Simulating Russian Roulette

Silvermane · 07-07-2013, 06:42 PM

Using Dice rolls... can anyone think of a fairly accurate way of simulating Russian roulette or "I put one bullet in a revolver and let fate decide if you live or die."

I thought about rolling dice for the number of trigger pulls, and only shooting on a 1. But it doesn't seem accurate enough to me. So I thought about adding -1, -2, -3, ect, on the Dice but then on the -5, it becomes much more than a 50/50 chance.

I know it's an odd question, but it's something that's been bothering me.

apoc527 · 07-07-2013, 07:16 PM

Isn't Russian Roulette the very definition of 1 in 6?

Silvermane · 07-07-2013, 07:18 PM

Not quite...

If you pull the trigger once, that's just a one in six chance. But multiple trigger pulls increase the chance since you're removing chambers that are already empty. So two trigger pulls would be one in six, then one in five. And so on.

ErhnamDJ · 07-07-2013, 07:24 PM

My understanding was that you usually spin the cylinder on every go, so it's always one in six, but if you want to do it your way, then assign each chamber a number and roll the d6 to see which chamber the round is in, then keep track of which chamber you're on.

David Johnston2 · 07-07-2013, 07:35 PM

Don't forget that gravity is a thing. Since the chamber with the round is heavier, if you let it spin to a halt, it will usually be at the bottom. The chamber at the top will be empty. Click. The opponent takes his turn. Click. The first guy takes his turn. Click. The opponent takes his turn. Boom. The moral of this story is "keep your gun lubricated and take the first turn". Or you know, just palm the bullet while pretending to load it.

zoncxs · 07-07-2013, 09:26 PM

Take a cup, put a six sided die in it, put hand over top and shake it. Put it on the table with top facing down so you can not see the die. The gm peeks at it.

The player then rolls a die. If it matches then boom! If not then the next player takes the next highest number and so on till the number matches.

This is how I would do it.

benz72 · 07-07-2013, 09:28 PM

I'd just have each contestant roll a single die, in turn, until the first 6.

DanHoward · 07-07-2013, 09:30 PM

If the barrel isn't spun after every shot then:
First person gets shot on a roll of 1.
Next person gets shot on a 1-2
Next person is 1-3
etc.

Armin · 07-07-2013, 09:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Silvermane

Not quite...

If you pull the trigger once, that's just a one in six chance. But multiple trigger pulls increase the chance since you're removing chambers that are already empty. So two trigger pulls would be one in six, then one in five. And so on.

It's only Russian roulette if the cylinder is spun before every trigger pull. What you're describing is a form of (psycho) intimidation, but it's not roulette.

For what you want, I'd say just roll the d6, and the result is the number of the trigger pull that fires the shot, because that's all the randomness such a situation actually allows for.

Agemegos · 07-07-2013, 10:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DanHoward

If the barrel isn't spun after every shot then:
First person gets shot on a roll of 1.
Next person gets shot on a 1-2
Next person is 1-3
etc.

The probability is 1/6, 1/5, 1/4, 1/3, 1/2, 1, not 1/6, 1/3, 1/2, 2/3, 5/6, 1. But this is going to be one of those Monty Hall problems, isn't it?

07-07-2013, 06:42 PM	#1
Silvermane Join Date: Jun 2013	Simulating Russian Roulette Using Dice rolls... can anyone think of a fairly accurate way of simulating Russian roulette or "I put one bullet in a revolver and let fate decide if you live or die." I thought about rolling dice for the number of trigger pulls, and only shooting on a 1. But it doesn't seem accurate enough to me. So I thought about adding -1, -2, -3, ect, on the Dice but then on the -5, it becomes much more than a 50/50 chance. I know it's an odd question, but it's something that's been bothering me.

07-07-2013, 07:16 PM	#2
apoc527 Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Seattle, WA	Re: Simulating Russian Roulette Isn't Russian Roulette the very definition of 1 in 6? __________________ -apoc527 My Campaigns Currently Playing: GURPS Banestorm: The Symmetry of Darkness Inactive: Star*Drive: 2525-Hunting for Fun and Profit My THS Campaign-In the Shadows of Venus Yrth--The Legend Begins The XCOM Apocalypse

07-07-2013, 07:18 PM	#3
Silvermane Join Date: Jun 2013	Re: Simulating Russian Roulette Not quite... If you pull the trigger once, that's just a one in six chance. But multiple trigger pulls increase the chance since you're removing chambers that are already empty. So two trigger pulls would be one in six, then one in five. And so on.

07-07-2013, 07:24 PM	#4
ErhnamDJ Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: OK	Re: Simulating Russian Roulette My understanding was that you usually spin the cylinder on every go, so it's always one in six, but if you want to do it your way, then assign each chamber a number and roll the d6 to see which chamber the round is in, then keep track of which chamber you're on. __________________ "For the rays, to speak properly, are not colored. In them there is nothing else than a certain power and disposition to stir up a sensation of this or that color." —Isaac Newton, Optics My blog.

07-07-2013, 07:35 PM	#5
David Johnston2 Join Date: Dec 2007	Re: Simulating Russian Roulette Don't forget that gravity is a thing. Since the chamber with the round is heavier, if you let it spin to a halt, it will usually be at the bottom. The chamber at the top will be empty. Click. The opponent takes his turn. Click. The first guy takes his turn. Click. The opponent takes his turn. Boom. The moral of this story is "keep your gun lubricated and take the first turn". Or you know, just palm the bullet while pretending to load it.

07-07-2013, 09:26 PM	#6
zoncxs Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: earth....I think.	Re: Simulating Russian Roulette Take a cup, put a six sided die in it, put hand over top and shake it. Put it on the table with top facing down so you can not see the die. The gm peeks at it. The player then rolls a die. If it matches then boom! If not then the next player takes the next highest number and so on till the number matches. This is how I would do it. __________________ Shen Shanlin Cryo Soldier Cris Jedi Zero Agent Chaos Octavian Kreel

07-07-2013, 09:28 PM	#7
benz72 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Chagrin Falls	Re: Simulating Russian Roulette I'd just have each contestant roll a single die, in turn, until the first 6. __________________ Benundefined Life has a funny way of making sure you decide to leave the party just a few minutes too late to avoid trouble.

07-07-2013, 09:30 PM	#8
DanHoward Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Maitland, NSW, Australia	Re: Simulating Russian Roulette If the barrel isn't spun after every shot then: First person gets shot on a roll of 1. Next person gets shot on a 1-2 Next person is 1-3 etc. __________________ Compact Castles gives the gamer an instant portfolio of genuine, real-world castle floorplans to use in any historical, low-tech, or fantasy game setting.