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I'm planning an encounter with the owner of a hotel casino who loads his dice, and for this encounter only I want my players to use special dice to roll poorly. If there is no website to purchase these from or a method to load my own dice, does anyone have an alternative suggestion to make this encounter have the desired effect?

Don't use loaded dice. Don't use dice at all.

Loaded dice are sketchy. Firstly, they don't always work. Secondly and more importantly you will undermine two of the most sacred aspects of the game: the opportunity that dice provide and trust that the GM is playing fair. This could have grave consequences for your campaign.

I suggest you get a deck of cards and rig it to be in just the right order so whatever game you're playing ends up a win for the house.

How you can do this:

• any good charlatan will let their quarry win enough times to make the deception seem fair.


• play in character. Be the casino owner. Put on a hat, change your accent or voice, wear glasses, or use some prop to make it very clear they are playing against the casino owner and not the GM. This will make it clear that the npc is tricking them, not the GM. It will also help to distract them from the deception, and it's fun.


• if you really want to do it right get two identical brand new decks of cards. Arrange one in order and place it well hidden behind your GM screen, this is the game deck. Place the other deck, the false deck, next to it and make sure you know which is which. Cover them with something that looks natural just in case someone happens to see back there. When the time comes to pull out the deck, get in character, uncover both decks and pull out the false deck dramatically. Shuffle it where they can see you. Let them shuffle it. Finally ask one of them to cut the deck. Nonchalantly place the false deck back behind the screen, switch immediately to being you, the gm, and say something that sounds real important, like that people are starting to crowd around and watch the game. Make a big gesture with your arms to emphasize what you're saying and very calmly pick up the game deck and cover the false deck quickly with whatever was covering the cards earlier. You have now setup your deception.


• play only one player at a time


• play a very simple game, I suggest Blind Man's Bluff, Google it.


• lose the first two rounds, but don't bet very high


• win the third round by a very close margin and with two low cards, like a 3 and a four.


• speak words of encouragement when they lose


• congratulate them when they win.


• play as many rounds as you like, but not too many


• at some point tell them it was a pleasure and you have to go, perhaps you'll play again later


• place the deck back behind your screen and cover it up


• deception complete.

Practice the entire charade several times before game day.