Game Jargon Definition: “Cocked Die”
Cocked Die (noun) - / ˌkäkt ˈdī /
A cocked die is a rolled die that has not landed cleanly on one of its faces. The result that would otherwise be considered valid (on the top face of the die) is therefore not parallel to the surface that it was rolled upon, and thus the die roll may be considered invalid by one or more players.
The rules of some games directly address what constitutes a cocked die as well as how to manage it when it occurs. However, most games make no mention of cocked dice, leaving it up to players—or potentially, a referee—to determine how to navigate the event.
In addition, there are other types of rolls that may be considered invalid, such as floor rolls. This is where one or more dice do not land on the game board or game table, but rather in some other area considered by one or more players to be “out of bounds.” A commonly accepted defense against both cocked dice and out-of-bounds rolls is the dice tray. This is a plastic, wooden, or cloth open-top container in which all players agree dice must land and come to rest in order to be considered valid rolls. While dice trays do not entirely eliminate the cocked die issue, they certainly minimize it.
Some players and game groups have rules or guidelines concerning how to determine whether a die is cocked. For example, deciding that if the resting die face is not parallel with the surface that the die is resting on by more than a certain number of degrees, the die is considered cocked. Some gamers will go so far as to bust out laser sights, plumb lines, and protractors to make a determination. If a die comes up cocked repeatedly, a player may subject that die to some form of dice punishment.
In tournaments or competitive play, when a roll occurs where at least one player judges the die to be cocked, sometimes a third-party referee will step in to adjudicate the situation, and will determine how to proceed.
All of this adjudication, whether or not it is determined by a third party, can lead to heated discussions and will greatly slow down the pace of the game. It is highly recommended that game groups establish some general guidelines for determining what constitutes cocked dice and how to resolve them. Players do well to remember that games are meant to be enjoyed by friends, family, and acquaintances, and that everybody benefits when all members are reasonable, good natured, and take everything in perspective.
