In a 2012 gaming convention dinner chat, Eric Harshbarger was tasked by a board game creator to devise dice that could determine the starting player with no chance of a tie, aiming to expedite game commencement. Harshbarger, a mathematician and Auburn University senior lecturer, found the challenge appealing due to its non-obvious solution, aligning with the mathematician’s inclination.
Despite theoretically devising dice for an equitable and tie-free outcome, crafting functional dice was a formidable task. Nearly 15 years later, Harshbarger and his team introduced the Go First Dice for five players, ensuring a clear starting player with a single roll.
Harshbarger became the custodian of this quest, collaborating with around 20 global computer scientists and mathematicians. While quickly resolving the dice for two to four players, the five-player scenario posed a complex puzzle. The team explored various theories and dice geometries, eventually settling on a set of five 120-sided dice, a practical solution devised by an Australian researcher.
Canadian software engineer Paul Meyer joined the effort, presenting a breakthrough using five 60-sided dice. This discovery, following a meticulous verification process, proved successful. Harshbarger affirmed the dice’s fairness, attributing any imperfections to the manufacturing process rather than the mathematical model.
The research group continues its exploration, contemplating the feasibility of fewer sides for a five-player set and potential expansion to accommodate six players. Harshbarger acknowledges the unpredictability inherent in such challenges, appreciating the allure of persisting with intricate mathematical puzzles despite their seemingly trivial nature.