‑list input → computation of pairwise win matrices, tie‑free check, permutation‑fairness metric; visualisation with D3.js/Plotly
Tech Stack React (or Svelte) frontend, D3.js for charts, hosted on Vercel/Netlify
Difficulty Low
Monetization Hobby

Notes

  • Commenters wanted to “check that your proposed solution works at all” (pfedak) and to see why simple constructions fail; this tool gives immediate feedback.
  • Visualizing the distribution encourages discussion on alternative designs and helps newcomers grasp the fairness criteria.

Custom Go First Dice Manufacturing Service

Summary

  • A service that turns a validated dice set into physical dice: generates 3D‑printable STL files or partners with a dice‑fabrication shop to produce low‑volume, engraved Go First dice.
  • Gives creators a path from abstract solution to tangible game component without needing CAD expertise.

Details

Key Value
Target Audience Kickstarter creators, indie publishers, enthusiasts wanting physical Go First dice
Core Feature Upload validated face numbers → automatic OpenSCAD‑generated STL (or quote for manufactured dice) with options for material, size, and numbering style
Tech Stack Node.js backend, OpenSCAD for STL generation, integration with Shapeways or similar API for on‑demand printing
Difficulty High
Monetization Revenue-ready: $25 per set of 5 dice (price varies with material/quantity)

Notes

  • Users noted the availability of existing sets but wanted “a lower bound of 30 … brute‑forcing it is still computationally expensive” – once a set is found, this service lets them get it made instantly.
  • Provides a practical outlet for the community’s solutions, turning theoretical dice into real‑world game accessories and fostering further discussion on optimal designs.

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