A mathematician named Eric Harshbarger was faced with a challenge at a gaming convention in 2012 when a board game designer asked him to create dice that could determine the starting player without the possibility of a tie. Harshbarger, a senior lecturer at Auburn University, found the task intriguing and set out to solve it.
After years of collaboration with computer scientists and mathematicians worldwide, Harshbarger and his team successfully designed a set of dice known as the Go First Dice for five players. These dice ensure a fair outcome with a guaranteed winner from a single roll, addressing the long-standing problem.
The journey to develop these dice was not without its hurdles. While they quickly devised a solution for two, three, and four players using 12-sided dice, creating a set for five players proved more challenging. The team worked tirelessly to find a practical solution, eventually settling on five 120-sided dice.
A breakthrough came when Canadian software engineer Paul Meyer proposed a solution using five 60-sided dice. After thorough verification, it was confirmed as a viable option. The dice have since been made available for purchase, with assurances from Harshbarger that they maintain fairness based on solid mathematical principles.
Looking ahead, the research team continues to explore the possibility of using fewer sides for a five-player set and expanding the concept to accommodate six players. While current tools may not be sufficient for these endeavors, the team remains open to new theories and unexpected solutions, embracing the inherent challenges of mathematical discovery.