DICE Baseball

Basically a version of Statis Pro Baseball. It is fairly simple, but probably a solid play for those that don't want/need a hyper detailed baseball sim.

The problem is that the price point is ridiculous. With similiar/better games avaialable online for free or very inexpensively, the $60 cost is completely absurd.

You can find the same basic game(s) available for free download at sites like www.tabletop-sports.com.

If it was free, I would probably give a solid rating, but anyone purchasing it at this price isn't going to get their money's worth. If this game was around 20 years ago before the Internet, the rating might change.

The designer's favorite baseball game was Statis-Pro Baseball, so that was his starting point, but according to him he did not release DICE Baseball until he was sure he had improved on the Statis-Pro design.

It does play very quickly, is easy to learn, and incorporates righty-lefty breakdowns as well as numerous ratings for such offensive categories as Contact, Power, Speed, Stolen Base Ability, and such defensive categories as Frequency of Errors, Range, Pitchers' Ability to Control Outcomes, Stamina, etc.

I much prefer this game's 5-dice version of play, as possible error outcomes aren't tied to pitcher control as in the two-dice version, which in my view would have been a significant flaw in the game design.

One significant limitation of the game that I noted is the same one that plagued Statis-Pro--having the exact same reduction factors for runners on advancements on hits or fly outs to the outfield, a particular problem when one-outcome fits all for advancement of fly outs.

Also, players are as likely to made errors on pop outs or fly outs as they are ground outs. In addition, where the ball goes is decided by one 10-sided die, so, for example, a pitcher or catcher are equally as likely to field a ball as a third or firstbaseman...not good.

And moreover, there are simply too many dice rolls to get results. The basic game engine is just fine, but with all the extra dice rolls, other baseball simulations that are equally sound play quicker, and that's not only a huge advantage, but one has to ask oneself, 'Why play the one that takes so much longer?' As much as I want to like this game, that aspect I find very exasperating.

Purchased game with 1968 season cards, August 2012. By September had started a replay of all Bob Gibson's actual starts (I happen to like pitching and defense, and the guy's ERA that year was 1.12). But after some games I bogged down, given the limitations I describe above.

(P.S.--You'll never encounter better, more friendly customer service than you'll get from the designer, George Nebesnik.)

Sold, February 2022.

Well, it says what it is: DICE baseball. A fun Statis-Pro variant, but after a few dozen games I got burnt out on the copious amounts of die-rolling required to finish a game.

Currently trying the demo version with 6 teams from 1984. Need more plays and I am sure my rating will go up. Game Owned: #995.

An interesting game that has a nice pitcher control system similar to the Statis-Pro Baseball model. Dominant pitchers (control grade seems in line with Earned Run Average) can really make a big impression on a game! Excellent quality components and the cards are easy to handle and have plenty of information. Bought this game when it was on sale and didn't have any real expectations of it but it has won me over! Nice selection of seasons available as well. My only negative is that the rule book should be updated from its original content as it was a mildly bit confusing to know which rule changes trumped previously written ones. The designer is very helpful when it came to any questions about the game and his customer service is excellent! Highly recommended!

PnP Demo with the final 4 teams from the 1984 season.

Yes, the printed version does cost $60 for the game and one season. By comparison, Replay Baseball will cost $85 to $101 for the game parts and the 2009 season. Strat-o-matic costs more than $60 for the game parts and 2009 season with extra players.

Finally, there is a print and play version of dice baseball available for $14.95 and seasons cost $5 or less.