D&D General Dealing with bad luck (From behind the DM screen).

[The Soloist]

Play the Mortal Combat song for the players. With my group it works evertime. They start rolling high again.

 

[Sorinth]

So overall one thing to note is that nobody wants to die, and continuing a fight risks death so even when winning a fight it can make sense for enemies tactically retreat and/or let the PCs run away without following them because it's simply risk then continuing to fight. So with speaking enemies having them talk during a fight can help here, obviously not every situation will allow for it but keep an open mind when it can. In a similar vein if the monsters have a goal beyond fighting then it's not a bad idea for some of them to pursue that goal at a time they think the fight is well in hand, for example the leader sending a couple subordinates to do the goal while they stay back mop up/hold the PCs can help rebalance the fight.

I think the root issue at play though is that it's often very hard to retreat because disengaging and moving as far away as possible will more often then not just allow the enemy to move back into melee and attack leaving you no better off then before and often worse off. By having some actual player facing run away mechanics that give a decent chance to actually get away successfully players might feel more inclined to use them and save themselves from these type of situations.

 

[Theory of Games]

That's a huge part of PCs getting diffed in combat: many players (not all) refuse to run away no matter how bad things get. Largely because they lack the tactical expertise to perform meaningful risk assessment. They have that 'Spray-N-Pray' video game mentality and unless the GM is fudging like crazy, a TPK is inevitable.

 

[Reynard]

Since it is a playtest, I definitely sgree with those saying you should examine the math and see if things are working as intended.

BUT, if it is just luck? Well, them's the way the cookie crumbles. There is a "G" in the title for a reason.

 

[Distracted DM]

Maybe you got a good feel for the game, then? Time to move on, or are you committed to 13'A_2e>pT for some reason?

I think the 13th Age 2e Playtest part of OP's post is pretty coincidental. OP could've said "DnD5e," the differences aren't huge as far as them both being d20 fantasy games, though 13th Age wears its heroism on its sleeve.

Basically, the dice luck is crappy and how to deal with that? Ugh. I get it. Someone above said they were pretty much done with d20 games and I can get that too. The poster quoting Gygax on "skip the wandering monsters if it'll kill the game," I like that quote and wonder where it's from, the context etc.

BUT anyway, yeah this is a GM skill. It's a people skill. Reading people, and figuring out how to address their pains. Me? I gave a metamagic rod the wizard that can have really bad rolls- a few times per day they can reroll a bad d20 roll. If they still roll bad after the reroll? Crap, the dice are part of the game... it's only REALLY painful if the turns are also going super slowly. Slog. How to avoid slog? Can you? Yeah... I guess that takes some elasticity.
I'd benefit from the advice I'm giving here, but it's tough to remember: shake things the fk up. Things are terrible and a slog and morale is low as the party is fighting a dragon? Bulette crashes into the room and now it's a three-way, or the party has the opportunity to flee.
Introduce a third party. If the players STILL want to stick it out and slog... man, I don't know. Yeah maybe it's time for a non-d20 game.

 

[GreyLord]

TPK and Start over!!!!!

Though, if you aren't that type of old school...

You could always just start granting them advantage for any and everything...even if the game doesn't have advantage...use it and give them double chances to roll well.

If that doesn't work, start switching out their dice.

 

[MGibster]

I'm wondering if my fellow DM's have any ideas/advice to help when players are feeling bad about a game due to streaks of bad luck?

Usually I'll acknowledge their bad luck in a lighthearted way. "Damn, you've got the worst luck tonight." It happens to us poor, trodden DMs as well. Just last week I rolled the minimum damage against player characters three times in a row. I was so sad.

 

[Distracted DM]

Usually I'll acknowledge their bad luck in a lighthearted way. "Damn, you've got the worst luck tonight." It happens to us poor, trodden DMs as well. Just last week I rolled the minimum damage against player characters three times in a row. I was so sad.

I don't think it helps them, but I can't help but sympathize with them audibly/visually... maybe it'd be better instead to be the eternal optimist, "oh hey I'm sure a good die roll is right around the corner!"

 

[MGibster]

I don't think it helps them, but I can't help but sympathize with them audibly/visually... maybe it'd be better instead to be the eternal optimist, "oh hey I'm sure a good die roll is right around the corner!"

Even as a player, I don't usually get bummed out when I'm rolling poorly all night. I just laugh and laugh. I just don't take D&D very seriously whether I'm a player or the DM.

 

[Clint_L]

Even as a player, I don't usually get bummed out when I'm rolling poorly all night. I just laugh and laugh. I just don't take D&D very seriously whether I'm a player or the DM.

Same - I like to role-play failures; the more spectacular the better. I live for natural 1s!