D&D General BBEGs shouldn't miss.

[zarionofarabel]

I get what you're saying, and I disagree.

What Oofta just said!!!

Also. If you enjoy lying to your players, feel free. It just gives me the sad feels to know that you are okay with lying to people who I assume you have a friendly relationship with.

 

[Olrox17]

The right term isn't lying, it's fudging, and it's always been a thing in D&D. As always, table preferences, DM styles, all that stuff. I personally make almost every roll in the open when I DM, but i won't knock on a different style.

 

[jasper]

BBEG Special ability. BBEG CHEATS. If the BBEG rolls less than 15 on a die roll, treat the die roll as 15. I think the Thief has a similar ability but it only counts as a 10.

 

[DEFCON 1]

Lying, fudging, improvising... it is all done by certain DMs who work to produce interesting and exciting encounters as best they can as often as they can.

Those who play the combat like it's a board game that is meant to be "won" will not and do not agree with that. But those who treat combat as part of the narrative of the campaign will occasionally help it out when otherwise the story loses its import.

 

[jasper]

What Oofta just said!!!

Also. If you enjoy lying to your players, feel free. It just gives me the sad feels to know that you are okay with lying to people who I assume you have a friendly relationship with.

TWEET Flag on the post. 5d4 penalty. You are assuming DMS only game with friends. One or two of the FLGS players are not allowed in my house.

 

[Charlaquin]

The right term isn't lying, it's fudging, and it's always been a thing in D&D. As always, table preferences, DM styles, all that stuff. I personally make almost every roll in the open when I DM, but i won't knock on a different style.

I mean, if you roll one number and claim you rolled another, you’re lying. Now, there are plenty of tables out there who are quite happy with the knowledge that their DM may narrate results that are contrary to the dice rolls when they feel it results in a more narratively satisfying experience. But I do think it’s a better policy to be up-front about it if that’s what you’re doing. Roll the dice in the open, and if the results are something you think should be fudged, say so to the players. “Ok, if that monster crits right now it will definitely kill you outright, and I don’t think that would be a very satisfying end for your character. Everyone cool if we just call that a natural 19?” or, “look, this guy has maybe a turn or two left in him and he hasn’t hit once. What do you say we just call that a hit so the fight is at least some kind of challenge?”

If your players wouldn’t be ok with it if they knew you changed the results, then changing them without their knowledge is a breach of their trust. If you don’t feel comfortable doing it honestly, why would you do it at all?

 

[zarionofarabel]

TWEET Flag on the post. 5d4 penalty. You are assuming DMS only game with friends. One or two of the FLGS players are not allowed in my house.

I didn't say friends. I said "have a friendly relationship with" as opposed to "no relationship" or "hostile relationship". I sure as hell hope it's not a hostile relationship!

 

[Charlaquin]

Lying, fudging, improvising... it is all done by certain DMs who work to produce interesting and exciting encounters as best they can as often as they can.

Those who play the combat like it's a board game that is meant to be "won" willnot and do not agree with that. But those who treat combat as part of the narrative of the campaign will occasionally help it out when otherwise the story loses its import.

I get that, absolutely! But, would the players be comfortable with you changing the results to help out the narrative? If yes, why hide the results? If no, why do it at all?

 

[zarionofarabel]

The right term isn't lying, it's fudging, and it's always been a thing in D&D. As always, table preferences, DM styles, all that stuff. I personally make almost every roll in the open when I DM, but i won't knock on a different style.

Lying, fudging, improvising... it is all done by certain DMs who work to produce interesting and exciting encounters as best they can as often as they can.

Those who play the combat like it's a board game that is meant to be "won" willnot and do not agree with that. But those who treat combat as part of the narrative of the campaign will occasionally help it out when otherwise the story loses its import.

I just don't see the point of introducing a random element to the narrative if you are going ignore said random element. Just choose the result you want and be honest about it.

As for "accidentally" killing a PC. Well, if you don't want that to happen then use a system where that can't happen. If it can happen because of the system you are using make sure the players are aware of that fact. If they whine about it later remind them that they were warned ahead of time that that was a possibility. If they still whine then they are being poor sports and should go play video games where they can reload any time they get a result they don't like.

 

[Olrox17]

I mean, if you roll one number and claim you rolled another, you’re lying. Now, there are plenty of tables out there who are quite happy with the knowledge that their DM may narrate results that are contrary to the dice rolls when they feel it results in a more narratively satisfying experience. But I do think it’s a better policy to be up-front about it if that’s what you’re doing. Roll the dice in the open, and if the results are something you think should be fudged, say so to the players. “Ok, if that monster crits right now it will definitely kill you outright, and I don’t think that would be a very satisfying end for your character. Everyone cool if we just call that a natural 19?” or, “look, this guy has maybe a turn or two left in him and he hasn’t hit once. What do you say we just call that a hit so the fight is at least some kind of challenge?”

If your players wouldn’t be ok with it if they knew you changed the results, then changing them without their knowledge is a breach of their trust. If you don’t feel comfortable doing it honestly, why would you do it at all?

Fudging is extremely uncommon at my table, and when it happens it usually takes the form of a re-roll, kinda like a sudden inspiration you can use right away. But that's my DMing style.

I'm pretty sure any player whose DM uses a screen and rolls behind it knows that fudging might and will happen. I played with such DMs and I had fun, fully knowing that perhaps some fudging was happening behind the scenes. Not a problem to me.
The "better policy" you proposed I would actually intensely dislike. What's that, you're asking me for permission? You're the DM, you decide, take responsibility for your game, man.