Cheating?

[WhatGravitas]

As a player: I don't cheat.

As DM: I cannot cheat. Though I tend to make most rolls openly, with the players knowing modifiers and so on. I'm not a proponent of having too much secret stuff behind the screen.

Cheers, LT.

 

[Drowbane]

Let the dice fall where they may... be it riches or TPK!!!

Last session ran: 3 weeks ago.
Last TPK: 3 weeks ago.

 

[pawsplay]

DMs don't have to cheat... the fact that some do anyway I find bedfuddling. I have a limited patience for DMs that feel fudging die rolls serves a useful purpose.

 

[Asmor]

Cheating is anathema to me. I will not do it, and I will not tolerate it.

 

[Vague Jayhawk]

As a player - never.

As a DM - always.

 

[Will]

As a DM, I sometimes give myself the same leeway I give players (IE: 'crap, I forgot about something two rounds back that is critically important, and because of that this encounter is getting stupid, and no way my powerful character would have forgotten, so I'm retconning it')

Generally, if I want to fudge things, I use a system built for it; in M&M, I give hero points to the players if I want a few rerolls for my villains (equity).

As a player, the only times I can remember cheating are when I've remembered a rule that prevents something I've done, after we've just spent 10 mins going over what I've done, late at night, the other players' babies are screaming and everyone just wants to get ON with it; whether it favors me or no, I sometimes move on in the interest of not pissing everyone off.

 

[Darrin Drader]

DM cheating is a contradiction in terms. Its an oxymoron. The DM has the right to change whatever he or she sees fit to enhance the enjoyment of the game.

Players who cheat are verminous dogs who will be the first with their backs against the wall when the revolution comes.

 

[pawsplay]

DM cheating is a contradiction in terms. Its an oxymoron. The DM has the right to change whatever he or she sees fit to enhance the enjoyment of the game.

I disagree. Much like Congress, the DM has the power to change any rule, but they are still bound by it.

 

[Darrin Drader]

I disagree. Much like Congress, the DM has the power to change any rule, but they are still bound by it.

If the DM decides that a combat is about to end prematurely because the creature the party is fighting doesn't have enough hit points, DMs can and do inflate the hit point count. Since the DM does not (or at least no DM I've ever heard of does) report the hit points to the players, the players will have no idea that this has been done. In the end, the players had a more fulfilling time killing monsters and taking their stuff, while the DM adjusted a minor detail to fit his game. That's not cheating.

If the DM suddenly says that a fireball from a level 1 wizard is enough to fry your level 20 rogue who just succeeded at his evasion check, then I'll grant your point. Of course any DM who tries to pull that is an ass and doesn't deserve to run his soon to be abandoned game.

 

[Will]

I find the whole 'DMs can't cheat' thing pretty ... strange.

Sure, they can. If the DM implies that he follows the rules, not following the rules is cheating. If the DM openly says 'look, from time to time I'm going to adjust die rolls to maximize fun for the group' then adjusting die rolls isn't cheating.

The thing is, are you SURE, as a DM, you've made things clear? Are you sure your players are ok with that?

Some people vastly prefer a game where everyone hews closely to the rules, preserving the 'integrity' of the game; it's more fun that way for them.

Other people like things more free-wheeling, where rules are bent or broken in the judgement of those involved.

Thing is, for some in the second group, players cheating is ok, too.

Those saying that DM's 'can't cheat' and players are awful if they cheat have blinders on.

Personally, I prefer no cheating; if I want flexibility, I change the system.