D&D General How do players feel about DM fudging?

[Flamestrike]

Sorry guys, I know you're 1st level, but the dice say a Balor appears and kills you all.

Dont blame me, blame the dice.

So what are you playing next? Dont forget your detailed backstories.

 

[Thomas Shey]

The fact you think there is a difference amuses me.

And the fact you don't makes me roll my eyes.

 

[Flamestrike]

If you guys want the RAW answer:

5e DMG pg 235 "Rolling behind the screen lets you fudge the results if you want to If two critical hits in a row would kill a character, you could change the second critical hit into a normal hit, or even a miss, Dont distort die rolls too often, though, and don't let on that your doing it. Otherwise your players might think they dont face any real risks-- or worse, that you're playing favorites."

And again on page 237 "Remember that dice don't run your game - you do. Dice are like rules. They're tools to help keep the action moving."

So according to 5E RAW, DMs are expressly directed to secretly ignore dice results, to keep the action moving and protect the PCs (and the Story) from bad results through no fault of their own.

 

[Thomas Shey]

But when it comes to running a game, that's a different story.

Not really. This was also the guy who thought you couldn't run a proper campaign without carefully monitoring flow of time.

 

[Thomas Shey]

So according to 5E RAW, DMs are expressly directed to secretly ignore dice results, to keep the action moving and protect the PCs (and the Story) from bad results through no fault of their own.

Why would that have any bearing on whether its a good idea or desirable? Game designers have all kinds of ideas, some of them good some of them terrible.

 

[Flamestrike]

Not really. This was also the guy who thought you couldn't run a proper campaign without carefully monitoring flow of time.

What?

If you're referring to real world time, that's true.

If you're referring to in game time, seeing as the entire mechanics of the game is balanced around the concepts of an adventuring day, and a 6 encounter/ 2 short rest per 24 hour long rest resource management system, then it's also true.

I mean you could ignore that mechanical reality and just have a wildly unbalanced game, and if that works for you go nuts, but I see the DMs job as one where he has a job to do ensuring a balanced, challenging and fun time for all.

 

[Flamestrike]

Why would that have any bearing on whether its a good idea or desirable? Game designers have all kinds of ideas, some of them good some of them terrible.

It's the rules of the game you're playing though. So you cant complain the DM is cheating when he does it.

 

[iserith]

You (the DM) put the encounter there in the first place, knowing it would TPK them, and you're blaming your players for getting TPK'd by it?

Jesus.

It was your hypothetical, not mine. I don't assume there will be a TPK in the first place or that every random encounter must be defeated with sword and spell, nor do I place encounters "knowing it would TPK" the group. But if one happens, that's just what happens sometimes.

 

[FrozenNorth]

Such as?

Fosters trust between DM and players.
Heighten tension (in a good way)
Easier to interact with players without screen in the way.
Screen can be physically cumbersome.
Visible rolls can be easier to make on a VTT
Player victories can feel more earned if they have absolute confidence that all rolls were transparent.

 

[FrozenNorth]

Less of a catastrophe if your screen gets eaten by a badger.

You joke, but I have tipped over my screen that knocks over a drink onto the battlemap more than once.