So I’ve gotten really fascinated by western esoteric mystery traditions (sorry: tarot, astrology, numerology, etc) and recently I started learning more about how the platonic solids fit into classical Greek metaphysics. All of the platonic solids are used as RPG dice (and the only one that isn’t a platonic solid is the d10). I’m especially interested in mage-fighter-thief divisions (big triumvirate energy), but traditionally they were associated with the four classical elements (plus aether for the fifth). I’m just interested to see if any of the associations in modern dice-based RPGs happen to mirror any of the associations from classical antiquity. TIA for humoring my weird hobby!
1D3+db – Fist
1d6 – Rubble Runner Bite
1D6+1+db – One-handed Spear
2D6+2+db – Two-handed Great Axe
1D8+½db – Sling
1D8+1 – Composite Bow
1D8+1+db – One-handed Broadsword
1D8+2+db – One-handed Battle Axe
1D8+2+db – Two-handed Mace
2D8+1D6 – Dark Troll Maul
1d10+1+1D6 – Dragonnnewt Klanth
1D10+4D6 – Scorpionman Bite
1D10+4D6 – War Rhino ButtSo in d&d, the smaller dice get associated with different weapons, and classes by extension, so, typically:
D4: daggers/fists > Rogue/Monk
D6: fireballs > Wizards/Sorcerers
D8: longsword > Fighter
D10: longbow > Ranger
D12: battle-axe > Barbarian
D20: everything
Use this how you will, I’m not super knowledgeable about Western Esoteric Mystery Traditions but I hope this helps!
…that’s actually more or less exactly what I was looking for. I’m hopeful to get a few more perspectives just for science™, but if not this is definitely adequate all on it’s own, TY!
I’m not super knowledgeable about Western Esoteric Mystery Traditions but I hope this helps!
Sorry: tarot, astrology, numerology, etc. It’s absolutely fascinating once you start reading up on the history of it and how it’s even still affecting modern culture, for instance both the Hogwarts Houses from Harry Potter and the Meyers-Briggs personality typing system are based on galen’s four humors which are in turn based on the four elements of classical antiquity (fire, water, earth air). The dumbed down / simplistic way we teach phases of matter in primary education to children also tends to loosely follow that model with solid, liquid, gas, and plasma. Another fascinating avenue is the way these concepts are used in Avatar the Last Airbender but tbh I’m still actually kind of exploring how eastern alchemy fits into all of this.
