It was 2011. You couldn't go five minutes on the internet without hearing Far East Movement’s "Like a G6." The synth-heavy beat was everywhere—clubs, car stereos, grocery stores. But while the rest of the world was trying to figure out what a "G6" actually was, a specific corner of the internet was busy rolling for initiative.
That’s when the roll a d6 song dropped.
Specifically, the "Roll a d6" parody by Connor Anderson (aka DrunkDungeon) changed the trajectory of nerd culture music. It wasn't just a funny cover. It was a cultural moment that captured exactly what it felt like to be obsessed with tabletop roleplaying games (TTRPGs) right before Dungeons & Dragons became mainstream cool. Honestly, it’s kinda weird to think about now, but back then, high-production nerd parodies were the peak of the YouTube ecosystem.
The Story Behind the Roll a d6 Song
The song wasn't just some guy with a webcam. It was a legitimate production. Connor Anderson, along with a crew of friends and creators, took the "Like a G6" instrumental and flipped it into an anthem for the d20 set. The lyrics were sharp. They weren't just surface-level "I play games" jokes; they were deeply rooted in the mechanics of the game.
When you hear the chorus—“Poppin' d20s, girl, I’m rollin' a d6”—it hits that sweet spot of ridiculous and relatable.
The music video featured everything you’d expect from a 2011 gaming parody: capes, plastic swords, messy basement setups, and enough Mountain Dew to dissolve a tooth in thirty seconds. It leaned into the stereotype of the "basement dweller" but did it with so much love and authenticity that it felt like an inside joke rather than a mockery.
Why the parody worked when others failed
Most nerd parodies from that era feel cringey today. They try too hard. They use outdated slang. But the roll a d6 song felt different because it was technically proficient. The vocals weren't terrible. The editing was snappy. It captured a specific vibe of "I'm a geek, and I'm having more fun than you are at the club."
Also, let's be real: "Like a G6" was a weirdly perfect song to parody. The original was about luxury and private jets. Replacing that with a six-sided die—the most humble of all polyhedrals—is a stroke of comedic genius.
The Mechanics of a Tabletop Anthem
If you actually look at the lyrics, they’re a love letter to the 3.5 Edition and early 4th Edition era of D&D. It talks about critical hits. It talks about the Dungeon Master’s power. It mentions the "thac0" days (okay, maybe not literally, but the energy is there).
It’s about the tension of the roll.
Every tabletop player knows that feeling. The table goes quiet. The die is in the air. Everything—the fate of the kingdom, the life of your character, the loot you’ve been chasing for three months—depends on a piece of plastic. The roll a d6 song bottled that tension and served it up with a heavy bassline.
- It validated the hobby.
- It gave us something to play at the start of a session to get hyped.
- It proved that "nerd music" didn't have to be low-quality.
Is it still relevant in the Critical Role era?
We live in a world where Stranger Things is a global phenomenon and Critical Role sells out arenas. The "nerd" has won. So, does a song from 2011 about rolling dice still matter?
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Absolutely.
Maybe even more so now. There’s a nostalgia attached to that pre-monetized era of the internet. Before everything was a polished "actual play" series with professional voice actors and high-end lighting, it was just people like Connor Anderson making stuff because they loved the game. The roll a d6 song represents a time when the community was smaller, weirder, and a lot more DIY.
You still see it pop up in TikTok transitions and Instagram reels. The "Roll a d6" soundbite is a shorthand. If you use it, you're signaling to other people that you know the history. You aren't just a newcomer who bought the Player’s Handbook yesterday; you were there for the deep lore of the internet.
Common Misconceptions About the Song
People often confuse this with other "nerdcore" tracks. No, it isn't MC Chris. No, it isn't the "D&D" song by Stephen Lynch (though that one is a classic too). This was a very specific parody of a very specific pop song.
Sometimes people ask if it was an official promotion for Wizards of the Coast.
Nope.
Totally fan-made.
That’s arguably why it was so good—no corporate oversight meant they could be as niche as they wanted.
How to use the Roll a d6 song at your table
If you're running a game tonight, there are better ways to use this than just blasting it on repeat. It’s a tool.
- The Session Opener: Use the instrumental or the chorus to signal that the "hangout" time is over and the "game" time has begun.
- The "Critical Fail" Theme: If someone rolls a natural 1, playing a three-second clip of the most upbeat part of the song is a great way to add insult to injury.
- The Retro One-Shot: Running a game set in the early 2010s? This is your soundtrack. It’s as much a period piece as a disco song is for the 70s.
The Technical Legacy of DrunkDungeon
The creators behind the roll a d6 song didn't just disappear. They were part of a wave of creators who showed that there was a massive, untapped market for tabletop content. Without these early viral hits, we might not have the massive ecosystem of TTRPG content we see today on Twitch and YouTube.
They paved the way.
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They showed that you could take "cool" culture and "nerd" culture and mash them together into something that wasn't just a punchline. It was a celebration.
Actionable Steps for the Modern Gamer
If you want to lean into the spirit of the song, don't just watch the video once and move on. Use it to fuel your own creativity.
- Go back and watch the original video: Notice the small details, like the character sheets and the miniatures. It’s a time capsule.
- Curate your own session playlist: Don't just stick to orchestral movie scores. Add some "nerdcore" or parody tracks to keep the energy high during combat.
- Support the original creators: Many of the people involved in these early YouTube hits are still around in the industry or have moved on to other cool projects. A simple "thanks for the memories" on an old video goes a long way.
- Analyze the lyrics for your next character: There’s a lot of "braggadocio" in the song that works perfectly for a Bard with a high Charisma and a low Wisdom.
The roll a d6 song isn't just a parody. It's a reminder that at the end of the day, we’re all just sitting around a table, hoping the math works in our favor. Whether you’re rollin’ a d6 or poppin’ d20s, the feeling is exactly the same. It’s magic.