Hey. So, when I DM face-to-face, my number one goal is for everyone to have fun. That's my job. I'm not there to be the antagonist to the players, and (I hope) they aren't there to beat me. Part of that is managing the tension, so players are challenged, but not overwhelmed (unless they make epically bad decisions). I want them to feel heroic, not upset.
One of the tools I use to accomplish this is to fudge dice rolls behind the DM screen. I do it not infrequently.
In PbP, using the forum dice roller, there is no option to fudge. The results are what they are, exceptional, mediocre, or deadly.
Anyone have a thought on how to deal with this? Point out early that the dice are unforgiving, and they should set their expectations accordingly? Inform players you will be rolling offline? Roll online and just fudge in other ways (goblin trips and falls down the stairs you—and he—did not notice!)?
(Attention: discussion about whether the DM fudging dice rolls is cheating and/or your opinion on whether it should be done can be posted to the new thread I have just opened, "That wasn't what I asked" Thank you!)
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ey/em/eirs, or they/them works, too (just not he). Role-playing since that keep on those borderlands. I love it so.
I feel the best option would be to state from the beginning you, as the DM, will be rolling separately from the online dice roller that is integrated in the forum, for the most basic reason that there will be needed for you to make rolls the players are not supposed to know about (the fact that you can also then use this to fudge rolls is a totally uninfluential side-effect :p)
I agree with LeK that your best bet, if insisting upon fudging, is to be upfront with your players that they won't be seeing your die rolls.
And while I will honor your request, however arbitrarily limiting I find it to be for the topic of the thread, to not talk about whether it is or isn't cheating and should or shouldn't be done, I will say that actually telling your players you intend to fudge die rolls and why you intend to do so is a good idea.
I have seen it done two ways here on the forums PbP.
1. Hide the rolls in a spoiler and ask the players to not look. If they look and you have fudged the rolls and then call you out, well then don't protect them any longer.
2. There is a separate thread in the PbP section where you can go and roll dice for nondescript reasons. Roll the dice there and don't give a description why.
Or just don't give DCs. Most rolls tend to be either player attack rolls, skill checks, or enemy saves. If you're finding that an enemy is too strong, then just start mentally lowering the AC so they hit. If players question it, claim it was a barkskin or something.
For saving throws, just don't post the modifier on the saves
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Hey. So, when I DM face-to-face, my number one goal is for everyone to have fun. That's my job. I'm not there to be the antagonist to the players, and (I hope) they aren't there to beat me. Part of that is managing the tension, so players are challenged, but not overwhelmed (unless they make epically bad decisions). I want them to feel heroic, not upset.
One of the tools I use to accomplish this is to fudge dice rolls behind the DM screen. I do it not infrequently.
In PbP, using the forum dice roller, there is no option to fudge. The results are what they are, exceptional, mediocre, or deadly.
Anyone have a thought on how to deal with this? Point out early that the dice are unforgiving, and they should set their expectations accordingly? Inform players you will be rolling offline? Roll online and just fudge in other ways (goblin trips and falls down the stairs you—and he—did not notice!)?
(Attention: discussion about whether the DM fudging dice rolls is cheating and/or your opinion on whether it should be done can be posted to the new thread I have just opened, "That wasn't what I asked" Thank you!)
ey/em/eirs, or they/them works, too (just not he).
Role-playing since that keep on those borderlands. I love it so.
I feel the best option would be to state from the beginning you, as the DM, will be rolling separately from the online dice roller that is integrated in the forum, for the most basic reason that there will be needed for you to make rolls the players are not supposed to know about (the fact that you can also then use this to fudge rolls is a totally uninfluential side-effect :p)
Born in Italy, moved a bunch, living in Spain, my heart always belonged to Roleplaying Games
I agree with LeK that your best bet, if insisting upon fudging, is to be upfront with your players that they won't be seeing your die rolls.
And while I will honor your request, however arbitrarily limiting I find it to be for the topic of the thread, to not talk about whether it is or isn't cheating and should or shouldn't be done, I will say that actually telling your players you intend to fudge die rolls and why you intend to do so is a good idea.
I have seen it done two ways here on the forums PbP.
1. Hide the rolls in a spoiler and ask the players to not look. If they look and you have fudged the rolls and then call you out, well then don't protect them any longer.
2. There is a separate thread in the PbP section where you can go and roll dice for nondescript reasons. Roll the dice there and don't give a description why.
Or just don't give DCs. Most rolls tend to be either player attack rolls, skill checks, or enemy saves. If you're finding that an enemy is too strong, then just start mentally lowering the AC so they hit. If players question it, claim it was a barkskin or something.
For saving throws, just don't post the modifier on the saves