A few features allow you to add, subtract or reroll, etc a result but stipulate that it is done prior to the result being known. At a live table this is easy to manage, but on a VTT they usually happen simultaneously.
So my question is how do people manage this in game. Perhaps requiring announcing prior to rolling, or not being so strict about announcing afterwards?
I think where it makes sense for me is to allow a use right after even if the results are known, but more as a real life reaction than after careful consideration and calculation of the effects.
"Before the result is known" is "before success or failure is known", not "before the number is known". If you had to decide before the number is known, you might as well be choosing before the die is rolled.
The point of "before success or failure is known" abilities are to either prop up a low roll for something like a skill check or to try to meet AC/DC when you know/suspect the roll is close. You need to know the result for that to be meaningful, otherwise they'd just make the ability "add 1dx to the next appropriate roll".
"Before the result is known" is "before success or failure is known", not "before the number is known". If you had to decide before the number is known, you might as well be choosing before the die is rolled.
Many VTTs automate that and you know as soon as you roll.
Really? I've been on Roll20 and Foundry, and I don't recall either announcing the success or failure of a roll automatically. Particularly given they're not set up to target units, or at least they didn't seem to be.
Really? I've been on Roll20 and Foundry, and I don't recall either announcing the success or failure of a roll automatically. Particularly given they're not set up to target units, or at least they didn't seem to be.
But they do add any relevant modifiers in automatically unless you just do a straight die roll. Which means that, for example, you can see whether or not it's worth spending your reaction on something that would modify the roll.
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Find your own truth, choose your enemies carefully, and never deal with a dragon.
"Canon" is what's factual to D&D lore. "Cannon" is what you're going to be shot with if you keep getting the word wrong.
Really? I've been on Roll20 and Foundry, and I don't recall either announcing the success or failure of a roll automatically. Particularly given they're not set up to target units, or at least they didn't seem to be.
But they do add any relevant modifiers in automatically unless you just do a straight die roll. Which means that, for example, you can see whether or not it's worth spending your reaction on something that would modify the roll.
Ah, didn't catch that was the specific focal point here; I just thought we were talking in terms of timing against the success/failure announcement. MB.
Avrae's combat system automatically registers success/failure at the time of the roll made if you target.
As a DM, I just make it an immediate decision that has to be made. A player can't wait and decide after anything else, nothing moves forward until they decide.
Really? I've been on Roll20 and Foundry, and I don't recall either announcing the success or failure of a roll automatically. Particularly given they're not set up to target units, or at least they didn't seem to be.
But they do add any relevant modifiers in automatically unless you just do a straight die roll. Which means that, for example, you can see whether or not it's worth spending your reaction on something that would modify the roll.
As long as they aren't announcing success/failure, knowing the roll with bonuses applied is no different from knowing the raw die roll, and doesn't interfere with the abilities in question here.
If some VTT is automating the hit/miss announcement, that's a problem for these abilities, but I think the only sensible thing to do is treat it like the situation where the players know the monster's AC anyway. It makes the abilities stronger, but it's not going to throw things too out of whack, and the convenience of your VTT is probably worth it.
For quickness of game play, i just have players announce it after they roll, even if I have the automatic calculations on and announced. It's easy enough for the DM to change the automated settings if that DM doesn't want you to be able to use the ability if you know the results.
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I started playing D&D from the basic box set in 1979.
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A few features allow you to add, subtract or reroll, etc a result but stipulate that it is done prior to the result being known. At a live table this is easy to manage, but on a VTT they usually happen simultaneously.
So my question is how do people manage this in game. Perhaps requiring announcing prior to rolling, or not being so strict about announcing afterwards?
I think where it makes sense for me is to allow a use right after even if the results are known, but more as a real life reaction than after careful consideration and calculation of the effects.
"Before the result is known" is "before success or failure is known", not "before the number is known". If you had to decide before the number is known, you might as well be choosing before the die is rolled.
The point of "before success or failure is known" abilities are to either prop up a low roll for something like a skill check or to try to meet AC/DC when you know/suspect the roll is close. You need to know the result for that to be meaningful, otherwise they'd just make the ability "add 1dx to the next appropriate roll".
Many VTTs automate that and you know as soon as you roll.
Really? I've been on Roll20 and Foundry, and I don't recall either announcing the success or failure of a roll automatically. Particularly given they're not set up to target units, or at least they didn't seem to be.
But they do add any relevant modifiers in automatically unless you just do a straight die roll. Which means that, for example, you can see whether or not it's worth spending your reaction on something that would modify the roll.
Find your own truth, choose your enemies carefully, and never deal with a dragon.
"Canon" is what's factual to D&D lore. "Cannon" is what you're going to be shot with if you keep getting the word wrong.
Ah, didn't catch that was the specific focal point here; I just thought we were talking in terms of timing against the success/failure announcement. MB.
Avrae's combat system automatically registers success/failure at the time of the roll made if you target.
As a DM, I just make it an immediate decision that has to be made. A player can't wait and decide after anything else, nothing moves forward until they decide.
As long as they aren't announcing success/failure, knowing the roll with bonuses applied is no different from knowing the raw die roll, and doesn't interfere with the abilities in question here.
If some VTT is automating the hit/miss announcement, that's a problem for these abilities, but I think the only sensible thing to do is treat it like the situation where the players know the monster's AC anyway. It makes the abilities stronger, but it's not going to throw things too out of whack, and the convenience of your VTT is probably worth it.
For quickness of game play, i just have players announce it after they roll, even if I have the automatic calculations on and announced. It's easy enough for the DM to change the automated settings if that DM doesn't want you to be able to use the ability if you know the results.
I started playing D&D from the basic box set in 1979.