This question came up in a UA thread, so I'm curious about people's experiences (either as player or DM).

Depends. In one campaign I’m in the DM rolls everything in the open. I tend to roll everything behind the screen when I’m DMing. In another campaign I’m in it’s about 50/50 for everything.

I roll everything behind a screen except for situations where the outcome could potentially be disastrous for the party. My players have expressed that this isn't necessary and they trust me implicitly, but I choose to do it when character death is a factor or some other large consequence in the name of transparency. Sometimes you can know a DM didn't screw you, but still have some tiny voice in the back of your mind saying otherwise. When the outcomes could be bad, I like to make sure that voice is muzzled.

my DM ususally rolls them behind a screen, but 95 times out of 100 will tell us what the roll was when asked, or just plain states what it was after the fact.

My games are online, so it's sort of tricky. But generally speaking results aren't secret except in certain cases, like an enemy rolling to see if they fall for your disguise. Some things like attack rolls kind of have to be in the open for features like a Bard's Cutting Words to function.

Clarification: Are these DM rolls, or all rolls (player and DM)?

Players roll for their character's actions and perceptions (what they see and hear and feel and do), I roll for everything else.

So if the questions are about what the DM rolls, then I roll behind the screen for everything unless I have a specific reason for letting the player's see the roll that usually relates to the storyline or character development.

Nobody rolls for Obvious success, but let's say a player is going to climb a wall -- I don't roll that, they do. They are going to jump a river -- I don't roll that, they do. They pick a pocket, I don't roll that, they do. If a character is having their pocket picked is higher level than the PC, I would roll for them noticing it -- or I would set the DC and not notify the PC.

If a character is sneaking, they roll, but I may not tell the the DC -- because they don't know if the person noticies them unless it is roleplayed out.

How would you like me to answer based on that?

Quote from AEDorsay >>

Clarification: Are these DM rolls, or all rolls (player and DM)?

 The question is asking about dice rolled by the DM. I guess there could be a question about when the DM rolls dice for the player, but that's not something I've seen to any significant degree in any game.

Quote from Pantagruel666 >>

Quote from AEDorsay >>

Clarification: Are these DM rolls, or all rolls (player and DM)?

 The question is asking about dice rolled by the DM. I guess there could be a question about when the DM rolls dice for the player, but that's not something I've seen to any significant degree in any game.

 
Thanks.

Gygax rolled for his players, as did Arneson, in the early years up through at least 84 -- I was really put off when I played in a game of his at Gen Con. He was the only one I know of who did that, though.

Almost every roll by a DM I've ever seen has been hidden. The only exceptions, at all, have been when I've felt that players might think I'm cheating or being mean if I don't - so far, it's been when enemies have massive damage damage for their attacks. They can see the numbers, so they know when I half kill them in a single blow, it's not me being funny.

Quote from AEDorsay >>

Quote from Pantagruel666 >>

Quote from AEDorsay >>

Clarification: Are these DM rolls, or all rolls (player and DM)?

 The question is asking about dice rolled by the DM. I guess there could be a question about when the DM rolls dice for the player, but that's not something I've seen to any significant degree in any game.

 
Thanks.

Gygax rolled for his players, as did Arneson, in the early years up through at least 84 -- I was really put off when I played in a game of his at Gen Con. He was the only one I know of who did that, though.

 Gah, the only time I'd ever even consider rolling for a player is if I don't trust them to metagame (eg a stealth roll, and the group has a history of "Oh, I rolled a 2, my character decided he's not sneaking in after all"). Even then, I'd prefer to get a dice tower and let them "roll" but have the result visible only to me. Never happened so far though, never felt the need. Dice rolling is part of the fun for players. If a DM refused to let me roll in general, I'd probably decide I've got more interesting things to do.

Both depends on what is going on. In one game I play in sometimes we don't even know what we are rolling for and the DM will roll in the open with us. I play with a few different DM's, and also DM. all do a great job, all do things different.

Quote from Linklite >>

Quote from AEDorsay >>

Quote from Pantagruel666 >>

Quote from AEDorsay >>

Clarification: Are these DM rolls, or all rolls (player and DM)?

 The question is asking about dice rolled by the DM. I guess there could be a question about when the DM rolls dice for the player, but that's not something I've seen to any significant degree in any game.

 
Thanks.

Gygax rolled for his players, as did Arneson, in the early years up through at least 84 -- I was really put off when I played in a game of his at Gen Con. He was the only one I know of who did that, though.

 Gah, the only time I'd ever even consider rolling for a player is if I don't trust them to metagame (eg a stealth roll, and the group has a history of "Oh, I rolled a 2, my character decided he's not sneaking in after all"). Even then, I'd prefer to get a dice tower and let them "roll" but have the result visible only to me. Never happened so far though, never felt the need. Dice rolling is part of the fun for players. If a DM refused to let me roll in general, I'd probably decide I've got more interesting things to do.

 
It has never made sense to me, even though he made it fairly clear in the 1e DMG that was how he thought it should be, because that's just damn foolish in my opinion. That session gave me a chance to meet a lot of the folks who had created a game that I hadn't realize yet would shape so much of my life, and I cherish it for that.

It also made me realize I never wanted to be near someone like him ever again, lol. My reaction when all the bad stuff started to bubble up was "well, duh", lol.

Player and Non-Player, that's my division. I have enough to do with a dozen minions, a half dozen captains and a BBEG already, lol.

The cheating thing is always a deal, but if I can't trust someone to play fair or if they don't think I am, then we aren't going to be playing long together. I'm forbidden from ever using a specific d20 I have (my oldest one, from 1980) because it is worn down and chipped and now only rolls a 1, 20, or 14.  It has a place of honor. -- an always visible place place of honor, mind you. Which means it gets its own camera.

Not out of distrust. More out of a reminder.

Quote from Linklite >>

Almost every roll by a DM I've ever seen has been hidden. The only exceptions, at all, have been when I've felt that players might think I'm cheating or being mean if I don't - so far, it's been when enemies have massive damage damage for their attacks. They can see the numbers, so they know when I half kill them in a single blow, it's not me being funny.

It seems that we have a similar process for determining whether to roll behind the screen or not. I find it works very well.

Quote from AEDorsay >>

Quote from Pantagruel666 >>

Quote from AEDorsay >>

Clarification: Are these DM rolls, or all rolls (player and DM)?

 The question is asking about dice rolled by the DM. I guess there could be a question about when the DM rolls dice for the player, but that's not something I've seen to any significant degree in any game.

 
Thanks.

Gygax rolled for his players, as did Arneson, in the early years up through at least 84 -- I was really put off when I played in a game of his at Gen Con. He was the only one I know of who did that, though.

You played with Gygax? I know his reputation is incredibly inflated to what he was actually like, but it must have been really fascinating and I'm quite curious what it was like.

As for the topic of rolling behind a screen, I tried doing that as a Dungeon Master bit saw no reason to, because I don't fudge rolls. Due to this, I roll in the open now, and my experience has generally been that the people I've played with typically do the same.

I didn't vote on the poll because it's hard to quantify why we do and don't.

If I were to give a straight answer, its likely 95%.  That 5% is "rolls that truly matter".  A skill check that might trigger a major encounter, saving throws that will basically end a character or things that have the potential for massive wealth.

Well, early, but plotting trendline over 30 minute periods strongly suggests that we were wrong, lol. It really could be most.

DM that randomly rolls behind the screen. Players never know if I am doing a skill check, etc. Mostly, it is just random rolls regarding nothing.

When it comes down to dramatic effect.... out in the open. Critical throws (party wipes or not? Roll 20) are a must to the open. From the windup to the flick of the wrist to the long table throw for parties in their final moments of triumph or utter oblivion and doom. That "Roll for your life" from Stranger Things? Been going on for decades before that show ever was a concept.

Had a game of Paranoia in which the characters did not have their characters sheets and never made a roll. All rolls were done behind a screen by the GM :) Players were given outlines detailing their characters - no numbers, just character outlines. Very strong, sort of dumb, good at laser rifles and blowing things up, Infrared, assigned from Food Vats to Troubleshooter team (cannon fodder). Well, more detailed than that but... one of the most fun times ever roleplaying. Clones were cheap.

Personally, I make all my rolls as DM behind the screen.  From keeping monster modifiers secret to adding an air of mystery and tension to the game, since they have to wait until I announce the result rather than just watch the dice, I think it brings about a better experience.  Secret DM dice rolls are also my preference when I am a player as well.

There is one time I consistently tell my players what the dice say - if one of them imposed disadvantage in some way and one of the die is a Nat 20, I will let the players know they avoided a crit.  It makes the person who imposed disadvantage feel happy to have saved themselves or a colleague from a nasty hit, without revealing any proprietary DM information. 

90% of all rolls can and should be in the open. A good DM never cheats on the dice rolls. The only rolls that should be behind a screen are ones that deal with Perception, Insight, Deception, Stealth, and other skill rolls for NPC's AND PC's alike.

A PC should NEVER make a skill roll where failure can be an unknown, like Stealth, Perception, Insight etc. The DM should make those behind a screen so the player never knows if the PC was successful or unsuccessful in those specific conditions.

Other than that, rolls can be in the open. Further, in most cases, only the players nearest the DM can actually read the open rolls.

Quote from JustaFarmer >>

90% of all rolls can and should be in the open. A good DM never cheats on the dice rolls. The only rolls that should be behind a screen are ones that deal with Perception, Insight, Deception, Stealth, and other skill rolls for NPC's AND PC's alike.

A PC should NEVER make a skill roll where failure can be an unknown, like Stealth, Perception, Insight etc. The DM should make those behind a screen so the player never knows if the PC was successful or unsuccessful in those specific conditions.

Other than that, rolls can be in the open. Further, in most cases, only the players nearest the DM can actually read the open rolls.

 
It does appear that yours is the minority position.