In an interview with mathematician Eric Harshbarger, he shared how a casual discussion at a gaming convention in 2012 led to the challenge of creating dice that could determine the first player without the chance of a tie. The goal was to streamline the game setup process and get players into the game swiftly.
Harshbarger, a mathematician and senior lecturer at Auburn University, found the puzzle intriguing. He envisioned a solution where each player could roll a die with an equal chance of winning, ensuring a clear first player. However, turning this idea into physical dice proved to be a complex task.
After years of dedication, Harshbarger and his team successfully developed a set of dice called the Go First Dice for five players. This innovation allows players to fairly decide the starting player with a guaranteed winner from a single roll.
The journey was marked by collaboration with computer scientists and mathematicians worldwide. While smaller sets of 12-sided dice were quickly resolved, creating a set for five players posed a greater challenge. The team explored various possibilities, eventually landing on a practical solution of five 120-sided dice.
A pivotal breakthrough came when Canadian software engineer Paul Meyer joined the effort. Meyer’s computational approach led to the discovery of a solution using five 60-sided dice. This achievement validated years of research and experimentation.
Though the Go First Dice are now available for purchase, some skepticism remains regarding their practical application. Harshbarger asserts that the dice are designed to be entirely fair, with any deviations likely stemming from the manufacturing process rather than the mathematical principles.
The research continues as the team explores the potential for fewer sides in a five-player set and the expansion to accommodate six players. Despite the challenges ahead, Harshbarger remains open to unexpected solutions, recognizing the beauty and allure of unresolved mathematical puzzles in the world of gaming.
