BRATdie

BRATdie is a fictional artifact that appears in speculative fiction and tabletop role-playing communities. It denotes a dice-like device used to determine outcomes in BRAT-based scenarios. The term is not associated with a real-world product, nor is there a single canonical definition.

In different works, BRATdie is described with varying backstories and motivations; there is no universally accepted etymology or origin story. Some authors present BRATdie as an ancient talisman, others as a modern experimental gadget.

Design and mechanics commonly depict a multi-faced object—either a traditional die or a die-like artifact—whose faces bear symbolic marks or color codes. When rolled, BRATdie assigns an outcome category that guides how a scene is resolved. The exact interpretation is defined by the BRATdie guide or by the rules of the work in which it appears, allowing for flexible narrative use.

Usage spans online fan fiction, independent role-playing games, and crossover fiction. BRATdie often serves as a plot device to introduce random complications, determine success conditions, or reveal character-driven events.

Variants may include digital adaptations, augmented-reality elements, or simplified six-face versions; each reimagining keeps the core idea of a dice-driven mechanism with BRAT-coded outcomes.

Reception among readers and players is mixed, with praise for narrative flexibility and critique over inconsistent interpretation and lack of a universal standard.

See also: dice, tabletop role-playing games, random number generation.