So, help a bro out, yeah? One of my players asked if there was anyway that they could see my rolls, after a pretty brutal game where the dice refused to let him follow the Rule of Cool. I, as a DM, will NEVER fudge my rolls, because I hate it when other DM's do it to me as a player. That being said, how do I make this player, and by extension, the rest of my players, happier? Do I need a new set of dice? Online dice roller? Throw a dart on a dartboard labeled accordingly? Help a brother out?
Okay, fine since you don't alter/ignore die rolls on your part, I have to ask what you think the player meant when you stated "the dice refused to let him follow the Rule of Cool." If he meant that his actions were resisted successfully too often and he wanted to describe an outcome and have it be automatically successful because he was just "amazing" and "awesome" then you have to look at the game objectively. Maybe you called for the NPCs to resist his coolness too often. Maybe not. After all there are rules for adjudication of actions for a reason, just because a player describes an action in an interesting fashion doesn't necessarily mean that that player gets to automatically be successful. Regardless, I am just spitballing because my players have never had this complaint.
My suggestions are as follows:
1) Only use dice (for you or call for a roll from the Players) when required. Make the trivial stuff run on a Passive basis. 8+Ability Mod+Proficiency or Expertise IIRC is the formula. Moreover, Trivial people don't get to roll, unless there is a reason they should!
2) Figure out what the Rule of Cool is actually supposed to be. I have played with more an a few players over the course of my life that have a tendency to overplay their mental/social stats or otherwise game the system and call it Rule of Cool.
3) Tell the Players that the screen is staying put. They are just going to have to trust you. As an aside, seriously ponder if you are wedded to this slavish devotion to the tyranny of dice. They are not drama, they are fickle drama destroying polyhedrons that must be taught their place every once in a while. There is a reason dice jails and microwaves were invented. I have even plopped a few in an ice bath just to show the others I was serious.
This is either a case of sour grapes - I wanted to do this really cool thing, the dice said no, so I'm challenging the objectivity of the dice - in which case the Player will calm down eventually; or it's a case where the Player(s) don't trust the fairness of the DM - which is a much larger problem which I hope you don't have.
There are two simple solutions here: tell the Players to calm down, and keep rolling behind the screen; roll completely in the open.
A third alternative I've played with is pushing all the dice rolling onto the Players: Monster attack rolls become Character Dodge rolls; Monster spell saving throws become Spell attack rolls, etc. I'd search online for methods for doing this ( warning, the Unearthed Arcana on this topic has a math error in the conversation formula ). This way, all the die rolling, and the results of them, are in the hands of the Players; it's hard for them to protest the fairness of their own rolls ( just you be sure that they're not fudging their rolls ).
You might not like that third option if rolling the dice is part of your fun as a GM, but it's possible to do.
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I’d just have a sit down with your table and see what they’d rather do. I for one hide my rolls and don’t fudge, they know this. I explain to them that hiding rolls is to keep exact to hit and skills secret as well as checks I make they are not aware of something making. If ya roll in the open, which I have at games where players wanted it, they know that I rolled a 17 and then added 8 so they can gauge how powerful something is. Or a save that’s a 10 roll but a +9 on a seemingly unimportant NPC that is very important and powerful. All these are better left unknown to players and will keep things more exciting. It also allows me to sculpt combat and skill check descriptions into the success or failure before they know the outcome of the roll.
Explain both ways, then maybe do a session in the open and then one hidden and see which you and your table likes more.
I do not mind a GM using a screen I prefer it really. If a GM wants to fudge the dice that is on him it helps the story move. like it was said it keeps the enemy a secret. At the end of the day it is a game for everyone to enjoy. if the players do not want a screen and you do perhaps find a new group. maybe roll some of the less important stuff out in the open, and keep other stuff behind the screen.
1) Only use dice (for you or call for a roll from the Players) when required. Make the trivial stuff run on a Passive basis. 8+Ability Mod+Proficiency or Expertise IIRC is the formula. Moreover, Trivial people don't get to roll, unless there is a reason they should!
Passive Skills are 10 + Skill bonus (which already includes the relevant Ability mod and Proficiency), not 8 + Skill bonus.
1) Only use dice (for you or call for a roll from the Players) when required. Make the trivial stuff run on a Passive basis. 8+Ability Mod+Proficiency or Expertise IIRC is the formula. Moreover, Trivial people don't get to roll, unless there is a reason they should!
Passive Skills are 10 + Skill bonus (which already includes the relevant Ability mod and Proficiency), not 8 + Skill bonus.
Aw. I did fail my knowledge (PHB) check. Still I did hedge with the "IIRC".
Just remember which "Passives" the PC is proficient in though. I use "Passive" Athletics , Deception, Arcana, and Religion checks all the time. I just consider them part of the PC. They just can do stuff easier than other people.
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So, help a bro out, yeah? One of my players asked if there was anyway that they could see my rolls,
after a pretty brutal game where the dice refused to let him follow the Rule of Cool. I, as a DM, will
NEVER fudge my rolls, because I hate it when other DM's do it to me as a player. That being said,
how do I make this player, and by extension, the rest of my players, happier? Do I need a new set
of dice? Online dice roller? Throw a dart on a dartboard labeled accordingly? Help a brother out?
Thanks.
This again?
Okay, fine since you don't alter/ignore die rolls on your part, I have to ask what you think the player meant when you stated "the dice refused to let him follow the Rule of Cool." If he meant that his actions were resisted successfully too often and he wanted to describe an outcome and have it be automatically successful because he was just "amazing" and "awesome" then you have to look at the game objectively. Maybe you called for the NPCs to resist his coolness too often. Maybe not. After all there are rules for adjudication of actions for a reason, just because a player describes an action in an interesting fashion doesn't necessarily mean that that player gets to automatically be successful. Regardless, I am just spitballing because my players have never had this complaint.
My suggestions are as follows:
1) Only use dice (for you or call for a roll from the Players) when required. Make the trivial stuff run on a Passive basis. 8+Ability Mod+Proficiency or Expertise IIRC is the formula. Moreover, Trivial people don't get to roll, unless there is a reason they should!
2) Figure out what the Rule of Cool is actually supposed to be. I have played with more an a few players over the course of my life that have a tendency to overplay their mental/social stats or otherwise game the system and call it Rule of Cool.
3) Tell the Players that the screen is staying put. They are just going to have to trust you. As an aside, seriously ponder if you are wedded to this slavish devotion to the tyranny of dice. They are not drama, they are fickle drama destroying polyhedrons that must be taught their place every once in a while. There is a reason dice jails and microwaves were invented. I have even plopped a few in an ice bath just to show the others I was serious.
I'd echo Hawksmoor's advice here.
This is either a case of sour grapes - I wanted to do this really cool thing, the dice said no, so I'm challenging the objectivity of the dice - in which case the Player will calm down eventually; or it's a case where the Player(s) don't trust the fairness of the DM - which is a much larger problem which I hope you don't have.
There are two simple solutions here: tell the Players to calm down, and keep rolling behind the screen; roll completely in the open.
A third alternative I've played with is pushing all the dice rolling onto the Players: Monster attack rolls become Character Dodge rolls; Monster spell saving throws become Spell attack rolls, etc. I'd search online for methods for doing this ( warning, the Unearthed Arcana on this topic has a math error in the conversation formula ). This way, all the die rolling, and the results of them, are in the hands of the Players; it's hard for them to protest the fairness of their own rolls ( just you be sure that they're not fudging their rolls ).
You might not like that third option if rolling the dice is part of your fun as a GM, but it's possible to do.
My DM Philosophy, as summed up by other people: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1rN5w4-azTq3Kbn0Yvk9nfqQhwQ1R5by1/view
Disclaimer: This signature is a badge of membership in the Forum Loudmouth Club. We are all friends. We are not attacking each other. We are engaging in spirited, friendly debate with one another. We may get snarky, but these are not attacks. Thank you for not reporting us.
I’d just have a sit down with your table and see what they’d rather do. I for one hide my rolls and don’t fudge, they know this. I explain to them that hiding rolls is to keep exact to hit and skills secret as well as checks I make they are not aware of something making. If ya roll in the open, which I have at games where players wanted it, they know that I rolled a 17 and then added 8 so they can gauge how powerful something is. Or a save that’s a 10 roll but a +9 on a seemingly unimportant NPC that is very important and powerful. All these are better left unknown to players and will keep things more exciting. It also allows me to sculpt combat and skill check descriptions into the success or failure before they know the outcome of the roll.
Explain both ways, then maybe do a session in the open and then one hidden and see which you and your table likes more.
I do not mind a GM using a screen I prefer it really. If a GM wants to fudge the dice that is on him it helps the story move. like it was said it keeps the enemy a secret. At the end of the day it is a game for everyone to enjoy. if the players do not want a screen and you do perhaps find a new group. maybe roll some of the less important stuff out in the open, and keep other stuff behind the screen.
Passive Skills are 10 + Skill bonus (which already includes the relevant Ability mod and Proficiency), not 8 + Skill bonus.
Aw. I did fail my knowledge (PHB) check. Still I did hedge with the "IIRC".
Just remember which "Passives" the PC is proficient in though. I use "Passive" Athletics , Deception, Arcana, and Religion checks all the time. I just consider them part of the PC. They just can do stuff easier than other people.