DM Cheating

[Hjorimir]

Inspired by the thread on a Classy way to ask your players if they are cheating...

Do you want your DMs to cheat…in your favor? Wait, don’t answer that. Let’s put that on hold for a second.

A while back—maybe a year ago or so—I pushed my DM screen to the side so there wasn’t a barrier between the players and I. Since that time, I really only use the screen to hide game notes as needed. I also have since rolled all my dice all in the open (other than for Search or Disable Device rolls on a player's behalf).

It’s funny how players perceive things. Now I, as the DM, thought the players would really appreciate the openness of doing this, but more than one of them has commented that they fear the dice even more now knowing that it would be almost impossible to “cheat in their favor.”

Do you feel the DM should cheat in the PCs favor? Also, are you answering as a DM or a player?

Just curious how others prefer it.

 

[armac]

When I DM, I always roll out in the open. I started doing this when one group of players asked me to. The exceptions to this are things like refresh rates for Breath Weapons, and secret skill checks like you listed.

What I've found is that character deaths have gone up with me not being able to fudge the dice, and that players really pay attention to what I roll. It has also resulted in them metagaming and tracking what the attack bonuses and damage bonuses that the opponents have. I really don't mind, but I know it would drive other people crazy.

Now, when I'm playing, there are certain DMs I've played with that I trust to keep their rolls secret, but there are certain ones that I wish would roll in the open. I've had way too many instances of "I rolled a 20, now to confirm whether it is a crit or not" from one of them. I started tracking the 20s against me for a couple of sessions, and it was in the 30% range. A wee bit above average. Other players in the game didn't seem to have the same average either, but were suspicious. Sigh. Oh well, I muddled through, and visited the Cleric a lot.

So, I guess, I don't mind having DMs roll secretly and cheat to help the party or the game, but I'm not a fan of possibly cheating on secret die rolls if it is hurting my character.

 

[caudor]

I prefer the DM to be more like a referee--the guy in the middle who knows the rules--and simply sets things in motion and lets the dice fall as they may. I think trouble can sneak in the game if the DM leans either way consistently.

I'd rather my character die before being helped along by a fudges at critical moments. It doesn't seem very heroic to me to win even though the villain deserved to win on that occasion. After all, my PC can be resurrected or reincarnated. Or maybe I'll just create another hero to deal with the seemly unstoppable villain...maybe his brother.

 

[BryonD]

DMs can't cheat.
But DMs can SUCK.

A DM that operates against the "rules" without clearly advancing the overall fun and very preferable without being obvious is a DM that just might suck.

A DM that can do what makes everyone have the most fun on a consistent basis is a DM that does not suck.

 

[Kahuna Burger]

hrmmm.... My inclination is to say that if you would want your DM to cheat in your favor, your underlying desire is for a way to change really badly timed bad luck. Which is, imo better served by a fate/action/karma point system than by the hope that you and your DM are on the same page of when he should and shouldn't cheat to make the game what you would want it to be.

 

[DreadArchon]

hrmmm.... My inclination is to say that if you would want your DM to cheat in your favor, your underlying desire is for a way to change really badly timed bad luck. Which is, imo better served by a fate/action/karma point system than by the hope that you and your DM are on the same page of when he should and shouldn't cheat to make the game what you would want it to be.

I mostly agree, though there's times that I prefer to cheat as a DM.

For example, I recently had a player roll his own Teleport error % dice, even though I usually prefer to do so. (97.) I'd have preferred to just fudge the roll and move on with the campaign, but he was getting into it, so... bleah.

 

[frankthedm]

I hate it. I like at least a semi level playing field with my foes. If they manage to win, then they win and we die.

I was a bit irked last session the DM retcon'ed a vamprie's bite to only do Con Damage rather than Con drain after the fact. I was not pissed, just irked, because the drain is pretty bad.

 

[Desdichado]

DMs can't cheat.
But DMs can SUCK.

Haha! I was going to say almost exactly that, word for word. BryonD, you da man.

Me--no, I'd prefer they not. It invariably doesn't make "the story" or whatever better, IMO.

Then again, a DM that uses a screen and we can't see his rolls or his stats so we never know if he's cheating or not---yeah; whatever. I guess I'm more in a "don't ask don't tell" frame of mind on the issue rather than an absolute no.

 

[Aramax]

Cheating is not cheating when you are the game master,its in the job description.But as was stated above its for maximizing fun.Some times the monster needs more Hp to make the combat fun,some times he needs to hit less hard if you are over whelming the players.
I try to make special encounter w/big or special monsters that are supposed to be potentionly lethal then my cheating level,both ways ,drops

 

[fafhrd]

I loathe having my character survive due to "friendly" DMing. If you want to shelve those enemy reinforments you were going to send our way, fine. But what the dice say goes.