In 2012, at a gaming convention, a board game designer challenged mathematician Eric Harshbarger to create dice that could determine the starting player without the possibility of a tie. Harshbarger, a senior lecturer at Auburn University, embraced the challenge, aiming to streamline the game setup process. After years of collaboration with a global team of experts, they successfully developed a set of innovative dice called the Go First Dice for five players. These dice ensure a fair and decisive outcome with just one roll.
Initially, Harshbarger faced difficulties in translating the theoretical solution into functional dice. Despite the mathematical possibilities, finding a practical design proved to be a complex puzzle. The team experimented with various concepts, gradually refining their approach to create a viable solution. Eventually, a breakthrough came from a researcher in Australia, proposing the use of five 120-sided dice. Subsequent contributions, including a significant discovery by Canadian software engineer Paul Meyer, led to the successful development of dice with 60 sides, resolving the longstanding challenge.
The meticulous process involved rigorous verification of proposed solutions and extensive computational analysis. The resulting golf-ball-sized dice are now available for purchase, designed to uphold fairness based on solid mathematical principles. Ongoing research aims to explore the potential for fewer sides in a five-player set and the expansion of the concept to accommodate six players. Despite the complexity of the task, the team remains open to unexpected innovations, recognizing the inherent allure of tackling seemingly insurmountable mathematical conundrums.
