5d6s

5d6s is a dice notation used in tabletop role-playing games and probability simulations. It typically denotes a pool of five six-sided dice, but the trailing s is not universally standardized and can carry different modifiers depending on the game system, house rules, or dice-rolling tool being used.

Interpreting the s can vary. In many contexts the base meaning is simply rolling five d6 and summing the results. In other implementations the suffix indicates a modifier such as: a) success counting, where each die that meets a threshold (commonly 5 or 6) contributes one success rather than contributing its pip total; b) exploding on sixes, where rolling a 6 adds an extra die to the pool; c) preserving only the number of successes after applying a threshold, ignoring the exact total. Because the meaning depends on the system, it’s important to consult the specific rules or the calculator’s documentation.

Statistical properties of a plain 5d6 roll (no special effects) include a minimum total of 5 and a maximum of 30, with a mean of 17.5. The distribution is the fivefold convolution of a uniform 1–6 die; it is bell-shaped and peaks near 17 or 18. The standard deviation is approximately 3.48, reflecting the spread of possible sums.

Usage and references: In practice, 5d6s appears in dice-rolling libraries and RPG systems that use nonstandard modifiers. Because the s suffix has no universal meaning, interpretation must be grounded in the source material.