D&D General "When I DM, I Try to Make Sure to Lay Eyes on Every Roll My Players Make to Confirm It" (a poll)

[EzekielRaiden]

Yeah, I regularly make some rolls in private, where the PCs wouldn't reasonably know the outcome. Like search checks.

But almost everything else is out in the open. Especially combat rolls.

I don't even make search rolls in private. If you roll low on those, you either learn nothing and know it, or you do learn something and don't like it.

 

[Ralif Redhammer]

Yeah, for years I had a player that I strongly suspect was cheating to a practically pathological degree. It took me years to figure it out, and I tolerated it after that because he was a good friend. But eventually I stopped gaming with him for that very reason.

These days, I will give players the benefit of the doubt until they give me a reason not to. Then it's one clear warning before they get the boot. Of course, with the two games I run being online and using the Avrae bot, that's not really a problem.*

*I was a player in a short campaign with said cheating player during the early part of the pandemic, and he was the one that constantly kept complaining about the VTT's dice rolls and asking if he could just roll his own physical dice instead.

If I don't trust them to report their rolls accurately, why am I gaming with them?

 

[EzekielRaiden]

Yeah, for years I had a player that I strongly suspect was cheating to a practically pathological degree. It took me years to figure it out, and I tolerated it after that because he was a good friend. But eventually I stopped gaming with him for that very reason.

Yeah, if I suspected cheating I would take steps to determine whether it was happening, and if so, approach the player about it. Track rolled values, talk to players in private, that sort of thing.

I try very very hard to be as openly supportive and pro-player as I can be, so I would hope that cheating isn't considered necessary. If someone did still cheat, that would be a profound breach of trust and respect and I'm not sure I would want to continue running the game for them.

That actually happened with someone else I knew. We had played many games together for many years, and I would almost always lose. Turned out, they'd been cheating at several games. Not all of them (some didn't really admit the ability to cheat), but enough that it was...extremely frustrating. They did apologize but, frankly, finding out that they'd been cheating for literally years and years and acting like victory mattered, that my skills needed improvement, etc....it just put too sour a taste in my mouth to keep playing with them. And since playing games together was one of our primary forms of socialization, well, that meant the friendship was basically over.

These days, I will give players the benefit of the doubt until they give me a reason not to. Then it's one clear warning before they get the boot. Of course, with the two games I run being online and using the Avrae bot, that's not really a problem.*

*I was a player in a short campaign with said cheating player during the early part of the pandemic, and he was the one that constantly kept complaining about the VTT's dice rolls and asking if he could just roll his own physical dice instead.

Ouch. Never feels good to hear someone tell you they're a cheat without telling you they're a cheat.

 

[R_J_K75]

If I don't trust them to report their rolls accurately, why am I gaming with them?

Glad I only had to read one other reply before I got to this. My thoughts exactly. We had a guy at a game store we played with that miraculously "rolled" "natural" 20s then he'd quickly pick them up. After 2 or 3 sessions of us calling B.S. and calling him out on it he quit. I have no desire or tolerance to play with someone who cheats. Not worth my time or effort.

 

[D1Tremere]

I don't believe it is possible to "cheat" at D&D, as this isn't they type of game you play to win, and it definitely isn't meant to be competitive by default. I adjust my rolls as the DM to make combat more or less of a challenge as needed, and I have no problems with my players doing the same if they feel the need. They are, ultimately, a group of people coming together to share their precious free time in a game of cooperative story telling. My only question at the end of each session, did you have fun? So long as everyone is enjoying themselves, I am good with whatever.

 

[R_J_K75]

Yeah, for years I had a player that I strongly suspect was cheating to a practically pathological degree.

How, just by dice rolls, or manipulating rules, other players or all 3?

that would be a profound breach of trust and respect and I'm not sure I would want to continue running the game for them.

For me it's the respect part. When I'm a player, I try really hard know my character and use their abilities RAW to the best I'm able. Same as if I'm a DM, I try and run the game, within reason, RAW. The understanding with my group is that with 5+ editions of rules in my head, in both instances, it's not always possible, but it's not intentional if I fudge something that's an honest mistake, I always try to be fair. When I put my time and effort into playing my character or DMing a game and someone cheats, they no longer have my respect. Not understanding or knowing the rules is one thing, outright cheating is another. If I catch someone cheating, there's no warning, no talking to other than get out, you're not welcome here anymore.

 

[EzekielRaiden]

For me it's the respect part. When I'm a player, I try really hard know my character and use their abilities RAW to the best I'm able. Same as if I'm a DM, I try and run the game, within reason, RAW. The understanding with my group is that with 5+ editions of rules in my head, in both instances, it's not always possible, but it's not intentional if I fudge something that's an honest mistake, I always try to be fair. When I put my time and effort into playing my character or DMing a game and someone cheats, they no longer have my respect. Not understanding or knowing the rules is one thing, outright cheating is another. If I catch someone cheating, there's no warning, no talking to other than get out, you're not welcome here anymore.

I generally favor a conciliatory approach, so I will usually give people one chance: come clean, admit fault, promise to do better, and (most importantly) take concrete steps to show you're doing better. If the cheater refuses to come clean or any of the other things, then yeah, that's a dealbreaker.

 

[briggart]

I had a player who was really bad at math, so when we were playing in person I tried to keep an eye on her to make sure she got her math right, but in general I don't care enough to check rolls.

 

[Lanefan]

Voted true, though I'll modify my answer to say that I make sure someone can lay eyes on it other than the roller; whether it be me or another player.

We've had a few "creative rollers" in our past, hence this now-permanent approach.

 

[R_J_K75]

I generally favor a conciliatory approach, so I will usually give people one chance: come clean, admit fault, promise to do better, and (most importantly) take concrete steps to show you're doing better. If the cheater refuses to come clean or any of the other things, then yeah, that's a dealbreaker.

Thats why I don't play with strangers anymore. I know it probably prevents me from meeting some really good people, but at my age I prefer to just play with friends I already trust, so this isn't an issue.