October 30, 2025: Half-Baked RPG Idea: Jelly Bean Randomizers

They make specialty jelly beans in lots of different flavors, right? At least as many as are on the sides of any die that's d20-sized or smaller? It seems to me you should be able to use them as a randomizer for a game . . .

Assuming everyone's on the same page as far as what colors/flavors represent each number – and presuming players don't cheat – I can imagine a game that makes "rolls" by tipping out a jelly bean from a jar and announcing the result before eating it. ("Dang it! I got black licorice, and I needed piña colada or higher . . .") 

Of course, it's a "half-baked" idea because I'm not quite sure what one would do with this totally sweet option (can anyone recommend a particularly whimsical game that uses dice?). The probabilities would get absolutely skewed as the container of sugary numbers was slowly depleted. But I think it might still be worth it to hear players go, "I got a critical flavor . . ."

-- Steven Marsh